Voigtlander 90mm f/2 APO-Ultron Review
p.7 #1Voigtlander 90mm f/2 APO-Ultron Review
LarsHP wrote:
...Thanks for sharing.
The image with the old lenses on a table shows a little bit of bokeh fringing, so not fully color corrected there. It's probably better than the Apo-Summicron-M, though, but Fred's tests will make that clear, I'm sure.
Hey Lars,
If you take a look at the rendering comparisons, you'll notice that the Voigtlander is much better corrected for axial CA compared to the Leica 90/2 AA.
Juha Kannisto wrote
Map Camera published a new video with samples taken with 90/2:...
The image with the old lenses on a table shows a little bit of bokeh fringing, so not fully color corrected there. It's probably better than the Apo-Summicron-M, though, but Fred's tests will make that clear, I'm sure.
Hey Lars,
If you take a look at the rendering comparisons, you'll notice that the Voigtlander is much better corrected for axial CA compared to the Leica 90/2 AA.
Jan 22, 2025 at 10:50 AM
p.7 #2Voigtlander 90mm f/2 APO-Ultron Review
Well, wouldn't you know it? There are issues with the Sony stock sensor! I will be posting the infinity test soon, comparing the Leica sensor vs. the Sony sensor with the Voigtlander 90mm f/2 APO-Ultron.
Jan 22, 2025 at 05:58 PM
p.7 #3Voigtlander 90mm f/2 APO-Ultron Review
Did you confirm that the Leica 90/2 APO cron had no issues on the Sony sensor?
Jan 22, 2025 at 06:01 PM
p.7 #4Voigtlander 90mm f/2 APO-Ultron Review
Jeff Kott wrote:
Did you confirm that the Leica 90/2 APO cron had no issues on the Sony sensor?
Yes, that was my impression as well, but I will re-test it now. To be absolutely certain, there's nothing like comparing the sensors side by side with the same infinity scene.
Did you confirm that the Leica 90/2 APO cron had no issues on the Sony sensor?
Yes, that was my impression as well, but I will re-test it now. To be absolutely certain, there's nothing like comparing the sensors side by side with the same infinity scene.
Jan 22, 2025 at 06:41 PM
p.7 #5Voigtlander 90mm f/2 APO-Ultron Review
Wow, this is disappointing to hear! Hope they aren't huge issues, or this hype train could derail quickly. 
Jan 22, 2025 at 07:46 PM
p.7 #6Voigtlander 90mm f/2 APO-Ultron Review
Stargenx wrote:
Wow, this is disappointing to hear! Hope they aren't huge issues, or this hype train could derail quickly.
Well to see the glass as half-full, the Sony E mount performance difference gives Voigtlander a good reason to make the lens in E mount. Hopefully they will do that sooner rather than later.
Wow, this is disappointing to hear! Hope they aren't huge issues, or this hype train could derail quickly.
Well to see the glass as half-full, the Sony E mount performance difference gives Voigtlander a good reason to make the lens in E mount. Hopefully they will do that sooner rather than later.
Jan 22, 2025 at 08:58 PM
p.7 #7Voigtlander 90mm f/2 APO-Ultron Review
I definitely appreciate the glass half full perspective, just not the delayed gratification. 
Jan 22, 2025 at 10:31 PM
p.7 #8Voigtlander 90mm f/2 APO-Ultron Review
Absence makes the heart grow fonder. But it's often better to travel hopefully than to arrive.
Gratification Delays: recent lens releases and elapsed time from release in M and E mount:
75/1.5: 8/2019 - 7/2024 (4 years 11 months)
50/1: 1/2022 - 3/2024 (2 years 2 months)
28/1.5: 1/2024 - 1/2025 ( one year)
On this trend, I predict July 2025. If they find a slot they can squeeze it into (production schedule, not the Swiss cheese E-mount lineup).
