UPDATE: First image samples have been posted on Ganref.jp (Many Thanks Nokubi!).
Image samples at f/0.95 aperture
Image sample at f/2 aperture
Image sample at f/2.8 aperture
Image sample at f/4 aperture
The well known (and very trustworth) German store Fotomundus is accepting pre-orders on eBay for the new [shoplink 15659]Voigtländer Nokton 25mm f/0.95 (Click here)[/shoplink]:
“We will reach the first lenses in small numbers from 15.october on. We prefer to buy this lens here on Ebay NOW, because we will reach not the quantity that we need . To order this lens now is no risk for you: Just place your order “buy it now”, but please send us no payment ! We will inform you, when YOUR 0,95/25mm will be in stock. After that you sent your payment to one of our bank-accounts or paypal.Also you have the right to cancel your order until oktober . You see: no risk for you, and you can be shure to be one of the first owner of this superb lens.” [shoplink 15659]Click here to pre-order the Voigtländer Nokton 25mm f/0.95 on eBay![/shoplink]
P.S.: Their written English is no better than mine 🙂
And one Australian store is also accepting pre-orders: http://www.mainlinephoto.com.au/category39_1.htm
Do you know where else you can pre-order the lens? Thanks!
[poll id=”8″]
71 Responses
Mainline photo sold the entire first batch of 20 within 2 or 3 days of the announcement I think!!
also the ebay link doesn’t work 🙁 and looking at foto-mundus’ store i can’t see any mention of the lens?
Maybe u can’t see it cause it is the german shop and you are looking at your regional shop. I am from germany and I could preorder it at Foto Mundus for 899€.
The eBay link works for me!
Mainline seem like good guys from what I’ve heard. I was gonna preorder one but I thought I’d wait for some reviews/samples first. But I might head over to them once they get some in store.
wow – what a price difference between the German store and the Australian store. Euro 260.00
pre orders also under http://www.cameraquest.com/index.htm – but no price yet announced
Does anyone here outside of Australia have any experiencing purchasing from Mainline Photo? Do you ship to the U.S. and is it safe? Thanks!
P.S. Sorry for the typos. It’s pretty late at night. 😛
I put down a deposit on one at Cameraquest.com. I buy all of my Voigtlander gear from Stephen on that site and the service is great.
sorry, available on ebay germany here:
http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?ff3=4&pub=5574825908&toolid=10001&campid=5336351024&customid=&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.de%2FVoigtlander-NOKTON-0-95-25mm-MFT-NEU-NEW-HAMMER-%2F320583235887%3Fpt%3DDE_Elektronik_Computer_Foto_Camcorder_Objektive_PM
you can see some sample images.
http://ganref.jp/magazines/index/1/0/378
Why isn’t there a 4/3 model?
Wont happen, Modular pro or mirror-less pro is our only hope.
I would like to see more Voigtländer f1.4 lenses for cheaper solutions designed for m4/3 and specialized built-in EVF (RF) in the camera body for exact and fast manual focusing. Pretty sharp images at f0.95 I’m impressed.
This should cause a huge price drop for Noktor. Although the focal length in not really identical, the difference in quality terms is obvious.
Thanks for posting the sample pics. I like it but I think I’d rather get the Pentax Cosmicar 25mm f/1.4 C-mount lens. Its slower but much smaller and around a tenth of the price.
i would like to see potraits, both close & full figure at 0.95
I like how the lens looks on the ep2… but it will even look better on my gf1 I think!
After inspection of the EXIF data, it seems that the lens does not report the aperture (f-number) to the camera. I don’t like that.
Yes, that lack of aperture is a pain. They all appear as 0.
Very low dynamic … I would love to see a lens with large aperture like this. But on MFT you get the worst of both worlds: the low image quality of a f/0.95 and the DOF of a standard lens. They really should think about the sensor size …
Sharpness looks ok for 0.95, but there seem to be chroma issues.
