Eversince I watched this video, I bought this lens with no regret at all. I am using it on both my D850 and occasionally on my Sony A7r5 body. The image quality is awsome, the color rendering and out of focus are very pleasing to me and I really enjoy the close focusing capability and quality as well.
40-45mm is my favourite focal length on film or FF. You can get good ones for range finders (along with the cameras). My recommendations are Olympus RC (42mm f2.8) or SP (40mm f1.7). A Minolta M Rokkor 40mm f2.8 or Voigtlander 40mm f1.4 on a CLE body. For SLRs, the Ultron 40mm F2 are superb. I have a SL in M42 and Nikon AIs and a SLII in PKA. I like the original bodies of the SL version best. I also like the Zeiss Tessars (45mm f2.8) and Pemtax M 40mm f2.8. Both the OM Zuiko 40mm and Konica Hexanon 40mm are supposed to be very good, but the former is prohibitively expensive and the latter has a limited range of bodies to match. For Minolta MD, the budget 45mm f2 is a steal ( I paid £20 for mine just a few years ago) and a great performer.
Hi Mac, enjoyed your presentation. Though this is 2 years old at the time I'm seeing it, I do have a critique. Unless I missed it, I don't believe you indicated your settings, particularly F-stop. Back in my pro days before digital was a thing, I didn't give an iota about lenses, because everything was shot at F8. When I went to lower F-stops, I became more and more nervous since I wanted to deliver all tack-sharp images to my clients. Without the benefit of chimping, one had to rely on technique with old, manual focus film cameras, so F8 was the main objective unless forced lower by low light and not enough flash power. Now, if you do a blind test comparison between multi-thousand dollar prime lenses vs. el-chepos at F8, one is hard pressed to tell any difference at all (assuming a respectable el-cheapo). Thus, all lenses (well, almost all lenses) become quite sharp and contrasty at higher F-stops, making it nearly impossible to consistently tell which lens took what picture--thus, my non-caring attitude during my pro days. Ever since bokeh became the rave, lens performance wide-open became the test by which lenses showed their character (i.e., flaws that enhance or distract from an image). Without knowing what F-stop you used, it's hard to get a good evaluation of how the lens really performs. Since you're using a Nikon F3 with a max shutter speed of 2000, and since you're shooting outdoors at ASA 400, I would guess you're minimally at F5.6 or higher, depending if metering was done in the shade, dark areas, etc. So, my guess is these shots were not taken wide-open, but of course I could be wrong. And if they were taken at F8 or thereabouts, then it will perform as good as just about any other lens regardless of price. I did not notice an ND filter which would have made it easier to take all your shots at F2. Regardless, enjoyed your presentation and style. 😎
I have the Voigtländer SLII-S 28mm and love it! For my next pick-up, I was waffling between the CZ 35mm/f2 and this Voigtländer 40mm; after watching your review and reading the comments I think you've convinced me to go with the Voigtländer 40mm!
40mm is a nice 'Goldilocks' focal length. I've been experimenting with it in my studio, when my 50-58mm lenses are a bit long for the small space and 35mm is a bit too wide.
I've never shot this focal length. I've wasted so many years! I really love how it sits perfectly between 35mm and 50mm! I think it is my everyday lens moving forward!
You want to add a longer lens? Check out the Niklor 105mm/2.5 AIS. And btw, I purchased 2 FE2's off eBay from Japan with their ++++MINT, Near Mint, etc. One the electronics failed after a half a roll of film and the other only works in M mode. The Aperture preferred Mode the exposure needle is dead. My thoughts are the eBay Japan market for these vintage cameras are now selling the marginal bodies they are trying to off load. Glad my F3HP came from a state side seller. It works perfectly.
I'm def. buying a 105mm f/2.5 ASAP! Yeah, eBay Japan is dumping duds on the market. I've had issues with the past 3 Nikon SLRs I've bought from Japan that were "EX+++++". Thanks for watching, Gary!
Great review. I have this lens too and use it on my F3/FM2/FM3a. Don’t think I’ve ever noticed CA with it, though it’s less of a problem on film than digital. 40mm is a real sweet spot - kind of the perfect focal length. I also used to flip-flop between 50mm & 35mm but this is the only F-mount lens that fills that hole, making it a lens I’ll never get rid of. Beautiful build quality too - the focus ring is like butter.
