Voigtlander 58mm f/1.4 SL II-S Nokton for Nikon F Mount - REVIEW

[@MichaelLaing71]

I have used the Voigtlander 58mm f/1.4 Nokton for around 10 years and it has become my favourite lens both on DSLR and mirrorless. Yes, it is manual focus but I have never had a big issue when it is mounted to a DSLR, even at f/1.4 and you can use focus conformation quite easily. It works even better on mirrorless, where you can just use focus peaking to make sure you have the correct focus. I particularly love it on an APS-C mirrorless because you suddenly get a great equivalent 89mm f/2.1 which is wonderful for portraits. The other thing with the lens is 58mm is great for couple portraits and it is a lens I will often go to when working in the studio. Also that punch the 58mm has makes it a great lens for shooting black and white.

[@jliang70]

I had this lens for a considerable amount of time. I used it on Sony A7Riv, I also use Nikon Ais lenses like 105mm f2.5, 200mm f4, 135mm f2.8. the focus ring is the smoothest I have used. Its rendering is ideal for portrait shooting, compare to an auto focus prime this prime does not show up the skin pore or the skin imperfection, but it has a much more natural and life-like presentation of skin tones.

[@artsilva]

Oh Boy, and I the very first one here? Wooohooo!!! Great video, I've had my eye on this lens for some time now. Glad to see how they work on the D850 and Z cameras and how to confirm focus on both, very important info there.

[@AndyMillerPhotoUK]

Nice Vid Guys -- Shout Out to the Brighton Studio -- small regional studios don't get the support they deserve. Being less than 5 minutes walk from the main rail station it is very accessible. Studios like Brighton are turning up "everywhere" in older office buildings and B1 space - most work on baby/family/wedding/corporate shoots but also have clubs and venue/equipment hire AND can process and print images too.

[@RobertFalconer1967]

The thing I noticed immediately when using the classic Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 AiS on the Z6 series bodies is that when shooting wide open everything is soft, and the highlights start blooming. But if you stop it down to f/2 it sharpens right up.

[@loihpatli]

Yep, the same here

[@dominiclester3232]

This is one of my favourite lenses and you have both done it proud in the studio, thanks. It seems to have that “old lead” glass look which reminds me of crystal glass. For me, it’s mechanical quality easily matches Zeiss and older AIS lenses. This lens is such a pleasure to use with Z cameras.

[@joekubina5897]

Wish they would make a z mount version of the 58...

[@shmuelaryehkoltov241]

Love that lens. Hate that I had to sell it (have the Voigtlander 50mm f1.2 Nokton, and used the two lenses for the same purposes). It surprises me that you didn't get focus confirmation. You're supposed to, at least I did. It wasn't always precise though, particularly not wide open, so never referred to it myself.

[@WoldsEndPhotography]

Results from both lenses look great. I recently got a Nikkor 55 1.2 & am very happy with it on a Z7

[@GTGeorgeW]

Thanks for this wonderful video. I'm considering this lens quite a bit, but I'll like to know if there is any focus confirmation on a Z8 which I know you guys have.

[@stevenj2380]

Nice pics today, NY cityscape in some afternoon contrasty lighting. On D750. My 'better' body is a D810 and looking forward to going out with that and the V 58, and my AIS lenses. The V 58 1.4 lens on DX (D7200) not quite so useful as FL (of course). Was glad to have tilt screen for low down pics down a street and to be able to magnify live view to check focus (then I turn that off to take photo). Nikon body does not show focus as well as the Nikkor ais I have, though sometimes I get a flash of the 'arrows' pointing in and a hint of a focus confirm circle. It is fine that there are electronic contacts so that A can be controlled from camera body - and the Voightlanders thus are fine on D7500. This was the first time in at least 2 years I've used that 58. I've just been more confident in manual and have recent use of Nikor ais 24, 28 and micro 55 2.8's on D7200. The 24 is best combination for me for walk around. Key to good walk-around use was good combo of ISO setting or range, shutter setting or auto range, and some D lighting.

[@tashihishey34]

I mostly shoot with my Nikon AIs 50mm 1.2. I'm looking to buy the Nikon 58mm 1.4.

[@mrca2004]

I use this lens on a d850 and like my zeiss glass, I use the focus confirmation arrows/meatball. It consistently nails focus at 1.4 as does my 100 mm zeiss makro planar or 85 planar. I also use this on a F5 that has focus confirmation, same great result. On things like FE, Fm2n, I rely on split screen focus and that is still pretty reliable. But I started using split screen in 1978. I love the colors that come out of this lens. It's still a fairly compact size, not my 50 mm pancake, but smaller than a sigma 50 1.4. It's size is fine for use in the field.

[@johnhjic2]

Hello Both, Becky just sad one of the big advantages with all mirrorless cameras, when shooting in manual focus you can zoom in to the point you which in focus not just for portraits (That is very nice) but for landscape (it is amazing to be able to zoom in). Thanks both for one more in the can. Keep well, keep safe and remember just to barge the others out of the way.

