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Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 Nokton Classic SC vs MC Versions

I recently decided to purchase a Leica M2 and wanted to get a Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 Nokton Classic to go with it. However, I quickly noticed that there are two different versions, the SC (single-coated) and the MC (multi-coated). So, I figured I should discover why that matters, and how to spot the difference when buying used. 

In this article, I've aimed not to give a full review of these lenses. Rather, I'm merely discussing how to tell the difference between the single-coated and multi-coated versions. 

How to Tell the Difference Between the Voigtlander SC and MC

So let's jump right into it. The easiest way to tell the difference is to look at the front of the lens. You'll see that it says NOKTON CLASSIC. If the lens is single-coated, it will have blue "SC" after the word classic. If you look closely at the image, you'll notice a blue "SC". If it's multi-coated, it won't have anything directly after the word classic.  

Now, why does that matter? Well, supposedly the SC version is made for black-and-white photography, specifically. The MC version is made specifically for color photography, or high contrast black-and-white photography. In case you're wondering, I actually bought a version before knowing the difference, and received the MC, which is the one I wanted.   

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For a great image quality/character comparison of the two versions, please visit this comparison of the Leica Summilux 35mm 1.4 vs the Voigtlander 35mm Nokton SC and MC versions, plus the Canon LTM 35mm 1.5, click here!

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