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Voigtlander Color Skopar 20mm f/3.5 SL-II Aspherical Manual Focus Lens

  • Price: $599.00
  • B&H # VO2035C
  • Mfr# BA295E

Product Highlights

  • For Canon EOS Cameras
  • Made in Japan
  • Supports All Metering/Exposure Modes

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The Voigtlander Color Skopar 20mm f/3.5 SL-II is an ultra-compact, sturdy manual focus lens featuring traditional high-quality Japanese construction and classic styling.  The Color Skopar is a perfect choice as a moderately wide angle lens for those wanting high performance in a fixed all-manual lens. This lens is part of the SL II series, which feature a CPU (Central Processing Unit) built into the lens. Having the CPU integrated into the lens allows it to support all of your Canon EOS SLR's metering functions. In addition, this also means that the aperture is now controlled by the camera's command dial.

The manual focusing movement of the Color Skopar is satisfying to operate and worlds apart in action from doing the same with autofocus lenses. This lens offers a f/3.5 maximum aperture, but unlike most zoom lenses, it will perform nearly as brilliantly at f/3.5 as it will at friendlier apertures of f/5.6-11.0.  An optional dedicated hood is available, but on Canon EOS SLRs you'd be hard pressed to induce flare even if you deliberately tried.  The focusing helicoid can extend far from the body on the Color Skopar to allow a minimum focusing distance of just ~8" (20cm).

An ideal wide angle fixed lens upon digital SLR cameras
Sophisticated 9-element aspherical lens formula
Sturdy metal outer barrel
Compact dimensions; barely more than 1" long
An ideal performer at larger apertures
9-Bladed aperture diaphragm
Silky smooth and rubber-rimmed focusing helicoid
Full multicoatings upon every optical surface
Made in Japan
Performance
Focal Length 20 mm
Aperture Maximum: f/3.5
Minimum: f/22
Camera Mount Type Canon EF
Format Compatibility 35mm Film / Full-Frame Digital Sensor
Canon (APS-C)
Angle of View 94°
Minimum Focus Distance 7.87" (20 cm)
Magnification Not Specified By Manufacturer
Maximum Reproduction Ratio Not Specified By Manufacturer
Groups/Elements 6/9
Diaphragm Blades 9
Features
Image Stabilization No
Autofocus No
Tripod Collar No
Physical
Filter Thread 52 mm
Dimensions (DxL) Approx. 1.13 x 2.48" (2.87 x 6.30 cm)
Weight 7.23 oz (205 g)

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews
VoigtlanderColor Skopar 20mm f/3.5 SL-II Aspherical Manual Focus Lens
 
4.6

(based on 9 reviews)

Ratings Distribution

  • 5 Stars

     

    (5)

  • 4 Stars

     

    (4)

  • 3 Stars

     

    (0)

  • 2 Stars

     

    (0)

  • 1 Stars

     

    (0)

100%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

  • Lightweight (6)
  • Strong construction (5)
  • Durable (4)
  • Compact (3)
  • Consistent output (3)

Cons

    Best Uses

    • Landscape/scenery (6)
      • Reviewer Profile:
      • Photo enthusiast (5)
      • Was this a gift?:
      • No (7)

    Reviewed by 9 customers

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    Displaying reviews 1-9

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    4.0

    Great lightweight option

    By CKJ000

    from Sydney, Australia

    About Me Photo Enthusiast

    Verified Buyer

    Pros

    • Compact
    • Durable
    • Easy to Use
    • Lightweight

    Cons

      Best Uses

      • Landscape/Scenery

      Comments about Voigtlander Color Skopar 20mm f/3.5 SL-II Aspherical Manual Focus Lens:

      The best thing about this is the dimensions! It is optically very good but the weight is just wonderful compared with the big L series lenses! Due to its focal length it has a great depth of field and so stopping to manually focus is hardly necessary on a sunny day and even with my old eyes it's just so easy to use. I have carried it around on my daily camera for a few weeks now and it makes for a very portable kit.
      The built quality is great and the pleasure of turning the focusing ring is half the fun of using a manual focus lens again

