Voigtländer Nokton 35mm f/1.4 II SC/MC

Voigtländer Nokton 35mm f/1.4 II SC/MC

The Nokton Classic 35mm f/1.4 II is Cosina Voigtländer's revision of a compact, fast 35mm rangefinder lens that built a following for trading clinical perfection in favor of character. It is offered in two coating variants, single-coated (SC) and multi-coated (MC), and carries the VM designation that marks Leica M mount compatibility [1][2]. The lens descends directly from the Nokton Classic 35mm f/1.4 introduced in 2008, and the second version keeps the small body and wide aperture that made the original popular while addressing behavior that became more visible on digital sensors [3].

Optically the lens uses an eight-element, six-group construction in a largely symmetrical layout that echoes its predecessor. The notable change is the addition of an anomalous partial dispersion glass element, which the earlier design lacked; Voigtländer attributes a substantial reduction in focus shift to this revision, an aberration that had been a known trait of the original [4]. The barrel is compact at about 28 mm long and 55 mm in diameter, takes 43 mm filters, and weighs around 189 g, keeping it close in size to a classic fast 35mm. A ten-blade aperture, a minimum focusing distance of 0.7 m, and a precise rangefinder focusing cam support reliable coupled focusing from wide open, and the lens is built in black finish with an optional LH-6 lens hood. The redesign also aimed to reduce focus position shift when stopping down after focusing in live view and to limit field-plane waviness during focus-and-recompose work.

The choice between SC and MC is the main purchasing decision. The single-coated version is marketed for more classical, lower-contrast rendering, while the multi-coated version targets more neutral, true-to-life color. Both share the same optical formula and mechanical specification, so the difference between them is coating rather than construction.

Optical qualities

Rendering Reviewers describe the lens as a character-led optic rather than a clinically corrected one. At f/1.4 it can show a glow on highlights in the plane of focus, and its rendering is valued for a classic look rather than maximum technical sharpness.

Sharpness The lens is reported to be acceptably sharp at f/1.4 and to improve on stopping down. Some apparent corner softness at wider apertures is attributed to field curvature rather than a simple loss of resolution.

Contrast and color Color and contrast are generally described as pleasing, with the MC coating favoring neutral color and the SC coating leaning toward a more vintage tonal character.

Bokeh and transitions The wide aperture and retained spherical aberration are credited with producing the soft, classic out-of-focus rendering that drew users to the lens family.

Flare resistance The lens can flare on occasion, and the optional LH-6 hood is recommended both for flare control and for front-element protection.

Distortion and vignetting A fair amount of vignetting is present at f/1.4. It is largely cleared by stopping down to about f/4 and is essentially gone by f/5.6.

Aberrations Coma is noticeable wide open, consistent with the lens's classic design intent, while the new partial dispersion element reduces the focus shift seen in the previous version.

History

Development and Launch Cosina Voigtländer officially announced the Nokton Classic 35mm f/1.4 II VM in May 2019, with both SC and MC versions planned. It replaced the original Nokton Classic 35mm f/1.4 of 2008, retaining the compact body and symmetrical optical concept while revising the design for the demands of modern digital cameras.

Production Evolution The principal change from the first version is the introduction of an anomalous partial dispersion glass element intended to reduce focus shift, along with refinements aimed at limiting aperture-dependent focus position shift in live view and reducing waviness of the image plane during recomposition. The lens continues to be sold in parallel SC and MC coating variants.

Special editions No major factory special editions of the second version are widely documented; the meaningful product split is between the single-coated and multi-coated variants.

Collector Notes The SC and MC versions are externally similar, so buyers should confirm the coating from the engraving or packaging if a specific rendering is desired. The optional LH-6 hood is a separate accessory and is worth verifying as included or available. Note also that published length figures vary slightly between sources, with some listings citing about 28.5 mm; LeicaLensList records 28 mm.