Nikon ZF & Voigtlander 50mm f/1 Z Mount!

[@gregory203]

That 50/1 has become my go to lens on the Zf-first class combination!

[@Johnkostercreative]

I absolutely love this lens on my Zf. Im done looking for other lenses, all i have is this and the voigtlander 35 f/2 APO and its all I need for my street portraiture and travel work. The weight and size is perfect for the Zf. I tried the nikon 50 f/1.2, and that thing may do a great job...i bought it and sent it back in 2 days. The size was absurd.

[@timgimbert3073]

If you use the TTArtisan 6bit M to Z adapter you get the Subject Detection with the adapted lenses. You also get the option to focus trap.

[@kaskoPhoto]

Thank you for that tip. Much appreciated

[@gchristopherklug]

@@timgimbert3073 ‘focus trap’?

[@davidbiddlecombe8602]

I used the 50mm f1on the Z7 & Z8 and it was great, but using it for portraits on the Zf with eye detection is transformational, removing the need to zoom in (as you said)

[@ingoleutgeb8254]

Interesting portraits! I like the images you showed - the dreamy look and the great combination of colors between your model and the background. Thanks a lot.

[@kapurar]

Wow! Thank you for the review. It has been on my to buy list and now I will be ordering it. Great videos as always.

[@kaskoPhoto]

Well order from Camera Quest

[@malamadrem9522]

Just came back home from India and guess what? I was with that lens there traveling and have done it around 1.5k photos with it .... time to time I was switching with Nikon Z 28mm 2.8f but absolutely gorgeous 50mm 1.0f !!! Before I have Nikon Z 50mm 1.2f and I sold it... it was to heavy and to big for my hobby... I never regret... So happy to have Voigtlander 50mm f/1 Z Mount... Next one Cosina 75mm 1.5f in my list 🙈

[@RichardBO9]

Dang! Those are super-cool images. Thank you for your efforts in making this video.

[@kaskoPhoto]

Thank you for taking the time to watch

[@dsimon9s29]

Thanks for posting. I think the Voigtlander line is a very under-appreciated product. I have two of their lenses and have no major complaints about them. Their price also makes them a very attractive offer.

[@kaskoPhoto]

Amazing lens brand for sure.

[@stefan_becker]

It's a great camera/lens combination with great rendering. I've tried to take portraits with a manual focus lenses (like the Nokton 50mm f1.2) many times, but I wasn't happy with the results. Either they were soft because I was too quick to press the shutter, or the model's expression was kind of neutral and frozen because beautiful facial expressions sometimes last less than half a second. Usually a model also moves in such spontaneous moments, which makes the image even blurrier. In short, I've given up using manual lenses for portraits, but I still like using them for landscapes and subjects that don't move.

[@Vocalio3000]

Hi, with that green box, you’re right! I was zooming in at the beginning, it took some time and the result wasn’t always good. And then one time I just tried to do the focus with green box and it is just good enough in most of the time and a way faster and you can see the whole picture. Sometimes less is more (or almost every time).

[@kaskoPhoto]

Agree 100%. Much faster and I get a better hit rate not zooming with that feature

[@bsc001]

Haha, John, so finally my 50mm f1 has arrived too. Will give it a good test-run over the weekend, a beautiful, if somewhat bulky, MF lens. Quite a bit larger compared to my 40 f1.2 Voigtländer, but no dramas, as you have said, they are very different lenses for different applications. I look forward to your review on the 75mm f1.5 too, I might still grab that one, then my Zf travel-kit will be complete. Those 3 will come in handy when I travel around in Europe, once I move there in September. I have quite a few of the high-end Nikon z-lenses, they are pretty good on my Z9 body, but for travel, and to slow things down and get in the moment, these MF z-mounts are perfect for the Zf. Cheers for your great videos, as always, appreciative of your efforts.

[@gchristopherklug]

I’ve been waiting for this camera for ten years.

[@kaskoPhoto]

I completely understand that

[@gchristopherklug]

@@kaskoPhoto I might reach out with a question or two.