      • Was this a gift?:
      • No

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      5.0

      Color Skopar 20mm f/3.5 SL-II Aspherical

      By Roland 2

      from NC

      About Me Photo Enthusiast

      Verified Buyer

      Pros

      • Compact
      • Durable
      • Easy to Use
      • Great Picture Quality
      • Lightweight

      Cons

        Best Uses

        • Landscape/Scenery

        Comments about Voigtlander Color Skopar 20mm f/3.5 SL-II Aspherical Manual Focus Lens:

        Attached to the 60d the images are incredible sharp. Sharper than the L 17-40.

        • Was this a gift?:
        • No

        Share this review

         
        4.0

        Nice little lens

        By RPS

        from Boston, MA

        About Me Pro Photographer

        Verified Buyer

        Pros

        • Compact
        • Easy to Use
        • Great Picture Quality

        Cons

          Best Uses

            Comments about Voigtlander Color Skopar 20mm f/3.5 SL-II Aspherical Manual Focus Lens:

            Nice lens, super small, but a great wide angle image.

            • Was this a gift?:
            • No

            Share this review

             
            5.0

            Valuable Gem for DSLRs

            By Aephur

            from Scarborough, ON Canada

            About Me Semi-pro Photographer

            See all my reviews

            Verified Buyer

            Pros

            • Durable
            • Fast focus
            • Lightweight
            • Low distortion
            • Manual focus only
            • Sharp
            • SmallCompact
            • Strong Construction

            Cons

            • Manual focus only

            Best Uses

            • Event Photography
            • Landscape/Scenery
            • Manual focus
            • Street photography

            Comments about Voigtlander Color Skopar 20mm f/3.5 SL-II Aspherical Manual Focus Lens:

            This lens is a joy to use. The focus ring is tight and accurate. It's VERY sharp at its sweet spot (f/5.6 - 8). And it's TINY! It makes my 7D look like an oversized point and shoot. It's definitely much more discreet. It's perfect for street photography.

            This lens is great for anyone who wants to learn proper manual focusing. The aperture and distance marks are clear and accurate on the lens, and shows you the different ranges of depth of field according to aperture size. This is how cameras were focused before autofocus, and in many cases may be faster than autofocus using zone focusing techniques.

            The lens shines even more when used with an APS-C camera. The crop targets the sweet spot for sharpness and vignetting, and has focal lenght equivalent of 30/31mm. This is just a little bit wider than the classic 35mm. Again, perfect for street photography.

            I bought this lens for doing street photography with my 7D. It complements the body perfectly, and makes it less threatening for candid shots. If I could say anything bad about it, it would be edge sharpness. It's not as good as the center, but it's not too soft either. Overally, you would have to pixel peep in order to find flaws in the sharpeness.

            But you shouldn't pixel peep. It's a bad habit.
            Friends don't let their friends pixel peep.

            • Was this a gift?:
            • No

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            (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

             
            5.0

            outstanding

            By joey joe joe

            from brisbane

            About Me Photo Enthusiast

            Verified Buyer

            Pros

            • Consistent Output
            • Lightweight
            • Strong Construction

            Cons

              Best Uses

              • Landscape/Scenery

              Comments about Voigtlander Color Skopar 20mm f/3.5 SL-II Aspherical Manual Focus Lens:

              wow, amazing lens. i could not be any happier. image quality is outstanding and easily on par with my L series lenses. ive used voigtlander wide angles on both my leica m8 and 5d mkll and im always blown away with build and image quality.

              • Was this a gift?:
              • No

              Share this review

               
              5.0

              What a great little lens!

              By Henry

              from Philadelphia, PA

              About Me Photo Enthusiast

              Pros

              • Consistent Output
              • Lightweight
              • Nice Bokeh
              • Rugged
              • Strong Construction

              Cons

                Best Uses

                  Comments about Voigtlander Color Skopar 20mm f/3.5 SL-II Aspherical Manual Focus Lens:

                  Portraits, landscapes and stitched panoramas. Amazing color, bokeh and sharpness. Very smooth movement, great construction and solid feel.

