Voigtlander 28mm f/2.8 Color-Skopar Review
p.22 #1Voigtlander 28mm f/2.8 Color-Skopar Review
billsamuels wrote:
I decided to switch back to the Sony a7RIV I purchased (used) in 2024 and lay off the FujiFilm for a while. I wish there were more "how to" publications for Fujifilm cameras because the Sony, like Canon, are pretty easy to use and understand.
I bought two new Voigtlander lenses when I got the Sony, a Lanther 35mm and the 15mm. The Lanther 35mm is as sharp as a lens can get, but the 15mm is terrible and two years later, I'm still trying to get someone to honor the three year warranty given by B&H. I've only used the...Show more →
The Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III is known for having high sample variation. It is a complex design that seems difficult to manufacture with tight tolerances, but when you find a good copy it is an exceptional lens. If you can return yours, try again with a new one so you have the option to send it back easily if the corners are not sharp even wide open.
I decided to switch back to the Sony a7RIV I purchased (used) in 2024 and lay off the FujiFilm for a while. I wish there were more "how to" publications for Fujifilm cameras because the Sony, like Canon, are pretty easy to use and understand.
I bought two new Voigtlander lenses when I got the Sony, a Lanther 35mm and the 15mm. The Lanther 35mm is as sharp as a lens can get, but the 15mm is terrible and two years later, I'm still trying to get someone to honor the three year warranty given by B&H. I've only used the...Show more →
The Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III is known for having high sample variation. It is a complex design that seems difficult to manufacture with tight tolerances, but when you find a good copy it is an exceptional lens. If you can return yours, try again with a new one so you have the option to send it back easily if the corners are not sharp even wide open.
Sep 17, 2025 at 09:09 AM
p.22 #2Voigtlander 28mm f/2.8 Color-Skopar Review
A flaring challenge shot. I saw this scene out my window and quickly went to my roof deck to grab a shot of this very nice Sundog and halo over the Cook Inlet in Anchorage. Since it was bright and didn't need a fast lens, I thought 28 mm would fit the frame, I grabbed my F2.8 28 mm Colorskoper and my M11P curious how it would flare shooting with the Sun centered. The image shown, the lens did flare (no point in hood shooting direct at the Sun) and there are few flaring points in the image of my neighborhood that hides with the buildings, but overall I thought the Colorskoper did an outstanding job in a challenging point at the Sun image to capture the colors of the Sundog and halo. I often carry the lens if I am not anticipating low light being tiny, and I continue to like it a great deal.
Sep 19, 2025 at 04:44 PM
p.22 #3Voigtlander 28mm f/2.8 Color-Skopar Review
Fred Miranda wrote:
I've got it in hand and already shot a few frames. It's ultra-compact, yet avoids the FC problems that other tiny 28/2.8 lenses often suffer from.
This sounds very promising!! Any updates on the review? Will the NDA be lifted soon?
I've got it in hand and already shot a few frames. It's ultra-compact, yet avoids the FC problems that other tiny 28/2.8 lenses often suffer from.
This sounds very promising!! Any updates on the review? Will the NDA be lifted soon?
Sep 28, 2025 at 10:35 PM
p.22 #4Voigtlander 28mm f/2.8 Color-Skopar Review
Also very interested as I was just contemplating the Elmarit 28mm.
Sep 29, 2025 at 12:28 AM
p.22 #5Voigtlander 28mm f/2.8 Color-Skopar Review
Fred Miranda wrote:
Can you reveal the company? Light lens lab? MS-Optics? Thypoch? Someone else?I can't say anything yet due to NDA, but the answer will come very soon.
So, in the end, how soon is "very soon"?
Steve Spencer wrote
Fred Miranda wrote
I can't reveal details yet, but the Voigtlander 28mm f/2.8 Color-Skopar will soon face some real competition. That new lens will be my next review.So, in the end, how soon is "very soon"?
Oct 03, 2025 at 09:08 AM
p.22 #6Voigtlander 28mm f/2.8 Color-Skopar Review
catacore wrote:
Can you reveal the company? Light lens lab? MS-Optics? Thypoch? Someone else?I can't say anything yet due to NDA, but the answer will come very soon.So, in the end, how soon is "very soon"?
I was informed that the lens is experiencing a delay. I've been testing it for a while, but the announcement has been pushed back for some reason.
