VOIGTLÄNDER COLOR-SKOPAR 50mm/2,5

[mao]

What are the qualities of this lens?
I´ve found one quite cheap.
It´s not fast, but small.
Are there other qualities?

 

[oscroft]

Sharp and with nice contrast - if you don't need the speed, it's a very nice lens.

 

[KoNickon]

People have commented that this lens has rather noticeable barrel distortion, so it may not be great if you're shooting architectural subjects. I haven't noticed that myself, but I haven't looked for it.

It's also not sharp the way other lenses, such as the Nokton 50, are -- it's got more of a gentler sharpness to it, if you know what I mean. It's not unsharp at all; instead, it has more of the feel of an older lens.

Build quality is exceptional -- very solid and hefty for its size.

 

[Sparrow]

Bit of a Cinderella lens I think, nice proper chrome on brass construction I’ve done maybe 30 rolls with it good all round performer, I think I may have lost a few shots to flare but only under the most difficult conditions.

 

[Bobfrance]

Very good lens for the price.
I also liked the fact it had a focusing tab.

 

[oscroft]

It's also not sharp the way other lenses, such as the Nokton 50, are -- it's got more of a gentler sharpness to it, if you know what I mean. It's not unsharp at all; instead, it has more of the feel of an older lens.

Yes, I think I know what you mean, and I agree - I think it has very good resolution, but doesn't produce quite the same micro-contrast that some modern lenses do.

I also haven't noticed the barrel distortion, but then I also haven't looked - and I don't do architectural stuff.

 

[rbiemer]

I liked the one I owned well enough to be thinking of getting another. As said above, they are small, well made, good performers. And I like the focus tab with one small down side: I occasionally use a tripod with my RF cameras and with the Bessa R and this lens, the tab would extend slightly below the base of my camera and hit the tripod mounting plate, making focusing in the middle distance range difficult. Different tripod and/or different camea body would probably not have this problem.
Rob

 

[Sparrow]

works OK with colour too

 

[mao]

Thanks!

To conclude then:

Small
Well built
Focus tab
Kind of soft focus character
Cheap

On the negative side
barrel distortion (?)

Sounds like a nice outdoor allround lens.
What about close focus abilities .7 or .9 or 1m?

 

[pau3]

mao,

you have collected all the pros of the lens.

Close focus: .75m.

Pau

 

[Sparrow]

That’s about it, except it’s not soft in any way, definitely hasn’t got any barrel distortion



and works well indoors 😀😀

 

[JohnL]

Barrel distortion is easy fix in post. I don't remember ever seeing it with my copy, but maybe I just went ahead and fixed it.

 

[Graham Line]

Not sure where the barrel distortion comment comes from. Haven't seen that at all. Lens has a nice feel to it and is very predictable.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/74312783@N00/tags/voigtlandercolorskopar50mmf25/

 

[oscroft]

Kind of soft focus character

No, no, far from it, it definitely has no hint of soft focus - it is sharp across the field with very good resolution and good contrast.

It just perhaps doesn't have that extra-sharp edge when compared with some modern top-range lenses.

(And sorry I'm away from home, or I'd post some of my shots with it to look for the claimed barrel distortion - I see Sparrow has posted some very nice shots with no suggestion of it)

 

[oscroft]

Barrel distortion is easy fix in post

What, use an enlarger lens with pincushion distortion? 😀

 

[mh2000]

no, the lens is not a razor sharp on a micro level like a new Summicron would be, but it still very sharp in a modern way while still providing a gentleness in rendering that gives a feel of a more classic lens. It is still nicely contrasty and flare resistant. I think it is really a nice lens. The closer focusing distance is nice as well.

I bought mine new and am really pleased with it, but if you found a bargain I would jump on it... it is very beautiful.

Interesting that people in this thread are claiming barrel distortion, other threads have claimed pincushion distortion. I haven't seen any distortion problems in any of my photos yet.

 

[Tom A]

I like the 50f2.5 - it is sharp, nice smooth contrast and compact enough that it will become a handy "mid range" 50. I have never seen any barrel distorsion with it and I have 3 of them (two LTM and one Nikon SC mount).
The LTM version feels a bit like a 35 Summicron and is similarly sized. It got a bad rap for "poor" close up performance, but I never saw any hints of that, rather the other way around. It is damned good at 0.75 -1 meter.
The loss of speed between af2 and a f2.5 is neglible anyway - less than 3/4 stop and well within filmlatitude. I actually prefer it to my later Summicron's as it is better built. At least the aperture control ring doesn't disintegrate with alarming frequency as my Summicrons are prone to do.

 

[Erik van Straten]

I've been using this little gem for about seven years. It's only drawback is the diffraction at smaller f stops, wich causes less sharpness. Try to avoid f11, f16 and f22. The other f-stops are okay, as is it's close up performance. It's a very contrasty lens, so you better develop your films 20% shorter than you are used to when using older Leica lenses like the first rigid Summicron.
It's beautifully made, true black paint on brass!
You can use the old Leitz 12585 hood on it, too! Looks great.

Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Just a very little bit pincushion distortion.
Shot with Leica IIIg.

Erik.

 

[mh2000]

I'm not saying there isn't a bit of pincushion distortion, just that I've never seen it conclusively in any of my photos yet, but you can't always trust brick wall to be perfect.