Voigtlander 35mm f2.5 Review (35mm Color Skopar VM lens) + YouTube video
Do you need a super compact walkabout lens? I wanted a tiny lens for travel and 35mm is perfect as a normal lens. This might be the lens for you!
I have used the Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm f2.5 lens extensively on my Leica cameras and I rate it very highly. Sample photos and more detail below.
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Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm f2.5 lens
Here I review my second smallest camera lens that is still made today – the Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm f2.5. (My smallest modern lens is the Voigtlander Color Skopar 21mm f4 – review to follow soon).
The 35mm Color Skopar can do it all!
After owning the Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm f2.5 for quite a few years now I have used it extensively. I have used the 35mm Color Skopar lens for model photography, wedding photography, street photography, travel photography, family photos, everything! I’ve used the lens on my digital Leica M240, Leica CL, Leica M9 and Leica film cameras like my Leica M2 and Leica M4-P.
The 35mm Color Skopar gives such a pure shooting experience on a Leica M2 with the big clear 35mm frame lines of the M2 and this tiny lens. A great setup to shoot film!
One Camera One Lens
When my Leica M240 rangefinder needed recalibrating but I didn’t have time to send it off to Germany I used the Voigtlander 35mm Color Skopar exclusively for a period. The lens provided sufficient depth for photos to be in focus without me needing to fix the camera. You can read my 9 months with one camera one lens experience (Leica M240 + Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm f2.5).
Voigtlander 35mm Color Skopar vs Nokton 35mm
I own 3 Voigtlander 35mm Lenses. As the speed increases so does the size of the lens. When I don’t need a fast lens the Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm offers the best portable solution. The 35mm Color Skopar is also the cheapest of the 3 listed Voigtlander 35mm lenses (see link at end of this post).
Voigtlander 35mm Color Skopar vs Nokton Size Comparison!
- Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm f2.5
- Voigtlander Nokton Classic 35mm f1.4 MC
- Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f1.2 ASPH II
I also have a small vintage 35mm Leica lens if you want to compare the Leica 35mm photos vs the Voigtlander 35mm images.
35mm Voigtlander Skopar f2.5 – Check Prices
- BUY NEW – Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm f2.5 – https://geni.us/wBSVB
- BUY USED – (US) https://ebay.to/2XOrwpk (UK) https://ebay.to/2ATXkQC
Color-Skopar 35mm f2.5 vs Ultron 35mm f2
2021 Update* I now own the new Voigtlander Ultron 35mm f2 (YouTube)
Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm Portraits (Digital)
Now in October 2018 seeing these Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm photos shot at f4 (many at f4) from a few years ago (many from when using one camera one lens!) makes me want to use the lens in the same way again! So sharp compared to shooting various lenses at f1.0, f1.2, f1.4!
Film Photography with Leica M cameras and the 35mm Color Skopar lens
35mm Color Skopar Street Photography (Digital)
Voigtlander 35mm Wedding Photography
Great Value Lens!
If you want to treat yourself to the great value Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm f2.5 lens check out Amazon for the latest prices! (UK) / (US)
Robert White Discount Code – Use “MRLEICA” to get 5% off Voigtlander lenses – https://www.robertwhite.co.uk/
I bought all 3 of my Voigtlander 35mm lenses before most of my Leica lenses as they cost less. What has impressed me is the cost of the Voigtlander primes has not really changed at all since I bought mine and if anything the cost has gone up. This is common of Leica glass but not many other brands I think. Well done Voigtlander for making great optics.
Need something wider? Voigtlander 28mm Color Skopar?
Do you love the idea of the small Voigtlander Color Skopar lens but you prefer 28mm to 35mm? I bring good news! Voigtlander just released their new 28mm Voigtlander Color Skopar lens. Is it any good? I did some testing!
Would you like to photograph beautiful models?
Now you can! I share my end to end process in this FREE eBook
YouTube: Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm f2.5
See the 35mm Skopar against other tiny lenses!
Fast Voigtlander 35mm – Nokton 35mm f1.2 ASPH
Small Fast 35mm – Nokton 35mm f1.4 Classic
Sharper 35mm lens? Voigtlander Ultron 35mm f1.7
Sharpest 35mm lens? Voigtlander 35mm f2 APO
Best 35mm lens?
New! Best bang for the buck Voigtlander 35mm lens?
Arty, Fast and Affordable 35mm lens!
Latest V3 Voigtlander Nokton 35mm 1.2 ASPH
More Leica Blog Posts
- Leica M 50mm Lenses Compared + Leica Lens Guide!
- Leica M Film Cameras Buyer’s Guide!
- Cheap Leica Lenses?
- Lightroom Presets for Leica
Great shots. Very interesting review.
Thanks Graham, yes the 35mm Skopar is a bit of a hidden gem. I love it’s size but it’s a great performer too
Awesome photos! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for reading! 🙂 Matt
Hey Matt, which 35mm lens would you recommend to take as the only one? To shoot everything.
Hi Maxim, it depends what you want it for. If it was merely the ‘best images’ for me I would take the 35/1.2 but if I wanted stopped down photos and small size 35/2.5. 35/1.4 goes inbetween. 35/3.5 more of a fun lens. Hope that helps! Matt
Thanks for the article. I was split up between 35/2.5 and 35/1.4. Ended up going with the Skopar. This will be my main travel and street camera. Eventually I will get a nice fast 50mm so I didn’t care for my 35mm to meet that criteria. I rarely shoot wide open, too.
Thanks LG, happy to be of some help. The 35 Skopar is an awesome little lens for travel.. if you like wide I highly recommend the 21 Skopar to pair up with it and then as you say a fast 50 (though for travel I usually go for the 50/2.5 Summarit due to the size (or the old 50/2.8 Elmar). Enjoy!
You da man, Osborne! Bought my first Leica (IIIF) last year. Came with a hazy/horrible Elmar 50mm (which STILL takes great photos), and your review of this Voightlander convinced me to order one from Japan. Yup…wonderful, light, and the screwmount version really looks fine on my IiiF. Love your videos, love the gorgeous models, love the Leica vibes….
Thanks Tony! 🙂 Yes the Voigtlander 21/25/28/35 are all tiny and look great on the Barnacks 🙂
Matt, You take such interesting photos very artistic!
Thanks Michael!