Fred Miranda wrote
Steve Spencer wrote
Fred Miranda wrote
I can't reveal details yet, but the Voigtlander 28mm f/2.8 Color-Skopar will soon face some real competition. That new lens will be my next review.I was informed that the lens is experiencing a delay. I've been testing it for a while, but the announcement has been pushed back for some reason.
Oct 03, 2025 at 10:22 AM
p.22 #7Voigtlander 28mm f/2.8 Color-Skopar Review
Fred Miranda wrote:
Can you reveal the company? Light lens lab? MS-Optics? Thypoch? Someone else?I can't say anything yet due to NDA, but the answer will come very soon.So, in the end, how soon is "very soon"?I was informed that the lens is experiencing a delay. I've been testing it for a while, but the announcement has been pushed back for some reason.
I'll be keeping an eye on this thread, then. Just curious, nothing more.
catacore wrote
Fred Miranda wrote
Steve Spencer wrote
Fred Miranda wrote
I can't reveal details yet, but the Voigtlander 28mm f/2.8 Color-Skopar will soon face some real competition. That new lens will be my next review.I'll be keeping an eye on this thread, then. Just curious, nothing more.
Oct 03, 2025 at 10:29 AM
p.22 #8Voigtlander 28mm f/2.8 Color-Skopar Review
So, it's the Artralab, then.
https://leicarumors.com/2025/10/22/artralab-is-teasing-a-new-28mm-f-2-8-lens-for-leica-m-mount.aspx/
https://leicarumors.com/2025/10/22/artralab-is-teasing-a-new-28mm-f-2-8-lens-for-leica-m-mount.aspx/
Oct 27, 2025 at 02:12 PM
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p.22 #9Voigtlander 28mm f/2.8 Color-Skopar Review
catacore wrote:
So, it's the Artralab, then.
https://leicarumors.com/2025/10/22/artralab-is-teasing-a-new-28mm-f-2-8-lens-for-leica-m-mount.aspx/
Ew, no. Friends don't let friends waste money on ArtraLab.
So, it's the Artralab, then.
https://leicarumors.com/2025/10/22/artralab-is-teasing-a-new-28mm-f-2-8-lens-for-leica-m-mount.aspx/
Ew, no. Friends don't let friends waste money on ArtraLab.
Oct 27, 2025 at 02:18 PM
p.22 #10Voigtlander 28mm f/2.8 Color-Skopar Review
catacore wrote:
So, it's the Artralab, then.
https://leicarumors.com/2025/10/22/artralab-is-teasing-a-new-28mm-f-2-8-lens-for-leica-m-mount.aspx/
The lens I mentioned was delayed in its release for reasons unknown to me.
So, it's the Artralab, then.
https://leicarumors.com/2025/10/22/artralab-is-teasing-a-new-28mm-f-2-8-lens-for-leica-m-mount.aspx/
The lens I mentioned was delayed in its release for reasons unknown to me.
Oct 27, 2025 at 04:44 PM
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p.22 #11Voigtlander 28mm f/2.8 Color-Skopar Review
Just realized, by looking back at that "LeeWorks" 28/2.8 lens and at this Artralab 28/2.8 lens that there are not many differences between these. If any 
So it looks like the front ring can take any engraved name.
Now, on a more serious note, I am really interested (heh, changed my mind since 2 weeks ago) in a compact 28mm lens. I do have the Nokton, but I concluded it is too big and too heavy (at 46mm long and 330g), so I would like to half its size and weight. Hence I started reserching between Color Skopar and Elmarit. Everything so far seems to point me towards the Color Skopar. Now wondering if I should wait for any of those Chinese releases (whatever the name)....
Edited on Oct 28, 2025 at 10:36 AM · View previous versions
So it looks like the front ring can take any engraved name.Now, on a more serious note, I am really interested (heh, changed my mind since 2 weeks ago) in a compact 28mm lens. I do have the Nokton, but I concluded it is too big and too heavy (at 46mm long and 330g), so I would like to half its size and weight. Hence I started reserching between Color Skopar and Elmarit. Everything so far seems to point me towards the Color Skopar. Now wondering if I should wait for any of those Chinese releases (whatever the name)....
