12mm f/1.6 Noktor

Vitaliy_Kiselev

@EOSHD

Thanks for short review.
Good thing is what m43 primes selection is wider with each month.

This is video made by Andrew:

EOSHD

@cosimo_bullo Those dots in the bokeh were from rain drops on the front element

@jimtreats Thanks and yes you are right it doesn't deliver the same depth compression or depth of field characteristics as a 24mm F1.4 but it is as close as we'll ever get to that look, and actually the depth compression has the characteristics of a 12mm or 15mm lens on the 5D Mark II making it look quite extreme and dramatic. I like it.

Yes true about the manual focus ring! I'd rather have that at the front and aperture at the back like a normal lens.

jimtreats

@eoshd

Nice mini-review. I'm certainly interested in this lens. The only thing I would add is your page states

"It is roughly equivalent to the 24mm F1.4L on a 5D Mark II."

Wouldn't it be more correct to say its equivalent to a 24mm f3.2, as the amount of depth of field also scales with the crop, yes the amount of light let into the lens is obviously equivalent at f1.4. It's just as we're all more interested in this lens for video I think its the amount of DOF from the aperture that's more relevant than the amount of light gathering potential. It's this that turns the awesome Nokton, into a more sedate 50mm f1.8 full-frame equivalent, which is still great, but not quite as insane as a Noctilux on an M9.

I would love Voigtlander to come out in this area too, but if this lens is as good as it seems to be there may be little point.

The only problem i see is that the manual focus dial looks very close to the body, which as with the Nokton 25mm f0.95 means it wont work with my standard follow focus, which hits the body of my camera before it has chance to be in line with the focus ring. I do wish they were all just a bit further away from the lens mount end, but then that'd have likely made the lens even larger.

feha

I think , this lens is great, judged by image quality it gives.
No matter the price or who makes it ...
If it's good it is good, judge your self ...
All reviews may have a personal wishes, expectations etc ...
I like it ...

Meierhans

In some rare cases it does... the gh2 did for me. I found back my love for shooting images, not just need because its my job...
Would not be possible without this people in here as well I guess.
So I suggest you go out in the nature and shoot some of its beaty yourself, then come back and behave in a civilized manner...

Vitaliy_Kiselev

@sohus

>The whole DSLR community are a bunch of golddiggers

:-)
In this case you'll be uttely surprised by other communities.
In fact, you describe human nature, after this declare this human nature something bad and improper.
People like new stuff. Like to write about it and read about it.
In their deep thoughts they always think how their shooting (and their life) will improve if they had this new fancy stuff.

sohus

@eoshd
Your reaction is just what I expected. The whole DSLR community are a bunch of golddiggers. Hyping one product after another and than quickly forgetting it because they get another bone thrown to them by manufacturers. You are a good example of that, with your pre-emptive 'Sony's new cameras are fantastic' posts and than a few weeks later, saying they suck because of codec what every fool could se before looking at the specs. The DSLR industry has always been one of wannabes that think all this stupid overpriced gear can make them a good filmmaker. Go buy some books by the true cinema masters and go ****ng shoot good stuff instead of bokeh porn. The only thing I see all these people post is 'look at this new lens', 'look at the depth of field', 'look at the noise in my shot'.

I don't see any real filmmakers on forums, blogs hyping new gear or doing this kind of stuff. Why? Because they are out making movies and don't care about the latest and greatest 'next big hyped thing'.

Capitalism, gotta love it. We're all addicted to new stuff.

cosimo_bullo

Well put eoshd.

Your test looks great. It is a very pleasing looking lens. There seemed to be some 'specks' in the bokeh though in some shots. Is there possibly some schmutz in that test lens?

Also, have you tried driftwoods 176 gop1? If not, you must. It's incredible.

GOODEMPIRE

I have just one question. Where can I get this lens.

itimjim

I don't mind the pre-prod units going out to the gear critics, it's just how it is done, in almost all industries. The little guys like SLRMagic and the like need all the help they can get. We're more likely to get more unbiased opinions, compared to the likes of DPReview and the massive sponsorship carrots CaNikon hold over them.

lolo

well not that wrong...

lolo

+1 to Sohus,
but if they offer to the community the stuff they get for free, that would proob us wrong hahahhaha

sohus

Everyone who has one know got them for marketing purposes. That is the whole deal with the whole DSLR industry... all paid puppets of the industry. See Philip Bloom "ethic statement: i bought this myself" under the article "Sponsored by Kessler crane (his friend) who also makes his dolly". Magic Bullet Suite... use discount code Philip Bloom, EOSHD, all rumor sites. These guys are hardly objective anymore, they write to get free stuff.

This is the forum I come to for non-paid real world feedback, and cheep China stuff :) Like the Gini-rig, which is absolutely amazing high quality for the price you pay.

EOSHD

Nope, not available yet. I heard December, TBC

Good news for video is it has a nice clickless aperture and no steps but also feels very solid. Also 12 blade iris means nice bokeh when stopped down to F2 and further.

itimjim

Where do you actually buy one of these? Or are they not available for the general public yet?

