Review on Optimized Voigtlander Nokton 40mm f/1.2 Aspherical Lens for Sony E-Mount by Tim Roby

So I was skeptical when I first received this lens. Despite some very good reviews, I wanted to see for myself if manual focus really did deliver the sharp image I was looking for. During a recent business trip, I picked up a lens for a test shoot. It really delivered what I was looking for in low light. For those looking for a lens that can deliver a semi-static composition and superior performance in a compact body, this lens really does it. I shoot with a Sony A7III. Focus peeping works exceptionally well in low light, and this lens has managed to achieve truly amazing photo balance. I've attached some photos I took at night in very low light conditions. I also tried my Tamron 28 with a 75mm lens. Focus was lost in low light and the ISO was too high to be useful (don't get me wrong, I love Tamron lenses too). In truth, this lens is a lot of fun to use. Be careful with short focal length images, a focal length of 1.2 gives very limited background spread. Does it cost $1100? In my opinion, yes. I'm very conservative and skeptical about lens performance. In this particular case, this lens actually performs exceptionally well due to its small size and quality construction. I really like this 40mm lens. UPDATE - 26.05. Having used this lens in various conditions, I have to admit that it does not produce high sharpness. So if that's what you're expecting, I suggest switching to Zeiss Batis for 2-3x the price. Even for live action, as with any manual focus lens, you'll need to practice, but once you get used to it, it'll be a lot of fun. But my affection for this lens continues to grow. Very happy with this lens.