Elmarit 28mm vs Voightlander 28mm Ultron

[Firefly]

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Hi all, been looking at various pre ASPH 28mm Elmarits for sale and quite often the 28mm Ultron appears for what seems at face value to be bargain money.

It is also one stop faster but thats not for me a deal breaker.

Has anyone here used both on a M 35mm film camera and have an opinion about the performance, handling and build quality etc, comparisons using M8's, Sony etc probably won't help much, one for the film users,

Many thanks, Rob

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[davidmknoble]

Cannot quote on these two lenses. However, I use the Summicron 28 ASPH on both digital and film and it has a great classical look, very sharp in the middle, smooth bokeh, but is also really sharp stopped down to f/4 or f/5.6.

 

That said, I love the Voigtlander 35 f/1.2 newer version on both film and digital as well. Not as sharp as the Summilux 35, but very creamy bokeh as f/1.2 and sharp enough.

 

I love both lenses... my guess is here that you won't go wrong.

[bocaburger]

I have the 4th version (e46 filter) Elmarit and the f/1.9 Ultron (screwmount with M adapter). Optically at the same apertures I doubt anyone could tell them apart who didn't know what was shot with what. I even found that the code for the Elmarit-IV is the best one for the Ultron on M9 and M240, which is further evidence of their optical similarity. I don't doubt the Ultron isn't quite up to the 28 Summicron @ f/1.9-f/2 but it's pretty decent and nice to have the extra stop if needed. Build quality and finish of course go to Leica, but my well-scuffed/well-brassed Ultron still focuses and the aperture works as well as when new. I had the Ultron first, the only reason I got the Elmarit was it had a very tiny coating scratch on the front element which in the world of Leica evidently equates to 50% off the price, and I couldn't resist.

[gyoung]

Erwin Puts test of the 28/1.9 Ultron when it came out said it was better for sharpness than any Leica 28mm up to that date (ie the non aspheric lenses). I bought one and have been very happy with it both on film M cameras and the nex 6. From comments here and elsewhere the aspheric Summicron and Elmarit are likely to be better but I haven't compared them.

 

Gerry

[250swb]

For the Ultron it is the older f/1.9 version to go for, the f/2 lens has big aperture related focus shift from f/2 to f/8.

 

Steve

[tobey bilek]

Had the V3 28 2.8 (49 mm) and it worked well on the M8 and on film. The corners are soft on the M9.

 

I replaced it with the ASPH 2.8 which is one beautiful lens. The instructions said it was the first lens they designed for digital.

 

CV lens are poorly made. Have a 15, 12, 25. Optics on the 25 are garbage which I did not notice when I used it with film on a screw mount camera. Digital is much more demanding.

 

Buy for the future if you possibly can or count on replacing it at some point.

[bocaburger]

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^^ Hasn't been my experience with CV lenses. Had mine for 10+ years, all bought used, never a problem with any of them. In fact the only lenses I've ever had fall apart (and that includes the much-maligned on the Leica forums "plasticky" EOS-EF lenses) were Leica lenses. Including a V3 28 Elmarit. The front part came unscrewed and I managed to catch it before it hit the floor, but the aperture blades flew everywhere.

[gyoung]

Likewise, not quite leica but better than anything else

 

Gerry

[250swb]

Agreed, CV lenses are excellent. It is true they aren't made to exactly the same standards of Leica, but if you pick and choose the outstanding optical performers they can easily match Leica in many respects. And an added point is that given the price they are fun to try and use and sell or keep, rather than the angst of wondering if you can afford a Leica lens and if it will be the best for you given the 'investment'.

 

Steve

[gyoung]

And a way to get very high standards on L39 too, the 28/1.9 gets used mainly on the M cameras as does the 15/4.5 but I bought the 21/4, 35/2.5 and 75/2.5 mainly to use on the III and to provide a comparison with the leica 35/3.5, 50 Elmars and 90/4

 

Gerry

[epand56]

I had the CV Ultron 28/2 years ago and sold it immediately because I was not at all satisfied with it. It had a noticeable focus shift and wasn't as sharp as I wanted.

I bought The CV Ultron 28/1.9 LTM instead and I still owe it since it is a great performer.

I think it has nothing to envy to the Cron 28 and costs less than 1/3 of the price. It is very well built and is very sharp at any aperture. Its my 28.

[uhoh7]

The ultron will be a much more flexible lens, as the difference between f/2 and 2.8 for FL 28 is huge.

 

They are not hard to sell either so easy to try and see if you like it.

 

I have v3 elmarit and 28 cron. The v3 needs to go all the way to f/11 to get the corners. The cron.......well it's the best lens I ever owned and the most complex.

[tobey bilek]

I had to repair all mine as the focus would bind up. no body can sell me they are ok.

 

The 25 is decentered and not sharp at any stop in the corners. The aluminum on aluminum shade threads bound up. Needed silicone grease to stop the problem. I did not over tighten them .

 

Perhaps they are doing better now. Mine were first issue.

[rjans]

I still have the Ultron 28 2.0 but considering selling it. It is a soft lens at wide aperture, it lacks the micro contrast.

 

Regards

[bocaburger]

I had to repair all mine as the focus would bind up. no body can sell me they are ok.

 

The 25 is decentered and not sharp at any stop in the corners. The aluminum on aluminum shade threads bound up. Needed silicone grease to stop the problem. I did not over tighten them .

 

Perhaps they are doing better now. Mine were first issue.

 

Could be. Come to think of it the 1st 21/4 LTM I got new back when the CV lenses first came out, I think I may have overtightened it into the M adapter using the focus nub and it slipped past infinity and seized up. The dealer swapped me for another one and all these years later it's still fine. I have a 12, 2 15's (one is marked Cosina not Voigtlander), LTM and M 21/4, 28/1.9, 35/2.5, 75/2.5 all bought used in "BGN" condition from KEH, no problems with optics or mechanics. The black paint finish is pretty delicate, but it's just cosmetics. I never had a 25, and I always used the optional rectangular crinkle-finish shade on my 21 and 35 (which share mostly the same mechanicals along with the 25 and 28/3.5). Those ones do seem a little light-duty. The ones with knurled focus rings like the 28/1.9, and the later M-mount lenses seem better built, but that may just be my perception. Certainly I wouldn't claim any of them are built like Leica lenses, and so I do tend to be a little more gentle with them.

[Printmaker]

If you want a great little lens, try to find the CV 28/3.5. It is a little gem. It is out of production but can be found used in the $300 to $400 range. The CV 35/2.5 is another top performer. I'd skip the 28/2 Ultron and go with the 28/1.9 version for the reasons already mentioned.

I've owned the 28 Summicron and used the 28/2.8 Elmarit type IV (46 mm filter thread) and the images they capture are virtually the same. Very close in size as well.

 

Just a few options to consider...