Fast manual 50mm lens with an extreme f/1.1 aperture — delivers shallow depth of field and strong low-light performance.
Technical Details
The optical construction comprises seven elements in five groups with a minimum focusing distance of 0.45m. The aperture range extends from f/1.1 to f/16 with ten aperture blades for smooth bokeh. The 52mm filter thread allows for standard accessories. Variants are available for Leica M-Mount, Sony E-Mount, and Micro Four Thirds. Special coatings reduce flares and ghosting in backlight.
History & Development
Voigtländer introduced the first Nokton version in 1950 as an f/1.5 lens. The modern f/1.1 variant appeared in 2000 as part of the revived brand under Cosina license. The Aspherical version, with improved corner sharpness, followed in 2011. The VM-mount variant for digital Leica cameras established itself in film production from 2004 onwards as an alternative to significantly more expensive Leica lenses.
Practical Use in Film
Cinematographer Christopher Doyle used the Nokton for intimate close-ups in Wong Kar-wai's "In the Mood for Love" (2000). The extreme wide aperture creates characteristic bokeh with smooth transitions, while manual focusing allows for precise focus shifts. At f/1.1, the lens exhibits noticeable vignetting and soft rendering, which transitions to crisp sharpness from f/2.8 onwards. Documentary filmmakers appreciate its low-light performance in available light without additional illumination.
Comparison & Alternatives
Compared to the Leica Summilux 50mm f/1.4, the Nokton offers one stop more light gathering capability at one-fifth of the price. The Canon 50mm f/1.2L surpasses it in autofocus speed but does not achieve the same light intensity. Modern alternatives like the Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM offer autofocus and image stabilization but lose the characteristic "analog" look of the Nokton due to digital corrections.