Voigtländer Ultron 27mm f/2 X Review
The Voigtländer Ultron 27mm f/2 X (Silver) shown on a Dura Silver Fujifilm X-Pro3
Photo by: Julian Fok
Testing the Ultra-Compact Voigtländer Ultron 27mm f/2 for Fujifilm X Cameras
Over the last two years, I have tested and reviewed eight Voigtländer manual focus lenses for either Leica M-Mount, Nikon F-Mount, or Nikon Z-Mount and I have taken a liking to the phenomenal build quality and enjoy working with these lenses.
Although I have kept a close eye on lenses produced by Voigtländer for the Fujifilm X-Mount, I have yet to try one other than very briefly. That was until the Voigtländer Ultron 27mm f/2 X was suggested to me by Emmanuel at Camtec Photo in Montreal, Canada.
This will be the first lens I review in collaboration with Camtec Photo. They kindly sent me the lens to test for a week. I have received no directions from either Camtec Photo or Voigtländer and the opinions in this review are mine. So let’s dig in.
The Voigtländer Ultron 27mm f/2 X (Silver) shown on a Dura Silver Fujifilm X-Pro3
Photo by: Julian Fok
Introduction
The Ultron 27mm f/2 was released in June of 2023 as the third entry in a line of currently seven lenses for the Fujifilm X-Mount and they set themselves apart by being chipped but with manual focus only.
The Voigtländer lenses cater to a market of photographers who appreciate and prioritize manual focusing but still want the convenience of electronic communication between the lens and camera. Here is a list of the current Voigtländer options for Fujifilm X-Mount:
Color-Skopar 18mm f2.8
Nokton 23mm f/1.2
Ultron 27mm f/2
Nokton 35mm f/0.9
Nokton 35mm f/1.2
Macro Apo-Ultron 35mm f/2
Nokton 50mm f/1.2
At the time this review was posted the Voigtländer Ultron 27mm f/2 X was priced at USD 595.00 or CAD 799.95 at Camtec Photo.
Handling
Along with the newly announced Colar-Scopar 18mm f/2.8, the Ultron 27mm f/2 shares a pancake design and they are the smallest X-Mount lenses in the lineup. The Ultron 27mm f/2 weighs a mere 4.2 oz, 120 g, and with dimensions of 2.3 x 0.9", 59.3 x 23.5 mm it is downright tiny. Perhaps even a bit too small for my liking and it takes some getting used to when it comes to handling.
Like some range-finder lenses, the Ultron 27mm f/2 has a focus lever/tab that aids you in finding approximately accurate focusing. It took a few tries to get the hang of this but the more I used it the more my muscle memory improved and I can see the benefit of it, especially if you use a higher f-stop for zone focusing.
It is worth noting that using the focus lever/tab is the only real way to focus as the focus ring otherwise is too slick (without grooves) and also very narrow.
The focusing (all-metal helicoid unit) is wonderfully smooth, a trait I have become used to from all the Voigtländer lenses I have tested to date.
Specs
27mm focal length (40mm full-frame equivalent)
Metal construction
Aperture range: f/2 - f/22, clickable in third stops
6 elements in four groups, one atypical partial dispersion element
10 aperture blades
Electronic communication with Fujifilm X cameras (With some limitations. Please see the link below)
Filter size: 43mm
Minimum focusing distance: 9.8" / 25 cm
Weight: 4.2 oz, 120 g
Dimensions: 2.3 x 0.9", 59.3 x 23.5 mm
The design is sleek and the lens feels solid in the hand despite being small. I had the silver version for this review and it also comes in black. The lens hood on both models is black.
The lens comes with two lens caps. One is conventional for when the lens hood isn’t used and the second hood is a small screw-in type cap for when the hood is mounted. I usually never use lens caps and feel quite certain that unless I put the smaller cap in the box right away I would lose it at some point.
I showed the lens to two of my photography friends, Julian and Goran, and both agreed with me that this was a nice nice-looking lens and I think we were all a bit surprised by the quality feel of such a small lens.
In Action
I tried the Ultron 27mm f/2 on three different Fujifilm X-Series cameras, the X-Pro3 and Xpro2 mostly, and briefly on the X-H2. Unfortunately, I won’t have sample photos from the X-H2 (Goran’s) as we were late heading out on a gloomy day, and the photos wouldn’t have done the Ultron 27mm justice.
Instead, I met up with fellow Vancouver photographer, Julian Fok, on a sunny day along Commercial Drive and managed to get a few sample images with his Dura Silver X-Pro3.
Compatibility with the X-Pro3 is good when it comes to electronic communication. EXIF info goes to the camera and you will see the f-stop as you change it on the lens. The same goes for the X-H2.
My Fujifilm X-Pro2, on the other hand, is not compatible with Ultron 27mm when it comes to electronic communications.
