Voigtlander announcing two new 35mm f/2 lenses

[jarski]

been thinking awhile that we've been spoiled with all the options, but the trend seem to increase in speed 😕

only reason can think of that manufacturing has become more flexible than what it used to be. smaller production batches, while still keeping prices in check.

 

[james.liam]

Yeah I don't get too excited about another 35mm/f2 lens. Way too many good ones already on the used market. I still love my Leitz 35mm 4th gen. I would buy a modern 35mm/f2 lens for my IIIF. Better yet, a slow 21/28/35mm LTM lens that was nice and small for my LTM.

Generally concur. Between a 35 C Biogon and a 35 Summaron f/2.8, both small lenses, cannot say I lack for much except for the extra stop or 2 now and again.

Having said that....a 35 f/2 APO would still be real interesting.

 

[SimonPJ]

A strong alternative to the current 35 Lux is the real gap at the moment. An f1.4 lens as compact as the pre-Asph 35 lux but with strong technical performance wide open would be very interesting. The smaller v3 35 Nokton still does not have the perfect portability of Leica’s original 35s for the M.


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[keytarjunkie]

A strong alternative to the current 35 Lux is the real gap at the moment. An f1.4 lens as compact as the pre-Asph 35 lux but with strong technical performance wide open would be very interesting. The smaller v3 35 Nokton still does not have the perfect portability of Leica’s original 35s for the M.

This has nothing to do with this thread, but you're comparing apples to oranges. The CV 35/1.4 II is the Summilux pre-asph competitor, same size and "better" performance; it already exists and is very popular. The CV 35/1.2 III is a large modern lens design meant to compete with the larger Zeiss and ASPH summilux lenses.

 

[lcpr]

I'd rather see a APO 28mm, but that's just me.

 

[Fjäll]

This has nothing to do with this thread, but you're comparing apples to oranges. The CV 35/1.4 II is the Summilux pre-asph competitor, same size and "better" performance; it already exists and is very popular. The CV 35/1.2 III is a large modern lens design meant to compete with the larger Zeiss and ASPH summilux lenses.

I would really like to see a 35mm 1.4 similar to the small pre asph Summilux. The current Voigtländer might match its performance in some areas but it could definitely improve. The Summilux has virtually no distortion whereas the Voigtländer makes a ruler the shape of a banana.

 

[jsrockit]

It's too bad that Voigtlãnder seems to have abandoned the LTM users, especially when an LTM lens will work just as well on an M body with an adaptor. (I have, and use, a number of Barnack Leicas. I could never get on with the size and shape of the M bodies.)

Didn’t they only make LTM lenses because they weren’t allowed to make Leica M lenses at that time? Maybe some kind of patent (I know it’s generally 20 years, but this was a world wide patent supposedly) on the M mount? There is a bunch of speculation online but a slew of third party M products became available after 2001 when the patent supposedly expired.

 

[SimonPJ]

I would really like to see a 35mm 1.4 similar to the small pre asph Summilux. The current Voigtländer might match its performance in some areas but it could definitely improve. The Summilux has virtually no distortion whereas the Voigtländer makes a ruler the shape of a banana.

This was exactly my point. Apologies for not spelling it out. Compared to the wealth of excellent options in 35mm f2 lenses, at 35mm f1.4 there are still significant trade offs between size, handling and performance.

The f1.2 35mm Noktons are great lenses, but you do lose the cup-it-in-one-hand portability of an M plus a 35 Cron or pre-Asph Lux. F1.4 is a very useful aperture with the 35mm focal length, still providing workable depth of field, particularly with mid-distance shots in poor light. I think the additional benefits of going to f1.2 have come at too high a cost in terms of lens volume.

The CV 35/1.4 II has the perfect form factor and design, but it would be wonderful if some of the attention paid to the f2 and f1.2 designs had been devoted to f1.4 to improve its optical performance.


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[Bendj]

I would love to see a small 28mm from Voigtlander along the same lines of their newish classic lenses.

 

[BWF]

I strongly second this. Why not start making the 28\3.5 again? Prices for used ones are crazy now. There is nothing like it in new lenses either.

I would love to see a small 28mm from Voigtlander along the same lines of their newish classic lenses.

 

[itf]

I would love to see a small 28mm from Voigtlander along the same lines of their newish classic lenses.

So many 35s! One SLR size 28 and no compact 28s, no 25s at all. There's no competition for a small 28/2.8 or 3.5. I have the sweet little cv 28/3.5 but nearly didn't buy it in 2008, after it was already discontinued, because I thought for sure there was a new f2.8 coming... bought a 25/4 recently to replace the one that made way for the 28, just in case.

 

[Fjäll]

This was exactly my point. Apologies for not spelling it out. Compared to the wealth of excellent options in 35mm f2 lenses, at 35mm f1.4 there are still significant trade offs between size, handling and performance.

The f1.2 35mm Noktons are great lenses, but you do lose the cup-it-in-one-hand portability of an M plus a 35 Cron or pre-Asph Lux. F1.4 is a very useful aperture with the 35mm focal length, still providing workable depth of field, particularly with mid-distance shots in poor light. I think the additional benefits of going to f1.2 have come at too high a cost in terms of lens volume.

The CV 35/1.4 II has the perfect form factor and design, but it would be wonderful if some of the attention paid to the f2 and f1.2 designs had been devoted to f1.4 to improve its optical performance.


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Right! Imagine a fairly small 35mm 1.4 M mount lens with comparable optical performance of any of the other 35mm lenses from Voigtländer. Let's see

 

[BillBingham2]

..... makes a ruler the shape of a banana.

There's a drug and app for that......🙄

B2 (;->

 

[Filzkoeter]

It's too bad that Voigtlãnder seems to have abandoned the LTM users, especially when an LTM lens will work just as well on an M body with an adaptor. (I have, and use, a number of Barnack Leicas. I could never get on with the size and shape of the M bodies.)

A bit offtopic: We LTM shooters should all write messages to 7Artisans asking for new production LTM lenses 😉 They already wrote me, they might consider it in the future.

 

[Tim Gray]

I strongly second this. Why not start making the 28\3.5 again? Prices for used ones are crazy now. There is nothing like it in new lenses either.

Such a great little lens. It works well on my Monochrom - not sure if it is great with color digital. They should definitely tweak it if needed and rerelease it.

 

[bmintie]

More info with pricing and release date details:

https://leicarumors.com/2021/02/10/...po-lanthar-35mm-f-2-and-ultron-35mm-f-2.aspx/

Update #1: The planned release date for both lenses is March 2021.

Update #2: The price of the Voigtlander APO-LANTHAR 35mm f/2 Aspherical VM lens will be ¥128,000 including tax (around $1,200). the price of the Voigtlander ULTRON Vintage Line 35mm f/2 Aspherical Type II VM will be ¥88,800 including tax (around $840).

 

[dourbalistar]

FWIW, the Ultron 35/2 (soon to be Version I) is now $699 at B&H, with $100 instant savings. I'm also curious about what's improved in the new Version II.

 

[kram]

Why not just the apo 35mm, and spend time and effort on a 28mm f2 apo.

 

[jsrockit]

Why not just the apo 35mm, and spend time and effort on a 28mm f2 apo.

Because voigtlander wanted to do something else...

 

[Bill Blackwell]

Apparently ... an update to their Ultron ASPH 35mm f/2 ...

Naturally!!! It's all my fault! I just bought the Ultron.

In all seriousness, I suspect it'll be at least partially cosmetic; my (along with many others) biggest complaint about the lens is its meters-only scale; those of us used to measuring in feet find it difficult to zone focus.