Nokton 28mm Review
Voigtländer Nokton 28mm f/1.5 Aspherical Review
Overview
The Voigtländer Nokton 28mm f/1.5 Aspherical is a fast manual-focus prime lens designed for Leica M-mount cameras and adaptable to mirrorless systems. With a full-frame equivalent focal length of 28mm, it sits in the sweet spot between 24mm and 35mm, offering a versatile wide-angle perspective that is ideal for street photography, environmental portraits, and low-light shooting. The fast f/1.5 aperture provides excellent subject separation and bokeh for a wide-angle lens, making it a strong contender in the rangefinder world.
Build and Design
The Nokton 28mm f/1.5 is solidly constructed, featuring an all-metal body that feels robust and premium. It is available in both black and silver finishes, with a choice between a lightweight aluminum version and a slightly heavier brass version. Weighing between 250g and 330g depending on the material, the lens remains compact and well-balanced on Leica M bodies as well as mirrorless cameras when adapted.
The aperture ring is click-stopped in one-third increments, allowing for precise control. The focus ring is smooth and well-damped, making manual focusing a pleasure. The lens also includes a 12-blade aperture diaphragm for smooth bokeh and a minimum focusing distance of 50cm, which is typical for rangefinder lenses but slightly limiting for those used to closer focus capabilities in mirrorless lenses.
Optical Performance
Sharpness is impressive in the center even wide open at f/1.5, making it highly usable for low-light photography. The edges are slightly softer at wider apertures but improve noticeably when stopped down to f/2.8 or f/4, making this lens well-suited for landscape and architectural work when greater edge-to-edge clarity is needed.
Bokeh is surprisingly smooth for a 28mm lens, especially when shooting at close distances. While it does not provide the extreme background separation of longer focal lengths, the f/1.5 aperture allows for a pleasing blur that enhances subject isolation.
Chromatic aberration is minimal, though some fringing can appear in high-contrast areas at f/1.5. Distortion is well controlled for a wide-angle lens, making it suitable for documentary and street photography where straight lines matter. Flare resistance is good but not exceptional, so using the optional lens hood is recommended in bright conditions.
Focus and Handling
As a fully manual lens, the Nokton 28mm f/1.5 requires careful focusing, but its well-damped focus ring makes the process smooth and intuitive. When mounted on a Leica M camera, the rangefinder coupling provides accurate focusing, while mirrorless users can benefit from focus peaking and magnification for precise adjustments.
Its compact form factor and balanced handling make it a great choice for photographers who want a fast, wide-angle prime without the bulk of larger f/1.4 or f/1.2 lenses.
Drawbacks
- Soft edges at f/1.5, improving when stopped down
- No weather sealing, requiring caution in harsh conditions
Conclusion
The Voigtländer Nokton 28mm f/1.5 Aspherical is an outstanding wide-angle prime lens for photographers who appreciate manual focus precision, classic design, and high-quality optics. It delivers strong sharpness, smooth bokeh, and excellent low-light capabilities while remaining compact and relatively lightweight.
Samples
Here are some recent photos I captured using the Voigtländer Nokton 28mm F1.5 Aspherical lens. These sample shots highlight the lens’s performance across different conditions, settings, and subjects. To view the complete collection of photos taken with this lens, the link.