Gratification Delays: recent lens releases and elapsed time from release in M and E mount:
75/1.5: 8/2019 - 7/2024 (4 years 11 months)
50/1: 1/2022 - 3/2024 (2 years 2 months)
28/1.5: 1/2024 - 1/2025 ( one year)
On this trend, I predict July 2025. If they find a slot they can squeeze it into (production schedule, not the Swiss cheese E-mount lineup).
Jan 22, 2025 at 10:54 PM
p.7 #9Voigtlander 90mm f/2 APO-Ultron Review
philip_pj wrote:
Absence makes the heart grow fonder. But it's often better to travel hopefully than to arrive.
Gratification Delays: recent lens releases and elapsed time from release in M and E mount:
75/1.5: 8/2019 - 7/2024 (4 years 11 months)
50/1: 1/2022 - 3/2024 (2 years 2 months)
28/1.5: 1/2024 - 1/2025 ( one year)
On this trend, I predict July 2025. If they find a slot they can squeeze it into (production schedule, not the Swiss cheese E-mount lineup).
Although I would love to see this lens introduced in July, I think whatever happened with the slow introduction of the 75 f/1.5 that was a one off. I am still not sure why it took Cosina so long to offer that lens in other mounts. Perhaps it was because I they weren't sure that the focal length or aperture would sell well on mirrorless. Perhaps because they weren't sure they wanted to build more lenses for Sony E mount. Perhaps because there were technical issues--it is after all much heavier than the Leica M version in a way that the other mirrorless lenses are not. Perhaps with the 65 f/2 APO Macro, there were concerns the focal length was too close, but five years is a really long time to bring out the lens in another mount. One to two years is much more typical with Cosina and I expect that will be the delay if they bring this out in mirrorless.
Personally, I am very curious about what Fred found and how much performance is affected by the thicker sensor stack. If the affects are minimal at f/5.6 and the portraits are at least ok wide open, then I still might get it in a year or a year and a half, but I would prefer a mirrorless version of the lens and if they come out with one before I get this lens I would get that instead and even if I get the Leica M version, then I would probably sell the lens and get it in mirrorless mount. All depending on the details of course and differences in performance size and weight.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder. But it's often better to travel hopefully than to arrive.
Gratification Delays: recent lens releases and elapsed time from release in M and E mount:
75/1.5: 8/2019 - 7/2024 (4 years 11 months)
50/1: 1/2022 - 3/2024 (2 years 2 months)
28/1.5: 1/2024 - 1/2025 ( one year)
On this trend, I predict July 2025. If they find a slot they can squeeze it into (production schedule, not the Swiss cheese E-mount lineup).
Although I would love to see this lens introduced in July, I think whatever happened with the slow introduction of the 75 f/1.5 that was a one off. I am still not sure why it took Cosina so long to offer that lens in other mounts. Perhaps it was because I they weren't sure that the focal length or aperture would sell well on mirrorless. Perhaps because they weren't sure they wanted to build more lenses for Sony E mount. Perhaps because there were technical issues--it is after all much heavier than the Leica M version in a way that the other mirrorless lenses are not. Perhaps with the 65 f/2 APO Macro, there were concerns the focal length was too close, but five years is a really long time to bring out the lens in another mount. One to two years is much more typical with Cosina and I expect that will be the delay if they bring this out in mirrorless.
Personally, I am very curious about what Fred found and how much performance is affected by the thicker sensor stack. If the affects are minimal at f/5.6 and the portraits are at least ok wide open, then I still might get it in a year or a year and a half, but I would prefer a mirrorless version of the lens and if they come out with one before I get this lens I would get that instead and even if I get the Leica M version, then I would probably sell the lens and get it in mirrorless mount. All depending on the details of course and differences in performance size and weight.
Jan 23, 2025 at 07:50 AM
p.7 #10Voigtlander 90mm f/2 APO-Ultron Review
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Resolution and Contrast at Infinity distance: Voigtlander 90mm f/2 APO-Ultron (Leica sensor vs Sony sensor)
We've discussed here that the smaller exit pupil of the Voigtlander 90mm f/2 APO-Ultron might offer better compatibility with mirrorless sensors that have thicker sensor stacks compared to the Leica M, which has the thinnest sensor stack and is the one this lens was originally designed for.
