Voigtländer NOKTON 50mm F1 Aspherical (Nikon Z)

Reviewers of the f/1 Nokton find good centre sharpness at f/1 with a soft, low-contrast edge to fine detail that clears quickly from f/1.4 to f/2. Corners stay behind the centre until about f/2.8, and some longitudinal colour fringing and coma show up wide open, as expected for this speed.

The out-of-focus rendering is the reason to buy it: backgrounds dissolve with very little nervousness and the 12 blades keep highlights round when stopped down. Testers point out that it is much smaller than Nikon's 58mm f/0.95 Noct, but that at its US list price it is far from the cheapest route to very shallow depth of field on Z.

Owners like how small and dense it feels for an f/1 lens and enjoy the smooth helicoid with focus-point colour change and peaking on Z bodies. Many use it as a night and portrait lens rather than an all-rounder, and the shallow depth of field at f/1 is often described as addictive.

The usual complaints are hit-rate at f/1 on moving subjects, purple fringing on backlit highlights, and a price not far below Nikon's autofocus 50mm f/1.2 S. Some wish the clicked aperture could be de-clicked for video.