Over the last few years Voigtlander leveled up its range of M mount lenses significantly. When I started out using Leica cameras a few years back, Voigtlander lenses had this image of “Well, not really bad but definitely not on par with Leica glas.” As far as I can see with their latest lenses they are on par or at least very very close - for very reasonable prices and with a great build quality. Although I almost exclusively shoot Leica lenses (all bought used) I really like this bold statement from Voigtlander. And although this is highly unlikely, I would like to see them reviving their “Bessa” line of analog cameras now turned into digital mirrorless rangefinders to challenge Leica😎🤘.
For sure. There are some reviews for this lens in Fred Miranda forums in Sony and Alternative sections showing that this might be one of the sharpest 28’s ever made. Crazy for the size and price.
Entirely agree that CV has really stepped their game up with their most recent lenses. Build quality is awesome, image quality is nearly indistinguishable from my Leica lenses, and they know how to make things small and useable.
I've always wanted to try skipping from 35 down to 28. but the 7artisans was a bit heavier than I'd like (and very long) this might be the perfect option
The type II has a smaller filter size so the lens could be made not to block the rangefinder window. So many M lenses are now used on Leica SL; Sl2; CL; SL2-s digital mirrorless bodies which have fine detailed EVF. Many photographers like close 0,5 meter focus for portraits with more OOF Bokeh, so Voigtlander has made it possible to attain close focus without using a helicoid M to L adapter.
Great no-nonsense review. I really like the results from my 35/1.7 Ultron and have been wondering which 28 to get when I need something wider. Thanks for clearing that up :-)
@@CianMcsweeney I agree, and with all of my most used focal lengths covered, I have a kit that is consistent in use and look from lens to lens. It also helps me resists all the new lenses that are coming out from Voigtlander. But this is one I might have to just eventually try and see how I like it.
I have a Nikkor 50mm LTM lens from the 1950s that focuses to .5m. It has a "click" stop when you hit .7m on the focus before you go past the rangefinder coupling. Its amazing to me that a lens that old has an obvious improvement over lenses today, which obviously have close focus to make them more useful on mirrorless.
Just received the type I version of this lens and I love it, obviously I went for the lightweight version. Something to add is that with the 0.5m close focus it is very easy to make selfies with a M 😀
Hey Ben! What type of tape are you using to cover the leica logo? I also have a silver chrome body and I've been wanting to do the same thing, but struggled to find something that matches the silver.
Thanks :) Sounds like you should get hold of the ~2006 Zeiss Ikon, its rangefinder focusses to 0.5m. It's similar to the M Bessas, I think, so perhaps they do to.
Thanks for the review, very interesting! Would be nice if this new CV lens had a hard stop at 0.7 meters like the new Leica 35 mm APO lens with shorter MFD does. I will keep my CV 28/2.0 version I though because I like its more vintage feel and look. When you said that the black version of the version II lens has black paint, does it mean the paint comes off easily? I had this issue with a couple of my CV M--mount lenses in the past and didn't like it.
Love it and it's on my list.... But am really interested to see if 7Artisans are going to make a 28mm f2 (or f2.8) option in the same way they have with the 35mm with the f1.4 and f2. I have the7 Artisans 28mm f1.4 and 35mm f2 (and a Voigtlander Nocton Classic 40mm f1.4) at the moment and the weight of the 28mm is more of an issue than i expected. The images from it are astonishing for the money it cost.
@@benjhaisch do you think the market for 'affordable' light weight 28mm lenses is limited? But that Voigtlander is going to be a hard one to beat, that's for sure! It's £700 in the UK, which is enough but not overly expensive.
@@benjhaisch They're about to release a 28mm f/5.6 classic looking lens. Not really my cup of tea, and thought to be about $300. For that price I'd probably go for a Color-Skopar f/2.5, which is tiny.
Heaps of lenses go closer than .7, voigt 25m Zeiss 28 bio etc etc etc. Get used to it, it's dope! With wides I just have a sense of 50cm and get my face off the viewfinder, helps with parallax too. Thank for your thoughts, lovely production 📸
Finally someone else complaining about the close focus on some of these lenses. I don't mind that they do but a detente like you said would be a world of difference. After trying one I won't even buy a lens that focuses below 0.70 now.
The lens looks great on the Leica! How do you feel that it would perform on a Fuji like the X-E4? I'm looking for a manual focus experience on something that I can beat up a little more than I would want to do to a Leica. Trying to decide between something "normal" like a 28, or something wider.
