Voigtlander Ultron 40mm f2 SL II + YouTube
Here is a review of my favourite Nikon pancake lens + 40mm portraits. Ihis is the Voigtlander Ultron 40mm SL lens for Nikon cameras.
Nikon mount Voigtlander Ultron 40mm f2
Qu. Looking for the ultimate small lens for your Nikon camera?
>> Here I recommend my Voiglander 40mm f/2 pancake lens & share some 40mm portraits
My Favourite Nikon Pancake Lens
As “Mr Leica” I use Leica cameras for my photography but I also enjoy other film camera brands too. For each camera I try to discover the best lenses I can and here I cover my favourite Nikon pancake lens. The Voigtlander Ultron 40mm f2 SL II that I bought to use on my Nikon film cameras.
Small Lenses for Nikon Cameras
Are you looking for a small lens for your Nikon camera? Previously I used Nikon cameras before moving to Leica so I have collected quite a few nice Nikon F mount lenses, both Nikkor brand and other from other manufacturers. After getting used to the often very compact Leica M mount lenses, when I came to packing lightweight for a Nikon camera it was not so easy. My smallest Nikon F mount lens at the time was the Nikkor 50mm f1.4D. When I bought this Nikkor lens in my Nikon D800 period I liked the lens and used it a lot for wedding photography.
Leica M Mount Lens Effect
A few years later I bought my first Leica camera, a Leica M9. Having got accustomed to using various Leica M mount lenses and at the time none of the lenses were actually Leica brand I as couldn’t afford Leica glass! Instead I opted for Voigtlander and Zeiss Leica M lenses and loved the results. Coming from these lenses back to the Nikkor 50/1.4D lens, the 50mm Nikon lens on the D800 suddenly seemed too soft to use at f1.4.
The Voigtlander Ultron 40mm f2 Pancake Lens
After wanting to find a replacement for my 50mm f1.4 Nikkor I started my online research. I was looking for a small form decent optics Nikon mount lens in the ‘normal’ focal length range (usually around 50mm). After much reading I discovered the Nikon mount Voigtlander Ultron 40mm f2 SL II prime lens. It is a pancake lens so makes a Nikon DSLR / SLR look very compact when compared to standard lenses. I had a Nikkor 35mm f1.4 G lens which I had bought for wedding photography but it was huge in comparison. From day one I loved the super sharp results of the Voigtlander Ultron 40mm f2 lens, even at f2. The poor 50mm f1.4D has never been used since! Please note that Voigtlander lenses like the Zeiss lenses for Nikon are manual focus. Don’t buy a Voigtlander 40f2 Ultron if you are hoping to use autofocus mode.
Nikon Film Cameras
Although I rarely use the digital Nikon D800 camera now I do enjoy the Nikon film cameras. My oldest is a Nikon FM SLR followed by the more automated Nikon F4. My most recent purchase is the later Nikon F5 model (see F5 review posted yesterday). Owning these cameras means I still get to enjoy the Voigtlander Ultron 40mm f2 pancake lens. It is great if I want to pack light or perhaps want that slightly wider 40mm focal length.
Voigtlander Ultron 40mm Portraits
Digital Photos – Voigtlander Ultron 40mm f2
Film Photos – Voigtlander Ultron 40mm f2
Recommended!
If you are a Nikon photographer happy with manual focus and are on the market for a compact sharp lens, look no further! I rate the Voigtlander Ultron 40mm f2 SL II lens (and I use nice lenses from the likes of Leica APO/ ASPH, Zeiss, Fujion and others)
Voigtlander Lenses for Nikon
If you are looking for Voigtlander lenses for Nikon or Canon cameras you might like some of the other Voigtlander SL lenses. I enjoy the 20mm, 28mm, 40mm and 58mm. The 58mm is fantastic for portraits!
Pingback: MrLeica.com - BLOG - MrLeica.com - Matthew Osborne Photography
Wondering if there is a new coming up… it is mentioned as discontinued on their website. Great results by the way 👌🏻.
Thanks, i’m not sure but I would like to think so. They have released a lot of new Leica M mount leases in recent years
I’m breathless over your samples for this lens. Lovely rendering.
Another review might be 75 f1.4 Summilux M versus leica R 80mm f1.4 Summilux. Wouldn’t that be something. Versus 90s?
Thanks Greg! Yes 2 greats – 75 f1.4 Summilux M vs leica R 80mm f1.4 Summilux! Hopefully one day!
Great pics, great opinion. Just want to ask whether you have used the Nikkor 50mm 1.8 ais pancake lens and have made some comparisons. Thx again, best, Michael
Thanks Michael, I have the 50mm f1.8 E pancake (older lens). Is that the one you are referring to? Thanks!
Hello Matt, have you had a chance to use zeiss zm 35 2.0 or 2.8? If so how do they compare with the ultron? I’m looking for ultimate ~35 mm lens and am wondering if it is worth changing from nikon f to zm mount just because of the zm 35 biogons, which on paper look stunning.
Hello, sorry i’ve not but I understand that the Biogon 2.8 is one of the best 35s out there (popular thought). I use the ZM 21 & 25 and there are stunning for sure. (You generally get sharper with rangefinder lenses in like for like comparison as they mount closer to the sensor/ film. As comparison I think Zeiss Biogon design gives better micro-contrast. See those reviews for samples.. but Voigtlander are great too. I have no complaints from any of my Voigtlanders in any mount.
The Voigtlander 40mm /F2 SL-S without a doubt!!!!!! Magnificent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Been shooting since the 60’s and it really is great…………………….
Thanks Larry! Agreed, great lens 🙂 Cheers!
Hi, would this fit on a Nikon f6ii too?
Hi these are Nikon F so if you have an adapter to mirrorless then yes