[@jaimeduncan6167]

Nice lens and nice pictures.

[@ArminHirmer]

fantastic lens indeed, seems this eye focus thing is working great

[@kaskoPhoto]

It’s so easy to focus with it.

[@baker2niner]

Good review. I've used one for 2 months, after renting the 50z Apo for a week. This one is different. If you want a Summilux, get the 50 f2 Apo. If you were looking at the Noctilux, this is the one you want. The 50 Apo is so much fun to shoot (it's smaller and the focus ring diameter works quicker). Eyeball slicing sharp at all apertures. The f/1 is a portrait and NIGHT specialist (2 stops faster! pretty cool in use). 2 stages: subject separation & background blur (check background @ 6:10 - robot? behind her is gone) + sharp, like every other lens in the market above f/2 or so. The cost is, well, the cost, and more importantly the heft. It's not the walk-about sports car the APO is, it feels like a "work lens," reminding me a bit of a HB 500c/m or SWC in use. I'll probably going to end up with both - they're quite different.

[@kaskoPhoto]

It is in fact an art piece - robot.

[@Liljoozy]

Can you make a video showing us how the green box looks?

[@jovis3084]

Please show us more beautiful pictures with this lens, i am excited to see more

[@TCMx3]

Could you elaborate on the commercial work comment about the 50 APO? I'm curious if that's about color or flatness of field? Sorry I'm on all your videos asking questions but I promise it's just due to wanting to learn more about the kind of photography you do. Also I know you don't do affiliate links which is cool, but you might consider a tip jar. You've answered a ton of questions I had about gear. After watching many videos and being kind of on the fence about it, I did ultimately acquire an M11, for example, and you were as always more helpful than the vast majority of folks on this website.

[@kaskoPhoto]

Thank you. And the APO for my commercial work just provides near perfect image rendering and resolves the full 60 mp. Many of the jobs I do is clothing and they require fine detail for the material.

[@rodwindrim5874]

I love your photos would it be possible for you to share your picture control setting for these beautiful portraits? Many thanks

[@kaskoPhoto]

I’m not sure what you are asking. Can you give me a bit more on what you would like to know?

[@bigrobotnewstoday1436]

I think the issue is coming from event shooters. I know when I shoot a wedding and I have strap on my hand I will sometimes just have the camera hanging on one hand for a second. Just to give myself a few second break. This Nikon does not have that kind of grip you can just let it hang so you can take a few second break.

[@kaskoPhoto]

I am a strap person for sure. For the breaks you mentioned and for the safety of my gear

[@robeckel4965]

Cool little lens!

[@EvilTeddie23]

There are actually two green arrows either side of the green box. If you nail exact focus, the will both point into the center. If one is off, it tells you how to focus. I raised this method to the guy from Grey's of Westminster and told him zooming in to focus is completely unnecessary with the Zf. Lovely camera for MF. Not so good for lefties using BBF though. I think I'll buy a second body and put the 75 F1.5 Z on it and the 40 F1.2 on the other as a travel setup. Still not sure about the weight of the 50 F1 though. 600g is about the same as the 65mm APO and that's just too heavy for walking around all day.

[@kaskoPhoto]

I’ve never seen the arrows… but then again I was never looking so

[@EvilTeddie23]

@@kaskoPhoto Well now you know ;) BTW - I just put my order in for the 75mm F1.5 Z with Steve Gandy. I got an email about an hour ago.

[@kaskoPhoto]

@@EvilTeddie23 is this pre-order, or do they have them already?

[@EvilTeddie23]

@@kaskoPhoto Stephen has them in stock. I got a shipping notification and tracking number :)

[@bradmiller9993]

I thought every one of those images was great. I used the 65mm APO Voigtlander for a some shots at a wedding last year and the results were terrific but I found f2 to be so shallow I missed focus a few times (Sony camera) so this new Nikon approach seems very attractive to me. Thanks for shooting the video,

[@kaskoPhoto]

Thank you for watching. It really is painfully easy to get focus with this setup.

