Voigtlander 58mm Question (with 40mm chat)

S

Steve Boykin

Well-Known Member
Does anyone have experience using this lens on a Nikon D700 (or better FF Nikon)? I really like the 40mm so I might be interested. I would most likely be shooting it between F2 and F4. Any input would be appreciated.

THANKS!!

Steve B.
 
... do you have the 40mm? which version do you have ... I WANT ONE! :)

How do you find the oof (bokeh if you are going to make me say it) ... I love my Voigtlander 35mm 1.4 classic (for my rf) ... it often gets quite bad reviews, but I think it takes stunning photos ... the bokeh can be hard edged sometimes and ive read that is the same for the 40mm slii
Its the pop like separation from the background that I am looking for ... like this


Connie in Boston Tea Party by Hamish_Gill, on Flickr

or this (which also demonstrates the hard edged bokeh very well)


Connie 1st Bday by Hamish_Gill, on Flickr

- - - Updated - - -

... sorry ... thread highjack, got excited ... i dont have the 58mm :(
I have a few cv lenes though :)

9D015232-6AF2-4067-9AC8-E081F39C6C55-11594-00000B6B2482B09E.jpg
 
I really like that 40mm. Here's the only thing recently I've done with it since I've mostly been using the Fuji. However, I've been giving some serious consideration to using the D700 for a while as a manual focus only camera and getting the 58mm to go along with the 40mm and this old 20mm Nikon I have. I guess that's some odd focal lengths. I kind of like 40. It sits right between 35 and 50 so it's a nice compromise. :)

The only thing I've really read about the 58 is the standard "It's soft wide open" thing. I probably would never shoot it wider than F2 so that's really not a problem.

I really like that 40. I hadn't used it in a while, but I took it out a couple of days ago and reconnected with it. I was actually thinking of selling it but not now. Like I said it's an odd focal length but it works for me.

Those shots of your are really great!!!

Oh yeah for bokeh purposes the shot is at F2. It probably would have been better stopped down a bit, but I usually go over the top. I'm trying to stop............stop down more that is. :)
 
A lovely shot!
Yes, you can see the hard edges there ... on things like foliage it can look a little fuzzy i suppose ... but it doenst bother me in most circumstances. The almost sudden separation to oof is definitely evident there! ... maybe its just the compo ...?

If you are thinking of the d700 as a manual focus only camera this might well be of great interest to you http://www.realphotographersforum.com/content/871-katzeye-screen-nikon-d700-demo-video.html

Unlike some of the katzeye screens the d700 is admitedly a little vague in low light ... but its still very good and does in most situations give you the feel that you are using the older lenses as they were intended!

Id love to see some indoor/lower light stuff taken with the 40mm if you have any shots?

(thanks for the comment on my photos :))
 
I'll try and do something tonight and post it. I'm going to take my dogs to the lake and will give it a whirl when I get back. I'm old so I'm usually in bed by 9.......sigh..........
 
Dont force you self ... I didnt know there was anyone here with this lens, now i know im happy to wait as long as you need :)

I feel like i should be in bed by nine... unfortunately, excluding popping in here, i am working this evening... all be it light work ... its work non the less (facebook marketing :/)
 
It's no problem. We aren't staying out there late tonight. I developed a bad sinus/upper respiratory infection over the weekend so I really probably shouldn't be going at all. I went to work today for the first time for a half day. I just feel bad for the dogs. They've had to do short walks at the city park the last few days.

I'm not Richard Avedon so I wouldn't expect anything to awe inspiring.

The version I have is the MK II version which has the electrical contacts so you can control the aperture on the camera. I really like the lens. I will say it does look a tad silly on the D700 since it's so small and he camera is so big. I've been thinking about getting a Nikon to Fuji adapter and trying it out on the X Pro.
 
Steve Boykin said:
It's no problem. We aren't staying out there late tonight. I developed a bad sinus/upper respiratory infection over the weekend so I really probably shouldn't be going at all. I went to work today for the first time for a half day. I just feel bad for the dogs. They've had to do short walks at the city park the last few days.

I'm not Richard Avedon so I wouldn't expect anything to awe inspiring.

The version I have is the MK II version which has the electrical contacts so you can control the aperture on the camera. I really like the lens. I will say it does look a tad silly on the D700 since it's so small and he camera is so big. I've been thinking about getting a Nikon to Fuji adapter and trying it out on the X Pro.
Click to expand...

Which ironically would give you the 60mm approx equiv focal length that you started this thread about ...

I hope you feel better soon matey ... if it make you feel any better my dogs only get city walks most of the time ... I know im a bad owner :(
 
Ok the dogs were too pooped to cooperate so here you the test chart of dog bone, African Giraffe Sculpture, and Kodak Brownie. F2.0 ISO 1000 and a shutter speed of 60 (I think). You know I do really like this camera when it gets it right, but I find the Fuji has a much better metering system for outdoors shooting.
 
I have the same Brownie!
 
Hi Steve, I have the 58mm and have used it for a few portraits but prefer the slightly longer Zeiss 85mm f1:1.4. I couldn't find easily an example so to give you an idea, here are a couple of test shots with it mounted on a D3.

This is straight out of the camera, ISO 1600 (daylight from a skylight in the studio behind me), 1/60s at f1:1.4.

Voightlnder58mmf14-1.jpg



As you can see, it has a nice shallow DoF as you'd expect and the OOF areas are quite pleasing. There is some vignetting at maximum aperture. It also produces some green fringing on areas that are just OOF as you can see below.

Voightlnder58mmf14-2.jpg



These can be corrected easily in LR using the colour picker and defringe tool (this has had 20% clarity added as well).

Voightlnder58mmf14-3.jpg



Here is an edited shot with 20% clarity, de-fringing applied and a small amount of contrast lift via curves and sharpened in Nik Output Sharpener (50% Adaptive). In all shots the white balance was slightly adjusted using the picker on the white wall behind.

Voightlnder58mmf14-4.jpg
 
... so do I

Yeah, it looks to have a very similar bokeh to my 35mm classic... maybe a bit smoother ...
Im so tempted to just buy one and have it done with!

- - - Updated - - -

... do you have the 40 too Pete?
 
Pete- Thanks for posting these shots. I'm really tempted on this lens but I have the Fuji 14mm on pre-order. I have to do some thinking about this one. I have a feeling I'm going to end up with this lens.
 
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