Chris Niccols: Just How GOOD are Voigtlander Lenses? | Nocton 50mm f/1 & 40mm f/1.2

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I do own BOTH Voigtlander lenses tested by Chris in this Video:

I have a lot of experience with both lenses and can only HIGHLY recommend them! As a manual photographer for many years, I love these lenses because:

  1. They are fast but still way more compact than comparable autofocus lenses. So at the end it’s easy to carry them with you always (particularly the 40mm lens)
  2. The Image Quality and Character is truly superb
  3. Should outlast autofocus lenses

The 40 mm lens fits better in the bag, so I use it more often. And I generally like the 40mm focal length more than the 50mm focal length anyway. Still, the f/1.0 is addictive… it gives you an extra punch of closeness sometimes, which I really like. So I think you can really justify owning both!

 

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Rumors: Sony will release PXW-Z200 and HXR-NX800 camcorders

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Image on top shows the current HXR-NX70 model

Sony has officially registered the new PXW-Z200 and HXR-NX800 camcorders in China. No word yet on the specifications, but I guess most of you don’t care. Don’t worry if you only care about E-mount equipment: Sony has already registered two cameras in 2024: One is the ZV-E10II while the other could be the A7IV or another E-mount camera.

via E8M

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New firmware for lots of Tamron E-mount lenses

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On May 30 Tamron announced the update of TAMRON Lens Utility™ and TAMRON Lens Utility Mobile™ (press text here). I missed to report that at the same time they updates the firmware for many Tamron E-mount lenses: tamron.com/global/consumer/support/download/firmware/

Benefits of the new firmware:

  1. Added compatibility with TAMRON Lens Utility™ Ver.3.0.
  2. Added compatibility with TAMRON Lens Utility Mobile™ Ver.3.0.
  3. Added compatibility with AF assist function.
    * Update can be done with TAMRON Lens Utility™.

Thanks Mistral for the tip!

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Ending n Sunday: Sony a7 III now for $1298 only at Amazon and BH

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If you want a very good Full Frame camera for an extremely low price than this is for you: Sony A7III for $1298 only now at Amazon, BHphoto and Adorama!

New Camera rebates:

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Could we soon have a Voigtlander/Cosina 18mm f/1.4 lens?

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I love the Vogitlander/Cosina lenses. I have owned the 40mm f/1.2 for years, and just recently I purchased the wonderful 50mm f/1.0. The reason I buy these types of Voigtlander lenses is that they offer me high optical quality in a relatively compact format. The trade-off is the lack of autofocus, but I am a long-time photographer who uses manual focus, so I don’t miss it.

I am excited about a recently published Cosina patent that reveals the design of a new 18 mm f/1.4 full frame lens. We don’t have an 18 mm f/1.4 lens from Sony or any third party, so this lens will definitely fill a gap. The closest lens is the Sigma 20 mm f/1.4 FE. There is also the very old and almost forgotten Zeiss Batis 18mm f/2.8, which has the same focal length as the patented Cosina, but is much slower.

Of course, a patent is never a guarantee that it will be mass produced. But it is a solid indication that the company is planning to realize this goal. So we hope to see it available for purchase in a real store soon!

Patent description overview

  • [Publication number] P2024078495
  • [Release date] 2024-06-11
  • [Name of invention] Ultra-wide-angle large-aperture lens
  • [Application number] P 2022190904
  • [Application date] 2022-11-30
  • [Applicant]
    [Identification number] 391044915
    [Name or company name] Cosina Co., Ltd.
  • [Background Art]
    [0002]
    Conventionally, as a wide-angle lens that has a wide angle of view and ensures a certain degree of brightness, the large-aperture wide-angle lens described in Patent Document 1 has been known.
  • However
    , the large-aperture wide-angle lens disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 has the following problems.
  • [0006]
    First, since it is generally difficult to ensure a back focus for a wide-angle lens for a single-lens reflex camera, a retrofocus system is a necessary condition. The same is true for Patent Document 1, where the need to ensure a back focus results in a long optical total length and a tendency for the entire lens to become large. Furthermore, since there are restrictions on ensuring a back focus, there is also the problem that a wider angle of view cannot be obtained with a large aperture. In the end, since the F-number on the super-wide-angle side is often determined by considering a practical size, there is a problem in that it cannot meet the demand in a dark environment.
  • [0007]
    Secondly, the number of cases where still cameras are used to capture moving images is increasing, and so is the demand for lenses suitable for capturing moving images. For lenses used in such applications, it is desirable for the angle of view to change as little as possible during focusing. In the case of Patent Document 1, the back focus is relatively long, so if the back focus is shortened to reduce the size, there is a risk that the lens will be more susceptible to changes in the angle of view.
  • [0008]
    An object of the present invention is to provide an ultra-wide-angle, large-aperture lens that solves the problems existing in the background art.

Example 1

  • Focal length: 18.5
  • F-number: 1.46
  • Half angle of view: 50.6
  • Total length: 128.00

 

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Sony Tidbits…

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The Very LEAST You Need to Be a Pro Portrait Photographer!

Today deals at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon FR, Amazon IT, FotoErhardt DE, FotoKoch DE.
It’s Time to Move Up to Full Frame (ThePhoBlographer).
For Many Photographers, the Experience Matters More Than Features and Specs (PetaPixel).
review of the Tamron 17-70 with Sony A6700 (Martin Gallego).
Zhiyun Announces the MOLUS X60 Compact LED Light (Explora).
How to Dodge and Burn Photos in Lightroom (42West).
Best Gimbal and Camera Stabilizers of 2023 (Explora).

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