I tested the new VC Ultron 28mm f2.0 today..

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P. Lynn Miller

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I visited Mainline Photographics today and got to shoot a few frames with the new VC Ultron 28mm f2.0. I used both Efke 25 and Efke 50 to take some snaps around Crows Nest. If all goes well, I will develop the film tonight and be able to post some scans tomorrow.

The quality of fit and finish of this lens is a step for Cosina. Just felt good in the hand, very smooth focusing, aperture stops are smooth and definite. The build quality of this lenses reflects the Cosina involvement in manufacturing of the Zeiss lenses.

If the images equal the fit and feel, I will be getting one.
 
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OK, negatives have been developed, cut and sleeved. You will have to take my word for it, but under the loupe, this lens is nothing short of spectacular. The details rendered on Efke 25 is staggering, even at f2.0 and f2.8. There is a visible difference between the negatives taken with my other VC lenses and the 28mm.

Warning, this is a highly unscientific test, so no MTF charts or etc will be included.

As for the size, another unscientific description comes to mind, just a nice 'handful'

Mr Tom Abramhamsson has a huge set of photos taken with the Ultron 28mm f2.0 and photos of the lens mounted on various bodies and comparision photos of its size compared to its contemporaries.

I will take time later today to scan some of the negatives and post them here for all to review.

My only problem with getting the 28 is that my R2 does not have 28mm lines which means that I need to either live with more on the negative than I can see in the full R2 view-finder or buy a 28mm finder...

As footnote, I never knew that my current collection of VC lenses were capable of performing so well. Using low ASA, 25 and 50 film will really show you the real personality of a lenses.
 
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I am happy that someone else have gotten the lens! More opinions are better. I have ben limited at the moment to 100 asa and 400 asa shots ( mainly because that is what I have had spooled into IXMOO cassettes and it is too damn hot to lock my self into the darkroom for hours) - but it is a stunning performer. Cant wait to see your stuff with EFKE 25/50 and the 28.
Did you have a chance to shoot close up and at f2? This is were the lens really knocks your socks off!
 
I just ordered mine from Photo Village that has them in stock for $549 Looking forward to testing it. Anyone what to buy the 29/1.9 🙂
 
itf said:
How big is then lens, how far does it protrude from the body with no hood on?
Click to expand...

same question -- cameraquest does not provide length info. I'd like to compare dimensions to my 40 1.4 and to the 28 1.9 which I did not want for the size.

Thanks.
 
2739510937_256b808b22.jpg


Left to right: Zeiss ZM Biogon 28f2.8 Length from rear flange to front ring (no hood) 37.50 mm
VC Ultron 28f2.0 Length from rear flange to front ring (no hood) 43.60 mm
Elmarit 28f2.8 (v III) Length from rear flange to front ring (no hood) 48,10 mm
VC Ultron 28f1.9 (LTM adapt.) 49.80 mm


The Ultron 28f2.0 with hood is 52mm long, the Ultron 28f1.9 with hood is 66 mm long and the Elmarit 28f2.8 III is 66 mm long. Coulden't find the hood for the 28f2.8 Biogon right now.
There is an inside thread in the 28f2.0 (46mm thread) and the hood is screwed into an outside thread (49mm thread). Depending on the thickness of the filter ring, it should work with a modern filter, some older filters have thicker rings.
 
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Just put it here for comparison: Ultron 28mm f2.0 and Nokton 35f1.4. The amazing thing is how compact the 35f1.4 is! Nice package on two bodies, a R4M with the 28f2.0 and a M2 (surprised?) with the 35f1.4 Nokton.
By the way, this is the JCS (Japan Camera Society speciald edition 35f1.4) - painted brass barrel and nickel plated "chrome parts". SC version too.
 
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Tom:
Just want to make sure my older eyes aren't deceiving me and that is distortion in your shots! Maybe done to get them posted with either the 15mm or 12mm CV super wides? 8o) Regardless, a very appreciated visual comparative, as I am VERY interested in the 28/2!
I know Stephen Gandy has an email sitting in your inbox regarding a question I sent him about which Bessa would be the ideal one for this lens (especially for us glasses wearers!). You MAY have answered it above.
 
