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Archive 2011 · Versions? Voigtlander 125mm APO Lanthar SL

Fr3d
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Versions? Voigtlander 125mm APO Lanthar SL

Hi,

seems like there exist different versions of this lens. One featuring an electronic
aperature (having no aperature ring) and one version which has a marked aperature
ring (and possibly no electronic aperature).

Is there any other sigignificant difference between them, like optical formula?

ty

Jul 10, 2011 at 06:55 AM

Steve Spencer
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Versions? Voigtlander 125mm APO Lanthar SL

AFAIK, there are no optical differences, but several different mounts. Some of those mounts have a manual aperture and some like the EOS mount require an electronic aperture.

Jul 10, 2011 at 06:59 AM

mawz
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Versions? Voigtlander 125mm APO Lanthar SL

There's only one version in each mount as far as I'm aware. EF mount versions should all have the electronic aperture ring, versions with a manual ring would be in OM, F or K mounts (there's also an A mount version with no aperture ring, but it's the rarest version)

Jul 10, 2011 at 06:59 AM

jcolwell
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Versions? Voigtlander 125mm APO Lanthar SL

They're all SL (version I) lenses. There's also an M42 mount version, making this the list of mount options of which I'm aware:

A Sony (Minolta)
EF Canon
F Nikon
K Pentax
M42 Pentax
OM Olympus

CameraQuest describes most of these variants, http://cameraquest.com/Voigt%20SL.htm. The M42 version isn't mentioned here, but it's certainly around, as shown in the current auction for item 150628455301 (cited earlier by nixland, in https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1007318).

Edited on Jul 10, 2011 at 07:34 AM · View previous versions

Jul 10, 2011 at 07:22 AM

mawz
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Versions? Voigtlander 125mm APO Lanthar SL

And OM mount is also available.

Jul 10, 2011 at 07:25 AM

jcolwell
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Versions? Voigtlander 125mm APO Lanthar SL

mawz wrote:
And OM mount is also available.

You're right. Thanks.

I'll edit my post.

Jul 10, 2011 at 07:34 AM

Fr3d
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Versions? Voigtlander 125mm APO Lanthar SL

Thanks,

there is also a Contax/Yashica mount available. Does anybody know if
there is enough mirror clearance on a 5D Mark II when mounted with one
of these cheapo CY-to-EF evilbay adapters?

Jul 10, 2011 at 08:57 AM

sebboh
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Versions? Voigtlander 125mm APO Lanthar SL

i've seen a minolta MD mount one with an aperture ring on ebay before as well.

Jul 10, 2011 at 10:12 AM

helimat
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Versions? Voigtlander 125mm APO Lanthar SL

I believe there is also an FD mount version.

Jul 10, 2011 at 10:34 AM

j.liam
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Versions? Voigtlander 125mm APO Lanthar SL

See the fourth entry from the top for the list of what was made:

http://forum.mflenses.com/voigtlaender-sl-apo-lanthar-serials-and-production-volumes-t24547,start,150.html

The thread contains a trove of information on the CV125 that was started to estimate production numbers for the rare optic by logging serial numbers and mount types. Cosina has never been forthcoming about production numbers.

Jul 10, 2011 at 10:56 AM

nixland
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Versions? Voigtlander 125mm APO Lanthar SL

By the way there are 2 more on eBay right now, the Nikon Ai-s mount and another M42 (buy now, $1,849 ... ouch!!).
I still can not justify the price to buy one yet, because I rarely shot macro/small product right now, but I am still super curious to try one

Jul 10, 2011 at 06:15 PM

Jim Schemel
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Versions? Voigtlander 125mm APO Lanthar SL

Are these lenses like the Zeiss 100 ZE in that they can do infinity equally as well as macro?
-Jim

Jul 10, 2011 at 06:19 PM

j.liam
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Versions? Voigtlander 125mm APO Lanthar SL

Jim Schemel wrote:
Are these lenses like the Zeiss 100 ZE in that they can do infinity equally as well as macro?
-Jim

Yes, indeed.
AND it is genuinely apochromatic without the bothersome out-of-focus color fringing of the Z* 100, AND has a flat field, making it great for stitching images AND a bokeh that dissolves away into a creamy, delicate blur AND does skin tones with such startling grace AND renders colors true AND out-resolves the sensor of my D700 by a wide margin, reportedly doing the same on a D3x.

Otherwise, why would people drop $2200 and up for a purely macro lens?

nixland wrote:
I rarely shot macro/small product right now.

See above....

nixland wrote:
I still can not justify the price to buy one yet...but I am still super curious to try one

This lens has been the subject of much speculation over the years as to an eventual SL II version. As best as I can divine, the prevailing opinion across the photo blogosphere is that it would directly compete with the Zeiss 100 in a fashion unlike any other Voigtländer lens of a similar FL to a Zeiss and as such, renders it less likely to see the light of day. If this turns out to be the case, the price of existing lenses, like that of the extinct NOCT Nikkor, will only rise.

Jul 10, 2011 at 08:38 PM

AhamB
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Versions? Voigtlander 125mm APO Lanthar SL

Jim Schemel wrote:
Are these lenses like the Zeiss 100 ZE in that they can do infinity equally as well as macro?
-Jim

They probably are, but they are no substitute for the Zeiss 100/2 if you want the characteristic Zeiss pop. Probably closer in character to the Mamiya 645 A 120/4 macro. Don't you still have the Sigma 150/2.8, by the way?