Edited on Oct 28, 2025 at 10:36 AM · View previous versions
Oct 28, 2025 at 03:13 AM
p.22 #12Voigtlander 28mm f/2.8 Color-Skopar Review
catacore wrote:
... in a compact 28mm lens. I do have the Nokton, but I concluded it is too big and too heavy (at 46mm long and 330g), so I would like to half its size and weight.
I would like that lens (length and weight)! As long as it works ok on a Sony.
Perhaps Fred can tell us whether the lens is for a Sony and how long it is?
c.
... in a compact 28mm lens. I do have the Nokton, but I concluded it is too big and too heavy (at 46mm long and 330g), so I would like to half its size and weight.
I would like that lens (length and weight)! As long as it works ok on a Sony.
Perhaps Fred can tell us whether the lens is for a Sony and how long it is?
c.
Oct 28, 2025 at 08:37 AM
p.22 #13Voigtlander 28mm f/2.8 Color-Skopar Review
asekcsc5 wrote:
I would like that lens (length and weight)! As long as it works ok on a Sony.
Perhaps Fred can tell us whether the lens is for a Sony and how long it is?
c.
Since Fred mentioned "Color Skopar will face some competition", I guess the lens to be release will be an M-mount lens. Same size or smaller than the CS.
catacore wrote
... in a compact 28mm lens. I do have the Nokton, but I concluded it is too big and too heavy (at 46mm long and 330g), so I would like to half its size and weight.Perhaps Fred can tell us whether the lens is for a Sony and how long it is?
c.
Since Fred mentioned "Color Skopar will face some competition", I guess the lens to be release will be an M-mount lens. Same size or smaller than the CS.
Oct 28, 2025 at 10:35 AM
p.22 #14Voigtlander 28mm f/2.8 Color-Skopar Review
The mystery lens dropped today, and I've begun working on my review:
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1923978/
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1923978/
Nov 24, 2025 at 10:18 AM
p.22 #15Voigtlander 28mm f/2.8 Color-Skopar Review
Fred Miranda wrote:
The mystery lens dropped today, and I've begun working on my review:
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1923978/
Definitely looking forward to your thoughts, but it would have to be significantly better than the Voigtlander CS.
The mystery lens dropped today, and I've begun working on my review:
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1923978/
Definitely looking forward to your thoughts, but it would have to be significantly better than the Voigtlander CS.
Nov 24, 2025 at 10:22 AM
p.22 #16Voigtlander 28mm f/2.8 Color-Skopar Review
After selling all of my Leica rangefinder kit to fund an X2D, I found an M8 in brilliant condition with only 3500 +/- on the original shutter. It currently seems to work as it should with no hot pixels and calibrated rangefinder. I bought a cheap cheap 7-Artisans 35 f2 II to use until something more permanent arrives.
Specifically, I ordered a Vogt 40mm 1.4 Nokton SC as a character lens and am now looking for a 28mm lens to give me a 35mm POV. I figure that a 28mm and 40mm pair would make a good two lens kit.
With the preamble over, this brings me to 28mm f2.8 Color-Skopar. Does anyone use one with and M8 or M9? What are your thoughts about this lens on an M8. Clearly, I am limited by pixels, but I knew this when deciding to buy the camera... I have other high MP cameras (24, 48 in Nikon and 100MP in Hasselblad). The M8 is my street body and will sit shotgun during road trips where I head out to do landscape and wildlife photography with my other gear. I always wanted a ghost town / grunge camera, and short of a film camera w/ ISO 1600/3200 film, the M8 pretty much fits the bill.
I look forward to reading your thoughts, as I'm in the market for an affordable and quality 28mm lens.
regards,
bruce
Specifically, I ordered a Vogt 40mm 1.4 Nokton SC as a character lens and am now looking for a 28mm lens to give me a 35mm POV. I figure that a 28mm and 40mm pair would make a good two lens kit.
With the preamble over, this brings me to 28mm f2.8 Color-Skopar. Does anyone use one with and M8 or M9? What are your thoughts about this lens on an M8. Clearly, I am limited by pixels, but I knew this when deciding to buy the camera... I have other high MP cameras (24, 48 in Nikon and 100MP in Hasselblad). The M8 is my street body and will sit shotgun during road trips where I head out to do landscape and wildlife photography with my other gear. I always wanted a ghost town / grunge camera, and short of a film camera w/ ISO 1600/3200 film, the M8 pretty much fits the bill.
