Voigtlander VMFT25 25mm F0.95 Nokton Micro Four Thirds Lens-good for my needs?

TubEfingers

TubEfingers

Well-known member
Guys,

I'm upgrading shortly from an HPX170 to the AF100, the Voigtlander VMFT25 lens comes included in one of the packages I've been looking at,
I've seen nothing but good reviews for the lens but need to clarify wether its suitable for my needs as a general purpose lens until I can afford more glass,
the first job I'm intending to use it for is a corporate (head & shoulders interview shots & some pocket dolly office shots,
wlll this lens be adequate? and is it wide enough that I dont have to sit the cam in the interviewees face? I'm used to cams with fixed lens so my knowledge of FOV/F stops etc is limited,
I'll also be taking an HMC150 as my B cam,

Thanks

Luke
 
I wouldn't use anything shorter than a 50mm lens for head&shoulder shots unless there was no other option. Shooting that close at that focal length will cause facial features like chins and noses to be somewhat exaggerated, resulting in a less than flattering image.

If you are going to own just one lens for now, probably better off with a zoom (35-100mm kind of range) or a fast 50mm.

Jesse's recommendation is a good idea. Best to learn about how lenses work and about how focal lengths influence a shot.
 
Last edited:
FYI, For head-n-shoulder shots on the AF100, your approximate distance from subject will be:
-with a 25mm lens, about 1m
-with a 50mm lens, about 2m
-with a 85mm lens, about 3.5m
 
Yeah I think that lens is overkill. A nice 50mm Canon will do you fine. Consider a zoom as well.

Noah
 
If you're on a budget, you can get a Canon FD 50mm f/1.8 off of eBay for very cheap. Add the Novoflex FD-MFT adapter and you have a nice fast 50mm lens for less than half the cost of the Voigtlander. If you can manage to also get a Canon FD 35-105mm zoom (make sure it is the constant f/3.5, not the f/3.5-5 or whatever shifting f/stop) for around $100 or so, you're still coming in well under the price of the V 25mm.

The Voigtlander 25mm is amazing for low light and makes gorgeous images… but is not nice to faces unless it is a wide shot or unless you are going for a particular subtly distorted, surreal look.
 
Last edited:
Took a look on eBay Mike, the Canon FD 50/Novoflex combo comes in at a really low price,
would the 2 lenses you mentioned cover me for a straightforward corporate shoot? (locked off interviews and office shots)
 
That zoom alone would cover you for the vast majority of what you are looking to shoot. Just be aware that as at f/3.5 it isn't a very fast lens, meaning it isn't awesome for low light, however you should be just fine in an office environment. The 50mm is better for interviews because you can open up the iris much more for a beautiful shallow depth-of-field (85mm are even nicer, but require more distance). The trade-off there is that you cannot zoom. (There's always a trade-off.)
 
I think that this lens is 100% marketing hype, just like the Sigma f/2.8 200-500mm zoom. Just because someone makes it, doesn't mean it's good or worth the money.

While it is extremely fast and has a very narrow depth of field on the 4/3 sensor, I'm trying to figure out the target audience. Wide open (which is where you want to shoot a lens like this), it appears to be quite soft. The results look like what one would get from a portrait lens, but the focal length it is certainly not aimed at that use. It could also be aimed at the same market as its bigger brother, the f/1.1 Nokton is , someone who wants a super fast low light lens, but can't afford the legendary 50mm Leica Noctilux, i.e. the low light street photographer. It's fast but can't come close to touching the Leica from an image quality standpoint. That being said the F/0.95 Noctilux sells for well over 10 times as much and is viturally always sold out.

The lens is built by Cosina, the company that makes all of the lower end lenses for Zeiss, so the company certainly has the technical know how to turn out a world-class product. Rather than going for the Nokton, stick to one of the standard fast lenses (f/1.8 or faster) and you are likely to get a better result, for a lot less money, unless that ultra thin depth of field range is more important than getting a sharp image. When the marketing department has more say, than the lens design group, it's not a product I would go after in a hurry.
 
