Voigtländer Color-Skopar 28mm f/2.8 LTM

Voigtländer Color-Skopar 28mm f/2.8 LTM

When Cosina announced the Color-Skopar 28mm f/2.8 in July 2023, it surprised observers who had expected a faster 28mm to sit between the existing Nokton and Ultron designs; instead the company released one of the smallest and lightest 28mm lenses ever made for rangefinder cameras [1][2][3]. The screw-mount LTM version is the L39 sibling of the brass Type I, sharing the same nostalgic styling and optics while carrying a 39mm thread for use on classic Leica and Canon screw-mount bodies, or on M cameras through an LTM-to-M adapter [2][3]. At roughly 122 grams it is the lightest of the three barrel variants Voigtländer offers in this line, a fact that has made it a natural choice for photographers who want a true scale-focusing wide-angle on vintage rangefinders [3].

Optically the lens uses a modern eight-element, five-group formula that includes one double-sided aspherical element and two elements of atypical partial dispersion, a relatively complex layout for such a compact barrel [1][4]. Voigtländer states that it delivers optical performance comparable to the larger Ultron Vintage Line 28mm f/2 aspherical while keeping the smaller f/2.8 maximum aperture for portability [1]. The ten-bladed diaphragm uses half-stop click detents down to f/22 and produces the ten-point sunstars associated with Voigtländer designs [2][4]. The lens is rangefinder coupled and focuses to 0.7 m, matching the standard rangefinder coupling limit, and it ships with a screw-in metal hood and metal front cap [1][2]. Its tiny footprint means minimal viewfinder blockage on M bodies [3]. Like the Type I, the LTM barrel is brass with a rotating helicoid, an infinity lock, and a nickel-plated focusing lever, and it accepts 34mm filters, the same size used on the Heliar 40mm f/2.8 [2].

The Color-Skopar 28mm f/2.8 is sold in several configurations: the Type I VM (M-mount) and the L39 screw-mount share brass construction and a nostalgic look in black or silver, while the Type II VM is an aluminium-bodied lens with a straight helicoid, 39mm filter thread, and a 0.5 m close-focus distance [1][2][3]. All variants use the same optical formula, so the practical differences between them are mechanical: weight, filter size, minimum focus distance, and mount [2][3]. The L39 version is the one to choose for older Leica thread-mount and Canon rangefinders, or where the lightest barrel is preferred [3].

Optical qualities

Rendering Reviewers describe the lens as a high-contrast, high-resolution modern design that performs well across the frame, with sharp results from wide open that improve slightly by f/4 [3][4]. Some users note that the Color-Skopar line renders in-focus subjects in a more understated, less clinical way than the faster Ultron 28mm f/2, a difference of character rather than capability [3].

Sharpness On a thin-sensor-stack camera such as the Leica M10, central and mid-frame resolution is very high, with only a slight mid-zone dip at f/2.8; corners benefit from stopping down [3]. Performance is reported to be very good even on higher-resolution sensors and on film [3][4].

Flare resistance Flare control is a noted strength, with one reviewer finding it hard to provoke artefacts regardless of where the sun sits in or out of the frame [3].

Distortion and vignetting Distortion is low and largely uniform, correctable with a small adjustment in software [3]. Vignetting is the lens's main weakness: it is heavy at f/2.8 and remains visible even stopped down, a common trait shared by Cosina's compact 28mm designs [3].

Aberrations Lateral chromatic aberration is moderate but easily corrected, and longitudinal color fringing is generally minor given the f/2.8 aperture [3][4]. The lens shows little coma by f/4, making it usable for night cityscapes [3].

Bokeh and transitions As a 28mm f/2.8 the lens does not produce strong subject separation, and at typical distances backgrounds are only mildly blurred; cat's-eye highlights from optical vignetting appear toward the corners, while close-focus rendering can be pleasant [3][4].

History

Development and Launch Cosina announced the Color-Skopar 28mm f/2.8 aspherical on 14 July 2023 as a compact, affordable wide-angle for rangefinder cameras [2][3]. The design follows an earlier Voigtländer 28mm f/3.5 Color-Skopar produced from 2002 to 2007, which became a sought-after item among collectors after it was discontinued; the new f/2.8 is faster, lighter, smaller, and focuses closer [3]. It positions itself below the Ultron 28mm f/2 in the lineup while sharing similar optical quality in a smaller package [1][3].

Production Evolution The lens was issued in three barrel variants sharing one optical formula: a brass Type I VM in M-mount, a brass L39 screw-mount version with the same specifications as the Type I, and an aluminium Type II VM with a straight helicoid and lighter weight [1][2][3]. The L39 and Type I share the 34mm filter thread and 0.7 m close focus, while the Type II uses a 39mm thread and focuses to 0.5 m [2][3].

Special editions Each version is offered in black and silver finishes, but no major factory special editions of the LTM variant are widely documented beyond these standard color and barrel options [1][2].

Collector Notes The most important distinction for buyers is between the screw-mount L39 version described here and the two M-mount variants, since they differ in filter size, minimum focus distance, and weight despite identical optics [2][3]. Manufacturer literature lists the close-focus distance for the L and Type I versions as 0.7 m, while some early review listings cited 0.5 m; the rangefinder-coupled distance is given by Voigtländer as 0.7 m [2][5]. Because the lens is small, viewfinder blockage is minimal, and the supplied screw-in hood is compact and largely optional [2][3]. As a current-production lens, haze and coating problems are not a concern, but checking that the correct mount and accessories (hood, both caps) are present is worthwhile when buying used [2][3].

Sources

• [1] Voigtländer. 28 mm / 1:2.8 Color Skopar aspherical VM. https://www.voigtlaender.de/lenses/vm/28-mm-128-color-skopar/?lang=en
• [2] CameraQuest. Voigtlander 28mm f/2.8 Color-Skopar Aspherical L39 Type I Silver. https://shop.cameraquest.com/voigtlander-leica-mount-lenses/voigtlander-28mm-f/2.8-color-skopar-aspherical-l39-type-i-silver/
• [3] Phillip Reeve (Bastian Kratzke). Review: Voigtlander VM 28mm 2.8 Color-Skopar. https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-voigtlander-vm-28mm-2-8-color-skopar/
• [4] Macfilos (Joerg-Peter Rau). The M Files (23): Voigtländer Color-Skopar 28/2.8 and Ultron 75/1.9. https://www.macfilos.com/2024/02/09/the-m-files-23-voigtlander-color-skopar-28-2-8-and-ultron-75-1-9-a-great-travel-kit/
• [5] Rangefinderforum. Six Versions new Voigtlander 28mm F2.8 Aspherical - M & LTM. https://rangefinderforum.com/threads/six-versions-new-voigtlander-28mm-f2-8-aspherical-m-ltm.4815585/