EXCERPT page containing first few paragraphs. 2024-04-19 14:03:21
UA_SEARCH_BOT_compatible_botmozilla/5.0 applewebkit/537.36 (khtml, like gecko; compatible; claudebot/1.0; +claudebot@anthropic.com) @ 3.147.89.85
For full access, subscribe here. Or click title to login. 
Flare
The Voigtlander Nokton 40mm f/1.2 Aspherical suffers from strong veiling flare, which is very common with fast lenses, though lenses like the Zeiss Otus lineup while not immune to it, control it to a far superior degree.
Flare control of the Voigtlander Nokton 40mm f/1.2 Aspherical is not so good—shield the front lens element from non-image forming light, particularly sunlight.
Example: Sprinter van at charcoal kilns
Backlighting is often one of the most attractive lighting situations. Hence a lens that has trouble with backlighting (because of the sun or similar being just out of the frame) is much less versatile and useful than one that controls it well.
Toggle to compare the two versions: the mostly flare-free image was shot with my hand blocking sunlight from striking the front lens element. This is not a worst-case example; I’ve seen worse with the Nokton.
Article continues for subscribers...
Diglloyd Guide to Mirrorless is by yearly subscription. Subscribe now for about 25 cents a day ($90/year).
BEST DEAL: get full access to ALL 8 PUBLICATIONS for only about 75 cents a day!
Diglloyd Guide to Mirrorless offers comprehensive integrated coverage of most APS-C and full frame mirrorless cameras and lenses.
Special emphasis is placed on Sony full-frame, including Sony lenses and the high performance Zeiss Batis and Zeiss Loxia lenses plus Rokinon/Samyang and others. Fujifilm X, Olympus and Panasonic M4/3, Sigma dp Merrill and dp/sd Quattro are also covered in depth. Years in the making, it offers a wealth of material for choosing and using a mirrorless camera.
- Make better images by learning how to get the best results right away. For example, the best way to set up your Sony camera.
- Save money by choosing the right lens for your needs the first time, particularly with the numerous lenses available for Sony.
- Make better images, a sort of “cheat sheet” saving yourself months or years of ad-hoc learning—best practices and how-to and 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.
- 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.
Want a preview? Click on any page below to see an excerpt as well as extensive blog coverage, for example on Sony.
