Voigtlander 28mm F2 Ultron VM II

Leica M-Mount

Review

The Voigtlander 28mm F2 Ultron VM II is a compact, high-quality lens designed specifically for the Leica M mount. This lens is an excellent choice for street photography, landscape shots, and environmental portraits thanks to its versatile focal length and fast aperture. With its sleek design and impressive optical performance, it caters to both amateur and professional photographers looking to expand their M mount lens collection.

Build Quality and Design

One of the standout features of the Voigtlander 28mm F2 Ultron VM II is its solid construction and classic design. It boasts a metal body that not only feels robust in hand but also contributes to a premium look. The compact size makes it easy to carry around and an ideal companion for photographers who prefer a lightweight setup. The lens is also relatively free of excessive protrusions, which is a plus for street photography, where discretion is often key.

The focusing ring is smooth and precise, allowing for accurate manual focus, which is essential in a rangefinder system like Leica M. Additionally, the lens incorporates a traditional aperture ring with clear, well-defined clicks, which ensures you can easily adjust exposure settings on the go.

Optical Performance

In terms of optical performance, the Voigtlander 28mm F2 Ultron VM II does not disappoint. It delivers sharp images with excellent contrast, even at maximum aperture. Color rendition is generally very pleasing, yielding vibrant and true-to-life colors. The lens also performs admirably in low light thanks to its fast f/2 maximum aperture, which allows for a beautiful separation of subjects from the background.

Bokeh is another strong point; at f/2, the lens produces smooth and creamy out-of-focus areas, making it suitable for portraiture or situations where you want to isolate a subject. Distortion and chromatic aberration are well-controlled, which is often a concern with wide-angle lenses. You may find some slight vignetting at wide apertures, but this is typically correctable in post-processing or can even be used artfully.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Excellent build quality with a compact design
• Smooth and precise manual focusing
• Impressive optical performance, even at max aperture
• Beautiful bokeh for isolating subjects
• Well-controlled distortion and chromatic aberration

Cons

• Some may find the lack of autofocus limiting
• Slight vignetting at wide apertures, although not excessive
• May not be suited for those who prefer longer focal lengths

Verdict

Overall, the Voigtlander 28mm F2 Ultron VM II is a fantastic lens for Leica M users seeking a high-performance wide-angle option. Its blend of build quality, optical excellence, and versatility make it a worthy addition to your lens collection. While it might not suit photographers who rely heavily on autofocus or prefer longer focal lengths, its strengths far outweigh the minor drawbacks. Whether you're capturing street scenes, landscapes, or portraits, this lens will not disappoint.