Alternative to Voigtländer 35mm 2.5?

[Yokosuka Mike]

Thanks for the recommendation.
I'm in fact keeping an eye on the Voigtländer 3.5, it seems to be the best candidate in terms of size and performance.
Or the Color Skopar 35mm f2.5 MC suggested by agentlossing.

I'm a big fan of the 35mm f3.5 Color-Skopar VM lens. This is one from today.

Sony A7III camera
Voigtälnder 35mm f3.5 Color-Skopar Aspherical (black paint) VM lens
Yokohama, Japan
August 2025​

 

[CandidChronicles]

I'm a big fan of the 35mm f3.5 Color-Skopar VM lens. This is one from today.
View attachment 4874605
Sony A7III camera
Voigtälnder 35mm f3.5 Color-Skopar Aspherical (black paint) VM lens
Yokohama, Japan
August 2025​

Nice. Zone focusing + wide open?

 

[Yokosuka Mike]

Nice. Zone focusing + wide open?

Yes, it was set at 1 meter and f3.5.

All the best,
Mike

 

[filmtwit]

So a little surprised to NOT see these listed

Canon 35mm f1.8 ltm
Konica Hexanon UC 35mm f2 in ltm
Nikkor-L 35mm f1.8 in LTM
Nikkor 35mm f2.5 in ltm
W-Nikkor 35mm f3.5 in LTM

Konica Hexar RF 35mm f2 in M Mount
Ziess Biogon 35mm f2 in M Mount

 

[CandidChronicles]

So a little surprised to NOT see these listed

Canon 35mm f1.8 ltm
Konica Hexanon UC 35mm f2 in ltm
Nikkor-L 35mm f1.8 in LTM
W-Nikkor 35mm f3.5 in LTM

Konica Hexar RF 35mm f2 in M Mount
Ziess Biogon 35mm f2 in M Mount

Thanks for chiming in, @filmtwit

Konica doesn't seem to fit my budget, I see it on eBay for around 1,000 USD or more.

It looks like Nikkor is the only one from your list that could work. I'll investigate further about that option.

 

[aw614]

Don't forget the Canon 35mm F2.8 lenses in chrome and black, both can be found for under 200 and are still solid performers.

 

[filmtwit]

Thanks for chiming in, @filmtwit

Konica doesn't seem to fit my budget, I see it on eBay for around 1,000 USD or more.

It looks like Nikkor is the only one from your list that could work. I'll investigate further about that option.

The Canon is probably the only inexpensive lens here.
The Nikkor's in LTM are not cheap either. But you can get the S Mount versions (that are generally pretty inexpensive) and add it to a Amedeo adaptor (S mount to M mount) adapter) to keep your cost down.
Keep in mind that the Konica Hexar RF 35mm f2 and the Konica Hexanon UC 35mm are not the same lens with a different mounts (the LTM mount is modern version of that w-nikkor 35mm f1.8). AS such the later LTM mounted 35mm tends to be more than twice as expensive as the M mount is. The M mount Konica tends to be under $1k making it nice alternative to 35mm f2 Summicron.

 

[hugov]

Sorry to revive an old thread but I've found the Zeiss C-Biogon 35/2.8 to be superb. I upgraded from the Voigt 35/2.5 II; while I never did side by side comparisons (since the shop I bought the C-Biogon from took the Skopar as a trade-in) so not very scientific, my experience has been great. Even though I loved the overall look and "3D pop" from the Skopar, I found it to be too contrasty, sometimes crushing shadows to black and blowing highlights (at the time I was primarily shooting Fuji C200). I find the C-Biogon has similar 3D pop and great colours but somehow gives similar or better microcontrast while reducing global contrast and better preserving the shadows and highlights. The C-Biogon is marginally larger, and I think I preferred the Skopar's handling, but I like the consistency of handling the C-Biogon alongside my Zeiss 50/1.5 and 21/4.5 lenses.

 

[Bingley]

There is also the new-ish 40mm f2.8 in ltm.

That is a superb lens and tiny too. I think the only Voigtlander lens that beats it optically is the Ultron 35mm f2.0, and it’s close. I’ve got an album on my Flickr devoted to photos made with the Heliar 40mm f2.8 if you’re interested. Great lens for travel; makes an M6 almost pocketable.

Edit: I see that this thread was from last year. I wonder what lens the OP finally settled on.

 

[Freakscene]

I'm a big fan of the 35mm f3.5 Color-Skopar VM lens. This is one from today.
View attachment 4874605
Sony A7III camera
Voigtälnder 35mm f3.5 Color-Skopar Aspherical (black paint) VM lens
Yokohama, Japan
August 2025​

Great shot @Yokosuka Mike - this woman’s hairdresser is very skilled, caught perfectly.

 

[Yokosuka Mike]

Grwat shot @Yokosuka Mike - this woman’s hairdresser is very skilled, caught perfectly.

Thank you, Marty, much appreciated!

All the best,
Mike