Voigtländer Nokton 21mm f/1.4 lens review 

I have both this lens (for E-mount) and the 50mm f1.2 Nokton VM lens, using both on a Nikon Z5. I love them both. The 21mm is my favorite, a lens I only got recently, but already have come to prefer over my other lenses. If you're curious about the 50mm f1.2, then I can say that it is pretty sharp even wide open and you do get some very beautiful images with it. Stop it down to f4 and I believe that it's sharp from edge to edge. The big weakness of this lens is the chromatic aberration when wide open, which is to be expected I suppose, size and aperture considered. Since I mostly shoot in BnW I'm not that concerned with it, but it is fairly visible when shooting in color. It is only really an issue with contrasting edges of course. I don't have any issues focusing with it, even at f1.2. If you consider getting it, and you don't already have it :), then go for it. The images are beautiful and you can even get this medium format feeling when shot correctly.

It's even more like the very early 50s Takumars. Those are some of my favorite vintage lenses but these Voigtlanders improve with wider apertures on wider angle lenses. I'm definitely looking into getting some of these lenses. The 40mm Nokton f1.2 looks very good.

@My Epic Photography Channel I went totally voigtlander MF when I had an R2 and had gotten frustrated with the AF. For landscapes, it's no big issue imo. I have an A1 now and AF lenses for sports and wildlife, things that need it, but I don't think there's an reason to now replace the lenses I use for things that don't.

Phillipreeve have reviewed both, they talk about a "mid zone dip" not appearing on the bigger faster lens, that is significantly faster. I don't particularly see said dip in my 21 3,5 and really like how well defined the sunstars are at f/4 as well as the general color and contrast of it. It's hard to find a cheaper alternative with exif.

I have the 15mm, and although i am huge fan of the 21mm Nokton, see my comment above, and also appreciate the 35mm Nokton, i am often disappointed with the 15mm. i want so much to like it, it is a great lens in man ways, but my copy at least, is just not that sharp, and I am not an obsessive with sharpness. I wish there more Voigtlaender reviews out there….

@@dylanglynn5703 Yeah, my first Voigtlander was the 15mm for FE mount, it has soft corners. Apparently the 15 is known for sample variation, although after people started commenting on it, the lens wasn't available for a while. Perhaps they heard the feedback and the new ones rolling off the line have been fixed.

@@pmc7105 actually i have often wondered whether i just have a poor sample (or etc etc). i picked it up secondhand so there are loads of possibilities as to what could be the issue. I’ve wondered b/c overall ive not been overly impressed by it, not jst the corners - it is a super portable super wide angle after all. but my only points of comparison at the super wide end are the zeiss 18mm distagon and the laowa 9mm… both of which i love. I really should find a way of checking the copy that i have. thanks for the heads up, i’ll follow it up b/c the lens should be great! :)

Which is better?

I could never justify that kind of spending for my Sony when the 24mm GM is the same price but better, and native. Over 1k for a manual focus lens of this caliber seems like a joke to me.

I have the leica m version. Focus breathing is minimal. By the way reminding it is a manual focus lens, hunting for focus will not be the case. It is not disturbing at all as it is not realized. It is my favorite video lens.

@@skipper4114 Interesting, thanks for the response. I know sometimes there can be variance issues such as decentering. I saw Fredmiranda's comparison, and he concluded that the CV was the better lens. The Loxia came very close though. I do like the sunstars on the Loxia slightly better. The weathersealing is also a plus, but the build of the CV reminds me of some of my favorite 1960's Takumar lenses. I do wish that the performance was better wide open for astro applications, but stopping down to F2.8 for coma is very acceptable for astro. I guess I could use it at F/1.4 for flower shots. Not sure if I feel comfortable using it for portraiture since it's a 21mm. I'll mainly be using it for landscape.

@@skipper4114 I would love to see the Northern Lights one day. I live in America in a state called New Jersey. Why are you selling it? Have you found a better lens?

@@skipper4114 Where are you thinking of moving to next? Why do you move so often. If you don't mind me asking.

The Nokton Classic? I'd imagine Chris would like it as much as the Nokton 35/1,2. Maybe even less since my cats cough up prettier things than the classic's bokeh.

@@Vantrakter That classic bokeh and the flare is the signature of the lens. Some people enjoy it. Some people don't.

How so? Built quality or image quality? And which camera and lenses are you using?

@@shmuelaryehkoltov241 Build quality is almost same but image quality is noticeable better than Sony version am using a7III , lumix S1 & few BM cine cameras

@@arunr4103 It's because Sony sensors use much thicker glass than Leica M.

Totally agree. Smaller lighter perfect af just no 1.4

Anything else youd like to add

@@Badonicus yes. Thanks for your contribution. Cheers!