@@hsuehprettyboien5695 You don’t NEED the FM3a but if you WANT one, better to get one sooner than later as prices are rising continually. You might look back in a few years and regret not getting it while you had the chance. If I had to pick one camera out of the three it would be the FM3a.
To be honest, voigt 40mm f2 skopagon is also an ideal choice. You can send your 40mm lens to modified into leica m coupling and use them on leica CL body
I went on a similar journey through Leica-land and found my way to Nikon. I LOVE the feel of a cold brass rangefinder in hand, and pulling focus with that rangefinder patch, but in the end I had a few issues with Leica that sent me packing. First, as you mention, the framelines. I didn't actually mind the idea, and its ingenious in so many ways, but as a glasses wearer, I constantly struggled to use wide angle lenses and pulling critical focus with 90mm was a chore. Also mentioned, the issue of reliability and service times. After being without my M3 for months, and waiting weeks (or months) to have lenses cleaned or repaired, the final straw was the flash sync on my M4-P going out. I sent it in for service and six months later I was still waiting. With gear that costs as much as Leica costs, all that shipping and waiting took too much mental energy. I'm much happier snapping away with my F3 and 50 1.4 that cost less than any single Leica lens I owned. I've been eyeing this 40mm (and the 58) from Voigtlander for a while now, so thanks for making this.
I bought 2 x M-A’s brand new and they both arrived with crazy dust on the viewfinders sent them back for a swap, 2 months later I get a replacement that was just as bad. Refunded €16k worth of an order and the ignorant arrogant bastards didn’t even respond to my 4-5 email complaints. Leica easily has the worst service and qc on the whole spectrum of camera manufacturers . The Japanese wouldn’t have let that happen. I will never buy or even recommend Leica to no one. I heard the horror stories of the service times and the shot customer service and still after 15yrs of waiting finally was going to buy 2 analogue bodies to keep and service over time and they couldn’t even get them into my hands new without flaws from the get go. Absolutely ridiculous with their prices and their double sign offs in the box.. blind German chimpanzees on the technician line it seems. And people spending 8.5k on digital M’s and having issues and having to wait for months. Completely unacceptable. I commented on another post on Discuss. A guy sent his 11k noctilux that was 3 months old due to sticking aperture blades… it came back with oil all over the blades and ruined.. they are f@&kin retards working there.
I purchased a cheap Nikon FG on Ebay.+++++everything lol. Shutter problems and constant lockups. Ty for the review. May get this and slap it on my F to X adapter.
I have been shooting with this lens on digital for over a one year now and I am very happy with it. I would like to try it out on a film camera but don’t have any.
Looking for a cheap, light (400g) medium telephoto, get the 135mm f/3.5 from 1977 (not the f/2.8 from 1982) with excellent optical properties, build-in hood and only 4 lens elements in 4 groups. Hidden gem, may even better then the famous 105mm f/2.5 !!!
Brings back nice memories when I lived in Charlotte beautiful city. I'm also shooting with Nikon film cameras, my absolute favorite is the Nikon fm. If u can get a good copy u should check it out. I just picked up a canon elan 7e with the 40mm 2.8 nice walk around auto focus setup, looking for the 28mm 1.8 too complete my canon kit
Leica is an amazing company. Amazing tools. 200% too expensive and truthfully fragile. I’ve had them but came back to Nikon. For the price of a Nikon F100, and an FE/FM and a trinity set of lenses (assuming you buy Nikon glass and not zeiss)you would still only have maybe MAYBE just enough money for a used body of a Leica. Came back to edit this comment and Well I did the math… for the cost of an f100, fm2, 50mm 1.2, 105mm 2.5 and 35mm 1.4 you’re only going to be paying 1500. That’s barely enough for a used m2 or m3! If you factor in Leica glass…The less spent on gear the more film can be bought and that’s why we do this hobby right? I mean don’t get me wrong I love just holding and looking at cameras and film packaging But the best feeling is rambling around finding fun things to take pictures of. I really liked your photos in this video and the little 40mm lens is super tempting as is that new 28mm voigtlander….btw Nikon still makes a few brand new AI-S lenses that are relatively affordable prices. If you read all this thank you for all the effort you put into your videos they are wonderful and helpful.
