The Voigtländer Ultron 40mm f/2 SL IIs adapted to a Leica SL2-S with a K&F Concept adapter — The Voigtländer Ultron 40mm f/2 SL IIs adapted to the Leica SL2-S using a K&F Concept adapter

Is the Voigtländer Ultron 40mm f/2 SL IIs Worth Adapting to the Leica SL2-S?

Will the SL2-S and the SL IIs Get Along?

I believe this is the fifth time I have written a Voigtländer Ultron 40mm f/2 SL IIs review or included it in an article. So why this fascination with the Ultron 40mm?

It was the first Voigtländer lens I owned, and several other Voigtländer lenses were to follow. One of the traits of the Utron 40mm is the fact that I have successfully adapted it to a range of cameras.

When I bought it, its intended use was on my Nikon film cameras, but since then, I have used it on my GFX 50R, X-Pro3, Nikon Zf, and now, finally, on my Leica SL2-S. I will link to the other reviews at the end of this review.

As a perhaps interesting sidenote, I sold this lens to my buddy Kyle, then bought it back a few months later. I then sold it again to Chris, who has become a good friend. I missed the lens, and asked if I could borrow it, and of course he said yes :) I’ve joked with Chris that I want to buy it from him again, but read on in the conclusion.

Two patrons of Prado Cafe on Commercial Drive in Vancouver are working on their laptops. Sample image from a Voigtländer Ultron 40mm f/2 SL IIs on a Leica SL2-S. — Commercial Drive, Vancouver, Leica SL2-S, Voigtländer Ultron 40mm f/2 SL IIs

The following paragraph is from my original review, but it equally applies to this review on the Leica SL2-S

Voigtländer Ultron 40mm f/2 SL IIs - Specs, Handling, and Build Quality

Lens construction: 6 elements in 5 groups with one aspherical lens element
9 aperture blades
Minimum focus distance: 9.84", 25 cm
Nikon AI-S Mount (CPU integrated)
Weight: 9.17 oz, 260 g
Dimensions: 2.61 x 1.48", 66.3 x 37.5 mm
Filter size: 52 mm
Optional screw-in lens hood, LH 40 II S

The Voigtländer Ultron 40mm f/2 SL IIs and Leica SL2-S — The Voigtländer Ultron 40mm f/2 SL IIs adapted to the Leica SL2-S using a K&F Concept adapter

The design clues in the Voigtländer SL lenses are derived from the Nikkor lenses of the sixties. Every little detail is carefully crafted, from the silver metal ring in the middle with the color-coded depth of field indicators to the font chosen for the f-stop indicators.

The focus ring is incredibly smooth, with wonderful damping and a relatively long focus throw of 270 degrees. The Voigtländer Ultron 40mm f/2 SL IIs comes in two versions with either a Silvertip or a Black tip.

I chose Silvertip because I think it looks rather classy, and it was the only color available from the distributor, making it an easy choice.

The balance and handling are superb on the Leica SL2-S. Due to the adapter, the aperture ring is placed about the middle of the adapter and lens barrel, making it easy to reach and operate. The focus ring is also in an ideal position for a natural hold on the camera and lens.

A food truck at English Bay Beach in Vancouver. Sample image from a Voigtländer Ultron 40mm f/2 SL IIs on a Leica SL2-S. — English Bay Beach, Vancouver, Leica SL2-S, Voigtländer Ultron 40mm f/2 SL IIs

Image Quality on the SL2-S

I recognize the signature from the other reviews I have done with the Ultron 40mm f/2. It has sharpness, excellent color rendition, mixed with an ounce of character. As my friend Chris states, it is sharp and defined and works well for anything.

Compared to the Voigtländer Nokton 40mm f/1.2, you cannot get the same amount of smooth bokeh, but this lens is also almost twice the cost. I tested the Z-Mount version of the 40mm f/1.2.

The sample images in this article can be viewed up to 2500 pixels wide, depending on your monitor size. Please click to view larger images.

Leica SL2-S with the Voigtländer Ultron 40mm f/2 SL IIs and K&F Concept adapter — The Voigtländer Ultron 40mm f/2 SL IIs adapted to the Leica SL2-S using a K&F Concept adapter

Conclusion

In my opening paragraph, I joked that I wanted to repurchase the Ultron 40mm from Chris. I was serious when I mentioned it to him, but after further deliberations, I think I would rather go for the f/1.2 version (M-Mount) if I were to get another 40mm lens.

This is not to say that I didn’t enjoy my time this time around with the Ultron 40mm f/2. Being a Nikon F-Mount lens, I used the Ultron 40mm lens on my Nikon film cameras a couple of years ago, but film photography has taken a back seat for me lately.

I am still very pleased with the images captured with the Ultron 40mm f/2 and found it a formidable fit for the Leica SL2-S. If you also have Nikon DSLRs or old film cameras, the Ultron 40mm f/2 lens will give you some good mileage.

Note also that with the FTZ II adapter, you will get a green focusing confirmation light on Z-mount cameras, such as the Nikon Zf and Nikon Z6 III.

Again, thanks to Chris for letting me have another round with the Ultron 40mm f/2.

Here are links to my other Ultron 40mm f/2 SL IIs reviews or reviews where I used the lens:

Voigtländer Ultron 40mm f/2 SL IIs

Fujifilm X-Pro3

Fujifilm GFX 50R

Nikon Zf

Please see more sample images below.

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 B&H Photo

Voigtländer Ultron 40mm f/2 SL IIs - B&H Phot o

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