Voigtlander 35mm f1.2 ASPH II Leica Wedding

Voigtlander 35mm f1.2 ASPH II

YouTube: Review of the Voigtlander Nokton 35mm 1.2

Leica Wedding

UK Leica Wedding Photography

(2020** THIS POST IS DUE TO BE UPDATED)

September 2013 – Buying the Voigtlander 35mm f1.2 ASPH

Yesterday I was at Kenilworth Castle covering Lord Kenilworth’s wedding. I thought there would be some low light photography involved so that gave me the poor excuse of researching fast leica M mount primes. I do not yet own a Leica lens and see them as a good investment so was looking at the Leica 35mm f1.4 ASPH FLE (Crazy good poppy images – seen on Google Images!) and the cheaper older Leica 35mm f1.4 ASPH PRE-FLE. During my research I spotted the Voigtlander 35mm f1.2 ASPH II (Thanks Steve Huff and others!). I already have 3 VC lenses so know they are well made with great optics. I liked the idea of the new Leica FLE but I just couldn’t justify the money so settled with the

Voigtlander 35mm f1.2 ASPH II lens (Nokton)

As I already own the VC 40mm f1.4 I was not sure if i’d just been caught up in the hype. There is not a huge difference on paper between 35mm and 40mm and f1.2 and f1.4. There is however a big difference in price, size and weight with the VC 35mm f1.2 ASPH II coming in higher with all 3. It is a weighty chunky lens by Leica standards with a 52mm thread!

Yesterday was the day of Lord Kenilworth’s wedding at Kenilworth Castle so thank you for http://www.RobertWhite.co.uk who sent me the lens with next day delivery. I was freelancing as a second shooter wedding photographer and had the VC 35mm f1.2 on my Leica M9 when I arrived. The lens was still on the camera when I left despite having a VC 28mm f2 Ultron, VC 21mm f4 Color Skopar, VC Nokton 40mm f1.4 and Zeiss ZM Planar 50mm f2 T in my bag. The VC 35mm f1.2 can do it all and do it very well! Sharp (though not as bitingly sharp as the VC 28mm f2 Ultron) shot at the widest aperture (f1.2) and easy enough to focus wide open for documentary style wedding photography. Everything from 3D looking images in good light to letting you shoot after the sun has gone down.

This photo above was taken when I had some down time and was walking back to fetch something. It was almost completely dark yet at f1.2 I was able to capture this silhouette shot of Kenilworth Castle, Warwickshire.

95% of the day was Leica wedding photography with the Voigtlander 35mm f1.2 ASPH II. Leica wedding photography at it’s very best!!! 🙂 The remaining shots were taken with my Nikon D800 DSLR for telephoto shots of speaches and some 14mm wide angle shots.

Leica Flash Photography

I enjoy flash photography and provide 1-2-1 Photography Tuition and Lighting Workshops (link below) from my Coventry UK studio. I realise Leica and flash photography do not often come together in the same sentence but that didn’t deter me. I love shooting by directional available light when I can for both digital photography and film photography BUT.. when there is only low even light in a room it doesn’t really excite me. My eBay Yongnuo RF603s flash triggers do not work on the Leica M9 however my old Yongnuo RF602s do. I decided to combine my basic knowledge of hyperfocal distance photography (as would be used for street photography) together with what I know about off camera flash and hit the dance floor with my Leica M9 in one hand flash in the other. Shooting from the hip (and eye away from viewfinder) I was able to see everything and not have to focus in next to no light yet get myself some nice crisp low light dancing shots. This was a new idea for me but it worked well so I will certainly do again.

Leica M9 vs DSLR

I’ve had to change some of my photography techniques moving from a DSLR (Nikon D800) to a Leica M9 over the last 3 weeks or so but each change has been to me for the better and more enjoyable to execute. I realise I am very bias as a new Leica photographer/ owner but the photos it produces win me over everytime.

The organic looking images rendered from the Voigtlander Nokton 35m f1.2 ASPH II on the Leica M9’s Kodak CCD sensor just can’t be replicated by a DSLR. It is SO good in fact I now worry about all my film cameras! :S

In conclusion, very impressed with Voigtlander’s offering..watch out Leica!

Full Leica M9 wedding photography blog and samples from Kenilworth Castle to follow once I have permission!

UPDATE* Here are a few Leica M9 Wedding postable shots without people: