Cosina announces new 28mm F2 Ultron ‘Vintage Line’ lenses

@AbrasiveReducer - Not really deceptive... ‘Voigtlander’ has been a Cosina label for more than two decades now.

As for Zeiss, meh... Heaps of brands contract third party OEM manufacturers.

Apr 20, 2021permalink

sprocket-docket

These are Voigtlander lenses, the name is right there on the lens. Also, "Voigtlander" has been Japanese-made by Cosina long enough now to have pedigree.

Apr 20, 2021permalink

Sylverphoto

Cosina has been a company with a at least 50 year history in manufucturing lenses and cameras. Cosina has also been a very reliable OEM partner.

I wish that they would produce the Bessa again for example.
What ever they produce, the Zeiss Classic, the Milvus or Otus, the Fujifilms and their own Voigtlander lenses are great!

Apr 23, 2021permalink

Mortal Lion

Disclaimer: A.W. Tronnier had nothing to do with the design of this lens. The first Ultron was a 50mm F2 lens. Very unlike this 28/2.

Apr 19, 2021permalink

Michiel953

So?

Apr 19, 2021permalink

Eric Hensel

Yes -if you had money in the early 50s you got the Voigtländer Vitessa folder with the Ultron option, I had to settle for the 3.5 Color Skopar on mine (bought used in 1964). Still a fine little Tessar copy.

Apr 19, 2021permalink

I've got the Ultron 35mm f2 and it's a stonking-ly good, tiny, jewel-like lens. Incredibly well corrected - sharp edge to edge and almost no coma at f2. Makes the modern mirrorless lenses seem kind of like disposable things. Can't wait to pick this one up.

Apr 19, 2021permalink

dbateman

"single lever on the Type I and a more thumb grip style notch on the Type II model. As a result, the Type I weighs 190g (6.7oz), while the Type II weighs in at 230g (8.1oz)."

Wow 40g for a lever on the side of the lens!
The Olympus 9mm f8 fisheye weighs 30g total.
The Panasonic 14mm f2.5 lens weighs a total of 55g!
That must be some impressive thumb rest on the side.

I would probably go for the lighter stick though.

Apr 19, 2021*permalink

The tab is solid milled brass with lacquer paint. slightly more luxurious than the plastic of the olympus and panasonic pancakes ;)

Apr 19, 2021*permalink

Tim Zhou

Type II are likely made of brass, while aluminium for Type I.

Apr 19, 2021permalink

It’s not the tab that makes difference, it’s the body. Type II is all brass, Type I has an aluminium shell.

Apr 20, 2021permalink

That was what I was implying, but referencing the original comment about the tab/stick.

Apr 20, 2021permalink

dbateman

Well its good to know all that 40g isn't in the tab. That would be really awkward to use. But I kind of knew that. I was poking fun at the way the article was written.

Apr 20, 2021*permalink

fferreres

A bargain. I will have to see the samples but the 28mm compact M lenses by Leica are too expensive for me. It got interest thinking it may be a recompiled ultron with better coatings, but the original simplicity.

Apr 19, 2021permalink

(unknown member)

I really like this vintage line, but $1000 are steep considering there are $500 options like the 7A 28mm f1.4.

Apr 19, 2021permalink

John Gellings

haha, right...7A is the same.

Apr 19, 2021permalink

(unknown member)

I never said is the same. I just said there are "options".

Apr 19, 2021permalink

emelyan

Chinese lenses is not an option compared to Japanese.

Apr 19, 2021permalink

It’s all about value for money. I personally would not feel I had value with a lens from any of the many Artisans even if I paid less than $100 for it. They are disposable. Yes, they technically can make images but they are junk.

CV lenses, in my opinion, are modestly priced for the quality they offer.

Apr 19, 2021permalink

@Foskito - Alternatively, $1000 is an absolute bargain when the 28/f2 Summicron-M is $5000...

Apr 19, 2021permalink

ppro69

@foskito - If you are looking for cheap options then the "Leica M" world is the wrong place for you ...

Apr 19, 2021*permalink

@ppro69 Cosina/Voigtlander *is* the cheaper options in the Leica M world. Kids are too young to remember the mockery it got when they were first out in the 2000s with the $300 Skopars.

Apr 19, 2021permalink

adengappasami

Use the 7A and u will realise what a bargain that 7a is. A Leica snob will hate anything that is not Leica. But the 28 7a is a very good lens.

Apr 19, 2021permalink

John Gellings

Foskito, there have always been options.

Apr 19, 2021permalink

@adengappasami I admit I have not tried the 28mm but the 50mm f1.1 is trash. It literally fell apart on me (thanks to Amazon for letting me return it without a fuss).

Also, there are tons of M-mount users on this very board saying they love CV lenses (which are not made by Leica). I think the issue is more that there is a baseline level of quality that many people expect for a camera lens, and the 7/TT Artisans lenses fall well below that level for most.

I honestly cannot imagine paying for any M-mount camera and then putting one of those lenses on it. Why bother? It would be like adapting one for a Sony A1. Does not make any sense.

Apr 19, 2021*permalink

adengappasami

This 7A is a good lens. Both the 35 and 28 are special lenses and as good as the leicas are. It is def not like adapting lenses. There are enough comparison in web to show how.good these lenses are. But for me I wanted to try something and picked up 35 and can say the 7A surprised me. Extremely brilliant on the monochrome.