I itch to try this lens adapted to an X pro3 as Portland lends itself very well to the 40-43mm focal length. A new, relatively compact manual focus 28mm would work very well for my demands. I’d choose the zebra offering.
Can you do a video about your experience shooting with glasses, especially wide angle? It seems that you don't use a Visoflex and you're essentially doing reportage photography, which is the most intense, twitch-photography one can do with a Leica. Most videos/discussions overlook this glasses and wide-angle lenses part of the rangefinder experience. How do you cope? Is it worth it? Why? Etc.
Here’s a q for you, I’ve been using a 35mm Cron lens now for 4 yrs. Do you think I’m going to get a very different user experience with a 28mm? I’ve been tossing and turning over this for a while now. Great video and thanks for your work!! 🙏
It’s a question of artistic choice, primarily. 50 is clandestine, other side of a narrow street. 35 is best everything lens, documentary, people typically know you are there, but you are on the side not in the action. With 28 and below you are and have to be in the action to get a good shot. All other questions such as user experience pale in comparison in my opinion.
I always enjoy for videos. Thank you. Have you gotten around to testing the Zeiss 28mm Biogon w/ this new Ultron 11? Obviously different apertures, but any thoughts? Thanks
You didn´t talk about the corners in this video nor in the other comparison, as you normally do. Having the Leica 28 summicron, I was wondering how it compares to the Voigtlander in that regard, as for me is one of the main points when I choose a lens, as in the center almost all the lenses performs good to great. ...and hey, I´m still a normal person that needs to save to buy these kind of lenses.
Hi Ben, I'd love to see your review of the Voigtländer 40 or 50mm 1.2 (as they are quite similar). I think they're also a crazy good bang for the buck and be worth a mention. Keep up your great work. Greets from Berlin, Germany
What about the lens hood? Version 1 appeals to me just now because the lens is protected by being recessed. I'd want a hood on Version 2 if I was dangling it off my shoulder.
That silver ring drives me crazy at the voigtländer lenses, especially on the black version... I have to say that the build quality is really good on these lenses and it's a good choice for people who can or will not pay the price of leica glass. And i don't know how the customer service are from voigtländer but leica do everything to CLA and repair what's possible to give the owner a lifetime experience with the handmade equipment they built. And a note on 28mm on leica m (.72): I also wear glasses and if i think that the corners are too empty i make one/a half step towards the person/scenery and that will do the trick for the frame line issue people like me have.
You mention the silver bayonet. Realizing no one under 50 utilizes lens shades, but for us old farts, does it come with a hood? Also, have you ever shot the Zeiss ZM lenses? My 50 Planar is awesome!
I had a Voigtlänger lens a while back and it had horrific chromatic abberation. Couldn't even fix it in post. Hands down, top 3 worst lens I ever owned. It wasn't even a copy issue as lots of people had the same problem. Nice to see them step up their game. This one looks really neat!
While looking on rendition of this lens on Sony A7* camera I found out it has severe issue in corner and mid frame because of "thick filter stack" and that can be solved with a "kolari ultra thin sensor stack modification" but it really push my limit to understand why I can't just use an adapter and use it on my Sony 😅 I think it would be interesting to have somebody like to explain this kind of issue in adapting M lens on other brand camera. And I would also like to know is any other FF manufacture has a camera that better suit for Leica M lens.
This is indeed a problem with Sony cameras and wider angle M lenses. Afaik this is less of an issue with the other brands (and the Leica SL of course).
Thank you for the video I have the version 1 28mm What are the main differences between the two? I use mine for both film - V Bessa R2m and M10 p Thanks
Sharpness is much better, bokeh seems a little more swirly, size is a little smaller. If you love your current lens though, no need to upgrade unless you aren’t satisfied with those aspects.
@@darioscovacricchi2862 funny story regarding my hood- I put it in my Hoya filter case- when I was switching filters- and TOTALLY forgot where I put it- and I was going nuts looking for it - for like months....... drove me crazy 'cuz I honestly thinking- did I get it? yes..... where did I lose it.... and then- VOILA..... I was going through a couple of my filter cases - and "hey- this is the only place I never checked to see if the hood is in here!".. and there it was- I agree with you- it is pretty cheap... thanks again for your reply- cheers
@@johnb8538 I don't get why they decided to put a filter-like screw to attach the hood :/ Mine it is stuck, but every once in a while it decides to take a break and detaches :) Another thing about voigtlander hoods: they are very expensive, and they can cost you a significant fraction of the lens' price (see 35mm nokton and its hood). Cheers!
