Voigtländer Nokton Vintage Line 28mm f/1.5 Aspherical

The Voigtländer Nokton Vintage Line 28mm f/1.5 Aspherical is a manual focus wide-angle lens with the VM bayonet, which is compatible with Leica M. It is a fast 28 mm for rangefinder cameras and for mirrorless cameras via an adapter. Cosina announced it in December 2023. The Vintage Line styling follows classic lenses and the lens covers the full frame format.

Optical design

The optical construction has 10 elements in 8 groups. According to Cosina, the design is made for digital cameras and suppresses colour shifts around the image periphery. The maximum aperture is f/1.5 and the diaphragm has 12 blades, which Cosina describes as the basis for round out-of-focus highlights. The smallest aperture is f/16.

Focusing and handling

Focusing is manual through a metal helicoid with a focusing tab shaped for the finger. The lens is coupled to the rangefinder down to 0.7 m. Beyond that, it focuses closer, down to 0.5 m, which Cosina points out is useful with live view. Cosina offers two builds: Type I with an aluminium exterior and Type II with brass and a removable focusing knob that helps with zone focusing. Type I is no longer sold according to Cosina, which ended its sales in June 2026. A bayonet hood, the LH-6, is available as an option.

Build and size

The lens is 45.5 mm long with a maximum diameter of 54.0 mm and takes 43 mm filters. The weight is 250 g for Type I and 330 g for Type II. The listed data in the database use the Type II figure. Cosina describes the styling as reminiscent of well-known lenses of the 1970s, and for Type II of the early 1960s.

Where it fits

For Leica M, the Voigtlander 28mm F2 Ultron VM II (230 g) is the slower and lighter sibling from the same maker. Other 28 mm options are the Thypoch Simera 28mm F1.4 (330 g), the Leica Summicron-M 28mm f/2 ASPH (270 g) and the Zeiss Biogon T* 2,8/28 ZM (230 g). Speed is what sets this lens apart: f/1.5 is faster than the f/2 and f/2.8 options above, and only the Thypoch Simera is faster at f/1.4. On Sony E and Nikon Z, Cosina sells a separate native Nokton 28mm f/1.5 Aspherical, which is not the same lens.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Very fast for a 28 mm, f/1.5 with 12 blades
• Compact for its speed, 45.5 mm long
• Focuses down to 0.5 m, useful with live view
• Metal construction with a choice of Type I or Type II
• Full frame image circle

Cons

• Manual focus only
• Heavier than the f/2 alternatives
• Type I has been discontinued according to Cosina
• Hood is optional

Verdict

The Nokton Vintage Line 28mm f/1.5 Aspherical is a classic styled, fast wide-angle for Leica M and VM bodies. It makes sense for anyone who wants the f/1.5 aperture at 28 mm in a build that is still reasonably compact, and who is content with manual focus and rangefinder coupling.