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Voigtlander 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar Review

philip_pj
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p.90 #1 · p.90 #1 · Voigtlander 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar Review

The wide aperture CA would normally get lost in outer frame out of focus or fading content, but the Lenstip people shoot highly detailed buildings straight on at various apertures, and you see it quite clearly in their expanded image samples.

The CA is not really bad. It's less concerning than the outer frame optical decline and its consequences for a lot of image compositions. Many people want all content on the focal plane to look the same, just as the eyes see the world as you scan the scene. There is of course a difference of opinion over whether lenses like the 50/2 APO can do the job of the faster lenses better than they can do the tasks it excels at.

Jul 28, 2023 at 10:31 PM

primeshooter
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p.90 #2 · p.90 #2 · Voigtlander 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar Review

freaklikeme wrote:
Does it need one? The only thing a profile corrects is the vignetting, and that I find easier to do myself to suit my taste anyway.

Yes. I do 40 to 50 image mosaics of the night sky. The lens profile for vignetting is needed to get a seemless mosaic.

Jul 29, 2023 at 05:34 AM

Vento
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p.90 #3 · p.90 #3 · Voigtlander 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar Review

You could use the LCR profile of the Voigtländer 50mm f/2 AL-E, for which there is a profile in LCR.

Jul 29, 2023 at 06:14 AM

primeshooter
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p.90 #4 · p.90 #4 · Voigtlander 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar Review

Vento wrote:
You could use the LCR profile of the Voigtländer 50mm f/2 AL-E, for which there is a profile in LCR.

Yeh true just wondering if anyone knows if they brought out the z mount version so it will just automatically work in LR etc.

Jul 29, 2023 at 07:59 AM

RexGig0
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p.90 #5 · p.90 #5 · Voigtlander 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar Review

I took delivery of my 50mm APO Lanthar VM yesterday. This morning, I took a few test images with my Summilux-M 50mm ASPH, and with the APO Lanthar, in conditions that would be likely to cause flare. Of course, I immediately flubbed a set of APO Lanthar images, by forgetting to turn-off lens detection, in the menu, so my M10 “remembered” that I was using a 21mm Elmarit, which baked-in some corrections that were most unhelpful, in the APO Lanthar images. By the time I realized my error, the sun’s angle had changed, so the next set of APO Lanthar images, without corrections, were less valuable for comparison. I will need to try again, during a sunny morning, when the sun is similarly harsh, but again at a low angle.

Even with the errors/flubs, it is obvious that the APO Lanthar resists flare quite well, which is the significant reason I bought it, in spite of already having pre-/non-APO Summicrons. I was already switching to my Zeiss Distagon 35mm f/1.4 ZM, when I wanted to avoid flare, in harsh low-angle sunlight. Now, I can do the same, with a well-corrected, flat-field 50mm lens.

Aug 09, 2023 at 09:18 AM

thrice
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p.90 #6 · p.90 #6 · Voigtlander 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar Review

Surely you are far better served by making flats. Are you using a spectrally modified camera? If so, you will probably need to make flats. One set focused at infinity at your taking aperture (likely f2.0 to avoid diffraction spikes that will ruin stitching) should be sufficient.

primeshooter wrote:
Yes. I do 40 to 50 image mosaics of the night sky. The lens profile for vignetting is needed to get a seemless mosaic.

Aug 10, 2023 at 05:18 AM

philip_pj
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p.90 #7 · p.90 #7 · Voigtlander 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar Review

We are slowly seeing more reviews and observations about this lens, which is now available in three mounts: the two identical designs in E and Z mount and the quite distinct VM lens made for Leica M. The E/Z lenses have five APD and two asph elements, the VM is composed of two APD and two asph elements, and element spacing differs substantially as well. It's a point not often made in reviews, in fact I have not seen anyone mention this rather significant fact.

Nevertheless, the two versions share major characteristics. The one I want to talk about is the lovely presentation of out-of-focus content. It also receives no real commentary, people seem to simply see bokeh OR in-focus content in images, and they tend to shoot close-ups almost exclusively. The Leica tradition is for broad and near-complete bokeh, and many reviews equate this quality and the ensuing separation with lens excellence - for them, more is better.