When you say “chroma issues,” are you referring to chromatic abberations? Because for an f/0.95 lens wide open, I think the CA is extremely well controlled. In fact that’s one of the most impressive parts of these samples to me.
You’re right, it seems to happen only at reflecting surfaces (Car’s light and plastic at the puppet picture). I thought it would be chromatics abberations, but haven’t checked all the images.
I like the images, sharp at F0.95, not comparable with any similar c-mount lens.
People complained about the price, but if you compare it to recently announced Zeiss Distagon 1,4/35 ( for APS-C ) that sells for 1385 euros, 750 ( if true ) is a bargain.
OK, ok. I had previously stated here on this forum that I was underwhelmed. I wouldn’t say I’m overwhelmed, but now I’m at least whelmed.
Image quality is excellent for an f0.95. I would actually say it’s up there with Leicas of similar speed, and MUCH better than the Canon 50mm f0.95. Overall, it looks at least twice as good as the Sigma 30mm F1.4, so being over twice as expensive isn’t that big of a letdown.
CA seems fairly well-controlled, and the in-focus plane is sharp. It’s good at f0.95, so it’s reasonable to surmise that it’ll be excellent at f1.2.
What a shame it isn’t a Four Thirds lens. I could really use an optical viewfinder for focusing a beast like that.
People who shoot video will find this extremely useful both because of the 25mm focal length and the lovely bokeh and sharpness. Since they generally use manual focus anyway, this should be a niche cinematographer’s camera. There, though, it really will be on everyone’s wish list.
I had poo-pooed it, so this is my mea culpa.
Oh- I should add that on close 200 percent examination, this lens appears to out-resolve the sensor. As that’s difficult to do on micro 4/3, my hat’s off to Voigtlander/Cosina for their lens grinding accuracy.
“What a shame it isn’t a Four Thirds lens. I could really use an optical viewfinder for focusing a beast like that.”
They sole reason I never bought a regular 4/3’s camera is because of their poor view finders. The E3 is the on 4/3’s camera that I would even attempt to use in manual focus mode. The E30 is ok, but still smallish. As far as the rest of the 4/3’s camera; I don’t even like using those in AF mode, let alone MF mode.
I still use a manual focus Pentax LX most of the time, however I found manual focusing on an E-P1 to me almost as easy. I’d certainly rather use an EVF then every single DSLR sans the Sony A900 or Canon 1Ds. OVF’s have really went into the toilet the last 10 years.
Nathan, you do realize that optical viewfinders do not actually show the depth of field of very bright lens’ right?
Typically it’s around f/2.8 to f/4.0, I’ve heard its’ because the viewfinder its self functions as a 2ndary aperture, both dimming the vievfinder and making manually focusing much much harder with such bright lens’.
With f/0.95 you’d have a really hard time focusing accurately if you can only see f/2.8’s depth of field no?
This is why it’s such a benefit to have live view since you can see the actual depth of field real-time.
This one is something that worth the price!
Sorry, but I prefer my Leica 25mm Summilux f/1.4 – (IMHO) it is sharper wide open. I also just like the way Leica pictures look, plus it’s a FT mount.
Certainly MUCH better IQ than the Nokton industrial lens. If I could afford this, I’d buy it for sure.
Wow, it’s always risky to judge from sample images, but this really looks good — a genuinely mainstream-usable lens, not a dreamy “special effects” optic a la the Noktor or most of the old ultraspeed cine lenses.
I especially like the smooth bleed-out of the highlighted window in the sample pic with the wineglass — very pretty effect that will work nicely in lots of pictures.
I predict that a fair number of people will overcome their distaste for manual focus in order to get this “look” and light-gathering power — especially for video shooting, where manual focusing is routine good practice.
This lens plus a 50/1.1 Voigtlander M+adapter would make a formidable shooting combo. Now we just need somebody to come up with a good 12.5mm f/1 :-0
+1 for 12.5mm f/1. Cosina is again the likeliest to make one.