I look forward to reading your thoughts, as I'm in the market for an affordable and quality 28mm lens.
regards,
bruce
Nov 24, 2025 at 10:41 AM
p.22 #17Voigtlander 28mm f/2.8 Color-Skopar Review
The 28/2.8 CS is an excellent lens. I don't have an M8 but it was excellent on my M10-R and is excellent now on my M11-P. You can't go wrong with this lens IMHO.
Nov 24, 2025 at 11:05 AM
p.22 #18Voigtlander 28mm f/2.8 Color-Skopar Review
BruceRH wrote:
The 28/2.8 CS is an excellent lens. I don't have an M8 but it was excellent on my M10-R and is excellent now on my M11-P. You can't go wrong with this lens IMHO.
Indeed. I just bought one to have a compact and lightweight 28mm and it is quite good. Of course, my 28mm Summicron II is better at 100% but nothing that would be visible on print especially after some post-processing.
The vignetting is noticeable though.
The 28/2.8 CS is an excellent lens. I don't have an M8 but it was excellent on my M10-R and is excellent now on my M11-P. You can't go wrong with this lens IMHO.
Indeed. I just bought one to have a compact and lightweight 28mm and it is quite good. Of course, my 28mm Summicron II is better at 100% but nothing that would be visible on print especially after some post-processing.
The vignetting is noticeable though.
Nov 24, 2025 at 12:15 PM
p.22 #19Voigtlander 28mm f/2.8 Color-Skopar Review
Can anyone share how this lens does on film? I tried this lens in the past but didn't particularly love it on digital but right now looking for a small affordable lens to use on a film rangefinder that's not a 35mm and found one used that's cheaper than say a Zeiss 28mm ZM.
Main concern is how to control for the vignetting on this lens. Saw some past posts that seems like the vignetting is tolerable but would be curious about any recent experiences.
Main concern is how to control for the vignetting on this lens. Saw some past posts that seems like the vignetting is tolerable but would be curious about any recent experiences.
Aug 05, 2026 at 08:21 AM
p.22 #20Voigtlander 28mm f/2.8 Color-Skopar Review
I don't care how well it performs. <NSFW> It looks simply marvellous on my cameras.
A completely useless photo for lens evaluation:
I bought this lens for film on a IIIf wanting a small, zone focus 28 for quick, daylight snapshooting. It's a very nice little package.
I've checked it on the Zf and T and it does what it says on the box and as above in Fred's review. While I'm shooting mostly at f/8 and above, it works very well at 2.8, giving a nice, subtle separation of subjects from the foreground and background.
This ("L Type 1") version weighs 122g and it's a pretty close to cloning the 35/3.5 Summaron in look, form and feel. Filter size is an odd 34mm, but Heliopan covers it. The only thing I don't like is that the aperture ring turns with the focus ring. I'm not sure if that is the case with the other, modern "Type II" variant. (If the aperature ring does not spin on the Type II and I had an M, I'd get that version.)
This lens would attain heavenly status if the focus ring had detents at 2m (f/16), 3m (f/11), 4m (f/8) like the Snapshot Skopar.
There aren't too many new, tiny, M39 28mm lenses. Very pleased with this one. Can't wait to soup the IIIf's rolls.
A completely useless photo for lens evaluation:
I bought this lens for film on a IIIf wanting a small, zone focus 28 for quick, daylight snapshooting. It's a very nice little package.
I've checked it on the Zf and T and it does what it says on the box and as above in Fred's review. While I'm shooting mostly at f/8 and above, it works very well at 2.8, giving a nice, subtle separation of subjects from the foreground and background.
This ("L Type 1") version weighs 122g and it's a pretty close to cloning the 35/3.5 Summaron in look, form and feel. Filter size is an odd 34mm, but Heliopan covers it. The only thing I don't like is that the aperture ring turns with the focus ring. I'm not sure if that is the case with the other, modern "Type II" variant. (If the aperature ring does not spin on the Type II and I had an M, I'd get that version.)
This lens would attain heavenly status if the focus ring had detents at 2m (f/16), 3m (f/11), 4m (f/8) like the Snapshot Skopar.
There aren't too many new, tiny, M39 28mm lenses. Very pleased with this one. Can't wait to soup the IIIf's rolls.
Oct 24, 2026 at 06:29 AM