Voigtlander 28mm Ultron f2 and CLE

[ellisson]

Has anyone tried the new CV Ultron 28/2 on the CLE? I'm interested in this lens, but can't decide between it and the color skopar 28/3.5. I'm concerned about the size of the Ultron on the CLE, even though its billed as a "compact" lens. On Stephen Gandy's site, It does not look much smaller than the older Ultron 2.8/1.9.

I will use the 28 mainly for street shooting, so DOF consideration outweighs low light for me, but its always nice to have flexibility!

 

[Assaf]

Rememeber that the Ultron 28/2 is M-mount and the Skopar is screw mount. So, the minimal focusing distance is 0.7 and 0.9 meters respectively. Don't know if it's an issue.

Besides, the Ultron costs 579$, which is a lot for such a lens. In Cameraquest it looks very big even on an M4-P, so, it would look huge on CLE.
From my experience on an Ultron 35/1.7 I can't say it's such a great lens. It's not very sharp wide open, and the build quality isn't good (it has some paint loss from a normal usage of not much more than a year)

My choice would be a Rokkor 28/2.8

 

[elshaneo]

I held both the Voigtlander 28/1.9 Ultron and the new 28/2 Ultron. I would say that the new one is around 80 % the size of the old one, but it's still quite big as a rangefinder lens on the Leica M cameras. It will certainly be a big lens on the Minolta CLE.

 

[yanidel]

I also owned the 28mm 1.9 and now the new 2.0. Though specs show it slightly lighter and shorter than the previous version, it feels to me like a completely different lens. It is perfectly balanced for the M8 IMO, the earlier version was not.
I also own the CV25 which is similar in size to the CV28 3.5. F4 allows no OOF ability is subject is at more than 1.5 meter. In my case, it bothered me a lot that is why I went for the new Ultron. 2 stops make a big difference for me and outweight the size disadvantage.

 

[SimonSawSunlight]

I tried a friend's CLE with the ultron 2/28 and it didn't really seem big to me. mount the nokton 1.5/50, now that looks big! but even then - still usable imho.
I liked the performance of the lens itself, not high-end for sure, but still beautiful.

 

[ellisson]

I have a Nockton 50/1.5 that I use on my M5, so that is a good size reference. I may spring for the Ultron 28/2, or possibly the M-rokkor or M-Hexanon 28mm/2.8 as other possibilities in the moderate price range.

 

[Bob Michaels]

but can't decide between it and the color skopar 28/3.5.

I keep a 28 / 3.5 skopar on my CLE just about all the time. Very compact. You can slide it into a good size pants pocket.

And the 28 / 3.5 skopar is an excellent lens. It's low priced, small, sharp. Everything but fast but I find it fast enough. And you sure can't beat the price.

 

[ellisson]

The size and quality/price ratio intially drew my attention to the color skopar. I generally don't go for OOF effects in most of my shooting, and tend to want low profile (me and the camera), and maximum DOF in street and travel settings. So, more points for the 28/3.5.

 

[Beemermark]

I have a 28mm pre-ASPH Elmarit, the CV 28/1.9 and the CLE 28mm. The Elmarit is smaller than the CV and even with the vented hood does not intrude into the VF. The CV is huge my comparison and fills a lof of the VF. The CLE 28mm is very sweet, a great picture taker (even though mine has a lot of the white spots) and a perfect match. While the CV lenses are very good optical I the built quality is no where as good as the Leica and CLE lenses.

 

[SimonSawSunlight]

the Ultron f/2 on my M4:

I think this must be wide open or at least f/2.8 =)

 

[Spyderman]

Consider that the M-Rokkor will show 35-135 framelines on an M body. On an LTM lens you can mount any adapter to trigger the correct framelines on CLE / on M. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the new Ultron f2 triggers 28 and 90 frameline on CLE.

BTW: my vote goes to the Color-Skopar. Very tiny and very good.

 

[Palaeoboy]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the new Ultron f2 triggers 28 and 90 frameline on CLE.

This is sort of correct. The 28mm framelines are always visible on a CLE so you will see them no matter what lens you put on it. The Ultron will trigger the 90mm framelines as you say as well but they are such tiny corner frames that they really appear more as a centering viewing aid than anything else so it doesnt impact in any way with the use of the 28mm framelines.

 

[MP/CLE]

My best 28 mm experience with CLE was with a leica asph 28 f2.0summicron...my alltime favorite combination. A close second was the rokkor 28 and I could no longer justify the 10x cost difference (one can buy alot of film and other toys with the sale of that summicron!). The size between the two will not make a difference and the utility of either lens is interchangeable with the nod essentially going to the summicron due to its speed. I have not shot the Ultron extensively but my brief experience with it and the two voigt 40's kind of voided my sense of quality of construction and pride of ownership...both personal proclivities, I know, and completely subjective, but part of my enjoyment of still playing with a high quality, antiquated and classic method of retaining memories and images.

 

[Shin Oyama]

Yes the VC 28/1.9 and the new 28/2 will work very well on the CLE. With the 28/1.9 there is less hood blockage on the CLE than any other 35mm RF camera. You can also change M adapters and use a 35mm one on the CLE which gives you the 28mm frames minus the 90mm frames. Then you can switch back to the 28/90 adapter for your Leicas.

 

[gilpen123]

The 28 2.0 really does not feel and look big with the CLE. It's about the size of a hex 50 2.0. I have some unprocessed film using this combo, I'll post them as soon as I'm done with the processing.

 

[elmer3.5]

Don´t like it

Don´t like it

Hi, bought it to use in the rd1s, it´s f2 helps a lot to play with ofa.

With B/W film it´s ok, but when in color i don´t like it. Just scanned some velvia 100f and i am completely dissapointed.

The only other 28 i used it´s the contax g 28/2.8, and it´s better for B/W and for color. planning to sell this Ultron!

Bye!

 

[ferider]

Just a small correction to what Assaf said: all three lenses, the 28/1.9, the 28/2, and the 28/3.5 all have min. focus of 0.7m. While the CLE has min. focus of 0.8m.

All three great lenses. I myself like best the 28/1.9. Note that it has noticeably more resolution than the 28/3.5 at all apertures.

Roland.

 

[Etabeta]

I've got the Ultron 2.0 and the CLE. IMO this lens works really well. I don't see any serious finder blockage, just a minor one on the right corner. Overall I can stand it, in particular without hood, which is a bit protruding. On the other hand you have a very fast (and sharp) lens.

 

[Graham Line]

The Voigtlander 28/3.5 size and weight are a nice match for the CLE and it's hard to beat the quality for the price. It performs very well wide open, but does not match much more expensive lenses.

 

[emraphoto]

i have used both 28's and yes indeed the 28mm f2 is larger. i don't find it overly large on an m body at all and in my opinion the only 28mm that beats it really is the 'cron. i only have two lenses... 28mm f2 and a 50mm f1.2 thus the speed is a tipping point for me.

it seems to me a great performer, even towards the f2 range, and is nice and contrasty (i can't believe i'm saying that). the 28 f3.5 is a stellar performer and deserves all the reputation it has. if the speed isn't a big deal than i would echo the 28mm f3.5 suggestions.