I’ve been using the Voigtländer 28mm f2 Ultron for 2 to 3 years now for all sorts of things: my everyday carry lens, a documentary lens, a street photography lens, and one to take on adventures into the mountains. It has performed incredibly in all of these roles.
I would even say this was the lens that confirmed to me that manual focus lenses could be both small, sharp and incredibly robust. These were the traits I was looking for in a lens. Often one of these is lacking, particularly with modern electronic focus lenses. They are often huge or not weather sealed, leaving them vulnerable to the elements. I’ve been using manual focus lenses for a few years now, and this was the second specific manual focus purchase after the 7Artisans 35mm f2 (Mk I). I use these lenses predominantly on the Leica SL (Type 601), which I must say feels like it was specifically designed for manual focus lenses, as it performs better with them than with its relatively slow, clunky autofocus system.
But back to the Voigtländer 28mm f2 Ultron. This lens is incredible, almost ideal. The build quality is second to none, and I mean that. I have a trio of Leica Summicrons: the Leica 28mm f/2 Summicron #11672, the 35mm f2 Summicron #11879, and the 50mm f2 Summicron #11826, and none of them compare to the Voigtländer in terms of feel. This is particularly due to the tighter tolerances of the Voigtländer and its heavy brass construction. I have to admit I was fairly disappointed after I bought my first Summicron, thinking it would be even better than the Voigtländer 28mm f2 Ultron. The aperture ring on the Ultron is perfectly damped and really plays into my slightly compulsive need to fiddle with something.
The image quality is also incredible. For something so small, I was impressed with its sharpness wide open and how it renders contrast and colour. I would say it is comparable to the Leica 28mm f2 Summicron #11672, but there is one massive benefit of the Voigtländer 28mm f2 Ultron. It vignettes, but it is correctable even wide open, unlike the Leica 28mm f2 Summicron #11672, which is manageable but does leave artefacts. To be honest, I am usually fine with that. I have to admit I am shooting these lenses on the Leica SL (Type 601) and not an M body, so some of the nuances of the Leica lenses will be missed, while I believe the Voigtländer is designed knowing it will, in some respect, be used adapted. This plays a massive role when considering which lens to use.
What I truly love about this lens is its size and how discreet it is. I’ve taken it into the snowy mountains of Scotland, East Jerusalem, the Philippines, all over Europe, and more recently to the frontline of Ukraine, all of which it has handled incredibly well. I have used it to shoot street, documentary, portraits, sport and travel. I’ll attach some photos to this article, and I have never doubted it for a second. While it does not quite match the sharpness and correction of some of the more modern electronic focus lenses I use, such as the Sigma 28–45mm or the I Series primes, its other benefits in size mean I can get photographs I would not necessarily get with a large lens.
This is the thing: this lens is discreet, meaning you can work with an intimacy that a large lens often does not afford. It can sit on the camera hanging off your shoulder all day without tiring you out or constantly knocking into things as you traverse streets or move through groups of people. This means you can be out shooting for longer. The focal length is also ideal for documentary work, capturing a whole scene while still affording you the luxury of being able to shoot a portrait at f2 and include some context in the background, which is my favourite. This lens has survived knocks and falls, as well as rain and dust, sea water and high humidity. At the end of the day, I trust it over any electronic lens, purely because a manual lens can be fixed yourself with a screwdriver and a few basic tools. If something goes wrong with the electronics of an autofocus lens, you are not fixing it on the go.
All of these reasons are why this lens continues to have a place in my bag regardless of where I am going. I have no intention of selling it, as it serves its purpose so well while also looking incredible on the camera. Coupling the Voigtländer 28mm f2 Ultron with the Leica SL (Type 601) is a match made in heaven and as close to that tactile feeling of shooting a 1980s camera, while still having the convenience of digital, as one can get.
If you have enjoyed reading this and viewing my photos, please consider following me on my socials linked below. I also run workshops where i teach photography so if you’re interested in getting to grips with new gear or you’ve just bought the Voigtlander 28mm f2 Ultron and would like help getting the most out of it please get in touch.