Apr 19, 2021permalink

emelyan

@adengappasami

bs.

Apr 20, 2021permalink

adengappasami

Bs for the Leica snob. I agree.

Apr 20, 2021permalink

dr.noise

People still live in 90's and don't realize Chinese lenses are now much better, cars too, btw. Soon Chinese will be the new Japanese.

Apr 25, 2021permalink

John Gellings

Oh course China can make great stuff... but not all 7a lenses are good much less great.

Apr 25, 2021*permalink

RandyPD

7A is not really in the level of Cosina/Voigtlander optically and mechanically. Venus optics/Laowa is more of Cosina's direct competitor and can equal or even exceed Voigtlander in terms of optical quality (and price).

Apr 29, 2021permalink

thx1138

The age of Ultron is upon us!

Apr 19, 2021permalink

It's been upon us since 1950.

Apr 19, 2021permalink

cosinaphile

yes I approve .....

Apr 19, 2021permalink

Satyaa

Is this the normal price range for such Cosina ML lenses or, are these priced for Leica mount?

They only make a couple of lenses for F Mount now, but they're at a lower price point.

Apr 18, 2021*permalink

It is entirely in line with their other pricing and with CV you generally get what you pay for. In fact, with most of their lenses I feel the value proposition is outstanding.

Apr 19, 2021permalink

Satyaa

OK. Thanks

Apr 19, 2021permalink

They're a bit more expensive than they used to be. The 2nd gen VM lenses that they began to churn out in the late 2000s (the previous VM 28/2 Ultron included) were around $600-700. Prices have been inflated as they've been moving upstream to where the now largely outdated ZM lenses used to occupy.

Whatever people like to say, the heat from the Chinese lenses are real.

Apr 19, 2021*permalink

dbledsoe

The M mount lenses cost more because they are rangefinder coupled.

Apr 23, 2021permalink

It is true the cost has been creeping up but the quality has been going up at the same time.

Apr 23, 2021permalink

SpeedyNeo

Dear Cosina,
Kindly make us one of those.
Thanks in advance.
A Fuji X shooter.

Apr 18, 2021permalink

saltydogstudios

You can get a Leica M to Fuji X adapter...

Apr 19, 2021permalink

col4bin

I use the Leica to Fuji X adapter with cv lenses. With the crop factor I use the best part of the lens and the less desirable edges are not even an option. I use the cv12 and vintage line 21 and 35. Makes for a great manual focus kit.

Apr 19, 2021permalink

SpeedyNeo

Thanks guys. I am aware of the Leica M to Fuji X adapter. However, a dedicated 28/2 made for the Fuji X mount is probably gonna be lighter and smaller all things considered.

Apr 19, 2021permalink

travelinbri_74

No FE mount versions?

Apr 18, 2021permalink

Lessiter

I like the cosina graphics with that flat grey backgound they often use. The typography is decent and well kerned so its well done but gives nice vibes of old engine manuals or something.

Apr 18, 2021*permalink

D135ima

Cosina lenses looks better than leica. Pity they don't make cameras. Something like Zeiss icon D - it would be great !

Apr 18, 2021permalink

marc petzold

They made Gear, hence Cameras, into the Past. From cheapskate, plasticky SLRs with matching Lenses, starting a small Rangefinder Revival back into 1999, and released various Bessa Voigtländer Series, which aren't being produced anymore - Rangefinders, with LTM and Leica M-Mount.

And Cosina does also manufacture, produce the Zeiss Classic Lenses for DSLRs, since ever then, according to Zeiss Specs and QA.

Apr 18, 2021permalink

Gesture

That Bessa RF had a great optical system. Also, I'm pretty sure Cosina made that Epson RD rangefinder digital camera, before Leica went digital.
Cosina and, I believe, Chinon did a number of contract cameras.
I don't know who made them, but the Vivitar screw mount SLRs in film days were solid machines.
Take a look at the Camerquest web site.

Apr 18, 2021*permalink

ipopov

@Gesture Cosina was a manufacturer of nikon FM-10 and FE-10 SLRs, for example.

Apr 19, 2021permalink

Tester_v

I'm always wondering who is buying this kind of lenses?
If one wants a "Vintage" lens just buy one from eBay or Craigslist for $60-100.
They not just have a great "Vintage" look but also produce a great"Vintage" image.

Apr 18, 2021permalink

jnd

Someone who buys for Leica M mount isn't usually caring to get some used bargain in questionable state. If I had the money for such system I'd rather buy new or at least professionally refurbished lens (the whole CLA process).

Apr 19, 2021permalink

This lens has full-on modern optics that's very well corrected. Not for those who're after the "vintage" look.

It's for those who want to have small sized MF precision and a hefty metal construction with minimal electrics, while being able to fully utilize the potential of modern digital sensors. Or someone who just fancy cool looking lenses with manufacturer warranty that you can buy off the shelves.

Apr 19, 2021*permalink

@Tester_v - Don’t let the aesthetics and CV’s silly ‘Vintage’ branding fool you. Optically this is a thoroughly modern update to what was already a thoroughly modern lens.

For me (a Leica M shooter) Voigtlander offers similar build quality and optical performance to Leica at less than 1/4 the price. That’s the appeal.

Apr 19, 2021permalink

LJ - Eljot

A used Zeiss Distagon 2.0/28 T* e.g. goes for about 1000$ on ebay.

Apr 19, 2021permalink