Voigtländer Nokton 35mm f/1.2 III

Voigtländer Nokton 35mm f/1.2 III

When Cosina released this lens in 2020, it was the third generation of what had long been promoted as the fastest 35mm lens made for the Leica M mount [1]. The defining change over the earlier versions was not optical speed, which remained at f/1.2, but a substantial reduction in size and weight. Where the first Nokton 35mm f/1.2 weighed around 490 g with a ten-element design, and the second version about 471 g, this third iteration was redesigned to nine elements in seven groups and brought the weight down to 332 g [1][2]. Cosina describes it as roughly 20 percent shorter and about 30 percent lighter than the Nokton 35mm f/1.2 Aspherical II while retaining the established optical performance, a change aimed at improving handling on rangefinder bodies [2].

The lens uses aspherical elements to control aberrations at the wide maximum aperture, and the optical formula is shared with the E-mount Nokton 35mm f/1.2 SE, although that mirrorless version is electronically coupled and focuses closer [1]. Build is essentially all metal, with engraved and paint-filled markings, a focus ring with smooth, well-damped resistance that travels about 130 degrees from the 0.5 m minimum focus distance to infinity, and an aperture ring with half-stop clicks running roughly 120 degrees from f/1.2 to f/22 [1][3]. The diaphragm uses twelve straight blades [1]. The lens is rangefinder coupled and is not factory six-bit coded. Reviewers note it balances better on a Leica M body than its heavier predecessors, with only modest viewfinder blockage [1].

The III is distinguished from the earlier Noktons mainly by its lighter, more compact barrel, its nine-element layout, and its 0.5 m close focus, which matches the second version but is closer than the first version's 0.7 m [1]. It carries the Aspherical designation in its full name and is offered in black with a 52 mm filter thread [2]. Because three different M-mount 35mm f/1.2 Noktons exist, buyers should confirm the version by its markings, dimensions, and weight rather than the focal length and aperture alone [1].

Optical qualities

Rendering The Nokton 35mm f/1.2 III renders with smooth out-of-focus areas that make it well suited to environmental portraiture, while showing the residual aberrations typical of a very fast, compact wide angle [1]. Wide-open images carry some spherical-aberration glow and visible fringing, with character that firms up considerably on stopping down.

Sharpness Center resolution is acceptable at f/1.2 but accompanied by glow from spherical aberration and purple fringing, with soft midframe and corners [1]. The center reaches strong figures by f/2.0, while the midframe and corners need around f/8.0 for good performance [1].

Bokeh and transitions Backgrounds are rendered smoothly, helped by the twelve-blade diaphragm, and the lens is considered a strong performer for blur in its class, though the extreme corners can become more nervous [1].

Flare resistance Flare control is good, in line with other recent fast Voigtländer designs; testers reported it was difficult to provoke significant ghosting [1].

Distortion and vignetting Distortion is pronounced and somewhat wavy, and is best corrected with a software profile; the M-mount version can borrow the E-mount profile [1]. Vignetting is heavy wide open at roughly 3.3 EV, easing to about 2.3 EV at f/2.0 and around 1.8 EV stopped down, values that reviewers describe as high but comparable to competing fast 35mm lenses [1].

Aberrations Lateral chromatic aberration is moderate and easily corrected, while longitudinal chromatic aberration is noticeable near close focus [1]. Coma correction is not a strength wide open, improving by about f/2.8 with some astigmatism remaining, so f/4.0 is preferable for demanding point-source subjects such as astrophotography [1]. Sunstars are well defined from about f/2.0 onward, formed by the twelve blades [1].

History

Development and Launch The lens was announced and became available in early 2020 as the latest in Cosina's fast Nokton series, following the first f/1.2 version that was discontinued around 2009 to 2010 and the second version introduced in 2011 [1][4]. Its primary purpose was to make the f/1.2 aperture more practical on rangefinder cameras by reducing bulk, addressing the weight and finder intrusion of the earlier models [1][2].

Production Evolution Across the three M-mount generations the optical formula and physical dimensions changed while the f/1.2 aperture was retained: the first version used a ten-element design at about 490 g with a 0.7 m close focus, the second a ten-element design at about 471 g with 0.5 m close focus, and the third a nine-element, seven-group design at 332 g with 0.5 m close focus [1]. The III shares its optics with the later E-mount Nokton 35mm f/1.2 SE for mirrorless cameras [1].

Special editions No widely documented factory special editions, regional variants, or unusual finishes of the Nokton 35mm f/1.2 III are recorded; it is sold as a standard black M-mount lens [2].

Collector Notes Because three visually similar 35mm f/1.2 M-mount Noktons exist, the surest way to identify the III is by its markedly lower weight and shorter barrel; published figures put it at 332 g and around 50 mm long, well below the earlier versions [1][2]. Buyers should confirm the 52 mm filter thread and the original metal hood and caps, and note that the III is not factory six-bit coded, so frame-line and lens detection on Leica digital bodies depends on manual selection or third-party coding [1].

Sources

• [1] phillipreeve.net (Bastian Kratzke). Review: Voigtlander VM 35mm 1.2 III. https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-voigtlander-vm-35mm-1-2-iii/
• [2] Adorama. Used Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f/1.2 Aspherical III VM Lens. https://www.adorama.com/used-voigtlander-nokton-35mm-f-12-aspherical-iii-vm-lens/p/us2000502
• [3] findingrange.com (Patrick). Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f1.2 Aspherical III Lens Review. http://findingrange.com/2020/08/19/voigtlander-nokton-35mm-f1-2-aspherical-iii-lens-review/
• [4] jonasraskphotography.com. Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f/1.2 (version 1) review. https://jonasraskphotography.com/2014/05/04/voigtlander-nokton-35mm-f1-2-version-1-review/