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Voigtländer Nokton Classic 35/1.4
- Thread starter Maggie O
- Start date
H
Haya
Guest
68mm .... I doubt I'll find one that size ... I better start looking on line !
woodyspedden
New member
H
Haya
Guest
Thanks I'll check the B&H site 
Cindy Flood
Super Moderator
Maggie,
My Noctilux was backfocusing when I got it from Leica. Instead of sending it to Leica under warranty, I chose to send it to DAG (Don Goldberg). It cost me $135 to have it calibrated and shipped back. I could then focus right on at f/1. I think it is worth the money to have these tools spot on. I also sent my 75 lux to Don, and now it is perfect.
scott kirkpatrick
Well-known member
Maggie, this is going to sound boring, but it won't take that long. First find out just where your lens focuses at the center at f/1.4, f/2.8, f/5.6. The quickest way is to mark up a piece of lined note paper, by drawing a nice dark vertical line from top to bottom, and drawing large arrows from each side pointing at the very middle of the paper. Put the paper down on a flat surface and shoot down at a 30 to 45 degree angle from about two meters away The arrows are where you want to focus, and you can place the rangefinder crossing very accurately.
Then you just shoot two tries focusing carefully on the arrows at each f-stop, and see how the center of the sharpest focus region differs from where the rangefinder thinks it should be. And how that point moves as you stop down. If the error is constant at all f-stops, except fior a shift (and softening) at f/1.4, you could get the lens adjusted to focus at all apertures except wide open, and correct by a constant percentage at f/1.4. If the piece of paper is big enough, you can also see how the position of sharpest focus changes at the edges of the field (field curvature).
This may seem like adapting to the lens rather than making the lens do what you want, but at least you will know what it is doing.
scott
Then you just shoot two tries focusing carefully on the arrows at each f-stop, and see how the center of the sharpest focus region differs from where the rangefinder thinks it should be. And how that point moves as you stop down. If the error is constant at all f-stops, except fior a shift (and softening) at f/1.4, you could get the lens adjusted to focus at all apertures except wide open, and correct by a constant percentage at f/1.4. If the piece of paper is big enough, you can also see how the position of sharpest focus changes at the edges of the field (field curvature).
This may seem like adapting to the lens rather than making the lens do what you want, but at least you will know what it is doing.
scott
Maggie O
Active member
Well, Sean is going to be testing my lens and depending on what he finds, I may send it on to DAG or go with Scott's idea.
Here's a photo @ f1.4 here the focus is spot-on:
Normally, that bear is in my mom's room, but Bob brought it down to me the other night and presented it as a gift, right at my feet. He was so proud of his "kill."
Here's a photo @ f1.4 here the focus is spot-on:
Normally, that bear is in my mom's room, but Bob brought it down to me the other night and presented it as a gift, right at my feet. He was so proud of his "kill."
M
Michael Rivers
Guest
I just received the 35mm 1.4 SC from Stephen Gandy and had some fun today in Burlington, VT. I bought the lens for B&W, but enjoy the color renditions as well.
35mm Flicker Set
35mm Flicker Set
Maggie O
Active member
H
Haya
Guest
Maggie I love the Hunting shot!
Great set Michael enjoy the lens
Great set Michael enjoy the lens
S
Sean_Reid
Guest
Wake up Maggie, I think I've got something to say to you.
I ain't gonna work with Maggie's lens no more.
<G>! Sorry...couldn't resist. Door prize for the correct identification of both lines.
------
Seriously, thanks for the test lens. So far, it looks like its performing just like the other two samples I tested. I'll test Woody's lens next but I think we can start give the sample variation question a little less weight with this CV 35/1.4. Four samples are only four samples but if all four show the same performance then I believe we have a bit of a trend. People may have to accept that this lens is what it is, pros and cons and all. Of course, for decades people have been doing outstanding work with lenses that were not technically stellar.
BTW, Maggie, you are the most thorough packer I have ever seen. I thought I was extra careful when I packed but I am not in your league. And you even sent an extra filter just in case - very classy.
