I’ve recently acquired a new Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5 Nokton lens, and I want to share my first impressions and experiences using it on two systems: Fujifilm and Leica cameras.
I ordered Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5 Nokton from MPB, and it’s quite hard to find at the moment.
When I saw it available online, I knew I had to buy it because I might not get another chance.
Currently, I have the Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5 mounted on my Fujifilm X-Pro3, and I was immediately amazed by how well it maintains its character on the APS-C Fujifilm sensor. Also Voigtlander Ultron 27mm it’s a great lens on Fujifilm.
Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5 is an M-mount, but it adapts beautifully to the Fujifilm system, creating a fantastic combination.
Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5 Nokton Build and Design
The Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5 Nokton is a beautifully crafted lens. It features a focusing tab, smooth focus ring, and satisfying clicks for aperture adjustments.
However, I didn’t purchase this lens just for my Fujifilm cameras — my primary intention was to use it with my Leica M camera.
This particular version is the Voigtlander 35mm f1.5 Nokton Type 2 model, made from brass, which makes it slightly heavier than the Voigtlander 35mm f1.5 Nokton Type 1.
I initially wanted the Type 1 aluminum version since it is lighter, but I couldn’t find it in stock.
To clarify, Voigtlander produces three versions of this lens:
- Voigtlander 35mm f1.5 Nokton Type 1 – Made from aluminum, black finish, very lightweight at 180g.
- Voigtlander 35mm f1.5 Nokton Type 2 – Made from brass, heavier at 280g, available in shiny black or silver.
- Voigtlander 35mm f1.5 Nokton Type 3 – Structurally similar to Type 2 but with different aesthetic choices.
The Type 2 version I purchased makes my Leica setup a bit heavier, but overall, it still feels manageable.
Why I Chose Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5 Nokton Lens
I opted for the 35mm f/1.5 instead of the more affordable and lighter Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 for a few key reasons:
- The f/1.5 aperture is crucial for low-light photography.
- It offers excellent subject-to-background separation for portraits.
- The optical performance is close to the Leica Summilux 35mm f/1.4, both the old and new versions.
- Reviews and sample images indicated this lens provides a balance between classic character and modern sharpness.
This lens delivers an incredible amount of detail—sometimes even too much!
On the Leica, it is exceptionally sharp, with a very smooth bokeh. The way it renders the foreground and background is simply stunning. The build quality is top-notch, and the aperture clicks feel premium.
Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5 Nokton Image Quality
Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5 Sharpness and Rendering
This lens is extremely sharp, sometimes even overwhelmingly so. It provides a lot of detail, making it perfect for those who love high-resolution images. The bokeh is very smooth, and the subject separation is excellent.
It maintains its sharpness across different apertures, from f/1.5 to f/2.8, and beyond.
I haven’t tested it extensively at smaller apertures yet, but from my research, it remains well-controlled and consistently sharp even at f/8 or f/11.
It also resolves the 60MP sensor of the Leica M11 remarkably well, making it a solid choice for high-resolution work.
Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5 Minimum Focus Distance
Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5 minimum focus distance it’s 0.5 cm. This is above the range finder capabilities that it’s just 0.7 cm. I don’t feel there are problems in real world shooting – because when you want a close shot you can get it (and this is a big advantage).
Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5 Color and Contrast
The lens produces beautiful colors and strong micro-contrast, contributing to that sought-after 3D pop effect.
Even when adapted to APS-C sensors, the lens retains much of its character. On my Fujifilm X-Pro3, I was initially concerned about losing micro-contrast and 3D rendering, but the results proved otherwise.
Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5 Controlling the Modern Look
While the sharpness and modern rendering can sometimes feel too clinical, it’s easily adjustable in post-processing.
In Adobe Lightroom, I reduce clarity and texture slightly (-20) to achieve a more filmic, softer look. Alternatively, for a super sharp, ultra-modern effect, I can increase clarity and texture to +10. This flexibility makes the lens extremely versatile.
Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5 Performance on Fujifilm X-Pro3
Mounting this full-frame lens on an APS-C Fujifilm camera yielded surprisingly good results.
I was initially worried about losing some of its unique qualities, but after testing it indoors on my puppet test, I found that it maintains its micro-contrast and detail very well.
This brings up an important point: if you own both a Leica and a Fujifilm camera, why buy separate lenses when you can adapt one? Voigtlander does make dedicated Fujifilm lenses, but adapting this M-mount lens gives me more flexibility while retaining nearly the same image quality.
How To Focus Voigtlander 35mm f1.5 On Fujifilm’s Cameras
While the lens works beautifully on my Fujifilm system, I have encountered some issues with Fujifilm’s manual focusing implementation. On the Fujifilm X-T5, the manual focus aids work very well, but there’s a bug that prevents the focus peaking from disappearing when lightly pressing the shutter button.
On the Fujifilm X-T50, the manual focusing experience feels somewhat downgraded. Normally, when using manual focus, cameras will zoom in when turning the focus ring and then return to the full image view upon pressing the shutter lightly.
However, on the Fujifilm X-T50, the zoom does not automatically exit—you have to manually press a button to return to the full image view. This is a frustrating change, especially for those accustomed to a more intuitive workflow.
Additionally, since Voigtlander lenses lack firmware, any future Fujifilm updates could impact compatibility. This is something Voigtlander should address by incorporating firmware into their lenses for Fujifilm.
Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5 Final Thoughts
The Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5 Nokton is an exceptional lens, offering a perfect balance of sharpness, micro-contrast, and beautiful rendering.
It performs excellently on both Leica and Fujifilm cameras, making it a highly versatile option for those who shoot with both systems.
Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5 Pros:
- Superb sharpness with detailed rendering
- Smooth, beautiful bokeh
- Excellent build quality
- Works well on both full-frame and APS-C sensors
- Strong micro-contrast and 3D pop
Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5 Nokton Cons:
- Can be too sharp or modern-looking (but fixable in post-processing)
- Heavy compared to other options (especially Type 2 brass version)
For its price, I genuinely believe this lens punches above its weight class. If you’re looking for a premium 35mm lens with outstanding optical quality, the Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5 is an excellent choice!
Where To Buy Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5 Nokton?
Voigtlander 35mm F/1.5 Nokton Portraits Examples On Leica MP 240
Voigtlander 35mm f/1.5 Nokton Street Photography Pictures
