Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!

gokenin · 12-30-2007, 09:37 PM

I am looking at getting the 40mm fixed length and was wondering how people feel about these lenses? The pentax is a 2.8 as compared to the 2.0 for the viogtlander, the pentax is less expensive. I have heard great things about the voigtlander line so am just wondering what other people think about this?

alib99 · 12-31-2007, 01:14 AM

You know that VL is not auto focus right?

pixelpruner · 12-31-2007, 06:25 AM

Voigtlander Ultron 40mm f/2 II (Nikon mount) - Photozone Review / Test Report - review of the voigtlander on a nikon d200...but i guess the lens performance will be very similar on the pentax. overall i would go for autofocus and cheaper... but that's because I'm a lazy student

**barondla** · 12-31-2007, 06:36 AM

I would buy the Pentax 43 Limited. You get incredible build quality, a faster lens at F1.9, autofocus, the ability to use on a FF film camera, an aperture ring, and incredible bokeh. That rebate doesn't hurt either. It is like mixing the other two lenses together!
thanks
barondla

roentarre · 12-31-2007, 06:45 AM

Though I am getting Voigtlander Ultron 40mm f2.0 as well, arriving in mid January together with 58mm f1.4.

I read somewhere that Fa 43 ltd is sharper than 40mm at 2.0 or something while bokeh of 40mm does not do well with light sources (which is a bit dissapointing given Voigtlander reputation)

The 58mm f1.4 is impeccable and so sharp wide open as well!!

blende8 · 12-31-2007, 06:47 AM

I will definately get a Voigtländer Ultron 40/2.0.
The price is about the same for both here in Europe, slightly above 300 Euro.
But the Ultron is f2.0, a significant feature for me and has a much better focussing ring, specifically designed for manual focussing.
It also comes with a close-up lens.

creampuff · 12-31-2007, 06:50 PM

The Voigtlander 40mm has an aspherical front element and the size is pretty small. Having an aperture ring is a bonus. Plus it has a FF image circle.

mer · 01-02-2008, 11:36 AM

Hey all

yes the voigtlander looks very good . Both FA43mm and the Ultron has been tested by photozone.de and the results look impressive . The only difference I can detect is Ultron has better resolution at corners even from F2 but after F2 they are equal .

So the difference is a trade of corner resolution at F2 vs Auto-Focus . I think it's good to have autofocus with a fast lens , fast lenses are very fast for autofocus but if you don't mind that the Ultron may have better and smoother MF ring .

Hopefully, you are the one to select and not me !

Edit : The Ultron's bokeh aren't good at F2 , I just checked some pics at photozone.de , here is example . http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/voigtlander_ultron_40_2/samples/DSC_4647-01.jpg

The FA43 has more impressive bokeh , at least this is my opinion .

blende8 · 01-02-2008, 12:05 PM

Bokeh is very difficult to evaluate. Other write:

"I like it very much. It's very well built, has very smooth bokeh and is very sharp and contrasty."

"Wow, this lens looks like a real "bokeh king." Smooth, no doubling, but with very good shape definition into the OOF regions."

(quotes from photo.net)

So, I think we all have to judge this on our own.

mer · 01-02-2008, 12:10 PM

That's why I posted this :

"The FA43 has more impressive bokeh , at least this is my opinion ."

.. and provided a link which was shot at F2 . I am sure some people may find this bokeh pleasing .

BTW there are some more pics at photozone.de which were shot with F2 . Have a look there if you are interested . Photozone.de says "Stopping down improves the bokeh quite a bit (marginal outlining, smoother transitions)"

ftpaddict · 01-02-2008, 01:14 PM

Originally posted by roentarre

I read somewhere that Fa 43 ltd is sharper than 40mm at 2.0 or something while bokeh of 40mm does not do well with light sources (which is a bit dissapointing given Voigtlander reputation)

Aren't they built by Cosina nowadays? Voigtländer has been reduced to being just a brand.

tux08902 · 01-02-2008, 02:55 PM

Originally posted by ftpaddict

Aren't they built by Cosina nowadays? Voigtländer has been reduced to being just a brand.

