Ultra-compact Voigtlander 35mm f/3.5 for Leica M — possibly the smallest M-mount lens available.
The Voigtlander Color-Skopar 35mm f/3.5 VM is a remarkably compact wide-angle lens for Leica M mount rangefinder cameras. As possibly the smallest current-production M-mount lens, it barely protrudes from the camera body, creating an extraordinarily discrete and portable street photography setup with any Leica M body.
Optical quality is good with the four-element Color-Skopar formula delivering sharp, contrasty images at working apertures. The f/3.5 maximum aperture is slow by modern standards but suits the lens's design philosophy of absolute minimum size. Stopped down to f/5.6 and beyond, sharpness across the frame is excellent.
Build quality is superb Cosina manufacturing with an all-metal barrel machined to incredibly tight tolerances given the miniature dimensions. The focus ring operates smoothly despite the tiny size, and the rangefinder coupling is precise. The lens weighs almost nothing, completely transforming the weight profile of an M-mount camera.
On the used market, the Color-Skopar 35mm f/3.5 VM appeals to Leica M photographers who prioritise ultimate portability and discretion above maximum aperture speed. For street photographers wanting the smallest possible M-mount wide-angle setup, it provides genuine Voigtlander optical quality in a package that disappears on the camera.