The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Voigtlander 50mm f3.5 I and the Voigtlander 50mm f2.2 VM for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Voigtlander 50mm f3.5 I is the longer of the two lenses at 45mm. The Voigtlander 50mm f2.2 VM with a length of 30mm, is 15mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Voigtlander 50mm f3.5 I also has a larger diameter of 52mm compared to the Voigtlander 50mm f2.2 VM's 51mm diameter.
The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. Voigtlander 50mm f2.2 VM weighs 135g, 9% (15g) lighter than the Voigtlander 50mm f3.5 I's weight of 150g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Standard Prime Lenses in Leica M Mount for size comparison purposes.
Standard Lenses in Leica M Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Voigtlander 50mm f3.5 I has a filter size of 34mm whereas the Voigtlander 50mm f2.2 VM has a 39mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 34mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Voigtlander 50mm f3.5 I:
And these are the 39mm filters that we recommend for the Voigtlander 50mm f2.2 VM:
Lens Mounts
Both the Voigtlander 50mm f3.5 I and the Voigtlander 50mm f2.2 VM has the same Leica M lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Leica M lenses are Leica M EV1, Leica M11-D and Pixii Max.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
50mm but while Voigtlander 50mm f3.5 I has the fastest aperture of
F3.5, the Voigtlander 50mm f2.2 VM's widest aperture value is
F2.2.