Yup, like you had Takumar from Pentax.

mawz · 01-02-2008, 05:05 PM

Originally posted by ftpaddict

Aren't they built by Cosina nowadays? Voigtländer has been reduced to being just a brand.

Voightlander is a brand controlled by Cosina these days, it's been decades since Voightlander was an active, independant brand. But note the Voightlander stuff is rather high quality, and Cosina is the only 35mm manufacturer to build all of their lenses and cameras in Japan. Everybody else has gone offshore for at least some of their manufacturing.

Also much of the new Zeiss stuff is manufactured by Cosina, to Zeiss's exacting QC standards.

The days of cheap crap as Cosina's sole output are over. They still do some of their cheap standards (the 19-35 f3.5-4.5 and the 100mm f3.5 macro) but their main business now is high-quality 35mm manual focus lenses for SLR's and rangefinders.

frank · 01-02-2008, 09:30 PM

Had the first version of this Voiightlander 40/2 lens, a great little lens which produces nice color and good bokeh, sharp enough even wide open. Built quality is very good, even came with a metal hood (but at an additional cost though

).

If given the choice between FA43/1.9 and V40/2, I'd choose the FA43/1.9 for its AF, great optical quality, and better looking (to my eyes at least). And of course it's a Pentax

roentarre · 01-02-2008, 11:39 PM

Originally posted by ftpaddict

Aren't they built by Cosina nowadays? Voigtländer has been reduced to being just a brand.

But the lenses still shine (well, particularly few ones certainly do!)

12-30-2007, 09:37 PM	#1
gokenin Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: lowell,ma Posts: 1,899	voigtlander or pentax? I am looking at getting the 40mm fixed length and was wondering how people feel about these lenses? The pentax is a 2.8 as compared to the 2.0 for the viogtlander, the pentax is less expensive. I have heard great things about the voigtlander line so am just wondering what other people think about this?

01-02-2008, 11:36 AM	#8
mer Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Greece Posts: 237	Hey all yes the voigtlander looks very good . Both FA43mm and the Ultron has been tested by photozone.de and the results look impressive . The only difference I can detect is Ultron has better resolution at corners even from F2 but after F2 they are equal . So the difference is a trade of corner resolution at F2 vs Auto-Focus . I think it's good to have autofocus with a fast lens , fast lenses are very fast for autofocus but if you don't mind that the Ultron may have better and smoother MF ring . Hopefully, you are the one to select and not me ! Edit : The Ultron's bokeh aren't good at F2 , I just checked some pics at photozone.de , here is example . http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/voigtlander_ultron_40_2/samples/DSC_4647-01.jpg The FA43 has more impressive bokeh , at least this is my opinion . Last edited by mer; 01-02-2008 at 11:44 AM.

01-02-2008, 12:10 PM	#10
mer Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Greece Posts: 237	That's why I posted this : "The FA43 has more impressive bokeh , at least this is my opinion ." .. and provided a link which was shot at F2 . I am sure some people may find this bokeh pleasing . BTW there are some more pics at photozone.de which were shot with F2 . Have a look there if you are interested . Photozone.de says "Stopping down improves the bokeh quite a bit (marginal outlining, smoother transitions)" Last edited by mer; 01-02-2008 at 12:15 PM.

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12-31-2007, 01:14 AM	#2
alib99 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 90	You know that VL is not auto focus right?