I tested the Voigtlander 90mm f/2 APO-Ultron on both the Sony A7RII and Leica M10-R (both with around 40mp sensors), and the results were a bit unexpected. While the performance at the center and mid-field were quite similar, the extreme corners showed noticeable degradation on the thicker Sony sensor. This manifested as astigmatism and induced field curvature, which only improved when stopping down the lens. At around f/5.6 and especially f/8, the extreme corners looked much better on the Sony sensor. This happens because the increased depth of field helps to conceal the negative effects of the thicker sensor.
This isn't great news for Sony shooters hoping to adapt this lens, but it could suggest that Cosina might release a Voigtlander 90mm f/2 APO-Ultron specifically for E-mount cameras in the future.
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- Distance: Infinity
- Focus: Center - Best of three shots at maximum magnification
- White Balance: Daylight
- Both lenses are well centered, as verified with my decentering test.
- Software used: Lightroom with FM Default Landscape Sharpening; all other settings are at default.
PS:Chromatic Aberration (CA), and distortion were not corrected either in post-processing or in-camera.
Center Resolution and Contrast
Resolution and Contrast at Infinity distance: Voigtlander 90mm f/2 APO-Ultron (Leica sensor vs Sony sensor)
(open the browser window to view entire image without resizing)
f/2
f/2.8
f/4
f/5.6
f/8
Jan 23, 2025 at 12:02 PM
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p.7 #11Voigtlander 90mm f/2 APO-Ultron Review
Mid-field Resolution and Contrast
Resolution and Contrast at Infinity distance: Voigtlander 90mm f/2 APO-Ultron (Leica sensor vs Sony sensor)
(open the browser window to view entire image without resizing)
f/2
f/2.8
f/4
f/5.6
f/8
Resolution and Contrast at Infinity distance: Voigtlander 90mm f/2 APO-Ultron (Leica sensor vs Sony sensor)
(open the browser window to view entire image without resizing)
f/2
f/2.8
f/4
f/5.6
f/8
Jan 23, 2025 at 12:04 PM
p.7 #12Voigtlander 90mm f/2 APO-Ultron Review
Extreme Corner Resolution and Contrast
Resolution and Contrast at Infinity distance: Voigtlander 90mm f/2 APO-Ultron (Leica sensor vs Sony sensor)
(open the browser window to view entire image without resizing)
f/2
f/2.8
f/4
f/5.6
f/8
Resolution and Contrast at Infinity distance: Voigtlander 90mm f/2 APO-Ultron (Leica sensor vs Sony sensor)
(open the browser window to view entire image without resizing)
f/2
f/2.8
f/4
f/5.6
f/8
Jan 23, 2025 at 12:05 PM
p.7 #13Voigtlander 90mm f/2 APO-Ultron Review
Huge difference. I won't be shooting this one on my Sony camera. My get on for my Leica cameras however.
Jan 23, 2025 at 12:37 PM
p.7 #14Voigtlander 90mm f/2 APO-Ultron Review
1bwana1 wrote:
Huge difference. I won't be shooting this one on my Sony camera.
OMG! Really disappointing performance.
I guess this depends on the short distance between the sensor and the exit pupil.
Alternatively, might this behaviour depend on the adapter??
Let's hope a future E- and/or Z-mount version could fix this
Huge difference. I won't be shooting this one on my Sony camera.
OMG! Really disappointing performance.
I guess this depends on the short distance between the sensor and the exit pupil.
Alternatively, might this behaviour depend on the adapter??
Let's hope a future E- and/or Z-mount version could fix this
Jan 23, 2025 at 01:04 PM
p.7 #15Voigtlander 90mm f/2 APO-Ultron Review
OK. Thanks for testing Fred!