Over the last few years Voigtlander leveled up its range of M mount lenses significantly. When I started out using Leica cameras a few years back, Voigtlander lenses had this image of “Well, not really bad but definitely not on par with Leica glas.” As far as I can see with their latest lenses they are on par or at least very very close - for very reasonable prices and with a great build quality. Although I almost exclusively shoot Leica lenses (all bought used) I really like this bold statement from Voigtlander. And although this is highly unlikely, I would like to see them reviving their “Bessa” line of analog cameras now turned into digital mirrorless rangefinders to challenge Leica😎🤘.
For sure. There are some reviews for this lens in Fred Miranda forums in Sony and Alternative sections showing that this might be one of the sharpest 28’s ever made. Crazy for the size and price.
+1 for digital Bessa!
Just picked this lens up and sold my 35 Ultron II. Surprising how much nicer the build and IQ is given the price being the same. Love it
Entirely agree that CV has really stepped their game up with their most recent lenses. Build quality is awesome, image quality is nearly indistinguishable from my Leica lenses, and they know how to make things small and useable.
I've always wanted to try skipping from 35 down to 28. but the 7artisans was a bit heavier than I'd like (and very long) this might be the perfect option
The type II has a smaller filter size so the lens could be made not to block the rangefinder window.
So many M lenses are now used on Leica SL; Sl2; CL; SL2-s digital mirrorless bodies which have fine detailed EVF.
Many photographers like close 0,5 meter focus for portraits with more OOF Bokeh, so Voigtlander has made it possible to
attain close focus without using a helicoid M to L adapter.
Great no-nonsense review. I really like the results from my 35/1.7 Ultron and have been wondering which 28 to get when I need something wider. Thanks for clearing that up :-)
I love waking up to a new Benj video! :-)
Voigtlander is killing it with these new releases. I almost wish I didn’t have a solid Zeiss ZM kit so I could justify trying this out.
The Zeiss lenses are also amazing, and funnily enough are actually manufactured by voigtlander/cosina on behalf of Zeiss(using Zeiss designs ofc)
@@CianMcsweeney I agree, and with all of my most used focal lengths covered, I have a kit that is consistent in use and look from lens to lens. It also helps me resists all the new lenses that are coming out from Voigtlander. But this is one I might have to just eventually try and see how I like it.
I have a Nikkor 50mm LTM lens from the 1950s that focuses to .5m. It has a "click" stop when you hit .7m on the focus before you go past the rangefinder coupling. Its amazing to me that a lens that old has an obvious improvement over lenses today, which obviously have close focus to make them more useful on mirrorless.
Just received the type I version of this lens and I love it, obviously I went for the lightweight version. Something to add is that with the 0.5m close focus it is very easy to make selfies with a M 😀
Hey Ben! What type of tape are you using to cover the leica logo? I also have a silver chrome body and I've been wanting to do the same thing, but struggled to find something that matches the silver.
Thanks :) Sounds like you should get hold of the ~2006 Zeiss Ikon, its rangefinder focusses to 0.5m. It's similar to the M Bessas, I think, so perhaps they do to.
Thanks for the interesting review !
I would also like to see your review of the Voigtlander 50 mm 1.5 II. Maybe you are interested in this lens ?
Thanks for the review, cool lens and seemingly great performer.
Thanks for the review, very interesting! Would be nice if this new CV lens had a hard stop at 0.7 meters like the new Leica 35 mm APO lens with shorter MFD does. I will keep my CV 28/2.0 version I though because I like its more vintage feel and look. When you said that the black version of the version II lens has black paint, does it mean the paint comes off easily? I had this issue with a couple of my CV M--mount lenses in the past and didn't like it.
Looks awesome!! I love having a lower min distance focus. Being able to fully use it with live view is awesome.
Love it and it's on my list.... But am really interested to see if 7Artisans are going to make a 28mm f2 (or f2.8) option in the same way they have with the 35mm with the f1.4 and f2. I have the7 Artisans 28mm f1.4 and 35mm f2 (and a Voigtlander Nocton Classic 40mm f1.4) at the moment and the weight of the 28mm is more of an issue than i expected. The images from it are astonishing for the money it cost.
Although I don’t know anything about the future of their lenses, I’d be really surprised if they put out an f/2 version.