Jul 11, 2011 at 12:21 AM

Almass
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Versions? Voigtlander 125mm APO Lanthar SL

While it is correct that the ZF 100/2 exhibits some "color fringing" in particular high contrast scenes, but reversely the Voigt 125 is less sharp wide open even though it is an f2.5 v f2 for the ZF100/2.
In fact, the Voigt 125/2.5 is outright soft compared to the ZF100/2 at f2 and f2.5!

The APO 100/2.8 beats both the Voigt 125 and the ZF100 in Bokeh, skin tones and general IQ, added to the fact that it is the sharpest!

Testing the 3 lenses wide open in their native aperture and at f2.8 for uniformity: APO100 - Zeiss100 - Voigt125 has shown the APO100 coming tops followed by the Zeiss100 and trailing last is the Voigt125

If you want a lens with fantastic Bokeh and IQ, then it is the APO100.
If you want a lens with 3d pop and a great lens at infinity, then it is the Zeiss100.
If you want a lens with 1:1 Macro and an ugly hood, then it is the Voigt125.

As to why people are ready to pay USD2200 for the Voigt 125? It is about supply and demand coupled with the fact that some photographers praise the Voigt125 for it's Macro ability without having really tested the 3 lenses side by side!

Is it another Urban Legend in the making?

Jul 11, 2011 at 01:00 AM

nixland
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Versions? Voigtlander 125mm APO Lanthar SL

Thanks for the enlightment Liam.
An encouragement for me to bid higher with more confident next time. Last time I joined the bidding on eBay, I don't have guts to bid above $1,000

j.liam wrote:
Yes, indeed.
AND it is genuinely apochromatic without the bothersome out-of-focus color fringing of the Z* 100, AND has a flat field, making it great for stitching images AND a bokeh that dissolves away into a creamy, delicate blur AND does skin tones with such startling grace AND renders colors true AND out-resolves the sensor of my D700 by a wide margin, reportedly doing the same on a D3x.

Otherwise, why would people drop $2200 and up for a purely macro lens?

See above....

This lens has been the subject of much speculation over the years as to an eventual SL II...Show more →

Jul 11, 2011 at 01:01 AM

sebboh
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Versions? Voigtlander 125mm APO Lanthar SL

Almass wrote:
While it is correct that the ZF 100/2 exhibits some "color fringing" in particular high contrast scenes, but reversely the Voigt 125 is less sharp wide open even though it is an f2.5 v f2 for the ZF100/2.
In fact, the Voigt 125/2.5 is outright soft compared to the ZF100/2 at f2 and f2.5!

The APO 100/2.8 beats both the Voigt 125 and the ZF100 in Bokeh, skin tones and general IQ, added to the fact that it is the sharpest!

Testing the 3 lenses wide open in their native aperture and at f2.8 for uniformity: APO100 - Zeiss100 - Voigt125 has shown...Show more →

honestly, having looked at hundreds (maybe thousands) of images from all three, i would say that the voigtlander has better bokeh (non macro distances – they all have good macro bokeh) and better corrections for loCA than either of the other lenses. i'm sure you are correct about sharpness though. never having shot with any of them myself though, it may just be that i'm drawing too many conclusions from not properly controlled comparisons. or maybe it's just a matter of taste. in any event, should i ever find a sub $1000 voigtlander i would buy it in a second. the same cannot be said for the leica or zeiss. sadly i'm not willing to spend more than that on such a specialty lens, so i'm afraid i'll just have to survive on a tamron 90/2.5 unless i encounter a real bargain.

Jul 11, 2011 at 01:31 AM

nixland
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Versions? Voigtlander 125mm APO Lanthar SL

By the way I wonder why the CA of V125 is higher than Zeiss on slrlensreview.com macro lens test.

http://slrlensreview.com/web/benchmarks-resources-131/134-macro-challenge/521-macro-challenge-part-1.html

Jul 11, 2011 at 02:02 AM

j.liam
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Versions? Voigtlander 125mm APO Lanthar SL

nixland wrote:
By the way I wonder why the CA of V125 is higher than Zeiss on slrlensreview.com macro lens test.

http://slrlensreview.com/web/benchmarks-resources-131/134-macro-challenge/521-macro-challenge-part-1.html

The variability in construction is likely to be higher in the lower-cost CV than the Zeiss or Leica and that might account for the CA that SLR Lens reviews purports detecting. Remember that perfect apochromaticity requires very tight tolerances. Few lenses acheive this despite the label (both Bjorn Rorslett and Lloyd Chambers have noted CA on the CV 4/180 APO). However, SLR Lens reviews concludes that the three are such high-performers that differences are ultimately small and other factors Should weigh into a decision to buy, such as a availability, specific rendering styles, the need for an extra stop, longer FL or 1:1 without extension tubes, warranty and auto aperture to name a few.

Lloyd Chambers sizes up the Z* 100 against the Leica 100 Elmarit and arrives at a similar conclusion as slrlensreview does (subscription to Lloyd's site is required for this link):

http://diglloyd.com/prem/prot/ZF/publish/100MakroPlanar-compare-Leica100.html

One line from this review says it best: "...these lenses perform to such a high level that it was very hard to guarantee that absolutely best focus was achieved".

Jul 11, 2011 at 05:06 AM

helimat
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Versions? Voigtlander 125mm APO Lanthar SL

I suspect you have a sub-par 125/2.5... I have a Canon mount version, and I can tell you that it is sharp right from wide open, nothing like your example that's for sure.

Jul 11, 2011 at 08:27 AM

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