Voigtlander Voigtlander 50mm f1.1 Heritage

Overview

The Voigtlander 50mm f/1.1 Nokton is a Leica M-mount ultra-fast normal lens introduced by Cosina under the revived Voigtlander brand around 2010. It was conceived as an affordable answer to Leica's famed Noctilux line, offering an f/1.1 maximum aperture at roughly $1,000 versus the multi-thousand-dollar Noctilux. As Ken Rockwell notes, 'although it looks like a NOCTILUX on the outside, unlike other Voigtlander lenses, this NOKTON's optics just don't compare to a real NOCTILUX.' The reviews highlight that opinion on this lens is deeply divided: Hamish Gill of 35mmc opens his review by acknowledging 'how divided opinion on this lens seems to be,' and frames the key question as whether buyers approach it for its function (getting f/1.1 speed and shallow depth of field) rather than for clinical optical character. It has developed a following among photographers who value its speed and rendering rather than measured perfection. No specific community nickname is evidenced in these reviews, so: unknown.

Verdict: The Voigtlander 50mm f/1.1 Nokton is a divisive, well-built ultra-fast normal lens for Leica M mount. If you buy it holding it to Leica Summicron or Noctilux standards, it will disappoint — it is soft wide open and has poor bokeh by those benchmarks. But if you buy it for its function — affordable f/1.1 speed and shallow depth of field — it fulfills that role, which is exactly why opinion on it is so divided. It is best for photographers who want the effect of extreme speed and character over clinical perfection, and who understand it is not a true Noctilux.

Optical Character

Bokeh

Judged to have poor bokeh at larger apertures by Leica standards.

Sharpness wide open

Very soft and blurry wide open at f/1.1 and softer than peers even stopped down by Leica standards.

Community Insights

What people love

The extreme f/1.1 maximum aperture provides speed and shallow depth of field for a fraction of a Leica Noctilux's price (about $1,000 vs multi-thousand).
Excellent build quality — Ken Rockwell notes it is 'very well made' and 'feels great in-hand.'
When bought for its function (speed, shallow depth of field) rather than clinical character, it satisfies its purpose, as Hamish Gill argues.
Its Noctilux-like external appearance and premium feel.

What people dislike

Very soft and blurry wide open at f/1.1 when judged against Leica Summicron/Noctilux standards (Ken Rockwell).
Softer than competing lenses even when stopped down (Ken Rockwell).
Poor bokeh at larger apertures by Leica standards (Ken Rockwell).
Regarded by some critics as a 'gimmick' or 'buy-once toy for the idle' that doesn't match true Noctilux image quality.

Pro Tips

Buy and use it for its function — the extreme f/1.1 speed and shallow depth of field — rather than expecting clinical Leica-standard sharpness (Hamish Gill's framing).
Ken Rockwell suggests you'll be much more pleased with it on micro 4/3, a Voigtlander camera, or any context where you are not expecting genuine Leica image quality.
Embrace its softness wide open as character rather than a flaw; stop down if you need more critical sharpness, though it remains softer than peers even then.

Sources (1)

Web-grounded synthesissecondary

The Voigtlander 50mm f/1.1 Nokton is a Leica M-mount ultra-fast normal lens introduced by Cosina under the revived Voigtlander brand around 2010. It was conceived as an affordable answer to Leica's famed Noctilux line, offering an f/1.1 maximum aperture at roughly $1,000 versus the multi-thousand-dollar Noctilux. As Ken Rockwell notes, 'although it looks like a NOCTILUX on the outside, unlike other Voigtlander lenses, this NOKTON's optics just don't compare to a real NOCTILUX.' The reviews highlight that opinion on this lens is deeply divided: Hamish Gill of 35mmc opens his review by acknowledging 'how divided opinion on this lens seems to be,' and frames the key question as whether buyers approach it for its function (getting f/1.1 speed and shallow depth of field) rather than for clinical optical character. It has developed a following among photographers who value its speed and rendering rather than measured perfection. No specific community nickname is evidenced in these reviews, so: unknown.

https://www.35mmc.com/06/12/2014/voigtlander-50mm-f1-1-nokton-review/https://www.kenrockwell.com/voigtlander/50mm-f1.htmhttps://leicarumors.com/2022/06/25/voigtlander-nokton-50mm-f-1-0-aspherical-mc-lens-review-lese-majesty.aspx/