CV 28/1.9 Ultron

[Huck Finn]

Any user opinions on the 28/1.9 Ultron? :confused:

[thmk]

Here you can find a report by Erwin Puts: http://www.imx.nl/photosite/japan/voigt2890.html

[jlw]

Yeah, and without even reading it I can just guess what he'll say: that it's well-made and resolves reasonably well, but lacks the subtle crispness, clarity and sparkle of the closest equivalent kazillion-dollar lens from holy Leica...

[thmk]

:D

[jdos2]

Betcha the review talks about the lack of "micro-contrast," too. Oh! And that telling "3-D look."

Sigh.

[SolaresLarrave]

It looks... handsome! :)

[Huck Finn]

I agree, Solares. . . It stands straight & tall . . . above the crowd. :cool:

[JohnM]

I'd glanced at his site, but never really paid much attention to it until now. I just read his review of the Leica MP - I'm sure he's a nice fellow, but some of the verbiage is a little over the top...

The black paint (laquer) version looks beautiful and inspires the user to strive for the best possible photography.

When you take the MP in your hands, there seems to flow an emotional charge through your hands to your brain and heart that forces you to take your photography to a higher level.

Damn it! That's why my pictures stink! My camera is olive-colored and it is not sending an emotional charge through my hands into my brain! How can I take my photography to a higher level without the emotional charge?!

I wonder if Gandy's warranty covers a faulty emotional charger?

[That Guy]

While it's quite obvious that Putz is a Leicaphile, and you have to take what he says with a grain of salt, it's interesting that he adds the caveat...

But lenses are at such a high level that the user and the choice of film and the handling of the imaging chain become more impartant than ever. The most important factor now is the user expertise and expectancy. The Ultron is an amazingly good lens, that will satisfy the demands and expectations of many a photographer.

I'd say you won't go wrong if you go for the Ultron. As for me, it's rare that I shoot above f4. I can usually handhold to 1/30th, longer if I brace myself, for low light. I'm perfectly happy with a Skopar. :)

[Todd.Hanz]

Originally posted by Manolo Gozales
Hello:)

I've got one of these. I use it to take pictures which come out just lovely. Love using its ability to have a really shallow depth when I want it, and the extra speed it gives for lowish light.

ManGo

I've thought about buying this lens alot, do you have any pics taken with it you'd like to share?

Todd

[Nikon Bob]

ManGo

There sure is a lot of FLUFF out there especially on Leicas. From your photos, the Ultron seems to deliver the goods.

Bob

[Todd.Hanz]

Mango,
I looked through your PAW, nice pics. How do you compare your findings of the VC 28/1.9 in relation to Putts' findings?
The shot you have posted of the boat does seem to be a little lower in contrast (of course that could be due to the lighting /scanning/ developing) when compared to the others you have up there. Just curious.

Todd

[Todd.Hanz]

ManGo
Thanks for your reply, it appears the lens is a good performer and at it's current price a more affordable one. As far as E.Putts is concerned, I doubt I would ever have the luxury of comparing those two lenses side by side, the fact that he says anything positive about a non Leica product leads me to believe it must be a pretty good one.

Todd

[Huck Finn]

Thanks everyone for your replies & advice. It's definitely on my short list now!

Todd, not only does Erwin have SOME good things to say about the 28 Ultron, his comment was something like: "It blows any Leica pre-ASPH out of the water." He also comments on good build quality. Combined with what's been posted here, why buy anything else?

[Doug]

Why consider anything else? :) Just as one more data point to consider, the 28mm Summicron is a good bit smaller than the 28 Ultron.

[Huck Finn]

Hmmm . . . And it costs? . . . Used, on ebay? . . . CV Ultron available at new lower price $399 + adapter = $422. . . Hmmm . . . Maybe if I can get the ASPH . . . You say $1000+ on ebay? . . . Ultron still looks good to me.

[Doug]

Yeah, yeah, I know... Still worth pining over even if it's beyond the budget. Seems to me that, generally, fast CV glass is larger than fast Leica glass, the 2-ish/28's being just one example.

[Huck Finn]

Doug, I understand your pining for the Leica. :( The beauty of a RF camera is the compact size of the lenses. And the CV lens is 50% longer than the Leica. :eek:

But cheer up. :) I lied about the cost of a used ebay 28 Summicron ASPH. The one I saw on ebay is not $1000; it's starting bid is $1700!! :rolleyes: And new it's $2500! If it's not your primary lens, then you've really got to begin scratching your head.

