Hello, this is Nagasaka from PalmTrees.
This time, I’d like to share my impressions after using the Voigtlander NOKTON CLASSIC 40mm F1.4 MC.
Appearance and Build
From left to right: 12mm F5.6 / 40mm F1.4 / 50mm F1.2.
Before I knew it, my collection of Voigtlander M-mount lenses had grown to three.
(Though I don’t actually own an M-mount camera…)
Mounted on a Sony α-series and Leica CL, the lens looks compact and well-balanced.
To be honest, it looks better on the CL — it feels like the lens was made for it.
Lens Construction
・Minimum aperture: F16
・Minimum focusing distance: 0.7m
・Weight: 175g
・Optical design: 6 groups / 7 elements
・Filter size: 43mm
Why I Bought It
I wanted a 40mm lens for my Leica CL, which becomes roughly 60mm equivalent on APS-C.
I already own the 50mm F1.2, which is fantastic, but on APS-C it turns into 75mm — a bit too long. Also, I wanted to enjoy the 40mm focal length on full-frame cameras. The compact size and light weight were also key reasons for choosing this lens.
Sample Photos & Impressions
This lens is often described with words like “classic rendering” or “nostalgic tone.”
But in reality, it’s a neutral, straightforward lens.
Of course, if you intentionally aim for a classic or nostalgic look,
it can deliver that, but its natural rendering is surprisingly clean and modern.
Notes for Professional Use
You’ll need to be aware of its optical characteristics.
The lens intentionally retains some aberrations to reproduce the flavor of 1950s–60s optics.
Because of that, when shooting wide open, you may notice a bit of glow or softness around highlights.
Those who prefer modern, perfectly corrected lenses might find it distracting.
However, for those who seek a distinctive, expressive look — this lens can be quite inspiring.
For professional work, I’d recommend using it around F4–F2.8,
where the image quality becomes comparable to modern lenses without losing its character.
Final Thoughts
This lens is not about technical perfection — it’s about enjoying the imperfections.
It’s fun to shoot wide open and embrace the unique rendering. Sometimes, I even include a few of these shots in client deliveries because they have a special mood. After shooting with it for a while,
I’ve realized it still has many expressions left to explore.
I’ll keep taking it out to different places and see what kind of stories it can tell.
Thank you for reading. See you in the next article.
Yoshinobu Nagasaka
PALMTREES INC.
https://www.palm-trees.co.jp/en
