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 p.2 #13 · Thypoch Ksana 21mm f/3.5 ASPH Review | |
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Final Thoughts:
The Thypoch Ksana 21mm f/3.5 ASPH sets out to combine a highly corrected modern optical formula with a more deliberate, controlled flare signature, and for the most part it succeeds. Rather than chasing outright optical supremacy, Thypoch has built a lens around portability and a touch of engineered character through its Epoch Coating 73', while still delivering solid resolution, low distortion, and well-controlled chromatic aberration.
Wide open at f/3.5, the Ksana is usable but not yet at its best. Center performance is respectable, though the mid field and corners lag behind the Voigtlander 21mm f/3.5 Color-Skopar at every aperture until f/5.6, where the gap narrows considerably. By f/8, the two lenses perform quite similarly across the frame, with the Ksana needing that extra stop or two to really show what it's capable of. Vignetting is more pronounced than on the Voigtlander, and field curvature (outward at close and mid distances, flattening toward infinity) is something to be mindful of depending on subject distance.
What stands out most is just how compact this lens is. At 131g and 27mm in length, it disappears on the camera in a way few 21mm lenses can match, and despite that size, Thypoch has kept distortion essentially absent and chromatic aberration low and well managed, both axial and lateral. Sunstar rendering is another highlight, with 9 straight blades producing well-defined 18-point rays from f/4 onward that stay well defined all the way to f/22.
The much-discussed Epoch Coating 73' flare signature is real, but it's more subtle and angle-dependent than the marketing suggests. In everyday backlit shooting, the lens behaves like a modern, well-corrected optic with strong flare resistance. The warmer, amber-toned ghosting and veiling only emerge when you deliberately push the lens into specific angles against a bright source, making it more of an intentional creative tool (best used with live view) than a constant rendering trait.
Compared to the Voigtlander 21mm f/3.5 Color-Skopar, the Ksana trades a bit of outright resolution and contrast for a smaller footprint and that optional flare character. Both lenses share the same 0.5m close focus capability and render similarly once stopped down, with the main differences coming down to vignetting and flare behavior rather than sharpness or blur quality.
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Pros
⦿ Extremely compact and lightweight (131g, 27mm) for a 21mm ASPH design
⦿ Virtually no distortion straight out of camera, no correction needed
⦿ Low and well-controlled chromatic aberration, both axial and lateral
⦿ Well-defined 18-point sunstars from f/4 onward, remaining defined through f/22
⦿ No meaningful focus shift, reliable for rangefinder shooting
⦿ Strong flare resistance in everyday use, with the Epoch Coating 73' character available as a deliberate creative option
⦿ Performs as well or better when adapted to mirrorless bodies with thicker sensor stacks
⦿ Useful 0.5m close focus distance for an ultra wide
⦿ Solid center sharpness even wide open, closing the gap with the Voigtlander by f/5.6–f/8
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Cons
⦿ Noticeably stronger vignetting than the Voigtlander 21mm f/3.5 Color-Skopar across the aperture range
⦿ Mid field and corner performance trail the Voigtlander until stopped down to f/5.6 or beyond
⦿ Some field curvature at close and mid distances
⦿ 9-blade aperture (rather than 10 or 12) is a minor compromise for a 21mm design
⦿ Flare/ghosting signature is angle-dependent and hard to predict through a rangefinder viewfinder
⦿ Aperture clicks could be firmer
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The Thypoch Ksana 21mm f/3.5 ASPH ultimately delivers a genuinely portable ultra wide with clean, modern optical correction and an optional dose of vintage-inspired flare character when you go looking for it. It doesn't outperform the Voigtlander 21mm f/3.5 Color-Skopar across the frame, but it comes close once stopped down, and its size, low distortion, and low color error make it a compelling option for anyone prioritizing a small, easy-to-carry ultra wide without giving up much in image quality.
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Order the Thypoch Ksana 21mm f/3.5 ASPH lens:
Thypoch Store (Use promo code: FREDMIRANDA for a 5% discount at checkout)
B&H Photo
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