The Voigtlander 42.5 f/0.95 Lens for Micro 4/3 is here! Review SOON!

The Voigtlander 42.5 f/0.95 Lens for Micro 4/3 is here! Review SOON!

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Hey guys! Happy Friday! Just a note to let you all know that the Voigtlander 42.5 f/0.95 Lens has arrived for Micro 4/3 and it has been with me since yesterday 🙂 GREAT lens, solid build and feel, HEFT as the 17 and 25 0.95 lenses and insane sharpness, even at 0.95. This lens is gorgeous and one of the nicest I have come across for Micro 4/3 to date. Up there with the other two 0.95 Micro 4/3 offerings, the 17.5 and 25 Nokton lenses. This trio would be astounding with the new Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera.

I will have a full review of the 42.5 Nokton within 7-10 days!

Thanks to CameraQuest.com for sending it along to me so fast so I could review it. This one may be a keeper. 🙂 You can check it out HERE but stay tuned for the full review!

Quick Specs:

  • f/.095 to f16 aperture range
  • 11 lens elements in 8 optical groups
  • 10 aperture blades
  • Filter size 58mm
  • Close focus .23 meter
  • Size: length 74.6mm, diameter 64.3mm
  • Metal Lens hood included with lens

1st shot, wide open at 0.95 on the E-P5. Click it for an 1800 pixel wide version. This one was converted with the VSCO Slide Pack.  The grain you see was added by the AGFA Scala preset. When I post the full review I will have plenty of full size out of camera shots. 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

and the gorgeous out of camera JPEG color. This is an untouched OOC JPEG, just resized. Click for larger. WIDE OPEN.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

22 Comments

  1. I have a omd and used to have a voigt 17mm. It was a lovely lens, but honestly the lens turned the camera to be almost as heavy as my D800. Even with the grip it was uncomfortable, so I ended selling it. After adding the price of camera, grip, battery, and lens it was more expensive then a d600 plus 35mm 2.0 and as big. So the only functionality i could understand was for video.

  2. I am not getting these Cosina lenses. Sure they are but they are also might expensive and fully manual (!). If you trying to emulate depth of field of larger formats why not simply get those larger formats? The EOS 6D will blow any PEN out of the water for image quality. Even the old 5D (I) will do. Couple these large sensor cameras with any EOS prime and you will have shallow depth of field to drown in.

    Resale value of EOS lenses is another point to consider. It is much easier to buy and sell without loss here than it is with exotic Voigtlander manual lenses for micro four thirds.

    • Johann has some good points. I loved my EP-2 and 20 1.7 combo for the great quality in such a small package. But if really shallow DOF is what you crave, Canon or Nikon FF gives it to you with better IQ for the same (or less) money and with better resale value. You might say FF is too big or heavy compared to M4/3, but these super-fast lenses coming out for M4/3 are neither small nor light.

      • I’d rather not go down the path of “full frame comparison” for several reasons: for example, size, weight, and last but not least, that these lenses are still f/0.95, so you can get fairly high shutter speeds and/or low iso with them under very low light, something which cannot be said of your standard f/1.8 canon prime. And lets not even imagine the size of a 85mm f/0.95 lens for FF. They are just different animals.

        BUT! Its true that m43 gear has lower resale value – more so bodies than lenses. In my country most people will either buy a canon or nikon aps-c entry level camera for their family snaps, and move on. If you show them an m43 camera, they will be like “WTF?” Not that they could even buy an m43 locally if they wanted to.

        Also, I agree with regards that, even though compared to full frame f/0.95 lens, these are small and light, they are big and heavy in the m43 universe. So, again, why would I bother going for a portable, small system and attach relatively big, heavy lenses? Not to mention the lack of AF. Maybe for movies, but for photography, i’m not really interested. If i want to focus manually, and experience first grade manual lenses, i’d go for a Leica digital rangefinder and either Leica, Zeiss or Voigtlander lenses.

        Me, i’m waiting for Panny’s 42.5mm f/1.2. It will probably be somewhat smaller, lighter, and it will have AF. If its any good like Panny’s 25mm 1.4, it will be the bomb.

  3. Quick Specs:

    f/.095 to f16 aperture range

    I thnk your being a tad optimistic with the rated aperture there 🙂

  4. I don’t see the point I would like to see full frame compact cameras with optical viewfinder like Leica for a reasonable price but not yet another APS-C, (Micro-) Four thirds, Foveon, DX, whatever they call it, you will never be able to make photos as good as with a full frame sensor, regardless which lenses you attach.
    I never will trade back my full frame DSLR.

    • Congratulations and good luck hauling your DSLR kit! And for all the other people here; let’s enjoy the benefits of a small and light system that does deliver results that are as good as a full frame camera. The manual focus Voigtlanders (and all other manual focus lenses for that matter) are not my cup of tea. The results of this lens look interesting, but to be honest I’m really looking forward to the 42.5mm f/1.2 Panasonic!

  5. Moin Steve!
    In germany there is a onlineshop (well known here) which offers this lens for Sony NEX with adapter. It claims very little vignetting. So do you have an NEX/MFT adapter to check this out?
    greetings from baltic sea =)

    • Yes, you can used M4/3 lenses on NEX camera with adapter but you are unable to focus to infinity. I have this adapter and 25mm 0.95

  6. I gave up on these Voights for my OMD because they felt a little flat with glassy bokah. I didn’t see myself using such a heavy lens on a camera that was all about portability. Felt I would always grab my M9 and a Summi if I wanted this look only better. Still it is awfully tempting everytime I see a nice pic with these 0.95 lenses. They seem to have a one of a kind unique look to their color rendition that I can’t shake. Perfect lenses for m4/3.

    Still I am committed to putting the 17.5 on the Bay. Ya gotta draw the line somewhere. I hope I don’t regret it.

    Liking that VSCO 4 though. Have 1-3 and still holding.

  7. “Steven, I solemnly promise never again to grind the aperture and focus rings of your review samples against a wooden bench as I rotate them, or drag the same against the bench as I swivel the camera around. Regards, Steve.” ))

  8. for $999 is a pretty sweet deal if this lens is that good.
    I know I don’t have the money at the moment, and who know when will I have it (especially that outside of USA this will cost ?50% more). Ohh well, one day 🙂
    And will definitely wait for the 42.5 f1.2 Pana/Leica to see the comparison.

    Thanks Steve, looking good 🙂

    • I know it would be better for $300, but lets be real. A high quality f0.95 will never cost that much ;(
      Also, tha capability to focus to 0.23m .. is quite impressive.

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