EOSHD

Going to collect my 12mm from the UPS depot in Berlin today. All the stuff I've seen from Seb has been lovely looking I've no reason to doubt it. I think it should be judged on it's own merit not by whether past SLR Magic lenses have been rebadged c-mounts or good value or not. This isn't a cheap toy lens and the 12 blade iris hints more at cinema lens than industrial. As far as I know from my talks with SLR Magic it is a custom design. I think people will be grateful for having such a fast 12mm, you can't get a equivalent 24mm F1.4 on the 5DMkII or 16mm F1.6 on APS-C for as cheap can you? Both this and the Olympus 12mm F2 are pretty unique and I am glad they exist for the GH2 and not a rival camera that isn't as good. Canon and Nikon should be ashamed for not making a fast 24mm equivalent for their EFS or F mounts. They have had 10 years and $XX billion to do so yet it is left to SLR Magic to do one first.

Vitaliy_Kiselev

@Mimirsan

>its about helping saving other videographers/photographers spending more for something thats costs less.

I like such approach myself.
But you clearly do not have facts.
Find this lens that they are rebadging, as you tell us and I'll make it in big bold letters.

>Funny I thought this was a forum and a open discussion.

It is open discussion.
But without unfounded bashing.
And I stated it many many times.

>Delete my posts and continue your propganda as you are worried about free gifts.

Ouch. :-)
About free gifts. I did not get any free gifts yet. :-)
And as you can see I openly state all facts of even offers of "free gifts".
So, your words about propaganda are out of place here.

Mimirsan

Well fine. You have read my comments wrong as its not about "country of origin" or brand name...its about helping saving other videographers/photographers spending more for something thats costs less.
Funny I thought this was a forum and a open discussion.
Delete my posts and continue your propganda as you are worried about free gifts.

Vitaliy_Kiselev

@Mimirsan

If you ask me, it is unreasonable.

I always say that it is fuckingly wrong to judge something by brand name or country of origin.
Anything like this.

Mimirsan

Indeed its widely known for a long time but gives a insight to the companies dealings.
So its not unreasonable at all to question or doubt the 12mm given their past products.

Vitaliy_Kiselev

@Mimirsan

You are citing quite widely known facts about 35mm.

But here we discuss 12mm.
If you really have the facts about this 12mm being something with cheap WA adapter on top, let me know.

Mimirsan

@danyyel...Its not a campaign...its education.
Slr magic/Noktor are a company that rebrands lesser priced cctv lenses (see fujian25mm f1.4,see goya 50mm f0.95,see kowa 25mm f1.6) and then sells them at a higher margin (and making a tidy profit)

If you want to take away the middleman then to save money you research and buy the cctv lens...
if you want it all done for you...then buy from Slrmagic.

What isnt good is the high price for that little bit of middleman...
for example of that "slrmagic" (uk prices)

Fujian lens 35mm f1.7 + cmount adapter 29 quid-ebay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CCTV-35mm-f-1-7-Lens-C-Mount-Micro-4-3-GH2-GF2-/180603474787?pt=UK_Lenses_Filters_Lenses&hash=item2a0cce5363

slrmagic 35mm f1.7 + permanant cmount 140 quid-ebay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SLR-Magic-35mm-f-1-7-MC-lens-w-Macro-EP2-EPL2-GF1-G2-/250800919268?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item3a64e652e4

Same lens. Slr magic tried to state its been "optically refined" to justify the price different...but its not. Ive used both. Same lens. BIG price difference. Rip off in fact.

btw theres also another one trying it on...michael lens...but at least they dont try sell it for silly money

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Michael-Lens-35mm-F1-7-f-EP1-EP2-EP3-EPL1-EPL2-EPL3-GF1-GF2-GF3-G1-G2-G3-GH1-GH2-/180736232376?pt=UK_Lenses_Filters_Lenses&hash=item2a14b80bb8

also the "premium" noktor 50mm f0.95 is just a rebranded goyo optical 50mm f0.95 cctv lens with different mount (this is old news) search around and you will save money.

Now with this Noktor 12mm f1.6...I would say its a bit different in that its a pain in the ass to find the right cctv lens and wideangle adapter (god knows ive tried)...so they took the hassle out of it.
Going by slrmagics reputation...Im not convinced they built it from the ground up (as they proclaim)...I reckon it is a mutated cine/cctv lens but at very least its a not so common product with good peformance.

So Kron hit it right on the head....except for the dig at Seb.
The guy's been offered a lens to test...who wouldnt?
Besides Seb loves fast wides with character...and the Noktor it gives that.

MirrorMan

This lens looks brilliant. Can't wait to get one. It's for sure the perfect companion to the hack ;)

It's hard to believe all the complaining when Noktor is in fact trying to produce a product that the public wants.

kazuo

There will always be armchair critics out there who embarrass themselves with silly or outrageous claims without having touched the lenses they criticise.

We all know, that talk is cheap.

I have handled and shot with the Noktor, and I can tell you, like any other lens in the market, it has its own strengths and weaknesses. I am not saying I am an expert, but what i know comes from observation, and experience working with the lens. It is an informed judgement.

At the end of the day, a bad carpenter will always blame his tools

Vitaliy_Kiselev

@danyyyel

Do not see any campaign against this lens here :-)

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