I was afraid of this but the results (when used with the Sony) are worse than expected.
I was afraid of this but the results (when used with the Sony) are worse than expected.
Jan 23, 2025 at 02:02 PM
p.7 #16Voigtlander 90mm f/2 APO-Ultron Review
Corners never really gets there on the a7rII, even at f8. Better color on the M sensor, that shows most in the center. It looks very much a high performance lens, with even and minimal fall-off from midfield to corners.
Jan 23, 2025 at 02:28 PM
p.7 #17Voigtlander 90mm f/2 APO-Ultron Review
Definitely surprising to see that with a 90mm. I've been looking at used Sony's to have an AF camera option but maybe I'll look at other brands because I'd like to use all my lenses across platforms.
Jan 23, 2025 at 02:45 PM
p.7 #18Voigtlander 90mm f/2 APO-Ultron Review
Ripolini wrote:
OMG! Really disappointing performance.
I guess this depends on the short distance between the sensor and the exit pupil.
Alternatively, might this behaviour depend on the adapter??
Let's hope a future E- and/or Z-mount version could fix this
I found the result puzzling, though not too disappointing, considering the lens was designed for a different sensor stack. Fortunately, the performance degradation on the Sony sensor is confined to the extreme corners. In the center and mid-field (where it matters for most shooting) the performance is very similar.
The result isn't influenced by the adapter used, as long as it's an optimal one. I used my reliable Voigtlander M to E adapter (v2) for this test.
1bwana1 wrote
Huge difference. I won't be shooting this one on my Sony camera.I guess this depends on the short distance between the sensor and the exit pupil.
Alternatively, might this behaviour depend on the adapter??
Let's hope a future E- and/or Z-mount version could fix this
I found the result puzzling, though not too disappointing, considering the lens was designed for a different sensor stack. Fortunately, the performance degradation on the Sony sensor is confined to the extreme corners. In the center and mid-field (where it matters for most shooting) the performance is very similar.
The result isn't influenced by the adapter used, as long as it's an optimal one. I used my reliable Voigtlander M to E adapter (v2) for this test.
Jan 23, 2025 at 02:47 PM
p.7 #19Voigtlander 90mm f/2 APO-Ultron Review
I wonder how it compares to the Leica SL2 on the corners? It seems to be a difficult lens for other sensors like the APO-lanthar 35/2 and 50/2.
Jan 23, 2025 at 03:27 PM
p.7 #20Voigtlander 90mm f/2 APO-Ultron Review
Jeff Kott wrote:
Did you confirm that the Leica 90/2 APO cron had no issues on the Sony sensor?
Hi Jeff,
Just as I remembered from testing years ago, the Leica APO-Summicron 90mm f/2 ASPH has no issues with the Sony sensor stack. I tested it again just now, and here are 100% (pixel-level) comparisons of the extreme corners on both Leica and Sony sensors. I'd say the Leica performs beautifully on the Sony sensor stack wide open without any noticeable penalty.
PS: Don’t worry too much about color, temperature, or tint...these are different sensors. I could have matched the colors exactly, but that wasn’t the focus here.
Extreme corners at f/2: LEFT (Leica sensor), RIGHT (Sony sensor)
Did you confirm that the Leica 90/2 APO cron had no issues on the Sony sensor?
Hi Jeff,
Just as I remembered from testing years ago, the Leica APO-Summicron 90mm f/2 ASPH has no issues with the Sony sensor stack. I tested it again just now, and here are 100% (pixel-level) comparisons of the extreme corners on both Leica and Sony sensors. I'd say the Leica performs beautifully on the Sony sensor stack wide open without any noticeable penalty.
PS: Don’t worry too much about color, temperature, or tint...these are different sensors. I could have matched the colors exactly, but that wasn’t the focus here.
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Extreme corners at f/2: LEFT (Leica sensor), RIGHT (Sony sensor)
Jan 23, 2025 at 03:51 PM