@@benjhaisch do you think the market for 'affordable' light weight 28mm lenses is limited? But that Voigtlander is going to be a hard one to beat, that's for sure! It's £700 in the UK, which is enough but not overly expensive.
Yeah, 35mm is just soooo much more popular.
@@benjhaisch They're about to release a 28mm f/5.6 classic looking lens. Not really my cup of tea, and thought to be about $300. For that price I'd probably go for a Color-Skopar f/2.5, which is tiny.
Heaps of lenses go closer than .7, voigt 25m Zeiss 28 bio etc etc etc. Get used to it, it's dope! With wides I just have a sense of 50cm and get my face off the viewfinder, helps with parallax too. Thank for your thoughts, lovely production 📸
haha yeah, just a preference from muscle memory
I'm thinking of adapting it to my Fuji X-T4. What do you think about?
Awesome video! I hope you get a chance to borrow the Nokton 35 f1.4 for Fuji x mount when it comes out!
Finally someone else complaining about the close focus on some of these lenses. I don't mind that they do but a detente like you said would be a world of difference. After trying one I won't even buy a lens that focuses below 0.70 now.
haha just a preference but for the muscle memory, I'm not a fan
Great video!
Very offtopic: Do you have plans to review the 35mm 1.4 NOKTON with the Fuji X mount?
The lens looks great on the Leica! How do you feel that it would perform on a Fuji like the X-E4? I'm looking for a manual focus experience on something that I can beat up a little more than I would want to do to a Leica. Trying to decide between something "normal" like a 28, or something wider.
I received mine this week. It's the widest I can go with my Anamorphic setup. It's an amazing lens.
I itch to try this lens adapted to an X pro3 as Portland lends itself very well to the 40-43mm focal length. A new, relatively compact manual focus 28mm would work very well for my demands. I’d choose the zebra offering.
Can you do a video about your experience shooting with glasses, especially wide angle? It seems that you don't use a Visoflex and you're essentially doing reportage photography, which is the most intense, twitch-photography one can do with a Leica. Most videos/discussions overlook this glasses and wide-angle lenses part of the rangefinder experience. How do you cope? Is it worth it? Why? Etc.
Here’s a q for you, I’ve been using a 35mm Cron lens now for 4 yrs. Do you think I’m going to get a very different user experience with a 28mm? I’ve been tossing and turning over this for a while now. Great video and thanks for your work!! 🙏
It’s a question of artistic choice, primarily. 50 is clandestine, other side of a narrow street. 35 is best everything lens, documentary, people typically know you are there, but you are on the side not in the action. With 28 and below you are and have to be in the action to get a good shot. All other questions such as user experience pale in comparison in my opinion.
I love your channel man
Would be great to know how it performs in real life conditions vs the Leica and in more complicated lighting conditions
Can you do a review on the new Voigtlander 35mm f/1.2 Nokton for Fuji when its out?
I put in a request!
do you find that the micro contrast is better on the Leica Copy? the Voigtlander just seems a little flatter in my usage
Great video review! I was wondering if you can review the Voigtlander 21mm f3.5 v2. Thanks!
The old Ultron did suck. Glad they reinvented this wheel and its much better.
Great review as always Benj
great vid ben. This helped me a lot. thanks!!!
Is that silver voigtlander 28 f/2 paint also you mentioned the black version was.
I don’t believe so
I always enjoy for videos. Thank you. Have you gotten around to testing the Zeiss 28mm Biogon w/ this new Ultron 11? Obviously different apertures, but any thoughts? Thanks
I've tested them both but not together. For my money, I liked the Ultron better, but it's all preference.
You didn´t talk about the corners in this video nor in the other comparison, as you normally do. Having the Leica 28 summicron, I was wondering how it compares to the Voigtlander in that regard, as for me is one of the main points when I choose a lens, as in the center almost all the lenses performs good to great.
...and hey, I´m still a normal person that needs to save to buy these kind of lenses.
Thanks for this interesting video! Any thoughts as to how the Zeiss 28mm f2 Biogon stacks up against this new Voitglander and the Summicron?
I’m hoping to test one soon. It’s a 2.8 though
Zeiss zm biogon 28mm 2.8 is another killer lens .
Would you get this lens over Q2?
How does this lens compare to the Zeiss biogon 28/2.8?
Hi Ben, I'd love to see your review of the Voigtländer 40 or 50mm 1.2 (as they are quite similar). I think they're also a crazy good bang for the buck and be worth a mention. Keep up your great work. Greets from Berlin, Germany
Where can I get a lens hood for the voigtlander 28mm ultron II? I can‘t find any…
hi! this one or the zeiss 28?
