Voigtlander Nokton 25mm f/0.95 Micro Four Thirds Lens

Comments about Voigtlander Nokton 25mm f/0.95 Micro Four Thirds Lens:

Before I attached the Voigtlander Nokton 25mm to my Lumix GH2, I was using a plastic toy of a lens (the 14-42 kit lens) which was garbage. Now I finally feel like I am using a professional tool. The lens adds nice weight, you have complete control over every aspect of filming/photography and there is only one way you should shoot using this lens and that is manually. I added a vari-ND filter from Genus which gives me even greater control over DOF. This lens is worth every penny

Comments about Voigtlander Nokton 25mm f/0.95 Micro Four Thirds Lens:

I find it very difficult to achieve sharp focus on my E-M5 with this lens. If they made it for Sony with their focus peaking it would probably be fine but on the Olympus even with the magnification on the focussing it is a 50-50 proposition. My eyes aren't that good and I wear trifocals. Your experience may differ.

Comments about Voigtlander Nokton 25mm f/0.95 Micro Four Thirds Lens:

If you like your photos incredibly sharp this may not be the lens for you. If, like me, you are past your prime in most respects, either get yourself an 18 year old to focus your camera for you or stick with autofocus lenses. Using this lens while wearing trifocals is an exercise in futility. I would say I got about a 50% failure rate as far as sharp focus goes. As far as construction goes it is a veritable work of art. It is solid and beautiful to hold, but it is a Rolls Royce or Mercedes, not a Lexus. If the mere act of holding it makes you happy (RR or Mercedes) then by all means buy it. If you want the latest technology and 100% sharp photos get an autofocus lens (Lexus).

Comments about Voigtlander Nokton 25mm f/0.95 Micro Four Thirds Lens:

This lens has already gotten enough raves that you'd think all the hoopla would result in a letdown.

But far from it. The Voigtlander + Panasonic GH2 combo is just beautiful for video. Yes, it can be a bit soft at times but it achieves a certain asthetic that you won't be able to find with other lenses. Or another way to put it, it's imperfect in an asthetically pleasing way, and at times gorgeous, cinematic.

It is expensive, but it is worth it. If you have the budget and you're using a GH2 to shoot film/video and you need just one lens - this is it. This 25mm on a micro 4/3rds like a GH2 is equivalent to a medium (not a wide) lens, which makes it very versatile.

Comments about Voigtlander Nokton 25mm f/0.95 Micro Four Thirds Lens:

I use this lens with my Af100, and it is by far the best glass I have in my kit. It's great under low light, super sharp, and the colors are spot on.

Comments about Voigtlander Nokton 25mm f/0.95 Micro Four Thirds Lens:

This is the perfect lens for manual shooting. By manual I mean manual focus, manual f stop. I use it on a Lumix GH2 and it is wonderful for both stills and video situations.
BUT I have always liked manual shooting and never been overly in love with auto focus so this lens answers my wish list. It might not work for you.
Also has quite good close focus abilities and, unlike so many other manufactures, it comes with a lens hood.

Comments about Voigtlander Nokton 25mm f/0.95 Micro Four Thirds Lens:

This lens has so many wonderful things about it that it's hard to put it into words. The build construction is so superb its almost a crime. It has the absolute best focus ring I've ever seen on any lens, regardless of the price. This is just such a solid lens. Built like a tank and there's NO doubt this lens would work in 30 years from now, even if the Micro 4/3ds is not being used. It's just such a game changer and it is a desert island lens. In that, I could shoot an entire project with this lens... and quite frankly I have. So much of the time this baby is on my camera and it's just the absolute best. Now it's not a wide angle, but that's not always needed. What it is is an absolute beauty. Don't hesitate, pick up this lens cause it's absolutely the most incredible lens for the Micro 4/3....

Comments about Voigtlander Nokton 25mm f/0.95 Micro Four Thirds Lens:

Incredible lens! I am a film maker, this glass is the most versatile lens I have in my collection! Its so sharp and amazingly fast! Great for low light situations for any film maker on a budget this lens is a must, its a little pricey, but hey its built like a tank! Its a little on the heavy side.

Comments about Voigtlander Nokton 25mm f/0.95 Micro Four Thirds Lens:

It's hard to describe just how good this lens really is... Beautifully made, with a gorgeous metal barrel, perfectly damped focus ring with just the right amount of throw, and an aperture ring just just feels 'right'... Brutally sharp from f2 upwards with a stunning depth to images (I mean depth, not shallow depth of field - it feels like it draws you in to a scene) and gorgeously dreamy from f0.95-f1.4. Bokeh is good at any aperture and jaw dropping at f0.95. From f4 onwards it produces fantastically crisp starbursts around defined lightpoints and it focusses near macro close as a bonus...

