I was loaned two Voigtlander lenses over the past few months to test them out in the field. The Ultron 40mm F2 SL-II as well as the Nokton 58mm F1.4 SL-II. Here’s a quick user based review on the two lenses. What do I mean by user based review? It just means there is neither technicality nor science behind it, I just shot with them and here are my views on the two lenses. I used them both on my Nikon FE2 as well as my D3.

The first up is the Nokton 58mm F1.4 SL-II. You can view the technical information at www.chiifcameras.com, I won’t bother to repeat this information here.

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Nokton 58mm F1.4 SL-II – Tech Info

Photograph from www.chiifcameras.com

Handling
The lens handles really nicely. Focusing is very fine although it will take a bit more finger work than I’m accustomed to get from one end of the focus ring to the other. The big rubber grip around the focus ring feels nice to hold on to, while the size of the lens itself balances rather well with the Fe2. The 58mm also allows for rather close focusing.

Images
Here are some photographs I took with this lens. A few are taken with the FE2 during my trip to Yunnan China, the others with my D3 while covering weddings.

The relatively short minimum focal distance comes in rather useful

Coupled with the D3, it makes a formidable combination for available light photography

If you thought shooting weddings with the Voigtlander was crazy, I even shot with my YashicaMat 124G!

Comments
While the lens has a maximum aperture of F1.4, I hardly utilised this unless absolutely necessary. At F1.4 I found the subject that was in focus to have a strange halo or haze around them, I’m not sure if it’s just me. However, stopping down to F2 and beyond the lens worked like a dream.

The focal length of 58mm seems rather strange but I enjoy using it on a full framed body. I find that 50mm tends to be neither here nor there, the additional 8mm gives that extra reach necessary to further help isolate your subject.

I know it’s also silly, but I like the way the lens looks as well. Nice big glass front element, hefty construction, not too big, not too small.

Overall quite a nice lens to use if you wish to travel light or require fast lenses for available light photography. I wonder why it only goes down to F16 though.

Now onto the 40mm F2. 

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Ultron 40mm F2 SL-II - Tech Info

Photograph from www.chiifcameras.com

Handling
In terms of “looks” I find the 40mm to look rather awkward, especially if you put on the hood. The front element seems rather small for a lens rated at F2. Nonetheless it started to grow on me really quickly.

Overall the lens is about 1/2 to 2/3 the size of the 58mm. It’s focus ring is a narrow ring of rubber at the edge of the lens. Focusing feels similar to the 58mm, fine and smooth. The size of the lens itself makes using it a rather “stealthy” affair especially coupled with the FE2. On the D3 the lens is dwarfed but has become one of my favourite combinations due to its petite footprint.

Images

The 40mm also allows for very distinctive isolation with its shallow DOF. While its minimum focal distance is rather short, I prefer the 58mm when photographing flowers and such.

This is what I meant by versatility. At 40mm it’s just wide enough to capture just a little more of the scene than the eye can see.

Comments
Unlike the 58mm, I love shooting at maximum aperture on the 40mm. Tack sharpness and very smooth bokeh make for excellent isolation.

After using the two lenses for a while, the 40mm quickly grew to becoming my favourite amongst the two and I found myself using it much more often than the 58. Partly due to the limitations that come along with a longer focal length but also because it’s tiny size makes it easier to get away with certain shots. I’ve even had people come up to me and chuckle at how small the lens looks in comparison to the D3 it was mated with.

I did however have a problem with the aperture ring. The spring which closes the aperture automatically somehow came loose but this should be an easy fix by the distributor or camera mechanic.

Overall, fantastic lens. One which I will miss considering I have already returned both to the distributor.

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If you are interested in the two lenses, you can go to www.chiifcameras.com to find out more, he’s the local distributor of Voigtlander products. In case you are wondering, no I’m not affiliated in anyway to him, nor did he ask me to write this review, I did it just for the fun of it.

Erv.