Voigtlander 28mm f2.0 Ultron Vintage Aspherical Review

Voigtlander 28mm f2.0 Ultron Vintage Aspherical Review:

The 28mm is a popular focal length that is great for a variety of subjects ranging from street photography, candid, travel to landscape, just to name a few.  For those looking for an M mount 28mm, there are several manufacturers to choose from.  One of these is Voigtlander.  They have been making lenses for a very long time, and for this focal length, they have the 28mm f2.0 Ultron Vintage Aspherical, which I was able to test.  Here’s what I think of it.

Thanks for taking the time to read my review!  If you’re considering purchasing this lens, and my review helped, please consider purchasing from any of the links mentioned in this review, which in turn, helps support this site.  I get a small commission but it will not cost you anything extra.  Thank you!

Voigtlander 28mm f2.0 Ultron Vintage Aspherical Build Quality:

Starting with the build, the Voigtlander 28mm f2.0 Ultron Vintage Aspherical is quite impressive.  This is one beautifully made lens that feels very solid in the hands thanks in part to the barrel being made of all metal.  It feels every bit like a true rangefinder lens or in other words, something that was made during the golden era of rangefinders.  It even comes in two design variants: Type I and Type II.  Type I is the design variant that you see here, which is chrome and matte black.  It also has a retro designed filigree focusing lever.  If you’re looking for that classic look, this is probably the version that you want.  Type II is only monochrome in color.  It comes in either black or chrome, and has a pronounced recessed grip for quick focusing.  Both variants have identical inner workings.

↑ Leica M11 with the Voigtlander 28mm f2.0 Ultron Vintage Aspherical VM lens.

As for features the 28mm f2.0 is an all manual lens.  There’s a focus ring that is silky smooth with just the perfect amount of resistance to give you better feel, and accuracy as you rotate it.  The aperture ring also clicks solidly into each setting as you rotate it.  Modern camera gear is impressive but in a way, they’re kind of like modern cars.  They are highly capable, a lot less stressful to operate, and generally easier to live with on a daily basis but you lose a little of the fun sometimes, if you get what I’m saying.  A lens like this takes you back to a time when just operating it alone is something that feels more meaningful or gives some sort of satisfaction.

↑ Here’s a top view of the Leica M11, and Voigtlander 28mm f2.0.

To top it off, the ergonomics are as good as it gets.  You would think that since this is a large aperture lens, the 28mm f2.0 Ultron Vintage Aspherical would be a lot larger but as you can see in the photos, it is exquisitely compact.  I was actually reviewing the Leica Elmarit-M 28mm f2.8 ASPH at the same time, and they are both very similar in size even though the Leica version is a stop slower.  The dimensions of the Voigtander are just 2 x 1.4″ / 52 x 36 mm.  Furthermore, the 28mm f2.0 weighs just 6.7 oz / 190 g (230 g for Type II variant), and has a 39mm filter thread.

↑ Just for size comparisons: I was reviewing the Elmarit-M 28mm f2.8 ASPH at the same time I was reviewing the Voigtlander 28mm f2.0 Ultron Vintage Aspherical VM lens.

This all translate into a lens that is perfect for what it was intended to be: a constant companion or in other words, a lens that you can leave mounted on your camera 99% of the time.  It’s ultra compact, so it won’t take up much space in your bag.  Being that it is so small, it is also great for subjects like street photography or candid work, where discretion is key.  Furthermore, it is light enough that it’s something you can carry around all day without feeling any fatigue.  At the same time, it has a nice, weighty feel to it, which makes it feel high end.  Lastly, the lens’ versatility is further increased by its large maximum aperture of f2.0.

As for lens hoods, there are two that are optionally available. There’s one called the LH-4N, which is circular shaped, and a rectangular design called the LH-12 in a rectangular design. I kind of wish a lens good was included but it’s not the end of the world.

Voigtlander 28mm f2.0 Ultron Vintage Aspherical Image Quality:

Overall, build and ergonomics are superb but what really completes the package here, and makes the 28mm f2.0 Ultron Vintage Aspherical such a great lens is the image quality, which I found to be excellent.  I’m not a fan of the 28mm focal length in general, so for me, it is sometimes difficult to review one.  But after seeing the quality that this lens can produce, it just made me want to shoot more.

↑ This was a hip shot I took.

