Voigtländer Nokton 35mm f/1.2 ASPH. IV VM

Voigtländer Nokton 35mm f/1.2 ASPH. IV VM

Cosina's Nokton 35mm f/1.2 has long been promoted as one of the fastest 35mm lenses made for the Leica M system, and the version IV continues that line as a manual-focus prime in the VM bayonet. Announced by Cosina in 2025 alongside refreshed 40mm and 50mm f/1.2 designs, it pairs an f/1.2 maximum aperture with a relatively small all-metal body, aiming at photographers who want speed and shallow depth of field without the bulk usually associated with such optics [1][2].

The optical formula uses nine elements in seven groups, including four aspherical surfaces and high-refractive-index glass, which the manufacturer credits for aberration control and corner-to-corner performance even wide open. The lens focuses by a finely damped metal helicoid and stops down through a 12-blade diaphragm intended to keep the aperture opening close to circular. Its closest focus is 0.5 m, although the rangefinder mechanism on a Leica M couples only down to 0.7 m, with the final stretch to 0.5 m usable in live view on mirrorless bodies and EVF-equipped cameras. The VM mount is compatible with Leica M, and the lens accepts 52 mm filters and the optional LH-14 hood.

The IV is the fourth iteration of a design that has steadily slimmed down. CameraQuest images reproduced in collector reviews show the original Nokton 35mm f/1.2 as a large 10-element, 7-group lens of about 490 g focusing to 0.7 m; the version II kept the 10/7 layout but reduced weight and brought minimum focus to 0.5 m; the version III moved to the lighter 9-element, 7-group formula focusing to 0.5 m that underpins the current lens [3]. Because the IV is recent, independent long-term reporting on barrel finish variations or production changes specific to it is limited, and buyers identifying examples should rely on the engraved version marking and the manufacturer item number.

Optical qualities

Rendering Detailed independent testing of the version IV is still limited given its 2025 release, so much of the documented character comes from the closely related 9/7 version III on which it is based. Reviewers of that predecessor describe pleasing background blur and strong central sharpness wide open, with off-center detail and coma correction described as merely adequate until the lens is stopped down. The same testing reports good flare resistance and attractive sunstars, while distortion is noticeably wavy and vignetting is heavy at f/1.2, easing as the lens is stopped down. These traits should be treated as indicative of the family rather than measured results for the IV specifically.

History

Development and Launch Cosina, which builds Voigtländer-branded lenses in Japan, presented the Nokton 35mm f/1.2 Aspherical IV among a group of new and updated fast M-mount primes first shown around the 2025 CP+ show. Additional details and pricing were released in April 2025, with the 35mm listed at a Japanese price of 135,000 yen and a European price near 1,099 euros, and availability beginning that May. The lens sits at the top of Voigtländer's 35mm speed range and competes against far more expensive optics such as Leica's own fast 35mm designs.

Production Evolution Across its four generations the design has been reworked chiefly to reduce size and weight while improving close focusing. The first version used a 10-element, 7-group layout focusing to 0.7 m, the second retained that count while reaching 0.5 m, and the third adopted a lighter 9-element, 7-group formula that the version IV carries forward, retaining the 12-blade diaphragm and 52 mm filter thread.

Collector Notes The most common point of confusion is distinguishing the version IV from the visually similar version III, since both share the 9/7 optical layout, 12 blades, 0.5 m minimum focus and 52 mm filter size; the engraved version designation and manufacturer item number are the most reliable identifiers. Prospective buyers should also note the difference between the 0.7 m rangefinder coupling limit and the 0.5 m optical minimum, as the closest distances are only usable in live view rather than through an optical rangefinder.