Voigtländer Nokton 23mm f/1.2 Aspherical for Fujifilm X Mount
The Cosina Voigtländer Nokton 23mm f/1.2 Aspherical
First Impressions of the Voigtländer Nokton 23mm f/1.2 Aspherical for Fujifilm X Mount
Updated: March 2023
I have now had hands-on with the Nokton 23mm f/1.2 X and have updated this post to reflect this.
The Cosina Voigtländer Nokton 23mm f/1.2 Aspherical is the first third-party Fujifilm X Mount manual focus lens with electronic contacts transferring important information such as EXIF data, distance, and f-stop to your Fujifilm camera.
This along with the fact that the Nokton 23mm f/1.2 is a very compact alternative to the Fujifilm XF 23mm f/1.4 R LM WR has put it front and center on my lens radar.
But is this lens for everyone? Let’s break it down.
The Cosina Voigtländer Nokton 23mm f/1.2 Aspherical for Fujifilm X Mount
Exclusive for Fujifilm X Mount
It could just be marketing talk but Cosina/Voigtländer states on their website that this is an exclusive design for the Fujifilm X mount. The lens has a full-frame equivalent angle of view of a classic 35mm lens.
The Voigtländer Nokton 23mm f/1.2 has 10 elements in 6 groups including one double-sided aspherical lens and two anomalous partially dispersed elements.
Thanks to the good folks at Broadway Camera in Vancouver I have now had hands-on with the Nokton 23mm f/1.2 and have updated this article with a few sample images. It is not my usual array of sample images captured in a variety of situations but it still gave me a good idea of what to expect.
Manual Focus and Aperture Ring
A high-precision all-metal helicoid unit using high-quality grease ensures smooth focusing and I can indeed confirm that it is wonderfully smooth and reminiscent of the Voigtländer Ultron 40mm f/2 SL IIs that I tested last year.
Like most of Fujifilm’s native lenses, the Voigtländer Nokton 23mm f/1.2 Aspherical has an aperture ring and it feels very good and with a refined construction that without a doubt will bring a smile to your face.
The design of the lens strikes a pleasant blend between Leica and Fujifilm and I believe the lens suits the Fujifilm lineup quite well. It will, in particular, go well with the X-E4 or X-Pro3.
The 12-blade diaphragm creates great-looking bokeh. In comparison, Fujifilm lenses mostly have between 7 and 9 diaphragm blades.
From the Cosina Official Site:
Equipped with electronic contacts to realize highly reliable telecommunications between the lens and body. By combining a body that supports telecommunications and the latest firmware (* 1), in addition to EXIF information, focus check, and shooting distance interlocking display, certain models also support in-body image stabilization and parallax correction.
Please click the chart to view a larger version
Voigtländer Nokton 23mm f/1.2 Aspherical - Specs
Weight 214 g / 7.5 oz.
Dimension: 59.3 × 43.8mm
Filter size: 46mm
Minimum focusing distance: 0.18m / 7.1”
Electronic contacts: Yes
Voigtländer Nokton 23mm f/1.2 Aspherical vs. Fujifilm XF 23mm f/1.4 R LM WR.
I have reviewed the Fujifilm XF 23mm f/1.4 R LM WR and was very impressed with its performance. It has autofocus which certainly sets it apart from the Nokton 23mm f/1.2.
It is however about 75% heavier and the bulk increases by about the same amount which is significant. The Voigtländer Nokton 23mm f/1.2 Aspherical is even smaller than the Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2 R WR while weighing a tad more.
As I updated this article in March 2023 the Nokton 23mm f/1.2 was on sale for $599.00 ($699.00 regular) whereas the Fujifilm XF 23mm f/1.4 R LM WR retails for $899.00.
If you are accustomed to manual focusing and know or can anticipate what it entails, I certainly see the Voigtländer Nokton 23mm f/1.2 Aspherical as a viable option for your Fujifilm X camera.
If, however, you plan to cover any type of action, sports, or kids running around, one of the Fujifilm lenses with autofocus will be a better fit and you should not downplay the importance of autofocus for these applications.
You can read my full XF 23mm f/1.4 R LM WR review here:
Fujifilm XF 23mm f/1.4 R LM WR - Review
Should You Buy the Voigtländer Nokton 23mm f/1.2 Aspherical?
One of the most annoying traits of manual focus lenses to this date has been the lack of electronic information going to the camera.
This problem has now been solved. I know it may sound petty but I often go back to my files and check what aperture I used, especially when evaluating lenses for reviews.
The Nokton 23mm f/1.2 feels wonderful in the hand and is perfectly matched to my X-Pro3 without being as large as the latest f/1.4 version from Fujifilm. I like the color output and smooth bokeh in the few sample images I was able to get and really appreciate the refind high-quality construction.
Personally, I am intrigued by the Voigtländer Nokton 23mm f/1.2 Aspherical. I haven’t made a final decision if I should buy one for myself yet but would certainly love to do a full review of it. Please see more sample images below including six photos at various f-stops.
Voigtländer Nokton 23mm f/1.2 Aspherical for Fujifilm X - Sample Images
Video
I found a video (in Japanese) describing more about the Voigtländer Nokton 23mm f/1.2 Aspherical. It has more product photos and a few more sample images which actually look more encouraging than the official sample images. It is however hard to judge from a Youtube video.
Fujifilm XF Wide Angle Lens Reviews
Fujifilm XF 14mm f/2.8 R
Fujifilm XF 16mm f/1.4 R WR
Fujifilm XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR
Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR
Fujifilm XF 18mm f/2 R
Fujifilm XF 23mm f/1.4 R LM WR
Fujifilm XF 23mm f/1.4 R
Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2 R WR
Fujifilm XF 27mm f/2.8 R WR
Fujifilm XF 30mm f/2.8 R LM WR Macro
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