Meh. A bit soft wide open (yes, I know, wide open here is insanely wide open), and the bokeh has a bit of a ni-sen quality to it. (Check out some of the point reflections in the shot of the doll.) There’s also a bit of chroma around some of the high-contrast transitions in the bokeh (check out the green around the window divider in the shot of the red goblet); is that some sort of CA?
Once again, I’m left feeling like I’d consider paying $400 for this lens, but never ~k$1.
Is there a matching optical hotshoe viewfinder with 4:3 aspect ratio for the Voigtländer Nokton 25mm f/0.95 ?
Similar to the Olympus VF-1 matching the pancake M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 17 mm 1:2.8.
Or maybe it’s a necessity to use the EVF or LCD for precise manual focusing of the Nokton ?
Quite difficult to focus at 0.95 with an optical viewfinder…. don’t you think so? 😉
The f4 night shot looks pretty good. Good details all over. It’s interesting how strong the star effect is considering it’s only f4.
Yeah well nearly any lens would give good results a f4 so the question is: is it giving good enough results in the, say, 0.95-2 range…
Quality looks good to me.
Which micro cam was used to take the pictures?
Quality is much, much better then E3.
Olympus, it would be kind if you release the E3 sucessor as soon as possible!
The latest pens and panny’s are a road length better on image quality then the old 4/3rds cams like E3.
Samples look pretty bad. After all, its still a 25mm lens. Not comparable to a real 50 on bigger sensors.
Disappointed, IC is just OK, and clearly not even close to be good enough for the price of the lens.
Would maybe consider paying 300 for it to use as a special effects lens @ 0.95
Is Mainline Photo a good place to buy this lens? Do they ship to the U.S. and is it safe? Thanks!
Admin, need more rumors!
We are working on it! We have a lot of rumors but I don’t want to make many mistakes and I am double checking them all…
thanks for all the work you do
Leave the guy alone, he’s out there testing the E-5 on his boat in the middle of the Mediterranean :). Do you want another postponed announcement 🙂 ?
Speed comes with a price: price-tag, size …and IQ (f-low is a bulky gimmick if you have to stop your lens down to f2 to have it remotely usable )
Cosina did a fairly good job. In-focus corners are a bit soft, but quite frankly, I have seen worse from lens.
This lens is not ruled out, altho right now I am more tempted by the 1.4/25 “Panleica”
Jules – the Panasonic Leica 25mm f/1.4 produces absolutely amazing images, this Cosina lens doesn’t even come close. You probably have to stop the Cosina to f/2 and at that point the Summilux is brighter and clearer – because it can operate wide open with excellent clarity.
What is the price of the Cosina, if I remember correctly, the price is way out of line – the Leica is cheaper. Yes, you have to get an adapter if you don’t use MFT (I only use FT) but I think the AF works with the adapter, oh wait this lens doesn’t even have AF.
SO you are paying for the extra stops and for the MF mount and for its small size.
NOT WORTH IT
Considering it is f/0.95 wide open I think image quality is very good. I can see purple fringing around highlights, but I’m positively surprised by the edge sharpness. I’m absolutely thrilled by the pictures at f/2 thru f/4, they look marvellous. If this lens had an automatic diaphragm I would buy it. What a shame it lacks any and all forms of automation! Having seen the pictures I’d definitely want an automatic diaphragm because I’d use the lens a lot somewhat stopped down. In the same way I use the Panny 20mm stopped down to f/2 because it gets a lot sharper compared to f/1.7.
Some of the images look good, I think we need to see more samples to really tell, but either way it is too pricey and will need to be reduced in price I think.
It’s a $800 f0.95 lens! Were you expecting a $10,000 Noctilux image quality?
Dear admin!
Thank you for the “Voigtländer Nokton 25mm f/0.95 preorders-sales deal” on eBay.
It is said that Voigtländer has to do the available-light-job for Olympus & Panasonic. But if they do not want our money – we have to bear the consequences!
By photokina 2010 at the latest – if there should not be an improvement of the current situation. Micro four thirds should not be used only to downsize cameras and lenses – it’s also a great chance to increase performance in a lightweight design.
