Cosina Voigtlander Color-Skopar 50mm f/2.2 is Super Small and Light

Jun 14, 2024

Jeremy Gray

Two camera lenses are shown on a reflective black surface. The lens on the left is silver with "Color-Skopar 50" marked on it, while the lens on the right is black with similar markings. Both lenses feature a sleek, modern design and appear to be of high quality.

Cosina has announced the Voigtlander Color-Skopar 50mm f/2.2 lens for full-frame VM mount cameras.

Cosina’s expansive range of VM lenses are compatible with Leica M-mount cameras and have been designed to be easily adaptable to a wide range of mirrorless cameras, including using Voigtlander adapters for E-mount, Z, and X mount cameras. There are also solutions from other companies to adapt VM lenses to additional mounts.

In the case of the Voigtlander Color-Skopar 50mm f/2.2 VM, Cosina says it has chosen an f/2.2 maximum aperture to keep the prime lens’s size and weight down. “It has a compact appearance that is highly portable and easy to take in and out of a bag,” says Cosina.

A sleek black camera lens sits next to an identical model in silver against a dark background. Both lenses feature various focus numbers and markings, showcasing their technical details. — The Voigtlander Color-Skopar 50mm f/2.2 VM comes in silver and black.

The lens is a mere 30 millimeters (1.2 inches) long and weighs only 135 grams (4.8 ounces). Although it is featherweight, it is still constructed using metal components, including an all-metal helicoid for focusing. The lens includes a 39mm front filter thread.

Cosina promises precise focus control, and the lens includes engraved distant markers in metric and imperial units. “The focusing lever, designed to be easily gripped by the fingers, supports quick and reliable focusing operation,” Cosina promises. The company adds that a high-precision rangefinder coupling mechanism ensures accurate focus when shooting at or close to the maximum aperture. The rangefinder coupling ranges from 0.7 meters (2.3 feet) to infinity, depending on the camera. The overall minimum focusing distance is 0.5 meters (1.6 feet).

In terms of image quality, Cosina promises “excellent optical performance,” explaining that the new lens has seven elements across six groups, including a trio of “anomalous partial dispersion” glass. The lens has a 10-bladed aperture diaphragm, and the f-stop is controlled manually using an aperture control ring near the front of the lens.

Sample Images

Aerial view of a coastal city with a large bay partially shrouded in dense fog. Buildings densely packed along the coast contrast with the calm, overcast sea. The edge of a tall structure is visible in the foreground.

A weathered wooden swing hangs from the large, gnarled branches of a leafless tree in an open field. Nearby, there is a red plastic crate and a black bag on the ground. The background features rolling hills and distant trees under a cloudy sky.

A deck of a fishing boat with an array of large, clear light bulbs hanging above, used for night fishing. The boat is docked at a harbor with calm blue water and other boats and structures visible in the background.

Concrete blocks rest along a coast with a calm body of water. In the background, there are several boats docked at the shore and a small town with houses and buildings nestled against a hillside. The sky is clear, and the scene appears peaceful.

A close-up of a rusty, heavily weathered metal door with the number "3" visible. Faded white paint partially reveals the letters "NT." The door features a horizontal bar secured by two bolts, emphasizing the aged and worn surface of the iron.

A bare, gnarled tree extends its branches over calm, reflective water. In the background, more leafless trees line the shore under an overcast sky, creating a somber, tranquil scene with a small island visible.

Pricing and Availability

Cosina’s new Voigtlander Color-Skopar 50mm f/2.2 full-frame lens will arrive in silver and black colorways next month. Cosina has not shared pricing on the English version of its website, but the Japanese product page says the lens will have a suggested retail price of ¥75,000, which works out to just over $475 at current exchange rates. This price is in line with other Voigtlander Color-Skopar lenses, like the 28mm f/2.8 Color-Skopar Type II for $599 and the 35mm f/2.5 P II for $429.

Image credits: Cosina. All sample images by Tetsu Sawamura.