Voigtlander Nokton RF 50mm f/1 specifications and pricing released

[Canon Rumors Guy]

The Voigtlander RF 50mm f/1 was announced a few months back with very little information. Cosina has now released all of the specifications and pricing for the ultra fast 50mm lens for the RF mount. While this lens is manual focus, it is licensed and will have electronic communication with RF mount cameras. This will

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[GMCPhotographics]

I do wonder why Canon didn't bother to build an AF version of this formula. If Cosina can build one (albeit a MF len) then I'm usre Canon could with a bit of effort and R&D.

 

[Bonich]

I do wonder why Canon didn't bother to build an AF version of this formula. If Cosina can build one (albeit a MF len) then I'm usre Canon could with a bit of effort and R&D.

.... to sell as many as Nikon is doing with the NOCT...

Other lenses do have higher priorities to be done by Canon (best use of Budget and capacities).

On the other hand opening "cooperation" with Voigtländer seems to be a smart move.
They built high quality manual lenses for somewhat affordable money,
good enough to fight Leica, good enough to give Canon users added options on the RF mount.
(I use 3 Voigtländer M-mount lenses via an adapter on the RF mount, not too bad of an experience.

 

[pj1974]

Hmmmm.. not an inexpensive (MF) lens, but if it has outstanding optical quality, it could prove to be a very useful tool for certain photographers / videographers - specifically situations to use that extreme f/1 aperture. I look forward to hearing, reading and seeing more about this lens once it is released into the wild.

 

[Fischer]

Really interesting lens. Not expensive for what you get if the optical performance to do f/1.0 is there.

 

[padam]

I do wonder why Canon didn't bother to build an AF version of this formula. If Cosina can build one (albeit a MF len) then I'm usre Canon could with a bit of effort and R&D.

Because it is a completely different thing. You can look at Leica's M lenses versus their SL lenses.

 

[Maximilian]

Competition is always good.
So thank you for bringing such a lens.

Independent on the real world IQ performance, an f/1.0 is a quite delicate thing.
The DOF is so shallow, that you've got to know what to do.
With such lenses super wide aperture, I really would like to have AF, especially when eye AF and eye controlled AF is available.
Otherwise, everything could become super dreamy

 

[padam]

Competition is always good.
So thank you for bringing such a lens.

Independent on the real world IQ performance, an f/1.0 is a quite delicate thing.
The DOF is so shallow, that you've got to know what to do.
With such lenses super wide aperture, I really would like to have AF, especially when eye AF and eye controlled AF is available.
Otherwise, everything could become super dreamy

It has focus guide support, so you literally line up two arrows until the rectangle turns green and it's done,
I sometimes wonder if people are aware of all the features their cameras are able to do these days...

Otherwise one can buy the Leica version and use a Sony or a Nikon body with the Techart adapter that autofocuses (sharpness may take a minor hit, because this lens has floating elements, while the adapter will move the whole lens in one, but of course the two can work together),

 

[koenkooi]

It has focus guide support, so you literally line up two arrows until the rectangle turns green and it's done,
I sometimes wonder if people are aware of all the features their cameras are able to do these days...
[...]

The green arrows have a large margin of error, you have to use the magnifier to be certain.

 

[Walrus]

It has focus guide support, so you literally line up two arrows until the rectangle turns green and it's done,
I sometimes wonder if people are aware of all the features their cameras are able to do these days...

If you're doing a close up portrait af f1.0 good luck when you and the model would naturally move by a small fraction between the focus alignment and the actual shot; the thing has a razor thin DoF, like millimetres thin. You can surely use the camera on a tripod, and the model may lay against/on something like in the ancient film days, so there's less motion, but it's still pretty difficult.

Before eye-AF, in DSLR days I had consistency problems with the 50 f1.4 Art during still portraits sessions, with all the time and the control of the studio; so a MF f1.0 would be a pure consistency nightmare.

 

[cayenne]

.... to sell as many as Nikon is doing with the NOCT...

Other lenses do have higher priorities to be done by Canon (best use of Budget and capacities).

On the other hand opening "cooperation" with Voigtländer seems to be a smart move.
They built high quality manual lenses for somewhat affordable money,
good enough to fight Leica, good enough to give Canon users added options on the RF mount.
(I use 3 Voigtländer M-mount lenses via an adapter on the RF mount, not too bad of an experience.

I've been shooting Voighlander lenses with my Leica M10M...and adapted to shoot on GFX100....

These are really GREAT lenses. I have their APO 50 and their 50mm 0.95 lenses (in addition to some 35's).....

I plan to get the R5D2....and would not hesitate to get this lens.....I have bad eyesight, but thankfully the focus assist of modern cameras allow me to still use and love them.

And heck...you can just set them hyperlocal or just prefocus for street shooting...and it's faster than trying to AF in those scenarios.

Anyway....this is pretty exciting IMHO.

cayenne

 

[sanj]

If you're doing a close up portrait af f1.0 good luck when you and the model would naturally move by a small fraction between the focus alignment and the actual shot; the thing has a razor thin DoF, like millimetres thin. You can surely use the camera on a tripod, and the model may lay against/on something like in the ancient film days, so there's less motion, but it's still pretty difficult.

Before eye-AF, in DSLR days I had consistency problems with the 50 f1.4 Art during still portraits sessions, with all the time and the control of the studio; so a MF f1.0 would be a pure consistency nightmare.

Yes absolutely, the focus will be an issue. BUT when done correctly the image could be great. Things are not always easy in life.

 

[sanj]

I do wonder why Canon didn't bother to build an AF version of this formula. If Cosina can build one (albeit a MF len) then I'm usre Canon could with a bit of effort and R&D.

f1.2 with auto focus is good enough...

 

[Bonich]

Hmmmm.. not an inexpensive (MF) lens, but if it has outstanding optical quality, it could prove to be a very useful tool for certain photographers / videographers - specifically situations to use that extreme f/1 aperture. I look forward to hearing, reading and seeing more about this lens once it is released into the wild.

There are some Reviews available of this lens - with Z-mount.
The mount will not change the characteristics in any way.

 

[Docofthewild]

With the prices of the RF 50mm 1.2 steadily declining on the secondary market (avg 1650-1850USD and I just got one with some scratches on the barrel but super clean glass for 1300), I’m not sure where all these other fast 50’s are going to fit. I’m not much for manual focus but the 1.2 seems to do pretty great when switched to MF and the extra 1/3 stop would not entice me over AF. Even the f1.4 was no longer worth waiting for when I expect it to hit the market @ ~999 and take another 1-2 years to come out.

Edit 2/3 stop

 

[EricN]

f1.2 with auto focus is good enough...

Some of us probably won't ever be satisfied with "good enough."

 

[neuroanatomist]

f1.2 with auto focus is good enough...

If this were in the E mount, Sony trolls would be here to tell you that the 2/3-stop darker f/1.2 lens is 'unusably slow'.

 

[EricN]

If this were in the E mount, Sony trolls would be here to tell you that the 2/3-stop darker f/1.2 lens is 'unusably slow'.

Nikon NIKKOR Z 58mm f/0.95 S Noct user has entered the chat

 

[Scottboarding]

This isn’t a lens I’m interested in however I’m very excited we’ll likely get the 35mm and 50mm f2 APO lenses eventually. Those are gorgeous.

 

[DhlcadR6]

If this were in the E mount, Sony trolls would be here to tell you that the 2/3-stop darker f/1.2 lens is 'unusably slow'.

f-stop excuse is still reasonable. I faced many Sony mor*n in Chinese sites that says RF50L is cr^p because the USM motor is not silent enough for his one-man-army video jobs(aka have to use the in-body mic)