This is on my GH2 90% of the time and I've used it for everything from landscape and hiking, to portraiture and street. It is perfect.

Comments about Voigtlander Nokton 25mm f/0.95 Micro Four Thirds Lens:

On my Panasonic AGAF102 micro 4/3 sensor camera this lens is fantastic for low light conditions and offers a great depth of field, with incredible clarity. I have also used it for stills on my Panasonic GH1 with very nice results. My most favorite lens in years...

Comments about Voigtlander Nokton 25mm f/0.95 Micro Four Thirds Lens:

I could write a book about how good this lens is, but instead I'll just say this: buy it and never look back. The build is superb, the look is unique and desirable, easy to focus and a pleasure to own. It is the most used lens in my arsenal.

Comments about Voigtlander Nokton 25mm f/0.95 Micro Four Thirds Lens:

First and only lens to give real depth of field control in MFT: can pick out one person in a crowd when used right. Fantastically sharp from f/1.4 on, and wide open has a dream-like quality beautifully suited to night and indoor shooting.

Focusing is smooth and precise to the point that I can nail the focus even without EVF zoom. Also, no apparent focus shift with changing aperture.

Has drawn me back into the discipline of using one prime and controlling the image by primitive means. It forces you to think about what you are shooting and how you are shooting it.

Mechanically it is in a class by itself -- unless you put Leica glass on an adapter. Mechanical feel is pure German engineering: smooth, perfectly damped, just the right resistance and certitude.

Using on Olympus EP2; in body stabilization works, making it even more useful. Have had it for a month now and haven't taken it off the body once -- not even tempted.

Brilliant!

Comments about Voigtlander Nokton 25mm f/0.95 Micro Four Thirds Lens:

I hesitated to buy this, since it is quite expensive and there are other good lenses out there for m4/3 in this focal length. However, I am really really happy I pulled the trigger. I love everything about it. It feel great on my EP3 (I like the heaviness and solidity of it) and looks great too. I have had no trouble manually focusing it and zone focus at smaller apertures is super easy (distance markings on lens barrel). I almost never take it off the camera- only do so when I replace with the Oly 14-150 for snapshots when traveling or at my son's school events. I love this lens. Image quality is superb. And it's FAST!! I can't say enough good things about it. I look forward to using it every time. If you're on the fence...go for it!

Comments about Voigtlander Nokton 25mm f/0.95 Micro Four Thirds Lens:

Expensive but it is simply the best lens for the MFT format. I use it on my Panasonic GH2 and it is awesome. The Panasonic lenses feel like toys in comparison to this bad boy. Beautiful bokeh too. It is a little soft at 0.95 but very sharp above 1.4. I don't shoot AF so this is perfect for me. I am a video guy but I have taken some photos with it and this is great for both.

Comments about Voigtlander Nokton 25mm f/0.95 Micro Four Thirds Lens:

This is by far one of, if not THE best lens for the m4/3 system. It makes our GH2 footage, under natural or practical lighting conditions look outstanding.

Comments about Voigtlander Nokton 25mm f/0.95 Micro Four Thirds Lens:

The 25 Nokton is a classic lens. No autofocus and no metadata. To use it to its full potential you have to know what you are doing. Focusing will benefit from a large, detailed viewfinder. Some experience with zone focusing will make it even easier to use (at smaller aperture).
The construction is lovely. It is made of metal and glass only and the focusing ring is smooth and well damped. It feels slightly heavy when mounted on a GF or PEN body, but it's still very useable. The hood has a filter thread (67mm) and a cap of its own which makes it very easy to replace or remove filters.
Image quality is fantastic: it is sharp from f/1.4 and the contrast is pleasing. The bokeh is butter smooth even wide open. It's my favorite m4/3 lens by quite a margin.

Comments about Voigtlander Nokton 25mm f/0.95 Micro Four Thirds Lens:

Using w/ a GH2. In one word "Elegant." Beautiful, solid build, easy silky smooth focusing, tack sharp, incredible low light, beautiful bokeh. The Nokton has become my favorite lens for day and night. Small and compact that it looks in proportion to a M43 body. It produces beautiful sharp contrast images in very low light. Definitely get a set of 52mm ND filters as you will want to shoot wide open in bright daylight to make full use of the very narrow field of focus. The m43 Nokton brings out the full potential of micro four thirds cameras. Hopefully Cosina-Voightlander develops more M43 lenses.