Voigtländer Nokton 40mm f/1.2 Aspherical II

The Voigtländer Nokton 40mm f/1.2 Aspherical II is a manual focus lens with the VM bayonet, compatible with Leica M. Cosina announced it in February 2025 together with the 35mm f/1.2 IV and 50mm f/1.2 II, and it was released in 2025. According to Cosina, as of May 2025 it has the largest maximum aperture of any rangefinder coupled 40 mm lens.

Optical design

The lens has 8 elements in 6 groups, including two elements with aspherical surfaces on both sides, which gives four aspherical surfaces. Cosina says this gives confident performance from the maximum aperture and a smooth, strongly blurred background. The diaphragm has 10 blades and closes down to f/22. The angle of view is 54.7 degrees and the image circle covers full frame.

Focusing and handling

Focusing is manual through an all-metal helicoid. The rangefinder coupling runs from infinity to 0.7 m, and the lens can be focused closer, down to 0.5 m, which Cosina says is useful on cameras with live view. Two optional bayonet hoods are available: the compact LH-14 and the longer LH-15 in vintage style. Both are slit to reduce vignetting in rangefinder cameras and can be mounted in reverse for carrying. Cosina notes that the short lens protrudes only slightly into the rangefinder window.

Build and size

The lens weighs 267 g without accessories, is 44.7 mm long and 61.8 mm in diameter, and takes 52 mm filters. Cosina describes the form as extremely compact for such a large aperture.

Where it fits

For Leica M, the Voigtlander 40mm F1.4 Nokton Classic weighs 175 g and is the other 40 mm lens from the same maker in the database. The DK-Optic Chiaro 38mm F1.9 weighs 188 g. Faster than both and heavier, the 40mm f/1.2 II sits at 267 g. For other systems, Voigtländer sells native 40 mm f/1.2 Nokton lenses, which the database lists for Nikon Z and Canon RF. Those are different lenses and should not be mixed up with this VM version.

Pros and cons

Pros

• f/1.2 at 40 mm, the largest aperture for a rangefinder coupled 40 mm according to Cosina
• 267 g and 44.7 mm long
• Focuses down to 0.5 m
• Four aspherical surfaces
• Two optional metal hoods

Cons

• Manual focus only
• Hood not included
• Heavier than the 40mm F1.4 Nokton Classic

Verdict

The Nokton 40mm f/1.2 Aspherical II is a very fast, compact 40 mm for Leica M and VM cameras. It suits photographers who like the focal length between 35 and 50 mm and want a modern f/1.2 design that stays small.