M.ZD 45mm f/1.2 PRO vs LEICA DG 42.5mm f/1.2 vs Voigtlander 42,5mm f.0.95 portrait lenses comparison

[Songmatin]

Now 45mm PRO is my favorite lens..

AB TEST｜Olympus 45mm f/1.2 Pro & Panasonic 42.5mm f/1.2 & Voigtlander 42.5mm f/0.95

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/songmatin/

 

[dingenus]

Link AB test doesn't work.

 

[Songmatin]

Link AB test doesn't work.

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www.flickr.com

 

[Albert Valentino]

I am not an expert on portrait lenses since I tend to shoot mostly nature and some architecture, so I favor more DOF. However, the other day I played with the Olympus 45mm Pro lens at the PhotoExpo Plus show in NYC, and I was blown away. Creamy (feathered) bokeh, superb subject isolation packaged in a beautiful, solid well built lens.

The lens is just another example of why moved to and love m43, and that all boils down to it being the most versatile system around. You can do most anything with the right lens

 

[AndrewGregory]

You can clearly see when switching between photos that the Oly is the only one that has had correction applied to. I would love to see a direct comparison between these three with the appropriate corrections made.

Also the Nokton needs to be compared at f1.2. I think of the .95 as a nice bonus effect but to be fair it shouldn't be compared next to f1.2 on the others.

 

[Ryan Li]

Also the Nokton needs to be compared at f1.2. I think of the .95 as a nice bonus effect but to be fair it shouldn't be compared next to f1.2 on the others.

Well, both are valuable comparisons. If the objective is to compare what the DOF/bokeh looks like with the lenses wide open, then Nokton at F/0.95 vs others at F/1.2 is a valid comparison. (To my eyes, Songmatin's such comparison tells me that it is not worth going for the F/0.95 for DOF/bokeh purposes, as the out of focus areas on the Oly 1.2 look more pleasant.)

 

[Ryan Li]

Thank you very much, Songmatin, for your efforts - and so quickly! I really enjoyed your 25mm 1.2/1.4 test last time and was wondering when someone would compare the 45/1.2 and 42.5/1.2!

From your full res photos, it appears that the Oly and Panasonic not only share similar specs but they also render in a very similar way. Both are equally sharp, not that much difference in terms of green/purple blooming around highlight or OOF areas - when not viewed at 100%, the Olympus shots just look like you've cropped the Panasonic shots a little (exactly what you'd expect going from 42.5mm to 45mm).

On closer inspection however, I do prefer the Olympus. There is substance in Olympus's marketing about the soft bokeh - the OOF discs are rounder with softer edges, and in general high contrast OOF areas look softer and less nervous than the Panasonic. But, it is subtle.

 

[Minstadave]

I really can’t see any significant difference in the bokeh between the Oly and PL. the Voigtlander looks slighter softer. Am I just blind? Where is this mystical feather bokeh?

 

[addlightness]

To me, the 45/f1.2 is noticeably sharper @f1.2 than the other two. And f1.2 is the most important yardstick when buying such lenses. With a lower price than the Panasonic, it'd be my choice. [Voigt no doubt is way cheaper but I've moved on with MF lenses]

 

[evan ts]

To me, the 45/f1.2 is noticeably sharper @f1.2 than the other two. And f1.2 is the most important yardstick when buying such lenses. With a lower price than the Panasonic, it'd be my choice. [Voigt no doubt is way cheaper but I've moved on with MF lenses]

http://www.flickr.com/gp/songmatin/DM1u88

In my opinion, PL > V > O @f1.2 (even @f8)

 

[bofo777]

I absolutely love both my Voigt 0.95 and my Nocticron 1.2 ,..the Panasonic 42.5 has a very smooth bokeh and works on my Em1 MII just brilliantly.. probably very close to the new Oly 45mm... However the Voigt is an animal of a different skin...the bokeh is somewhat "jagged smooth" but in itself very unique and different then any other lens out there...also the Voigt is the only lens that can be very close to objects in almost macro fashion (but sure wished it had AF)...


Lumix 1.2 Smooth Bokeh


Voigt at .095 Jagged Smooth bokeh


Voigt at 0.95 macro This would be impossible to achieve on the Lumix or the Oly

 

[Jonas Palm]

Only goes to show that whatever stirs the creative juices...

Close focussing ability in general is a very nice property in a lens.

 

[Albert Valentino]

Only goes to show that whatever stirs the creative juices...

Close focussing ability in general is a very nice property in a lens.

Agree 100%

i tested the close focus ability of the new 45mm Pro and found it lacking. Against my 12-40 Pro at 40mm it was a no contest.

I moved over to m43 from Fuji for apseveral reasons. One of thise reasons was my fuji lenses were terrible at close focus, 18-55 and 55-200. The O 12-40 is fantastic in this area and is also weather resistant and wider. Anyway, the O 45 Pro is a marvelous lens that looks fantastic on a EM1 body but it is a vert specialized lens for portrait and street to isolate subject. Cannnot double as a closeup lens. My 60mm f/2.8 macro can double as a pretty good portrait lens

 

[jeffharris]

I really can’t see any significant difference in the bokeh between the Oly and PL. the Voigtlander looks slighter softer. Am I just blind? Where is this mystical feather bokeh?

Buried in the jargon and buzzwords of the marketeers.

 

[Space the final frontier]

I am so glad that I could not tell much of any differences among the three lenses. IOW, the differences are of no relevance to me. But thank you for doing the comparisons; my wallet is pretty safe for now.

 

[Wu Jiaqiu]

I really can’t see any significant difference in the bokeh between the Oly and PL. the Voigtlander looks slighter softer. Am I just blind? Where is this mystical feather bokeh?

i thought exactly the same......

 

[Okapi001]

that looks fantastic on a EM1 body but it is a vert specialized lens for portrait and street to isolate subject. Cannnot double as a closeup lens.

Why not? Just add an extension ring and that's it.

 

[alolywu]

i thought exactly the same......

I recently took a look at some photos of my Nocticron @ F1.2 and I have to say the bokeh is very smooth and not seeing the "traditional" bokeh that Olympus refers to.

However, the lens is not weather sealed so if someone needs that, the 45mm F1.2 PRO is the way to go.

 

[Wu Jiaqiu]

i thought exactly the same......

I recently took a look at some photos of my Nocticron @ F1.2 and I have to say the bokeh is very smooth and not seeing the "traditional" bokeh that Olympus refers to.

However, the lens is not weather sealed so if someone needs that, the 45mm F1.2 PRO is the way to go.

it's good to have choices

 

[jeffharris]

Also the Nokton needs to be compared at f1.2. I think of the .95 as a nice bonus effect but to be fair it shouldn't be compared next to f1.2 on the others.

Well, both are valuable comparisons. If the objective is to compare what the DOF/bokeh looks like with the lenses wide open, then Nokton at F/0.95 vs others at F/1.2 is a valid comparison.

More valuable, like the better reviewers out there, would be to show the Voigtländer @ f 0.95 AND… as a direct comparison to the other lenses (and fairness) @ f1.2. Otherwise this little exercise loses some value.

(To my eyes, Songmatin's such comparison tells me that it is not worth going for the F/0.95 for DOF/bokeh purposes, as the out of focus areas on the Oly 1.2 look more pleasant.)

The f0.95 aperture opens a range of creative possibilities, which shouldn't be discounted or overlooked.