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 p.1 #10 · Battle of the 40mm lenses for Nikon | |
RoamingScott wrote:
A few early thoughts on each lens so far as I've handled them, looked at the files, etc. with a bent towards wider aperture samples.
Septon
- I don't like the way it looks on either my Zf or Z9, and its short length decreases every control to a very small surface area. Almost no non-rotating surface area to hold onto while mounting and unmounting.
- Not crazy about the aperture ring cut out, don't like the hood solution.
- So far, I like the bokeh the least, though this was expected after seeing samples here...very soap bubbly, very hard outlines on bokeh balls, overall jittery and nervous.
- Don't like the soft glow at f/2.
- Really dislike how the bokeh devolves into "comets" at the edges and corners at wide apertures.
Nokton
- This copy seems optically better than the one I previously owned at launch. I have actually been quite impressed by both sharpness and bokeh in my tests so far.
- Weight and handling is excellent down to the Zf. It behaves just as you'd expect any classic Voigtlander to, getting out of your way.
- Focus throw is just a tad longer than I'd like in a perfect world. I understand it's because of the 1.2 aperture and better MFD, and it's not as bad as some other fast Noktons (58 for example).
- Flare stars are more well controlled even at wider apertures.
Ultron
- The short focus throw is what has made this lens a favorite over the years and that remains the case here.
- Bokeh has a bit more character inside the balls than the Nokton without the overall jitteriness of the Septon, an excellent middle ground just as I've said all along.
- Fringing is decently controlled, and sharpness is really good even from wide open. It's neck and neck with the Nokton at f/2 where you'd think it would be behind, and it's well ahead of the Septon, which has a gnarly glow wide open.
- You cannot use the aperture ring of this lens while it's on a smart adapter like the FTZ, which is a real bummer. By time you adapt it, the weight and length are basically the same as the Nokton, which has some advantages in terms of maximum aperture.
- Of course, this is the one lens that can be shared with a Nikon film camera, which is a big boon if you have one, and then the tiny size really shines.
TTA
- The effective 38.5mm focal length has become VERY evident when comparing this next to these other options. I actually appreciate that in most cases, as sometimes the Nokton (the most narrow of the batch) feels a lot deeper while composing...the effective difference between them is close to 3mm.
- The TTA, which does have a bit of glow wide open, is still far better controlled than the Septon's glow.
- The TTA is in the running for most neutral bokeh, somewhere right between clinical and character. Of course the TTA edge of frame bokeh can degrade into "guitar picks" in the right conditions, which is highly unique.
- This lens FEELS the lightest in practice when mounted to the camera, despite being a bit heavier than the Nikon.
- This lens has an annoying bug where the aperture opens fully on power off...you have to be careful not to leave it in the sun while mounted!
Nikon
- I have always been biased against this lens. I don't find it particularly sharp wide open, and the bloom at f/2 is heavy handed. I have not been dissuaded yet.
- I hate the way this lens feels in hand, a total cracker jack toy that feels like it will break at any moment. I dislike the way the plastic mount feels when taking it off and on, and the materials are frankly embarrassing for a first party lens.
- It feels wider than it needs to in the same was as the Septon and I really dislike how it looks on the cameras.
- The images have been...fine. There is nothing about the rendering style that makes me want to pick the lens up or details about the rendering that make me glad I used the lens. At the worst, there are issues at the edges that make me wish I hadn't....Show more →
Cool stuff, Scott. Look forward to seeing upcoming comps.
Agree on the Septon. Awkward looking ergos for any body size, and the bokeh isn't for me either. Also good to see you coming around to the Nokton. I've assumed your first one must've been bad given the level of disdain. I think most people who use a Nokton either find it works for them or it doesn't, but most people don't outright hate it 
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