↑ Love the lighting in the Oculus.  I am a sucker for heavy shadows and strong lighting.

↑ This was taken with f8 and 250 ISO.

It starts off with the images being so sharp and crisp.  I was doing my testing with the Leica M11, and I was really impressed with just how much detail the 28mm f2.0 is able to retrieved.  Even at f2, images are sharp as a tack.  Corners held up quite nicely with stopping down improving corners, and the overall image slightly.  In other words, you can shoot this lens at f2 without any worries.  The entire aperture can be used on this lens to produce stellar images.  You’re only stopping down here because you want a larger depth of field not to really improve image quality.

↑ Here’s a photo taken at f2.0 and 64 ISO.

↑ Here’s a 100% crop of the image above.  Keep in mind that there is a little wind, so flower wasn’t always completely steady.

↑ Here’s a photo taken with f8 and 100 ISO.

↑ Here’s another photo taken with f8 and 320 ISO.

↑ Here’s a 100% crop of the photo above.

Other features also include great contrast.  Color rendering is also very nice.  The 28mm f2.0 Ultron Vintage Aspherical does vignette some at f2, which is probably partially do to the diminutive size of the lens but stopping down by just one stop does reduce it significantly.  I did use the Summicron-M 28mm ASPH profile in my camera, which seemed to help.  I also found flare to be well-controlled as well.

↑ This was a shot I took early in the morning.

↑ I took this using 5000 ISO, and I believe f5.6.

↑ This was taken while I was entering the Brookfield Place Mall.

Voigtlander 28mm f2.0 Ultron Vintage Aspherical Bokeh:

It’s worth noting the the bokeh is equally as impressive.  When you do achieve a shallow depth of field, the rendering of the bokeh is buttery smooth.  The way the photos transition from the sharpness of the subject to the beautifully blurred background is so nice.  Also, the rather large f2 maximum aperture on a 28mm focal length can produce a rather unique look depending on your subject.

↑ Here’s an example of the bokeh.

Pros And Cons:

Pros:

• Beautifully made.
• Features like the focus ring and aperture ring feel great.
• Ultra compact and light but still with a weighty feel.
• Downright impressive image quality.
• Wonderful bokeh.
• The price makes it a must buy.

Cons:

• Lens hood is optional.
• Vignettes some at f2.
• I find using a 28mm on most M cameras a little difficult because you can’t really see the edges as well in the viewfinder unless you’re using an M with a lower magnification finder.

Voigtlander 28mm f2.0 Ultron Vintage Aspherical Verdict:

If you’re in the market for a 28mm M mount lens, this is a must buy, in my opinion.  The 28mm f2.0 Ultron Vintage Aspherical is pretty close to perfection.  It’s beautifully made, it feels great in the hands, it’s compact, it’s lightweight, and it produces jaw-dropping images.

↑ This was taken using f11 and 800 ISO.

↑ This was taken with 2500 ISO and f8.

↑ I used f8 and 80 ISO here.

Best of all, it’s reasonably priced.  Currently, it’s $899.  The Type one variant in this review even has a holiday discount now, pricing it at just $799.  Just to compare, if you’re looking at the Leica Summicron-M 28mm f2 ASPH, you’ll be spending $5095.

↑ This was taken early in the morning.

↑ Here’s another photo inside the Brookfield Place Mall.

↑ This person on the bike had a Leica M5 with him :).

↑ Here’s one more photo of the Voigtlander 28mm f2.0 Ultron Vintage Aspherical attached to the Leica M11.

Speaking of the Summicron, I didn’t have one here to compare but let me just emphasize again that I am really impressed by this little Voigtlander and what it can produced.  I did have the Elmarit-M 28mm f2.8 ASPH with me as I was also reviewing it at the same time, and let’s just say the Voigtlander will not feel out of place in someone’s Leica lens collection.  To me,  Voigtlander has done an amazing job with the 28mm f2.0.

So, if you’re in the market for a 28mm, this one should definitely be on your short list of lenses to consider. This is a high quality lens that I’m sure many will enjoy immensely for quite some time.

Thanks for taking the time to read my review!  If you’re considering purchasing this lens, and my review helped, please consider purchasing from any of the links mentioned in this review, which in turn, helps support this site.  I get a small commission but it will not cost you anything extra.  Thank you!

28mm f2.0 Ultron Vintage Aspherical at B&H Photo