[@photostu]

This lens at f/1 seems much sharper than the 40 at f/1.2 per the examples in your other video. I would love to splurge on this, but my adapted LM 50f/1.2 is a very decent compromise.

[@kaskoPhoto]

This really is a special lens. The addition of manual eye autofocus because of the Z mount is well worth the upgrade. But the lens you have is amazing as well

[@RobertFalconer1967]

Very nice. So I take it if you stop it down to f/4 through f/8 it's plenty sharp...making it a dual-purpose performer?

[@kaskoPhoto]

I think it’s pretty sharp at f/1 personally. And it’s very sharp stopped down from f/2

[@RobertFalconer1967]

@@kaskoPhoto That’s encouraging. Thanks for the feedback.

[@jovis3084]

Lovely videos, now I wonder though, which voigtländer lense will stay on the camera, what is your verdict between the 50 and the 40?

[@kaskoPhoto]

I think the 40 for me because of its size and lighter weight.

[@jovis3084]

@@kaskoPhoto nice, the 50 you will keep?

[@craig_m_mi]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but none of these lenses you are playing with, the different Voigt's, the 40mm f/2 Nikon, etc are bad, right? With proper initial capture, all are plenty worthy of having. Price or size is the factor, not image quality per se, I'd guess.

[@67tagada]

Good morning, Is manual focusing on a Nikon zf as easy with a VM lens as on a Leica SL2/SL2S?

[@LincAg]

Been hanging on to a zfc and the 35 Nokton just for fun and classic look but this combo is begging to replace it!

[@kaskoPhoto]

It’s an amazing combo. My favorite crop sensor is the Z50. Love the files from the camera and I love the ergonomics. Same sensor as in your zfc

[@MB-dq2gz]

If you're referring to the voigtlander Z nokton D35mm F/1.2 I either received a bad copy for my Z50 or it is soft as ice cream almost at damn near every aperture.. what's actually funny is that when I put it on my Z8 and shoot it in FX mode it is sharp with a huge vignette. I Love the 50mm F/1.0 and I will purchase the 75mm F/1.5 next and I have been considering the 35mm APO for quite some time also.

[@OfAngeline]

Did you like this or the 40mm more?

[@kaskoPhoto]

40

[@thedarkslide]

It's on backorder still. Some day I will get it...

[@kaskoPhoto]

Camera Quest? I think he mentioned they were sold out but have more coming in. It’s worth the wait.

[@Leicahartt]

Really considering this lens. Would you say it’s up to par with the equivalent Leica lens? Can’t believe the price of this in comparison 🙏

[@kaskoPhoto]

I would choose this over the Leica believe it or not.

[@Leicahartt]

@@kaskoPhoto why is that? Thanks

[@kaskoPhoto]

@@Leicahartt Price first and foremost - but I really do like the rendering of this lens.

[@baker2niner]

@@kaskoPhoto there are several tech reviews comparing this to the Leica Noctilux 50 f/.95

[@webersteve1547]

Well, so how was your hitrate exactly with this green dot thing? When I had Nikon in former times the hitrate was pretty low. Also, as this lens has no electronic aperture control, how is the precision of focusing when stopped down? And finally, how would you rate the results compared to a rangefinder? Thank you

[@kaskoPhoto]

I had very few missed focused shots. It’s really easy to nail focus. The focus is solid from f/1

[@TCMx3]

the current mirrorless are just far, far superior for this than the old dslrs. if your frame of reference is a D whatever, it's not even the same league as these cameras doing it off the sensor. not saying it's perfect but I find it usable on the Zf and when I shot canon SLRs and adapted lenses I used to rip the chips off the adapters.

[@webersteve1547]

@@TCMx3 thank you

[@alejandrocastro9790]

❤

[@MakersTeleMark]

What the hell did you do with your audio?

[@kaskoPhoto]

Yea I know! Long story but my fault. It will be better next time. And let’s face it, I’m better as a silent movie anyway.