Voigtlander Color Skopar 50mm f/2.5 Reviews

Compact build very much alike to 3rd generation Leitz 35/2 Summicron. Chrome version matches Leica M2 in color and sheen. Barrel is very solid, apparently brass. Focusing action very smooth with handy Leica style tab. Aperture ring narrow and sharply ribbed -actually a dead ringer for a 3rd gen 35 'cron. Click stops at half stops, very positive but smooth. Includes short shade and matching push-on metal cap.

Optically, uniformly sharp -albeit not "razor sharp"- corner to corner. Falls off very slightly at 2.5 but even from 2.8 onwards. Fails to resolve extremely fine detail but has a nice round bokeh reminiscent of old L mount Elmar 5cm/3.5. Contrast is a tad on the low side, compared to other fifties that fit Leicas.

Extremely flare resistant. Probably the most flare-proof lens I've used.

A superb "street" lens for any Leica (L or M) and a bargain at the going price. Actually, I prefer it for candid photography to my current version Summicron 50/2. The Color-Skopar focuses much faster and the aperture is much more positive in feedback than the Leica lens.