You can still use the lens as you would with an adapted lens but without EXIF info or data going from the lens to the camera. This didn’t keep me from using it and I am quite happy with the X-Pro2 sample images in this review.
To make sure the Ultron 27mm f/2 X works as intended with your Fujifilm camera, check the info regarding compatibility on Voigtländer’s official site via this link:
Image Quality
Images coming from the Ultron 27mm f/2 remind me of other Voigtländer lenses with a pleasant warm tone that isn’t too clinical. Black and white photos have a slight hint of a vintage look when the Acros film simulation is used.
I was testing the Ultron alongside the new Voigtländer Nokton 28mm f/1.5 (M-Mount) and decided to try them both on my X-Pro2 as the full-frame Nokton would yield a similar focal length on the APS-C-based X-Pro2.
I was surprised to see how equal they are but think the Ultron 27mm is slightly better. Perhaps this should not be a surprise as it is custom-made for the X Series cameras whereas the Nokton 28mm was used with an adapter. Both photos were shot at f/2.
Please make sure to click on the sample images to view sizes up to 2500 pixels depending on your monitor size or pinch zoom if on your mobile phone.
X-Pro2, Ultron 27mm f/2 @ f/2
X-Pro2, Nokton 28mm f/1.5 (M-Mount) adapted to X-Pro2 @ f/2
Voigtländer Ultron 27mm f/2 vs. Fujifilm XF 27mm f/2.8 R WR
Although they share a very similar size and weight, there are several differences between the Ultron 27mm f/2 and Fujifilm XF 27mm f/2.8 R WR. The Ultron has the faster f-stop and ability to separate your topic from the background more so, and with smoother and nicer bokeh.
The most important difference is the fact that the Fujifilm lens has autofocus whereas the Voigtländer puts emphasis on the manual focusing experience and does not have autofocus.
The XF 27mm f/2.8 R WR is slightly lighter at 3 oz, 84 g vs. 4.2 oz, 120 g for the Ultron 27mm f/2. It is also a smidgen larger but in reality, these differences should not have much effect on your decision to get one or the other.
Image quality is similar but I would give the Ultron a slight edge after going through my images taken with both lenses. The Ultron 27mm f/2 is the more expensive choice at $595.00 with the XF 27mm f/2.8 at $399.00. Keep in mind also that the XF 27mm is weather-resistant and the Ultron 27mm is not.
For more about the XF 27mm f/2.8 R WR, you can read my review here:
Conclusion
Do you need autofocus or are you gravitating towards manual-focus-only lenses? This should be the first question you ask yourself before picking a lens such as the Voigtländer Ultron 27mm f/2 X.
You may already have a few autofocus lenses and the Ultron 27mm could therefore be a nice compliment to your setup if you are looking for a compact solution with solid build quality and excellent optical performance.
I struggled a bit with the handling with this lens being so small but I do believe it would only be a matter of time until I would get the hang of it. I could see the Ulton 27mm as a formidable fit for an X-E4 and it would make for a super compact travel setup with a versatile focal length and relatively fast f-stop.
Thanks again to Julian, Emmanuel, and Goran for helping me put this review together.
Pros
Build quality
Super compact
Excellent and smooth manual focusing
Cons
Lacks weather sealing
Perhaps a bit too small for some
Price / Availability
Thank you for reading my review. If you are planning a purchase and would like to support us, you can do so, at no additional cost, by using the affiliate link below. A small commission goes to us and helps us keep the wheels turning at 5050 Travelog.
Check the current price at Camtec Photo or B&H Photo
Voigtländer Ultron 27mm f/2 X - Camtec Photo
Voigtländer Ultron 27mm f/2 X - B&H Photo
Thank you for being supportive.
Voigtländer Ultron 27mm f/2 X Sample Images
Please see the sample images below. Editing was done in Lightroom and I used Fujifilm film simulations for some of the photos. Some photos are slightly cropped.
Please click to view larger images.
Voigtländer Lens Reviews
Voigtländer Nokton 23mm f/1.2 Aspherical
Voigtländer Nokton 40mm f/1.2 - Z-Mount
Voigtländer Ultron 40mm f/2 SL IIs
Voigtländer Ultron 40mm f/2 SL IIs - Adapted to GFX
Voigtländer Ultron 40mm f/2 SL IIs - Adapted to X-Pro3
Voigtländer Nokton 50mm f/1.2 - Adapted to Fuji X
Voigtländer Nokton 50mm f/1.2 - Adapted to GFX
Voigtländer Apo-Lanthar 50mm f/2 - Z Mount
Voigtländer Nokton 55mm f/1.2 SL IIs
Voigtländer Ultron 75mm f/1.9 MC - Adapted to GFX
See all of my reviews at a glance: Camera Reviews - Archives
