Is the Voigtlander 17.5mm f/.95 good on the Pocket?

I've been torn over whether to get the Voigtlander 17.5mm f/.95 for the Black Magic Pocket Cinema Camera. I'm new to cinematography, but interested in getting the highest quality, most detailed video I can, especially in low light. This lens is seemingly expensive relative to similarly priced lenses that have zoom, OIS, etc., so I'm trying to determine whether it is likely to be worth the money.

I've looked for information about how this lens performs, particularly on the pocket, but haven't found much, so any input would be much appreciated.

I've been torn over whether to get the Voigtlander 17.5mm f/.95 for the Black Magic Pocket Cinema Camera. I'm new to cinematography, but interested in getting the highest quality, most detailed video I can, especially in low light. This lens is seemingly expensive relative to similarly priced lenses that have zoom, OIS, etc., so I'm trying to determine whether it is likely to be worth the money.

I've looked for information about how this lens performs, particularly on the pocket, but haven't found much, so any input would be much appreciated.

I've yet to try it myself.
Waiting on my pocket camera to arrive.
I bought the 17.5 based on good reports and a plethora of footage showing sharp focus and great low light & shallow DOF

The night shots in this clip particularly impressed me:
https://vimeo.com/75324720#

But then, just saw this:
https://vimeo.com/75757132#
I'm not helping.

Thanks, Pablito. Wow, that last video is incredibly sharp! I am now officially terribly, utterly confused about the best lens to buy to achieve a wide(ish) angle in low light.

Does anyone else have any experience with or thoughts about this lens?

That 17.5 will be nowhere near wide on the BMPCC, more like a normal FoV.


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It's' a great lens and produces a very nice picture on the Pocket cam.
The image does start to soften up at f0.95 (not a real surprise) but by f1.2/1.4 it's really sharp.
On a super 16 chip it's not a wide angle field of view - it's pretty close to a 'normal' eye view.

Whether it's the right lens for you depends on many factors but I really like it.

Thanks, guys. Even though it will not be wide on the Pocket camera, can I still expect it to be a (if not the) superior lens in low light conditions?

I would LOVE to get my hands on the SLR Magic 12mm T1.6, since it seems like a great compromise between wide and low light, but I haven't been able to find one in stock anywhere.

The Voigtlander 17.5mm lens is really lovely. We have used it a great deal with the Pocket cinema camera.

There is a new Voigtlander 42.5mm/f.95 shipping in limited quantities right now as well, which with the 25mm makes for a really cool 3x lens MFT set of extremely low light glass.

The Voigtlander MFTs also match really well with the Leica M mount Voigtlanders. HRC has a high quality Leica M to MFT mount (made by Simple Cine) for only $69, which allows the full use of all the Leica M mount lenses on the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema camera.

Hot Rod Cameras is the only Voigtlander retailer in Los Angeles, so obviously I'm biased. But that being said, I'm on public record of having a love affair with Voigtlander lenses for the better part of a decade. They build really exquisite optics with all metal mechanics, and a small physical size. Perhaps most remarkable is that they sell them at a price far below similar focal lengths offered in M-mount.

Voigtlander is the house brand of Cosina, who builds amazing optics that go into lenses branded by other prestigious companies, including some cinema lenses.

The Voigtlander 17.5mm lens is really lovely. We have used it a great deal with the Pocket cinema camera.

There is a new Voigtlander 42.5mm/f.95 shipping in limited quantities right now as well, which with the 25mm makes for a really cool 3x lens MFT set of extremely low light glass.

The Voigtlander MFTs also match really well with the Leica M mount Voigtlanders. HRC has a high quality Leica M to MFT mount (made by Simple Cine) for only $69, which allows the full use of all the Leica M mount lenses on the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema camera.

Hot Rod Cameras is the only Voigtlander retailer in Los Angeles, so obviously I'm biased. But that being said, I'm on public record of having a love affair with Voigtlander lenses for the better part of a decade. They build really exquisite optics with all metal mechanics, and a small physical size. Perhaps most remarkable is that they sell them at a price far below similar focal lengths offered in M-mount.
Voigtlander is the house brand of Cosina, who builds amazing optics that go into lenses branded by other prestigious companies, including some cinema lenses.

I'd like to see them move away from the straight bladed iris. I find the flares and bokeh very angular and kinda ugly when not wide open. Personal opinion of course.

I'd like to see them move away from the straight bladed iris. I find the flares and bokeh very angular and kinda ugly when not wide open. Personal opinion of course.

Not unlike Cooke S4 lenses.

Here's some flare/bokeh Voigtlander examples some others have posted.

Nokton used to shoot Ginza at night on Youtube:

Thank you very much, this looks like it will be a great low light lens on the pocket, indeed!

I also like how the 17.5 has a switchable stepped to smooth aperture ring for those times when you need to ride the iris, or more minute aperture setting. Just a little useful feature often times overlooked.

I also like how the 17.5 has a switchable stepped to smooth aperture ring for those times when you need to ride the iris, or more minute aperture setting. Just a little useful feature often times overlooked.

+1

Is this lens useful in handheld situations, considering the lack of IS?

Is this lens useful in handheld situations, considering the lack of IS?

It's good for getting that shaky, handheld look.

I recently found this which had a whole lot to say about the Voigtlander 17.5mm f/.95 on the Black Magic Pocket:

Australian buyers, get it ex tax while you can:
http://www.smartimports.net/voigtlander-nokton-17-5mm-f-0-95-lens/#reviews

At the moment this lens is just under $1K which means you won't pay GST and will save about $160 with GST & fees.

I actually paid $1025 for it 2 weeks ago and didn't end up paying GST for some reason.

For buyers from countries other than Australia, it's the best price I've seen on the internet.

I think the $1000 threshold includes shipping and insurance, so unlikely you would sneak under the limit with only $1 to spare even without the shipping charge.
The lens is $1,195 at one of my fave Aussie dealers.

I'm returning mine because of how soft it is.

Well I paid $23 for shipping, via EMS from Japan and didn't pay a cent for duty or GST.
Sometimes you can be lucky.

Insomniac, perhaps this is the lens you might want.

Sigma 18-35 Nikon mount with Metabones SpeedBoost
http://www.eoshd.com/content/11294/ulti ... ed-booster

You can certainly see how sharp the Sigma is compared to the soft Voigtlander. It's almost as fast at f1.2 with SB but unlike the Voigt it's still very sharp when wide open.

Insomniac, perhaps this is the lens you might want.

Sigma 18-35 Nikon mount with Metabones SpeedBoost
http://www.eoshd.com/content/11294/ulti ... ed-booster

You can certainly see how sharp the Sigma is compared to the soft Voigtlander. It's almost as fast at f1.2 with SB but unlike the Voigt it's still very sharp when wide open.

Everyone's got an opinion:
http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3548242

Everyone's got an opinion:
http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3548242

I'm not sure if you're demonstrating a point with that link. Seems there's some misunderstandings or misinformed posts there but nothing that changes the facts about Sigma 18-35 Nikon mount and the MBSB. They're focused on nonexistent EF to MBSB. Yes it's a hefty lens but quality and sharpness are the real considerations. I think it's clear it beats the Voigt. The review I pointed to show it. Some comments in this thread point to the Voigt softness especially when wide open.... which makes the "fastness" moot if you can't use it.

The DP review is based on Photography not video at all