Question 1

Is the Voigtlander 90mm f/2.8 APO-Skopar good for portrait photography?

Accepted Answer

Yes — 90mm is a classic portrait focal length that gives natural compression and keeps a comfortable working distance between you and your subject. The f/2.8 maximum aperture delivers pleasing background separation on a rangefinder, and the APO correction controls colour fringing around fine detail like hair and eyelashes, which is exactly what portrait photographers look for when cropping tight.

Question 2

What does APO mean on the Voigtlander 90mm f/2.8?

Accepted Answer

APO stands for apochromatic — it means the lens is corrected so that red, green, and blue wavelengths of light all converge at the same focal plane. In practice this reduces chromatic aberration (colour fringing) significantly compared to a standard telephoto design, resulting in sharper, cleaner edges especially in high-contrast areas like backlit subjects or bright highlights against dark backgrounds.

Question 3

Does the Voigtlander APO-Skopar 90mm f/2.8 work on digital Leica M cameras?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it was specifically designed with the Leica M digital sensor stack in mind. The Leica M sensor uses a particularly thin cover glass (around 0.9mm), and the APO-Skopar's optical formula accounts for this — so corner sharpness and colour rendering on digital M bodies is optimised rather than compromised.

Question 4

How heavy is the Voigtlander 90mm f 2.8 APO-Skopar?

Accepted Answer

The lens weighs approximately 250g (around 8.8oz), which is exceptionally light for a 90mm prime. The body length sits around 6cm, so it sits close to the camera and doesn't create any vignetting issue in the viewfinder. That combination makes it one of the most balanced 90mm options you can put on a Leica M body.

Question 5

Is the Voigtlander 90mm f/2.8 APO-Skopar a manual focus lens?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it's fully manual focus — there is no autofocus mechanism. On a Leica M rangefinder this is normal: you use the rangefinder patch to focus, which is fast and accurate once you're used to it. If you're mounting it via adapter on a mirrorless camera, focus peaking or magnified live view makes manual focusing very manageable.

Question 6

Can I use the Voigtlander 90mm f/2.8 APO-Skopar on a mirrorless camera?

Accepted Answer

Yes — with an M-mount to your system adapter (for Sony E, Nikon Z, Leica SL, or similar) this lens works well on a wide range of mirrorless bodies. Because there are no electronic contacts, you'll set aperture manually and focus manually, but that's part of the appeal for photographers who enjoy a more deliberate shooting style. For a broader look at adapted lenses, the mirrorless lens category is a good starting point.

Question 7

Voigtlander 90mm f/2.8 APO-Skopar vs the Voigtlander 90mm f/2 APO-Ultron — which should I choose?

Accepted Answer

The APO-Skopar at f/2.8 is notably smaller and lighter, making it the go-to if you value compactness and want a lens that disappears into a bag. The Voigtlander 90mm f/2 APO-Ultron, released more recently, gives you a full extra stop of light — useful in low light or for shallower depth of field — but comes with a larger footprint. If portability and balance on a film or digital M body is the priority, the APO-Skopar is the practical choice.

Question 8

Is buying a used Voigtlander 90mm f/2.8 APO-Skopar worth it?

Accepted Answer

For a purely mechanical lens with no autofocus or electronic components, buying used makes a lot of sense. There's simply less that degrades over time compared to a motor-driven AF lens. The main things to verify are smooth focus action and clean aperture blades — both easy to assess. On Camera-tweedehands.nl every item comes with a minimum 12 months warranty and is individually photographed, so you know exactly what condition you're getting.

Mount	Leica M
Focal range	Short Telephoto
Prime / Zoom	Prime
Focal length (min)	90 mm
Focal length (max)	90 mm
Max. aperture	f/2.8
Stabilisation
Auto Focus
Maximum Aperture - Tele (f)	2.8

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Voigtlander 90mm f/2.8 APO-Skopar - Leica M

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About the Voigtlander 90mm f/2.8 APO-Skopar - Leica M

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Buying a used Voigtlander 90mm f/2.8 APO-Skopar

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