The Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f/1.2 VM II is an ultra-fast manual focus prime lens in Leica M mount, featuring aspherical optical surfaces for improved sharpness and reduced distortion even at maximum aperture.
Key Specifications
- Focal Length: 35mm (prime)
- Maximum Aperture: f/1.2 — one of the fastest 35mm lenses available for Leica M mount
- Lens Mount: Leica M (VM)
- Lens Type: Standard / wide-normal prime
- Autofocus: No — fully manual focus
- Image Stabilisation: No
- Optical Design: Aspherical elements for improved corner sharpness and distortion control
- Focus Ring: Scalloped, smooth-damped — modelled on classic Leica Summilux styling
Who is the Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f/1.2 VM II for?
If you shoot on a rangefinder like a Leica M6, M10 or M11 and want a fast 35mm without spending Noctilux money, this lens is a serious contender. The f/1.2 aperture makes it genuinely useful for low-light street photography and night shooting — you can push less on ISO and still pull detail out of dark scenes. Portrait shooters get a flattering field of view with a characterful, smooth bokeh at wide apertures. For travel, the 35mm focal length sits in a sweet spot: wide enough to capture environment, tight enough to isolate a subject. Astro shooters using a Leica M on a tracker will appreciate the light-gathering capability. The fully manual character of this lens actually suits rangefinder shooters perfectly — you're already zone-focusing or using the rangefinder patch, so no autofocus is no compromise at all. If you're comparing it to the Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f/1.4 VM, the f/1.2 gives you roughly one extra stop of light, which matters more than it sounds in a dimly lit street or venue. The Version II specifically introduced aspherical surfaces that sharpen things up noticeably compared to the original, and performance continues to improve as you stop down toward f/2.
Buying a used Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f/1.2 VM II
Buying this lens second-hand makes a lot of sense — it's a fully mechanical, all-manual optic with no electronics to degrade over time. There's no autofocus motor, no image stabilisation system, no firmware to worry about. The main things to check on a pre-owned copy are the aperture blades (look for oil contamination, which can slow them down) and the focus helicoid (should feel smooth and damped, not stiff or loose). On Camera-tweedehands.nl, every used lens is individually photographed and professionally inspected before listing, and comes with a minimum 12 months warranty. The Version II remains a capable lens at a friendlier used price point than newer models.