„P.S.: Their written English is no better than mine“
It actually is.
🙁
Leave the man alone harhar…
😉
It’s hard to say if it’s worth it… it looks better than Nokton, but it’s also more expensive and another focal length…
CA is a bit too much (yeah, i know f/0.95 it’s insane), even if one could PP it…
Sharpness it’s hard to check since the focused area is freaking thin… but doesn’t look too bad (considering that it is a f/0.95) – the one with boxe’s gloves looks good enough, the one with the books misses something…. i guess on corners lens lacks quite some sharpness…
For 1K$ …. does it worth it? I’ll wait for proper reviews (and lots of more samples) to arrive…
What i really want is a ‘small’ 300mm f/2.8 prime for m43 (by small i mean, adequate to m43 sensor/mount)
The Leica 25mm 1.4’s IQ wide open kills this. (And is $100 cheaper with AF.) I dare potential buyers to compare these samples with the Leica…I know this is F 0.95 but it needs to be stepped down a lot to close the gap on sharpness, and still lacks the contrast of the Leica.
The Leica 25mm f/1.4 is only half a stop faster than the Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 and 25mm is not so attractive to me as 20mm, so I wouldn’t buy the Leica 25mm.
Sorry, I can’t use the 20mm on my E-3 so I can’t speak for it’s quality. I’ll have to trust you on that. I personally like the 25mm focal length for close-up portraits.
I do have the Leica, and love it. It’s not perfect, but what it does it does very, very well. And if I decide to go m43, I can use it there as well.
Actually it will come with a reasonable price in the market, the price here we discussed is just a suggested
price. The real selling price is not so high. For instance, all we could see the VM 50/1.1 suggested price 125000yen(US$1482.9),but now in ebay it costs only $890(75023yen).So don’t worry about the price, just worry about the performance indeed.
I am aware of ovf limitations. The canon F0.95 I had was on a rangefinder body. Not as good for framing but great for focus precision.
I’m with Dave. The Panaleica 25/1.4 is a much sharper and contrastier lens wide open and stopped down, and comes with AF to boot. The bokeh is typical voigtlander, not as bad as the CV 40/1.4 but not as smooth as the CV 50/1.5 or 50/1.1. It does have a worrying tendency to throw out specular highlights like crazy (much like the 40/1.4). Props to the f/0.95 max aperture, but it doesn’t look any sharper than the Nokton does wide open.
CV needs to get the price of this thing to $500-600, or better yet, make a 25/1.4 version for $250-300. I also note that there is no electrical communication to the camera (no EXIF lens data), so it’s probably more sensible to buy a M or LTM mount CV and mount it with an adapter, because at the rate Oly is going with m43, the format could be dead (or at best devoid of enthusiasts) within 2 years.
I agree that an M-mount lens might be a really good way to future-proof your purchases. But most M-mount lenses I’ve looked into (both Leica & Voigtlander) have a minimum focus distance of 0.7 meters which frustrates me every time my Voigtlander 35mm f1.4 is on my camera for the day. I never realized how many closeups I like to take throughout the day until I bought that lens. 0.7 meters didn’t sound bad on paper, but it’s become a deal breaker in actual use.
The 0.15 meter minimum focus distance of this new f0.95 is one of its most exciting features to me.
The only thing that keeps me from preordering it rigth now is the rumor about the panasonic primes with 1.4++ ……
Hopefully they will be a little less wide.
If this lens shipped with a M mount it could be a huge hit with the M8 crowd wanting a fast lens, the noctilux is a bit long on a M8 and the Epson RD1 – this 25mm should be quite popular.
Bo
The lens needs to have a little bit of electronics to report back the aperature and the focal length.
These looks interesting:
http://suwenchee.blogspot.com/2011/01/voigtlander-25mm-f095-for-m43.html
http://suwenchee.blogspot.com/2011/01/canon-50mm-f095.html
Is there a Sony NEX version?