[@philmtx3fr]

Probably interesting lens with the Df and its green rectangle confirmation with manual lenses

[@alfredbenas9803]

I'm surprised that you didn't compare apples to apples. I would've liked to see the voigtlander compared to the nikon 58mm f1.4. I have always been a big fan of voigtlander, buying the 50mm & 35mm apo z & the 40mm f1.2 z mounts for my z7 's. The f mount "G" lens that I still use regularly is my nikon 58mm f1.4 on an ftzII adapter (with focus confirmation) . I've set it to manual focus so the shooting motions are the same. For me, the results are stellar regardless of the subject. Both of the 58mm lenses have lovers & haters online, but you guys are much more objective. Would have loved to hear your observations. (Note: I shoot mostly in monochrome mode raw, converting later for my final product, as required. )

[@deeteeohbee6794]

Manual focusing on my D700 (where I have replaced my focus screen) and Df (where I have not replaced my focus screen) is fairly trivial, especially for static subjects. While the stock focusing screens are not optimized for lenses under f2.8 it is still very possible and even preferable for me. I can spend my entire time in the viewfinder thinking about composition and I can instantly focus on any part of the scene without having to move my focus point or zoom in using live view. If you are going to focus by eye and not using the focus confirmation dot it is very important to have your viewfinder diopter dialed in for your particular eyes. To dial in the viewfinder diopter I use the digital readout in the viewfinder as a reference; when the text is as sharp as it can be, so will the image through the lens.

[@TheGreatLoco]

ZF.2 Zeiss, AI-S and SL lenses give focus confirmation on my DSLR, even old ones. I have the impression SL-IIs Voigtländer lenses are Nikkor AI-P (and ZF.2) equivalents. So they don’t need non-CPU setup and offer focus confirmation in the viewfinder (which is also available on AI-S lenses). Older Voigtländer SL lenses do need non-CPU setup on a DSLR. Not sure what’s the situation on a Z camera, though. I thought to complement my Voigtländer lineup with the Nokton 58mm 1.4 SL IIs, though not sure about CA and performance at wider apertures, since it doesn’t have aspherical or ED glass. Looking forward to seeing the APO-Skopar 90mm 2.8 review. It should be excellent optically, and the price isn’t outrageous.

[@dominiclester3232]

There are now three ways the camera confirms focus plus focus peaking. The original “phase dot” after using its arrows, “zooming in” in a Z camera and with the new Voightlanders we get a green focus box which only goes green when exactly correct. The focus throw on this new (ish) 58mm is very long and very smooth!

[@Bareego]

I quite liked the sharpness and contrast with this lens, but I found the bokeh to be a bit distracting. I'd understand that you might want to use such a short focal length for portraits as it gives you a lot more leeway towards angle of shot, which is more limited with longer lenses. But if you shoot mostly at eye level anyway I'd rather use a 85/1.4,105/2 or 135/2 any day.

[@zaharib]

Great video K & B 🥰 How did you generate the Black & White photos? Just turn down the raw developers saturation to zero? That or anything else? Just curious on a birds eye view of the software workflow used for the images we see here 🥰

[@scottparis6355]

Maybe you mentioned this and I missed it, but a 58mm lens on an APSC camera is equvalent to 87mm on full frame. So it's a perfect portrait lens in that format. I have an ancient Nikkor 5.8cm f1.4 that I use for dreamy soft portraits on my D7500.

[@KibbitUpIt]

Great shoot! Always great content

[@paulmontgomery6257]

So, Kon has been out taking Macro shots of flowers and Becky has been doing portraiture. Who learned the most? Great work all.

[@KarloFio]

Hi again 🤗 received the Nokton 58mm three days ago and it's basically glued to my D850, an exceptional lens indeed! One question, I do protect lenses with clear filters from Nikon and Hoya but some people are saying this lens would lose its special look if "covered"!? So far I don't see a difference and I feel it has to have some peotection beside the lens hood that I also have. Do you have any experience with this issue, I would appreciate your opinion a lot, thanks 🙏

[@stefannantz]

Hi Guys love your channel , QQ I have the 58mm on a DF but I have to set it to f16 and then use the camera dial to adjust the apature. When using the apature.ring I get fee is there away to use the aperture rung?

[@Photojouralist123]

My god Kon is using a light meter there is life!!! Finally 😮

[@KarloFio]

Hi, a wonderful video as usual ❤ please tell me if you have tried to adapt the Nokton 58mm to a Z camera via the FTZII adapter? I want to get this lens for my D850 and would like to know if there is a green square focus confirmation when using with the adapter as I would love to use it on my Z50 for portraits. Thank you very much in advance, I would highly appreciate your answer! Yours, Karlo

[@graysofwestminster]

Kon used the Nokton 58mm on his Z6 with the FTZ and it worked really well. The FTZII should work as well.

[@KarloFio]

@@graysofwestminster Thank you so very much for your answer! Since 60mm is kind of "my" focal length I am looking forward to use the Nokton with my D850 👍

[@jacobjurg3746]

Great lens: put it on a Nikon Df, set aperture at f/2.8, shoot in black and white, and you need nothing else but subjects to photograph. Focus confirmation works as well on nikon dslrs afaik.

[@zollieuncle9647]

Interesting review. This is the only lens of this brand that I do not have and hence am interested in learning what I actually miss. No focus confirmation? All others I have do focus confirmation. What happend with this 58/1.4 so that it laks this important feature?

[@tedk2814]

I like this type of video. I have a question for either of you or a reader, in one photo of the sun shining through the trees, I see a star burst pattern of light however the aperture says 1.2. Although I don't have tons of experience, when I want to creat that, I closed down the lens quite a bit. How is it then you get this type of effect with the lens open? Thanks so much for these studio setting episodes. Ted

[@graysofwestminster]

Hi Ted, actually on many of the shots we listed which lens was used but not what settings were used, in this case it was shot wide open at f/1.4 if you're speaking of the light through the trees image, but slightly more stopped down. Hope that helps!

[@soarindragon603]

Don't DSLRs have focus confirmation indicators in the viewfinder? Why wouldn't that work with the voigtlander? Also, the Z6 has no focus peeking? Why not use that? ????

[@soarindragon603]

@omarchafa LoL. Thanks. I just got my copy this week. I concur. I have it on a D700 as well.

[@Azeemmerchant]

Love these BTS videos ❤✋🏼🤚🏼

[@Kvvipin]

👍👍