I agree 100% with your Leica comments. I want so badly for them to be reliable, but sadly that has not been my realty. 2 of the 3 that are now broken were CLA'd in the past 18-months. My Nikons never serviced and keep going. I'll def. look into the Nikon 28mm lens options! Thanks for watching!
@@MacShootsFilm oh man that hurts! I’m sorry your Leicas are giving you such trouble. Here’s some unsolicited advice, sell the broken bodies they will still get you a good bit of money. With that cash find either the 85 1.4d/1.8d AF lens or any version of the 105 2.5. You like taking shots of your girlfriend/fiancé/wife and those lenses will make her look absolutely beautiful. If I could I would post a sample shot I took with the 85mm 1.8d
First of all…they shipped that monster head off for repairs??? Like to have seen that on a truck! Secondly… I love how you have moved on from Leica based on your experience. Curious how many others would have the stones to do that? The cool outcome is it gives others that can’t afford the system an alternative that’s more in their economy. Thanks for being real!
I'm the type of person that refuses to stick with something that no longer serves me well. Maintaining these Leica bodies is not something that interests me or my bank account. LOL. I hope viewers of my channel see that you can still make images they can be proud of with almost any lens. Nikon bodies are more than sufficient and there is an endless list of non-Leica glass that can produce spectacular images. I see lots of photographers on RU-vid and Instagram producing subpar images with Leica bodies and glass. They think somehow buying a "luxury" brand will make them a less terrible photographer. Sadly, for them, they'll never improve until they realize light and composition are the main ingredients that determine if an image is worth viewing or not.
I totally LOVE 40 mm lenses. It comes from when I shot digital and had the digital Olympus PEN-F with a 20/1.7 Panasonic lens. Fantastic focal length. I wonder if the Voigtländer 40/2 has some barrel distortion. In digital, I never cared for it because you'd just click on something to correct for distortion. But analog, ofc you don't want that ... apart from that, the pics you took look amazing. But still, maybe the Voigtländer 40/2 it's the one everyday lens I want for my Nikon bodies ...
I wish I would had given 40mm a try years ago. Better late than never, I guess! 😂 I'll def. test for barrel distortion! The Voigt is such a small compact package I do think it might be my everyday, walk around, lens! Thanks for watching!
Hey great review! Am considering between the 35mm distagon F2 vs this 40mm Ultron. Focal length aside, would you say the image & video quality is more or less the same?
Talking about a bit longer focal length in need, introduced recently: Voigtlander 90mm f2.8 SL II-S Apo-Skopar. If you have a chance please take a look and review it, I think there are very few reviews available on that yet.
I agree with others....the 40mm is a pretty fun focal length. You do have to adapt to it, but once you start thinking like a 40, the opportunities just make themselves know.
voigtlander slr 40mm 58mm lens balance so well on Nikon film cameras. How do they compare to Zeiss ZF 35mm f2.0 and 50mm f1.4 ? Zeiss 35mm is so much heavier.
I honestly thing the Voigtlander 58mm is better than the Planar 50mm f/1.4. The 35mm DIstagon is an amazing lens, but is too massive. The Voigtlander 40mm is 98% as good as the distagon for a fraction of the price and weight!
@@MacShootsFilm Thanks for your reply. I shoot Nikon DSLR for years with Voigtlander 58 and a few Zeiss ZF.1 18mm, 28mm, 50MP, 100MP. Those Zeiss are high performance lens but I am in a dilema going into smaller camera body and more compact lens to carry around. Sold my bulky DSLR and only have Nikon F3 left. I am not sure I would spend huge money investing Leica M digital + Voigtlander VM lens. But I like Voigtlander SLR lens focus much closer than M lens.
Film prices are rising everywhere. With all the global supply shortages prices on everything have gone up. Hopefully once things settle down costs decrease as well.
I develop at home with C-41 chemicals from Cinestill. I use a Plustek 8200i scanner for 35mm and a Epson v650 for 120 film (use a Lomography Digitaliza holder for 120). I use Vuescan as my scanning software and do final edits in Lightroom. I'll make a video soon!
@@MacShootsFilm thanks for the info. I look forward to the scanning video. I share your interest in the 40mm. I have adapted the Konica 40mm f1.7 to my Nikon Z6ii. A very useful focal length.