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Voigtlander Nokton 50/1.1 Image Quality Summary
Technically speaking, contrast and color compared to the Leica 50/1.4 Summilux or Leica 50/0.95 Noctilux are not at the same level; the Voigtlander 50/1.1 is a design compromise which has its own signature.
But for that reason (the style signature), the 50/1.1 is a lens that the Leica Summilux or Noctilux owner might acquire just for a different type of image rendition, as another tool in the tool belt, so to speak.
In short, it is a stylistic difference, indeed one that might be preferred for some subject matter, as a matter of preference.
Sharpness
The Voigtlander Nokton 50mm f/1.1 is very sharp centrally but with moderate contrast at f/1.1 through f/2, along with a host of color aberrations. Precise focus is mandatory to deliver peak sharpness, which is impressively high at f/1.1.
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Diglloyd Guide to LEICA contains in-depth coverage of Leica M system cameras and lenses, with additional coverage of Leica M Monochrom, Leica Q.
Special emphasis is placed on Leica M lenses and certain Zeiss ZM lenses.
- Make better images by learning how to get the best results right away.
- Save money by choosing the right lens for your needs the first time, particularly the Summilux/Summicron/Elmarit choice and/or Zeiss ZM.
- Make better images, a sort of “cheat sheet” saving yourself months or years of ad-hoc learning. Processing parameters are discussed and shown.
- Jaw-dropping image quality found nowhere else utilizing Retina-grade images up to full camera resolution, plus large crops [past 2 years or so].
- Real world examples with insights found nowhere else. Make sharper images just by understanding lens behavior you won’t read about elsewhere.
- Aperture series from wide open through stopped down, showing the full range of lens performance and bokeh.
- Optical quality analysis of field curvature, focus shift, sharpness, flare, distortion, and performance in the field.
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