Photography News | Issue 33 | absolutephoto.com
51 First tests
Specs
Verdict
Equivalent to a 35mm lens in the 35mm format, this fast aperture optic has the potential as a good all-rounder. Sharpness at f/0.95 is acceptable in the centre without being outstanding and some extra, sympathetic attention in processing is needed. The centre perks up considerably at f/1.4 but the edges still lag behind. In fact the edges are quite weak until you get to f/5.6 and f/8. Meanwhile the central region is good and detailed from f/2, peaking at f/4 and f/5.6. Shoot at f/5.6 and f/8 and you will enjoy this lens at its best. Diffraction takes its toll at f/11 and particularly at f/16. Voigtländer 17.5mm f/0.95 Nokton £891 The wider apertures give slightly soft images across the frame that need some sympathetic processing and some unsharp mask to make the most of them. But picture quality takes a turn for the better from f/2, and f/2.8 is the first aperture good enough for very critical use. That is still wide enough for nice bokeh. By f/4 and especially f/5.6 images look excellent across the frame, and with plenty of fine detail on show images will withstand a good level of enlargement. That high level of performance is maintained to f/11 and even at f/16 diffraction doesn’t have too much of an impact and the images are still decently sharp for good enlargements. Voigtländer 42.5mm f/0.95 Nokton £779 This focal length makes this lens another contender as a take everywhere standard lens. Optically, it proved a very decent performer including at f/0.95 where it was good in the centre but soft at the extreme edges and corner. The central area of the image improved quickly with further stopping down and is impressive from f/2. Edge quality is decent by f/5.6 but the extreme corners need even more stoppingdownandare goodat f/8. However, unless your intention is to use uncropped images this isn’t an issue. Again, diffraction plays its part by f/11 and f/16 and by the latter, overall resolution isn’t great but stick with the mid-apertures and this lens is very capable Voigtländer 25mm f/0.95 Nokton II £743
f/0.95
Format Micro Four Thirds Construction 13 elements in 9 groups Filter size 58mm Aperture range f/0.95-16 Diaphragm 10 blades Minimum focus 15cm Depth-of-field scale Yes Lens hood Supplied Dimensions (lxd) 80x63.4mm Weight 540g Contact flaghead.co.uk Format Micro Four Thirds Construction 13 elements in 8 groups Filter size 58mm Aperture range F/0.95-16 Diaphragm Ten blades Minimum focus 23cm Depth-of-field scale Yes Lens hood Supplied Dimensions 74.6x64.3mm Weight 571g Contact flaghead.co.uk Specs Format Micro Four Thirds Construction 11 elements in 8 groups Filter size 52mm Aperture range f/0.95-16 Diaphragm 10 blades Minimum focus 17cm Depth-of-field scale Yes Lens hood Supplied Dimensions (lxd) 70x60.6mm Weight 435g Contact flaghead.co.uk Specs
Optically, this lens is sound when used at its best apertures but wide open and fully stopped down overall quality is merely okay, notably away from the centre. That might suit your style or choice of subject so it’s certainly not a lens to be ruled out if a moderate super-fast wide-angle is what you want. Overall This is a decent, moderate wide- angle and performs well once it is a stopped down a little. Pros Fast aperture, useful focal length Cons Sharpness at f/0.95 is nothing special, edge quality is good with stopping down
f/2
f/2.8
f/5.6
f/11
f/16
Verdict
f/0.95
A super-fast medium telephoto is just the ticket for portraits with nice background bokeh and this lens is worth considering in this regard. Its modest optical performance at the wider apertures is a slight issue, but from f/2.8 sharpness does improve markedly and from that point this lens is very useable. Overall It is not pin-sharp at maximum aperture but improves rapidly with stopping down, and very useable from f/2 onwards Pros Lovely focal length for portraits Cons Sharpness at wider apertures could be better, but it is good once stopped down a little
f/2
f/2.8
f/5.6
f/11
f/16
Verdict
f/0.95
The 25mm f/0.95 Nokton makes for a fine standard lens. Maximum aperture image quality is good and very useable and by the time you get to f/2.8 the lens is impressive with crisp, sharp images particularly at the centre. It’s also the cheapest of the quartet so it is very good value too. standard lens. Sharpness is good, at wider values and very good at smaller apertures and lovely to use Pros Fast aperture, overall optical performance Cons Not much – maybe the soft extreme corners but they can be cropped out Overall A contender for a super-fast
f/2
f/2.8
f/5.6
f/11
f/16
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