Rob, yes there is distorsion, but that is due to the Macro mode in Tuukikkis Ricoh GRD. This was a quick and dirty set up as it was all about millimeters and stuff like that.
Yes, the R4M works very well with the 28f2 Ultron. The lens protrudes considerably less than the Ultron 28f1.9 and the Elmarit 28f2.8 (with hood attached). The only lenses that are less intrusive would be the 28f2.8 Biogon and the VC 28f3.5 Color Skopar.
I have also used it with a M2 and my "special" 28 finder. A piece of black tape covering the corrugated frame line illumination window. No frame lines at all, just the rangefinder patch and "what you see is what you get".
 
wray said:
Lynn, it appears that you've kept the Bessa after all. Looking forward to seeing your efforts with this lens. Tom's samples sure seem impressive enough!
Click to expand...

Ray,

Yes, I still have the Bessa R2. I have owned my Bessa kit for almost 2 years, and simply could not connect with the camera. In fact, at one point hated it, you can read about my travails with the Bessa on this forum. But somehow, I could never bring myself to sell it. In fact, the eBay listings are actually stored in my computer, all I need to do is click 'Sell', but I could not do that mouse click.

So the R2 and all its lenses sat on my shelf in the boxes ready to go for at least a year. I was headed to Mainline Photographics to give them the kit on consignment last week, so I took everything out of the boxes to make sure that fungus and etc had not gotten to it, only to find a half-roll of film in the R2. Not one to waste film, I took the Bessa for a walk. And it was a revelation...

I suddenly worked with the camera, like an extension of my hand and eye, same instinctive feeling I get with my Nikon F's. Weird, but true. Something has changed with time and the Bessa is a perfect tool for the moment. I have run 6 rolls of film through the Bessa in the past 48 hours. Can't tell what or why, but I am glad that never sold the kit.

So yes, I still have my Bessa and at long last we are friends...
 
OK, there is a new scanner in my future. No matter how I try or what I do, I cannot get my Epson V500 to record what I can see under the loupe. I have attached 3 thumbnails, but they do not even represent the capabilities of this lens.

I scanned the negatives at 6400dpi, resized the long side to 800px with 'Bicubic Sharper' and posted the thumbnails. I did not even adjust the scans for exposure or contrast.

I can hear the grumbling already, low-resolution scans tell us nothing, and that is correct. But to give you an example of the detail this lens can render, the photo of the menu posted on the door, I can read the menu like it is my hand. In the photo across the street, I can read all signage and copy. This lens is unbelievably capable.

So while I am sure these scans will do nothing to quell the discontent of the pixel-peepers and naysayers, my VC Ultron 28mm f2.0 arrives this morning along with the VC Metal 28mm finder. I bought this lens on the strength of what I can see with my loupe, that is the best endorsement of this lens I can give.

To realise the significance of my decision, this is the first new lens that I have bought in over 20 years. That is how good this lens is.
 

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I just picked up the 28/2 Ultron from PhotoVillage this afternoon. I ran a quick roll of test film through it (Reala), and i'm very happy with the lens. It's sharp. Sharp enough that i have no qualms about saying that it's at least the equal to the Contax 28/2.8 Biogon. And it seems to be sharp even at 2.8. I think a couple of the shots may have been at f2, but i wasn't recording anything.... Bokeh is also pretty nice.

I don't really like finger-grip focusing, but the throw on this lens isn't problematic in that regard. I also was unpleasantly surprised at how small the lens is. I would have preferred a little more to hold. But, i'll get used to it.

The lens is a peach. I just need to learn how to use it. I've never been comfortable with wides. But, i had a sudden yearning to try, after seeing some pictures by a friend who bought my G2+28mm, and also seeing some Robert Frank books a few days ago....
 
No offense, but I have to say, I think (at least for me) a large part of the problem with these images has to do with the way they are post processed. Your scanner may not be great (I don't know) but why would choose to omit highlights from your images? Here we have shadows and mid tones only. I think a simple use of curves in photoshop or whatever you are using would yield dramatic improvement, unless you are going for a dark and moody feel - but if that's the case, it's hardly the kind of image that's useful for assessing the characteristics of a lens. I think a bump in contrast would make the images appear sharper, even if they are not. Anyway, just wondering because I see these kinds of approaches to post processing posted on forums often, and I honestly wonder if it's because people don't know about post processing or if they are just going for a different aesthetic.
 
I have the new VC Ultron 28mm f2.0 in hand along with metal 28mm finder, which is like a piece of jewellery. Absolutely flat-out, but will try to get photos of the body/lens/finder posted later tonight.
 
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