Pretty convincing argument for a 28. 🐎
thank you
What about the lens hood? Version 1 appeals to me just now because the lens is protected by being recessed. I'd want a hood on Version 2 if I was dangling it off my shoulder.
There is a hood available, but the demo unit I was sent didn’t come with one.
@@benjhaisch what’s the hood? I can’t seem to find one for it online
What about this lens on Fuji GFX?
B - did you try this on the SL2/s by any chance?
Ah I didn’t, sorry!
That silver ring drives me crazy at the voigtländer lenses, especially on the black version...
I have to say that the build quality is really good on these lenses and it's a good choice for people who can or will not pay the price of leica glass.
And i don't know how the customer service are from voigtländer but leica do everything to CLA and repair what's possible to give the owner a lifetime experience with the handmade equipment they built.
And a note on 28mm on leica m (.72): I also wear glasses and if i think that the corners are too empty i make one/a half step towards the person/scenery and that will do the trick for the frame line issue people like me have.
Hey Ben, a little late to the party but does this suffer from focus shift?
I didn’t notice any
@@benjhaisch thanks Ben, appreciate you taking the time to reply such an old video!🫡
*Benj (apologies!)
You mention the silver bayonet. Realizing no one under 50 utilizes lens shades, but for us old farts, does it come with a hood? Also, have you ever shot the Zeiss ZM lenses? My 50 Planar is awesome!
It doesn’t come with a hood. And yeah, I owned the 50/1.5 Sonnar for years
This or the elmarit 28?
I had a Voigtlänger lens a while back and it had horrific chromatic abberation. Couldn't even fix it in post. Hands down, top 3 worst lens I ever owned. It wasn't even a copy issue as lots of people had the same problem. Nice to see them step up their game. This one looks really neat!
While looking on rendition of this lens on Sony A7* camera I found out it has severe issue in corner and mid frame because of "thick filter stack" and that can be solved with a "kolari ultra thin sensor stack modification" but it really push my limit to understand why I can't just use an adapter and use it on my Sony 😅 I think it would be interesting to have somebody like to explain this kind of issue in adapting M lens on other brand camera. And I would also like to know is any other FF manufacture has a camera that better suit for Leica M lens.
This is indeed a problem with Sony cameras and wider angle M lenses. Afaik this is less of an issue with the other brands (and the Leica SL of course).
Thank you for the video
I have the version 1 28mm
What are the main differences between the two?
I use mine for both film - V Bessa R2m and M10 p
Thanks
Sharpness is much better, bokeh seems a little more swirly, size is a little smaller. If you love your current lens though, no need to upgrade unless you aren’t satisfied with those aspects.
It looks like that the lens' hood attachment is different, similar to the nokton series. A great improvement, as my version 1 hood is stuck.
@@benjhaisch thanks...appreciate the reply!
@@darioscovacricchi2862 funny story regarding my hood- I put it in my Hoya filter case- when I was switching filters- and TOTALLY forgot where I put it- and I was going nuts looking for it - for like months....... drove me crazy 'cuz I honestly thinking- did I get it? yes..... where did I lose it.... and then- VOILA..... I was going through a couple of my filter cases - and "hey- this is the only place I never checked to see if the hood is in here!".. and there it was- I agree with you- it is pretty cheap... thanks again for your reply- cheers
@@johnb8538 I don't get why they decided to put a filter-like screw to attach the hood :/ Mine it is stuck, but every once in a while it decides to take a break and detaches :) Another thing about voigtlander hoods: they are very expensive, and they can cost you a significant fraction of the lens' price (see 35mm nokton and its hood). Cheers!
Has anyone tried this with an SL2 or SL2-S? Any vignetting or purple fringing?
Not sure I picked up whether the focusing tab is metal or plastic. Thoughts?
Metal… I think? I’m not sure, but it felt solid.
🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️
would this suit a M9 ?
Yes
"Definitely probably?" I did enjoy the review though. :-)
Haha!
5:47 How could I compare something ??
Watch the video I’m referring to ;)
🔴
"definitely probably"? Maybe....
Possibly
📷📷📷
👊🏾
🤓
🤪
A New 28mm King??? Really?
Why it’s a ? and not a .
totally useless wasted time of blabla
Nice lens but why do they have to style it vintage? hate that.
🤓