The Voigtländer Ultron 27mm f/2 X (silver) on the Dura Silver Fujifilm X-Pro3 — 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 the Leica M-mount, Nikon F-mount, or Nikon Z-mount, and I've taken a liking to their phenomenal build quality. I 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 Emmanuel at Camtec Photo in Montreal, Canada, suggested the Voigtländer Ultron 27mm f/2 X to me.

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 Camtec Photo or Voigtländer, and the opinions in this review are my own. So, let’s dig in.

Morten Byskov, 5050 Travelog is testing the Voigländer Ultron 27mm f/2 X on a Fujifilm Dura Silver X-Pro3 — 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 2023 as the third entry in a line of currently seven lenses for the Fujifilm X-mount. These lenses set themselves apart by being chip-based 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.

A group of men enjoy the sunshine outside Joe's Cafe on Commercial Drive in Vancouver, Canada. Sample image from a Voigtländer Ultron 27mm f/2 X and Fujifilm X-Pro3. — Commercial Drive, Vancouver, Fujifilm X-Pro3, Voigtländer Ultron 27mm f/2 X @ f/8

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 rangefinder lenses, the Ultron 27mm f/2 has a focus lever that aids in finding approximately accurate focusing. It took a few tries to get the hang of it, but the more I used it, the better my muscle memory improved, and I can see the benefit, especially when using a higher f-stop for zone focusing.

It is worth noting that using the focus lever is the only reliable way to focus, as the focus ring is otherwise too slick (lacking grooves) and also very narrow.

The focusing (all-metal helicoid unit) is wonderfully smooth, a trait I've grown accustomed to from all the Voigtländer lenses I’ve tested to date.

The Voigtländer Ultron 27mm f/2 X (Silver) seen on a Fujifilm X-Pro2. — Voigtländer Ultron 27mm f/2 X (Silver) shown on a Fujifilm X-Pro2

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 reviewed the silver version, and it's also available 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 is a small screw-in type cap for when the hood is mounted.

I usually never use lens caps and feel quite sure 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 that it was a nice-looking lens. I think we were all a bit surprised by the quality feel of such a small lens.

A man crosses the street at the Granville and Smithe Street in Vancouver, Canada. Sample image from a Voigtländer Ultron 27mm f/2 X and Fujifilm X-Pro2. — Smithe Street, Vancouver, Fujifilm X-Pro2, Voigtländer Ultron 27mm f/2 X

In Action

I tried the Ultron 27mm f/2 on three different Fujifilm X-Series cameras, mostly the X-Pro3 and X-Pro2, 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 for electronic communication. EXIF info is sent to the camera, and you will see the f-stop change as you adjust 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 communication.

You can still use the lens as you would with an adapted lens, but without the EXIF information or data being transferred from the lens to the camera. This didn’t keep me from using it, and I’m pretty 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:

Voigtländer Ultron 27mm f/2 X info

The Voigtländer Ultron 27mm f/2 X shown on a Fujifilm X-H2 — Voigtländer Ultron 27mm f/2 X (Silver) shown on a Fujifilm X-H2

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 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 I 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 click on the sample images to view sizes up to 2500 pixels, depending on your monitor size, or use pinch-to-zoom if you're on a mobile phone.

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 the Fujifilm XF 27mm f/2.8 R WR. The Ultron has a faster f-stop and the ability to separate your topic from the background more, with smoother and nicer bokeh.

The most crucial difference is that the Fujifilm lens has autofocus, whereas the Voigtländer places emphasis on the manual focusing experience and does not have autofocus.

The XF 27mm f/2.8 R WR is slightly lighter, weighing 3 oz (84 g) compared to 4.2 oz (120 g) for the Ultron 27mm f/2. It is also slightly larger, but in reality, these differences should not significantly affect 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 option at $595.00, compared to 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:

Fujifilm XF 27mm f/2.8 R WR - Review

A pub sign on Smithe Street in Vancouver. Sample image from a Voigtländer Ultron 27mm f/2 X and Fujifilm X-Pro2. — Smithe Street, Vancouver, Fujifilm X-Pro2, Voigtländer Ultron 27mm f/2 X

Conclusion

Do you need autofocus, or are you gravitating towards manual-focus-only lenses? This should be the first question you ask yourself before choosing a lens, such as the Voigtländer Ultron 27mm f/2.

You may already have a few autofocus lenses, and the Ultron 27mm could therefore be a nice complement to your se’re looking for a compact solution with solid build quality and excellent optical performance.

I struggled a bit with handling this lens due to its small size, but I believe it would only be a matter of time until I got 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 a 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 links 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.