I read somewhere that Cosina in particular uses retrofocus designs on their rangefinder lenses for the purpose of correcting aberrations. Retrofocus designs are of course longer. I wonder if this lens is such an example.

[Doug]

They're horribly expensive, yeah... and interestingly the Leica f/2.8 and f/2.0 28mm lenses are virtually the same size. That Summicron is impressively compact.

But I think nowadays they're ALL retrofocus designs. Consider that the second nodal point of a 28mm lens is by definition only 1.1" from the film plane. If the lens is physically further from the film, it can be so only with a retrofocus design.

Consider how far into the box the rear of the 28mm f/6 Orion protrudes, or the 35mm Jupiter-12. Those wouldn't be retro lenses. But I bet virtually all modern wides are... And I think the 43mm Pentax-L lens is too, given how the rear lens element is deeply recessed in the mount.

Still, I think there are degrees; some lenses may have a more extreme retro design than others. A 28mm f/2 for a 35mm SLR tends to be larger even than the 28mm Ultron, doesn't it?

[Huck Finn]

Actually, I checked. The Ultron is slightly longer than the Nikon 28/2 SLR - although they are about the same length. I was really surprised. I wondered if Cosina reports the length of the Voigtlander lenses with hood attached.

[Doug]

But would that still put the Nikon lens further from the film plane? And is the Nikon larger in diameter?

[Huck Finn]

Surprisingly, only a little according to B&H (2.5" vs 2.2")

[Sean Reid]

I tested this lens against the Leica 28/2.0 ASPH and CV 28/3.5 on the Epson R-D1. See:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/lenses/rd-1-lens.shtml


In short, the Ultron 28/1.9 is an outstanding lens on the R-D1. I bought one after the review was done.

Cheers,

Sean

[Huck Finn]

That's putting your money where your mouth (or pen) is, Sean! :D

Did you buy it for use on an RD-1 or on a film camera? One of the things I like best about rangefinder is compact lenses - which the 28/3.5 certainly is. Your review seemed to speak well of it even though not quite up to the other 28s you reviewed. Good lens?

[ferider]

Just having switched from 35/75 to 28/50 for my project, I still like my 28/1.9.

Bumping the oldest resp. lens thread I could find :)

http://ferider.smugmug.com/Picture-a-Week/One-Year-Two-Lenses/December-09-B/3-Scan-091227-0021/750891201_dvQKe-XL.jpg

http://ferider.smugmug.com/Picture-a-Week/One-Year-Two-Lenses/December-09-B/3-Scan-091227-0016/750891176_5d5Z2-XL.jpg

[ferider]

And one more in the dark ...

http://ferider.smugmug.com/Picture-a-Week/One-Year-Two-Lenses/December-09-A/4-Scan-091227-0014/750890685_YkkjV-XL.jpg

[back alley]

switching lenses...so it's one year - 4 lenses now?

[ferider]

I'm 6 months in, and thought I would allow myself to use 28/50 (only) for the next 6 months .... :)

[Ezzie]

Lovely lens. My everyday go everywhere lens.

[ferider]

One from yesterday; Rollei Retro 100, 1:100, red filter. Notice the lack of flare :)

http://ferider.smugmug.com/Picture-a-Week/One-Year-Two-Lenses-Keepers/6-Scan-091231-0023/753969438_c3Kxh-XL.jpg

[ferider]

http://ferider.smugmug.com/Picture-a-Week/One-Year-Two-Lenses/January-10-B/Scan-100109-0020/761147179_VReDo-O.jpg

[ferider]

http://ferider.smugmug.com/Picture-a-Week/One-Year-Two-Lenses/January-10-C/Scan-100130-0008/777262706_QUxwY-O.jpg

[lawrence]

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4025/4279699364_820456c550_b.jpg

El Kebir, Marrakech. November 2009

[maggieo]

A couple of photos from my M8 + 28/1.9 Ultron combo:

A Frosty Snowman, December, 2009
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2544/4238125263_dc78d4c88c_b.jpg (http://flickr.com/photos/mediawench/4238125263/in/set-72157616915300611)

Mom And Apple Pie, January, 2010
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2720/4292856693_d20150cd71_b.jpg (http://flickr.com/photos/mediawench/4292856693/in/set-72157616915300611)

[ferider]

Neopan 400 @ 320, Rodinal 1:100

http://ferider.smugmug.com/Picture-a-Week/One-Year-Two-Lenses/February-10-B/Scan-100221-0023/793420425_DwMwv-XL.jpg