My lens kit consists of these Canon FD lenses: 28mm f/2.8, 50mm f/1.8, 85mm f/1.8 and 35-105mm f/3.5. I also have a 70-210mm f/4, but is not suitable for video work unless it was being used strictly as either a 70mm or a 210mm lens (you have to slide it to zoom, rather than twist, so it is hard to keep in focus). This kit does me really well, especially for the price.
 
I'm going to get the two Canon's and adapter you advised Mike, at that price they make a great starter kit for me while I do some more research, thanks for the help
 
While you could not live with it an your only lens, it is cheap enough to consider. I use for 90% of my head shots the Bower 85mm f/1.4 (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/614837-REG/Bower_SLY85N_85mm_f_1_4_Manual_Focus.html) @ f/2-f/5.6, (usually at f/2.8-5.6 depending on light and subject/background distance). I find it to be a GREAT portrait lens with a nice bokeh, and it is only $330 new, not to mention that the image quality is right up there with the $1200 nikkor version (and I personally perfer it to the nikkor 85mm f/1.4 a friend of mine has that I use to use before I found this). Really worth looking into. At that price, you could additionally pick up a used 35mm 1.4 or a 24mm 2.8 AND a 50mm 1.4 or 1.8 nikkor, and be set at the same amount or less than the price of just the voiglander, and they will be useful with any camera sensor size, and will cover you for 85% of of anything you would end up shooting. Worth considering, three good fixed lenses will give you more options for better shots than just one great fixed lens.


Here are some clips I shot using the Bower 85mm (password for both clips: Rush)

http://vimeo.com/22472009 (password: Rush)

http://vimeo.com/22181558 (password: Rush)
 
Last edited:
I like the look on the outdoor interviews, thanks for posting, I'll take a look at the 85mm lens you recommend,
are there big differences in terms of image between the Canon 50mm f1.8 and the equivalent Nikkor lens?
 
You may find the same lens f/1.4 85mm labeled as a Bower, ProOptic, Rokinon or Samyang (and perhaps a few more names I haven't found yet). They are all the same Samyang lens. These Korean lenses are quite inexpensive, and not too bad optically, but usually totally manual (which can be a pain on an SLR for metering), but is not an issue for use on a AF100. I have their 8mm fisheye, but I haven't tried in for video use yet.
 
GrumpyDiver said:
You may find the same lens f/1.4 85mm labeled as a Bower, ProOptic, Rokinon or Samyang (and perhaps a few more names I haven't found yet). They are all the same Samyang lens. These Korean lenses are quite inexpensive, and not too bad optically, but usually totally manual (which can be a pain on an SLR for metering), but is not an issue for use on a AF100. I have their 8mm fisheye, but I haven't tried in for video use yet.
Click to expand...

Please test the 8 mil lens with the af100 and post a video.
 
GrumpyDiver - the 85mm f/1.4 was coming up as Rokinon when I did a google search (Im based in UK) so thanks for pointing that out,
Igelkott - do you recommend the Sigma 17-55 f2.8 as a multi purpose lens for me until I get more glass?

So if I were to invest in 3 lenses:
Bower 85mm f1.4, the sigma 17-55 f.2 or the Canon zoom Mike recommended and a 50mm f1.4 or 1.8 will that cover most scenarios?
I'd be using the AF100 for corporate interviews/wedding ceremonies and pocket dolly shots,
I have an HPX170 & an HMC150 as well, will either of these complement the AF100 better than the other? I ask because I'm planning on selling one of them towards the cost of the AF100,

 
Remember that the 25mm f.95 will have a field of view and depth of field very similar to an f1.7 50mm on the 5d. It's faster, yes, but it's tough to get too excited about a 50mm field of view.

We love our Contax Zeiss lenses on our GH2 (haven't had a chance to play with the AF100 yet).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top