                  • Was this a gift?:
                  • Yes

                  Share this review

                   
                  4.0

                  Incredible lens, beautiful color and dep

                  By Henry

                  from Philly, PA

                  About Me Photo Enthusiast

                  Pros

                  • Consistent Output
                  • Durable
                  • Nice Bokeh
                  • Rugged
                  • Strong Construction

                  Cons

                    Best Uses

                    • Landscape/Scenery

                    Comments about Voigtlander Color Skopar 20mm f/3.5 SL-II Aspherical Manual Focus Lens:

                    Landscape panorams photos and people, the lens has wonderful depth giving 3-D quality to images, it does fall off at the edges but that suits my images perfectly. The build and solidity are first rate, the focus is silky smooth, buy it, you won't regret it. I bought it for total manual control in a digital world and have not looked back.

                    • Was this a gift?:
                    • Yes

                    Share this review

                     
                    4.0

                    must have lens for travelling

                    By Jon

                    from Brazil, Sao Paulo

                    About Me Semi-pro Photographer

                    Verified Buyer

                    Pros

                      Cons

                        Best Uses

                        • CREATIVE AND LANDSCAPE

                        Comments about Voigtlander Color Skopar 20mm f/3.5 SL-II Aspherical Manual Focus Lens:

                        Great lens for travelling.
                        Awesome for landscape and creative pictures.
                        Can take sharp pictures up to f/4.0.
                        Looks a little dark at viewfinder with focusing screen EG-S but you get in used to it.
                        Have a very smooth focus ring and is very compact.
                        Worth every cent.

                        • Was this a gift?:
                        • No

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                        (6 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

                         
                        5.0

                        Awesome and very practical on 5DMKII

                        By Barrels Oh Fun

                        from Albuquerque, NM

                        About Me Pro Photographer

                        Verified Buyer

                        Pros

                        • Easily Interchangeable
                        • Hyper-Focal Markings
                        • Lightweight
                        • Manual Focus
                        • Size
                        • Smooth Focus
                        • Strong Construction

                        Cons

                          Best Uses

                          • ArtisticCreative Angles
                          • Landscape/Scenery
                          • Tight spaces
                          • Video

                          Comments about Voigtlander Color Skopar 20mm f/3.5 SL-II Aspherical Manual Focus Lens:

                          Using this lens on my Canon 5D Mark II as a companion to the Voigtlander Ultron 40mm f2.0 makes a perfect ultra light power house combination.

                          Best use is a great landscape photo/video lens that also works well for getting interesting perspectives for tight situations. Smooth and quiet focusing works so well for video that I only prefer to shoot video on the Voigtlander lenses over Canon lenses. The lens can also focus real close (8") and provides many new possibilities that my other lenses couldn't do. I have a 24-105mm and find the 20mm to be of enough of a difference to use with my other lenses and not replace for wide angle shots.

                          This is very practical lens for me as it does not give a fish-eye type distortion. There is noticeable barrel distortion at the corners and is exaggerated when objects get closer. The corners are very soft at f3.5 but sharpen at f5.6 and smaller.

                          I find the DOF marks on the lens are far better to use for finding hyper-focal distances than other brand lenses. Manual focus is my preference and I am glad that there is no auto-focus as this makes me compose my shots much more accurately.

                          I would buy this lens over again with no hesitation. Price point is great considering the build quality is beyond Canon's L line. IQ is on par or better in my opinion for lenses with similar specs. Size is what makes this lens a permanent addition in my bag.

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                          • No

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                          What's in the Box

                          Voigtlander Color Skopar 20mm f/3.5 SL-II Aspherical Manual Focus Lens
                          • Front & Rear Lens Caps
                          • 1-Year Warranty
                           
                           
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