Conclusion

Pros

• Extremely compact lens for the focal length and aperture
• Super solid all-metal construction
• Absolutely fantastic feeling focus and aperture rings
• Reasonably sharp wide open across most of the frame at most focus distances
• Very good sharpness across almost the entire frame stopped down
• Lovely color and contrast
• Good performance against flare
• Beautiful sunstars
• Lens aberrations and unique bokeh create a classic look
• Reasonably priced for such a fast wide-angle

Cons

• Heavy spherical aberration, especially at close focus distances
• Very soft at wide apertures when focused between 0.3 and 0.5m
• Extreme corners always retain some softness at any aperture
• Pronounced vignetting that never truly goes away
• Minor longitudinal CA
• Some purple fringing at high contrast edges at wide apertures
• Heavy coma at wide apertures
• Focus shift upon stopping down requires focusing at working aperture
• Barrel distortion at closer focus distances
• Bokeh that is quite busy wide open, and never is super creamy

As you can see from my pros and cons list above, this is not a perfect lens, but it’s also not a bad lens, and many of the cons actually figure into one of the pros – and that is the creation of that glowy classic look at f/1.4, with bokeh that you’ll either love or hate.  It’s a lens that I can’t universally recommend, as many will find its negatives to be major dealbreakers.  Yet, I do think that most people should really give it a look, as many do love that classic look at f/1.4. It’s also extremely solidly constructed, has wonderful manual focus feel, is downright tiny for a 35mm f/1.4 (and frankly it’s small for any lens), and doesn’t really break the bank at a retail price of $799.

Only you can determine whether you like the way this lens draws, or if you hate it.  But for my use, I really like the look I can get from this lens.  Wide open it gives a very unique look, and stopped down it provides lovely tonality and good sharpness over the entire frame, save for the extreme corners.  Sharpness is pretty good at f/1.4, but does have a little softness due to spherical aberration, and stopping down is a must when focused near the lens’ minimum focus distance.

If you do want a more modern rendering lens, be prepared to both spend more and carry around a larger lens.  One of the nice alternatives is Voigtländer’s own 40mm f/1.2, which is $300 more expensive, about twice the length and twice the weight, but is still fairly compact for such a lens, and while it’s a slightly longer focal length, from samples I’ve seen it’s also much better corrected and is a more modern optic.  Otherwise, you’re stuck with the giant 35mm f/1.4 lenses, or the also less than perfect, but also quite pricey (and slower) Loxia 35mm f/2. In fact, the Loxia and the Voigtländer share a fair bit in how they draw, with nervous bokeh wide open.  The Loxia is a touch sharper, a little bigger and a lot more expensive at $1,299, and its relationship to price was why I didn’t really feel it was worth a purchase when I reviewed that lens.  However, the Voigtländer’s $500 lower price and full stop faster aperture make it a lot easier to overlook flaws and embrace the drawing style.

Personally, I really like the lens, and have added it to my bag.  I’ve really enjoyed shooting with it. If you like the look, it’s well worth a purchase. If you want a more modern rendering lens, then look elsewhere.

Image Samples

Click on an image to enlarge.

If you enjoyed this review, please check out my other reviews in the Review Index.