Jack Takahashi published his review of the new Voigtlander ULTRON Vintage Line 28mm f/2 Aspherical VM lens for Leica M-mount. Here is his summary and recommendations:
When I saw the announcement for this lens, I expected similar performance to the Voigtlander 35/2 Ultron (review), which is great but doesn’t break any records. Shockingly, the new Voigtlander 28/2 is one of the highest-performance 28mm lenses ever made. It’s honestly a comical lens; it’s styled like a lens from the 1950s you’d find sitting in a thrift shop but optically it matches or exceeds the $4995 Leica 28 Summicron.
The question that remains is how the rendering of this lens compares to that of the 28 Summicron. I’ll know more about this as I collect more sample images. Assuming there’s no significant difference, my recommendation is very simple: if you are looking for a 28mm lens, get the Voigtlander. The Leica 28 Summicron V2 is also a phenomenal lens and has a really nice screw-on hood, but it’s far more expensive and even a little bit larger. The Leica 28 Summicron V1 (review) can be found for closer to $2000, but doesn’t have the same corner-to-corner sharpness or nice metal hood.
The only reason to seriously consider another 28mm lens is if a faster aperture is desired. In that case, my recommendation is actually the Leica Q. It’s an extremely popular camera for good reason. You can find a used one for $2000-2500, and in addition to a fantastic 28/1.7 lens, you also get a compact camera with image stabilization, autofocus, and macro capability. I also like the Leica Q because I’ve always had trouble seeing the 28mm framelines on M cameras.
I’m undecided on whether I will keep the Voigtlander 28/2 ASPH. On one hand, I already have a Q2 which is a more practical solution for me since I can see the whole frame and focus down to 0.2m. On the other hand, I love shooting 28mm and this Voigtlander lens is insanely good. Regardless of what I end up deciding, I know I will thoroughly enjoy shooting with it in the process of completing this review.
Good
- Image quality
- Build quality
- Size
- Price
Bad
- None
Check pricing and availability of the Voigtlander ULTRON Vintage Line 28mm f/2 Aspherical VM lens at:
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