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p.2 #9 · p.2 #9 · Macro lens for botanical photography on the D850 | |
Interesting thread, one that I look forward to following. I enjoy close-up botanicals & have recently been using several zeiss and voigtländer lenses, on various Nikon F film bodies, a Df & adapted to several Canon & Fuji bodies, I expect to add the D850 in the near future - if/when both funds and camera are simultaneously available!
I've looked long and hard at the APO-Lanthar 125/2.5, and still think about it. Its renderings are near other-worldly. there's a 3+ minute botanical youtube video that's breathtaking, it's easy to find.
Cosina, who now owns the Voigtländer name, only made this lens in small quantities - for local (Japan) release - & only in 2001-2002. While Cosina badged the lens as a Voigtländer APO-Lanthar, I've been told that it was/is a Cosina design - with little, if any, historical or design ties to its badging. I've seen this lens sell normally for ~$1,500 to $2,500 (3 to 6x its original price) and for as high as near $5,000. classic supply vs demand. word spread and sadly supply was cut off & it was never released outside of Japan. It's now over 15 years since this lens was discontinued.
Its closest competitor - in-kind - is (was) the Zeiss (classic) Makro-Planar T* 100/2 - also made by Cosina, but under license. Today it's the Milvus 100mm. I've heard the APO-Lanthar was considered so significantly superior to Zeiss's design, that CZ leaned on Cosina to discontinue it, which would explain its sad and unfortunately premature demise and curtailed distribution. so nixnay on an AI-P type SL II Apo-Lanthar 125.
Meanwhile, having killed the apo-lanthar, CZ discontinued the "classic" line in favor of the milvus/otus lines. sad. and for the price of the milvus 100, you can - maybe - find an apo-lanthar 125. hint, as the milvus has few, if any optical advantages over the classic, don't hold your breath for an apo-lanthar 125/2.5 SL II. Damnit. So now the CZ "classic" - Makro Planar T* 100/2 ZF.2 is becoming a less frequently seen used lens.
Cosina, several years ago also discontinued the APO-Lanthar's lesser sibling, the APO-Lanthar SL II 90/3.5 - which had been widely distributed and is more commonly available ~$550. The SL I, which resembles the 125/2.5, can also be found but at higher prices - 'though the SL II has no disadvantages - but is without the multi-color barrel stripes.
So, right now, I'm undecided about the best lens to render botanical close-ups on the higher resolution D850. Just don't know - yet.
fwiw: the APO-Lanthar is 1:1 and the CZ classic/Milvus is 1:2. also, I have 3 zeiss classics, including the 85/1.4 & 135/2, so I am not a zeiss critic. then again, I have 3 voigtländers - but sadly - not the apo-lanthar 125/2.5, at least yet.
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