Voigtlander Voigtlander Nokton 58mm f/1.4 SL II S AI-S Lens, Review

The Voigtlander Nokton 58mm f/1.4 is a modern manual focus lens built for Nikon's classic F-mount. It's a specialist, not a generalist. Its scores tell the story: a 78/100 overall, with a strong 76.4/100 for portraits and a surprisingly capable 74.2/100 for macro work. But it's weak for landscapes, scoring just 46/100. That's the trade-off you're signing up for. This lens is about character and specific performance, not about covering every possible shooting scenario. It's a chipped, CPU-integrated Ai-S lens, so it'll meter with your DSLR or work on your film SLR, giving you a direct line to a classic focal length with modern build quality.

This lens excels in the areas that matter for its intended use. Its f/1.4 aperture sits in the 88th percentile, letting in a ton of light for low-light shooting and creating that shallow depth of field. The bokeh quality is rated in the 80th percentile, which translates to smooth, pleasing out-of-focus backgrounds perfect for portraits. And don't sleep on its close-focusing ability. With a minimum focus distance of 85mm and a macro score in the 85th percentile, it's surprisingly capable for detail shots. The stabilization, at the 89th percentile, is a huge bonus for a manual focus lens, helping you nail shots handheld at slower shutter speeds. Just know its optical score is only in the 34th percentile, meaning sharpness and correction might not match modern autofocus designs, and its versatility score is a low 39th percentile. It does a few things very, very well.

At $549, you're paying for niche performance and build. You can get a modern autofocus lens like the Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 for less money that will be sharper and more versatile. But you can't get its specific combination of f/1.4 speed, manual focus feel, classic 58mm focal length, and CPU integration for Nikon film and digital from anyone else new. It's a premium for a specific experience. If you want a do-everything lens, this isn't it. If you want a characterful tool for portraits and creative work, the price is justified for the unique package.

Compared to the Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 Z, you're trading autofocus, sharpness, and a wider field of view for the Nokton's specific 58mm character, faster f/1.4 aperture, and manual focus precision. The Meike 55mm f/1.8 Pro is closer in focal length and has autofocus, but it's slower (f/1.8 vs. f/1.4) and lacks the classic build and chipped mount for older cameras. The Nokton's key advantage is its native F-mount compatibility across decades of Nikon gear. For a Sony shooter, the Yongnuo 35mm f/1.8 offers autofocus and a lower price, but again, it's a different focal length and a completely different, more clinical experience. The Nokton is for the shooter who values the process and the look as much as the result.

This is a hard recommendation as a primary lens, but an easy one as a secondary tool for a specific photographer. If you shoot Nikon—especially if you have both digital and film bodies—and you love manual focus portraits with beautiful bokeh, the Nokton 58mm f/1.4 is probably the best new lens you can buy for that job. Its high scores in stabilization, aperture, and macro back that up. But with low scores in versatility and optical performance, it demands that you work within its strengths. For everyone else, a modern AF lens will be a more practical and likely sharper choice.