{"id":52366,"date":"2024-06-26T09:03:49","date_gmt":"2024-06-26T08:03:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/?p=52366"},"modified":"2026-03-23T14:35:04","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T13:35:04","slug":"comparison-fast-55-58mm-f-1-2-f-1-4-manual-fullframe-lenses-for-f-mount","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/comparison-fast-55-58mm-f-1-2-f-1-4-manual-fullframe-lenses-for-f-mount\/","title":{"rendered":"Comparison: Fast 55\/58mm f\/1.2 | f\/1.4 Manual Fullframe Lenses for F-mount"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/h2>\n
\"voigtl\u00e4nder
Nikon 55mm 1.2 Ai | Voigtl\u00e4nder 55mm 1.2 SL IIs Nokton | Voigtl\u00e4nder 58mm 1.4 SL IIs Nokton<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I guess you did not expect to see a comparison of fast 55-58mm f\/1.2 to f\/1.4 lenses for Nikon F-mount in 2024, but I also did not expect to see Cosina releasing a new F-mount lens in 2023, so here we are. We will be looking at the Nikon 55mm 1.2 Ai, the first F-mount lens as fast as f\/1.2 from 1965, its modern reincarnation by Cosina, the Voigtl\u00e4nder 55mm 1.2 SL IIs Nokton from 2023 and Cosina’s fan favorite F-mount portrait lens, the Voigtl\u00e4nder 58mm 1.4 SL IIs Nokton, which is around since 2007.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n\n

Disclaimer: <\/strong>I only tested one sample of each lens. As sample variation comes into play, it is possible that any one of these lenses may perform above or below average in certain areas, e.g. corner sharpness.
\nFurthermore no lens is perfectly symmetrical, so it is possible I picked the best corner of one lens while I picked the worst of another. Sample variation usually has less of an affect on other aspects like bokeh, vignetting and color correction though.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

The Voigtl\u00e4nder 55mm 1.2 SL IIs Nokton<\/a> was provided by Voigtl\u00e4nder GmbH<\/a>, the German Voigtl\u00e4nder distributor. The other two lenses I bought myself.<\/em><\/p>\n

Specifications<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Nikon 55mm 1.2 Ai<\/a> N55<\/em><\/span>
\n<\/strong>buy from ebay.com<\/a> | ebay.de<\/a> (advertisement\/affiliate links) starting at $300<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Voigtl\u00e4nder 55mm 1.2 SL IIs Nokton<\/a> V55<\/em><\/span>
\n<\/b>buy from Amazon.com<\/a> | B&H<\/a> | ebay.com<\/a> | ebay.de<\/a> (advertisement\/affiliate links) for $699\/649\u20ac<\/strong> or find your local Voigtl\u00e4nder distributor<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Voigtl\u00e4nder 58mm 1.4 SL IIs Nokton<\/b><\/a> V58<\/strong><\/em><\/span>
\nbuy from Amazon.de<\/a> | B&H<\/a> | ebay.com<\/a> | ebay.de<\/a> (advertisement\/affiliate links) for $549\/579\u20ac<\/strong> or find your local Voigtl\u00e4nder distributor<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

To not always having to write the full lens name in the following comparisons I will use the abbreviations as highlighted in red above.<\/em><\/p>\n

Build quality\/Handling<\/h2>\n

In terms of size and handling all three lenses are very similar, the two Voigtl\u00e4nder lenses almost indistinguishable even. Focus throw of the Voigtl\u00e4nders is a bit longer (270\u00b0 compared to ~230\u00b0 of the Nikon) and the Nikon’s aperture ring can be moved slightly beyond the f\/1.2 click. The Voigtl\u00e4nder lenses also feature electronic contacts, which the old Nikon lens obviously doesn’t. <\/span><\/p>\n

For more detailed information you can always check out their individual reviews<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Field of view<\/h2>\n