Cosina Unveils the Voigtlander 21mm f/3.5 for Leica M-Mount
Cosina has announced a new ultra-wide lens under its Vintage Line for Leica M-Mount: the 21mm f/3.5 Color Skopar Aspherical lens. It updates a 2019 design reminiscent of the 1950s to one more akin to the 1970s.
Cosina describes its lens as a combination of an exterior that is reminiscent of the styling of a classic lens (which it says is considered to be a historic masterpiece) with modern photography performance expectations. The result is a finished product that Cosina says offers excellent optical performance that matches modern photography equipment but has the look and feel of a vintage lens.
As its name suggests, the lens features a vintage design and is made entirely of metal, including the aperture and focus ring, both of which forgo the usual knurled design for a lever-style grip. The lens is constructed of nine elements in eight groups, including a single low-dispersion element (new to the Type II lens) and a single aspherical element.
Other features include a ten-blade aperture diaphragm, a minimum focusing distance of 50cm, and a 39mm front filter thread. The lens measures 52mm in diameter, 30mm long, and weighs 220g, 40g more than its Type I predecessor.
The lens will be available in three different variations: Type I, Type II in silver, and Type II in black. Type I is the classical design that Cosina says harkens back to the 1950s, while the Type II designs are more of what would be expected of the 1970s. The Type 1 has been available from Cosina since January of 2019, but the two new Type II designs are scheduled to become available by December of 2021. The new Type II versions feature a focusing knob that is more akin to what is found on modern first-party Leica M-mount lenses for rangefinder cameras and is much more intuitive to hold and focus thanks to how the lens knob nestles into the photographer’s finger. While the original Type I design might be historically accurate to the period, the new Type II is likely better for practical use.
Below are a few sample images captured with the lens:
Cosina says that the Voigtlander 21mm f/3.5 Color Skopar Aspherical will be available for purchase by the end of the year for about $834.
More info on Cosina’s website.
