Voigtländer Ultron 75mm f/1.9 SC/MC

Voigtländer Ultron 75mm f/1.9 SC/MC

Announced by Cosina in early 2023, the Ultron 75mm f/1.9 is the fourth distinct 75mm rangefinder lens the company has built under the Voigtländer name, and notably each of the four carries a different maximum aperture [1][2]. Where the earlier VM 75mm f/1.5 Nokton chased outright speed, the Ultron trades a fraction of a stop for a smaller, lighter package and an unusually short minimum focus distance, making it the closest-focusing 75mm lens in the current M-mount range [2]. It reaches roughly 1:4 reproduction at its 0.5 m close limit, which is well beyond what most rangefinder short teles allow [2].

The optical formula uses seven elements in five groups, three of which Cosina describes as partial-dispersion glass intended to control chromatic aberration while preserving resolution [1]. The maker states that a moderate amount of spherical aberration was deliberately retained to balance sharp in-focus rendering against soft out-of-focus areas [1]. The simple construction lets all elements move together during focusing, keeping the barrel to about 54 mm in length, compact for a lens of this focal length [1]. Build is full metal, with a rangefinder-coupled helicoid that reviewers describe as smooth, a twelve-blade diaphragm, and a 49 mm filter thread [1][2]. The focus ring is knurled rather than tabbed and travels around 120 degrees from 0.5 m to infinity; some reviewers note the throw can feel short for precise focusing wide open given how close the lens goes [2]. A metal screw-in hood and matching metal cap are included as standard [1].

The lens is sold in two coating options that also differ in finish. The multi-coated (MC) version wears a matte black paint barrel for a modern look, while the single-coated (SC) version uses a black paint finish aimed at more classical tastes; the supplied hood and cap match each finish [1]. Both are otherwise the same optical and mechanical design and share the same dimensions and mount [1][2]. The lens lacks six-bit coding and, unlike some other current Voigtländer lenses, does not carry a red alignment dot for mounting [2].

Optical qualities

Rendering The Ultron renders in the smooth, modern manner typical of recent Voigtländer designs rather than in a vintage soft-glow style, with controlled aberrations and clean transitions from focus to defocus [2]. Cosina's stated design goal of balancing resolution against a generous, soft bokeh by leaving some residual spherical aberration is borne out in independent testing [1][2].

Sharpness Testing on 24 MP and higher-resolution sensors found very good central sharpness at the apertures that matter, with peak performance reported in the f/2.4 to f/2.8 range and corners cleaning up further around f/4 [2][3].

Bokeh and transitions Out-of-focus rendering is described as smooth and is helped considerably by the 0.5 m close-focus capability, which yields the highest magnification of any current Voigtländer M-mount lens at about 1:4.2 [2]. Some optical vignetting produces cat's-eye shaped highlights toward the frame edges wide open, though reviewers note it is less pronounced than on larger, heavier rivals [2][3].

Flare resistance On the multi-coated version, ghosting was rarely an issue in testing, but veiling flare can appear with the sun just outside the frame; the single-coated version is expected to behave differently [2].

Distortion and vignetting Distortion is low and consists mostly of uniform pincushion that corrects easily in software [2]. Vignetting measures around 2.2 EV at f/1.9, improves to roughly 1.3 EV at f/2.8, and becomes negligible from about f/4 [2].

Aberrations Lateral chromatic aberration is minimal and simple to remove in post; a slight focus shift on stopping down is the lens's main reported weakness [2].

Digital use The compact design also helps suppress edge issues on rangefinder sensors, and reviewers have used the lens successfully on Leica M digital bodies and, adapted, on mirrorless cameras including larger-format sensors [1][2].

History

Development and Launch Cosina announced the Ultron 75mm f/1.9 VM alongside other Voigtländer lenses in early 2023, with both coating versions priced identically at launch and expected to ship in the first part of that year [3]. It joined a lineage of Voigtländer 75mm lenses that began with the 75mm f/2.5 Color-Heliar in 1999 and continued through the f/1.8 Heliar Classic and the f/1.5 Nokton, with the Ultron positioned as the smallest and closest-focusing of the group [2].

Special editions No major factory special editions or military, export, or converted variants of this lens are widely documented; the principal published variation is the choice between SC and MC coatings and their corresponding barrel finishes [1].

Collector Notes The clearest way to tell the two versions apart is finish: the MC uses matte black paint and the SC a glossier black paint, with hood and cap matching each [1]. Because this is a current-production lens, originality and coating-haze concerns common to vintage glass are less of a factor, but buyers should confirm that the correct matching metal screw-in hood and cap are present and that the version (SC or MC) matches what is advertised [1]. Prospective users who focus often at distance and wide open should be aware of the relatively short focus throw and the mild focus shift noted in testing [2].

Sources

• [1] Amateur Photographer. Cosina announces 75mm F1.9 Ultron VM lens and more. https://amateurphotographer.com/latest/photo-news/cosina-announces-75mm-f1-9-ultron-vm-lens-and-more/
• [2] phillipreeve.net (Bastian Kratzke). Review: Voigtländer VM 75mm 1.9 Ultron. https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-voigtlander-vm-75mm-1-9-ultron/
• [3] Leica Rumors. Voigtlander ULTRON 75mm f/1.9 SC/MC VM lens review at FredMiranda. https://leicarumors.com/2023/04/19/voigtlander-ultron-75mm-f-1-9-sc-mc-vm-lens-review-at-fredmiranda.aspx/