Woody, your lens arrived in one piece as well but you and I are just ordinary packers compared to Maggie.
Best,
Sean
I ain't gonna work with Maggie's lens no more.
<G>! Sorry...couldn't resist. Door prize for the correct identification of both lines.
------
Seriously, thanks for the test lens. So far, it looks like its performing just like the other two samples I tested. I'll test Woody's lens next but I think we can start give the sample variation question a little less weight with this CV 35/1.4. Four samples are only four samples but if all four show the same performance then I believe we have a bit of a trend. People may have to accept that this lens is what it is, pros and cons and all. Of course, for decades people have been doing outstanding work with lenses that were not technically stellar.
BTW, Maggie, you are the most thorough packer I have ever seen. I thought I was extra careful when I packed but I am not in your league. And you even sent an extra filter just in case - very classy.
Woody, your lens arrived in one piece as well but you and I are just ordinary packers compared to Maggie.
Best,
Sean
Maggie O
Active member
Ref. 1: "Maggie Mae," most famously sung by Rod "Frightful Scottish Fright Wig Scot's Hair" Stewart
Ref. 2: "Maggie's Farm," most famously written and sung by Bob "Frightful Minnesota Jewro Hair" Zimmerman, nee Dylan.
Interesting initial results, Sean. I look forward to reading a more complete report.
I figured that since the filter lives on the lens anyways, why not send it along?
Oh, and I have a confession. I got a ringer to pack the lens! A packing and shipping pro! (though I did once do a stint as the packing and shipping person at a robotics company) I have to admit that I've come to like that odd little lens, warts and all, so I wanted to make sure it arrived in good kit.
And now a photo from said lens, just because:
Shot @ f1.4, BTW. Extra points for identifying the books sitting under my "Oh look, it's The Doctor's 'Clever Speccs' glasses." (sadly, the photo on the desk is not one of my own, as my family seems to actively dislike my work)
Ref. 2: "Maggie's Farm," most famously written and sung by Bob "Frightful Minnesota Jewro Hair" Zimmerman, nee Dylan.
Interesting initial results, Sean. I look forward to reading a more complete report.
I figured that since the filter lives on the lens anyways, why not send it along?
Oh, and I have a confession. I got a ringer to pack the lens! A packing and shipping pro! (though I did once do a stint as the packing and shipping person at a robotics company) I have to admit that I've come to like that odd little lens, warts and all, so I wanted to make sure it arrived in good kit.
And now a photo from said lens, just because:
Shot @ f1.4, BTW. Extra points for identifying the books sitting under my "Oh look, it's The Doctor's 'Clever Speccs' glasses." (sadly, the photo on the desk is not one of my own, as my family seems to actively dislike my work)
S
Sean_Reid
Guest
I expected no less. Of course you know the great Maggie songs. But I didn't know that Dylan took on his stage name after marrying Joan Baez?! <G> (And after his stint as "Bobby V" in his own imagination).
I'm crashing and burning on the book ID.
More later...amazing packing...talk of the studio....<G>
Cheers,
Sean
I'm crashing and burning on the book ID.
More later...amazing packing...talk of the studio....<G>
Cheers,
Sean
woodyspedden
New member
You know Sean as I read all of this I realize that I am primarily a mid-distance shooter and usually shoot at 5.6 or so. Perhaps my lens has the problem and I just don't see it based on the type of shooting I do. It will be interesting to see if, like all the others, my lens shows the same problem
Woody
S
Sean_Reid
Guest
S
Sean_Reid
Guest
Hi Again Woody,
Well, the good news is that your example of the lens is as good as any I've tested (better than some). The bad news is that it still behaves like the first two.
I don't think its sample variation we're dealing with, I think its just the way that lens model is.
Details at 11:00 (or sooner <G>).
Cheers,
Sean
Well, the good news is that your example of the lens is as good as any I've tested (better than some). The bad news is that it still behaves like the first two.
I don't think its sample variation we're dealing with, I think its just the way that lens model is.
Details at 11:00 (or sooner <G>).
Cheers,
Sean
S