12-31-2007, 06:25 AM	#3
pixelpruner Inactive Account Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Leeds, NE UK Posts: 220	Voigtlander Ultron 40mm f/2 II (Nikon mount) - Photozone Review / Test Report - review of the voigtlander on a nikon d200...but i guess the lens performance will be very similar on the pentax. overall i would go for autofocus and cheaper... but that's because I'm a lazy student

12-31-2007, 06:36 AM	#4
barondla Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: midwest, United States Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,717	I would buy the Pentax 43 Limited. You get incredible build quality, a faster lens at F1.9, autofocus, the ability to use on a FF film camera, an aperture ring, and incredible bokeh. That rebate doesn't hurt either. It is like mixing the other two lenses together! thanks barondla

12-31-2007, 06:45 AM	#5
roentarre Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 11,783	Though I am getting Voigtlander Ultron 40mm f2.0 as well, arriving in mid January together with 58mm f1.4. I read somewhere that Fa 43 ltd is sharper than 40mm at 2.0 or something while bokeh of 40mm does not do well with light sources (which is a bit dissapointing given Voigtlander reputation) The 58mm f1.4 is impeccable and so sharp wide open as well!!

12-31-2007, 06:47 AM	#6
blende8 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bremen, Germany Photos: Albums Posts: 1,521	I will definately get a Voigtländer Ultron 40/2.0. The price is about the same for both here in Europe, slightly above 300 Euro. But the Ultron is f2.0, a significant feature for me and has a much better focussing ring, specifically designed for manual focussing. It also comes with a close-up lens.

12-31-2007, 06:50 PM	#7
creampuff Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,953	The Voigtlander 40mm has an aspherical front element and the size is pretty small. Having an aperture ring is a bonus. Plus it has a FF image circle.

01-02-2008, 12:05 PM	#9
blende8 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bremen, Germany Photos: Albums Posts: 1,521	Bokeh is very difficult to evaluate. Other write: "I like it very much. It's very well built, has very smooth bokeh and is very sharp and contrasty." "Wow, this lens looks like a real "bokeh king." Smooth, no doubling, but with very good shape definition into the OOF regions." (quotes from photo.net) So, I think we all have to judge this on our own.

01-02-2008, 01:14 PM	#11
ftpaddict Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Yurp Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,666	Originally posted by roentarre I read somewhere that Fa 43 ltd is sharper than 40mm at 2.0 or something while bokeh of 40mm does not do well with light sources (which is a bit dissapointing given Voigtlander reputation) Aren't they built by Cosina nowadays? Voigtländer has been reduced to being just a brand.

01-02-2008, 02:55 PM	#12
tux08902 Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: North Brunswick, NJ Posts: 473	Originally posted by ftpaddict Aren't they built by Cosina nowadays? Voigtländer has been reduced to being just a brand. Yup, like you had Takumar from Pentax.

01-02-2008, 05:05 PM	#13
mawz Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 166	Originally posted by ftpaddict Aren't they built by Cosina nowadays? Voigtländer has been reduced to being just a brand. Voightlander is a brand controlled by Cosina these days, it's been decades since Voightlander was an active, independant brand. But note the Voightlander stuff is rather high quality, and Cosina is the only 35mm manufacturer to build all of their lenses and cameras in Japan. Everybody else has gone offshore for at least some of their manufacturing. Also much of the new Zeiss stuff is manufactured by Cosina, to Zeiss's exacting QC standards. The days of cheap crap as Cosina's sole output are over. They still do some of their cheap standards (the 19-35 f3.5-4.5 and the 100mm f3.5 macro) but their main business now is high-quality 35mm manual focus lenses for SLR's and rangefinders.

01-02-2008, 09:30 PM	#14
frank Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,202	Had the first version of this Voiightlander 40/2 lens, a great little lens which produces nice color and good bokeh, sharp enough even wide open. Built quality is very good, even came with a metal hood (but at an additional cost though ). If given the choice between FA43/1.9 and V40/2, I'd choose the FA43/1.9 for its AF, great optical quality, and better looking (to my eyes at least). And of course it's a Pentax

01-02-2008, 11:39 PM	#15
roentarre Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 11,783	Originally posted by ftpaddict Aren't they built by Cosina nowadays? Voigtländer has been reduced to being just a brand. But the lenses still shine (well, particularly few ones certainly do!)

voigtlander or pentax?

Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!