But some are seeing, even if they do not explain it well. The essence is that the treatment of fading content is of key importance to the three dimensional effect of the short APOs from Cosina. [I say 'from Cosina' because many CZ lenses have this quality as well.]

Jimmy Cheng's video - which is ideal in that he presents quite a number of images - at 1.00 shows the tripod image where the CV 50/2 has clearly more sparkle in highlights and more definition in the background bushes. Jimmy also does not appear to know about the effect of the VM's round aperture at f2.8 - see 1:44 for this (unique CV?) effect.

Another video from Nikon shooter Michael Cantwell shows the desirable sparkle effect as well, at 3:10 in a lengthy examination of a less-than-ideal image, where the Z vsn is compared with Nikon's very good 50/1.8 S. He witnesses something else of related importance: the CV lens has much greater DOF. [There are still many who believe in the accuracy of DOF scales]. Michael thinks he missed focus at one stage. You can also see stronger colour separation in this image very clearly.

What's it mean? You can obtain very effective images with fine depth cues, strong colour separation and greater DOF than many other respected 50mm lenses, at f2-f2.8. These characteristics also show at small apertures but are less obvious - people just 'like the images' shot at f5.6-f8. There is a Steve Huff comparo against the Leica 50/2 APO which shows better colour separation and depth from his VM as well, in the 'gazing ball' image, at expanded size. None of them mentions it, they have different priorities.

YT video titles/links:

Jimmy Cheng: Voigtlander 50mm APO vs. Leica 50mm APO and Summilux ASPH | A detailed comparison review
Michael Cantwell: Voigtlander 50mm F2 Apo vs. Nikon 50mm F1.8 S lens
Steve Huff: https://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2021/08/17/crazy-comparison-leica-50-apo-vs-voigtlander-50-apo-a-9k-vs-1k-lens/

Aug 12, 2023 at 09:53 PM

Abuttolph
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p.90 #8 · p.90 #8 · Voigtlander 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar Review

The image was cropped. I love the sharpness and contrast with this lens, makes a terrific tool for punchy black and white images.

Lost Struggle

Aug 16, 2023 at 10:55 AM

fededuran
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p.90 #9 · p.90 #9 · Voigtlander 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar Review

I purchased this lens two months ago in M mount and even owning the 50mm summilux I'll say this is a terrific option not only for landscape or street photography, but also for portraiture (specially in bnw).

I'd like to ask to others photographers who use this Apo Lanthar but also the 35mm version if they feel the bigger size of the later makes such a noticeable difference in user ergonomics and experience or if the 35mm is also a perfectly fine option (I come from sony alphas and gfx 100s, so my concept of big and bulky maybe is not the same than a rangefinder only user).

I'm asking this because I'm thinking of adding the 35 to the 50 knowing that IQ-wise they are very similar.

Aug 18, 2023 at 08:52 AM

lensfan
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p.90 #10 · p.90 #10 · Voigtlander 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar Review

I like 50APO more than 35APO.
50APO is probably the best lens for E-mount optically, I'd say with Samyang 135 1.8.
35APO has longer barrel than 50APO and is less optically. I feel it is close to 35GM in size/weight, so I use 35GM more than any other 35mm. If I want a smaller 35mm, I go for 40G, Zony 35 2.8, Loxia 35 before I go for 35APO...

Aug 18, 2023 at 09:24 AM

fededuran
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p.90 #11 · p.90 #11 · Voigtlander 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar Review

I'm a former sony shooter and use to own the 35nm GM. I don't particularly like its rendering, specially when we talk about the skin in a portrait. I don't see this chicken skin texture in the 50mm Apo Lanthar and wonder if the 35mm keeps the same spirit with acceptable ergonomics.

lensfan wrote:
I like 50APO more than 35APO.
50APO is probably the best lens for E-mount optically, I'd say with Samyang 135 1.8.
35APO has longer barrel than 50APO and is less optically. I feel it is close to 35GM in size/weight, so I use 35GM more than any other 35mm. If I want a smaller 35mm, I go for 40G, Zony 35 2.8, Loxia 35 before I go for 35APO...

Aug 18, 2023 at 09:47 AM

tsdevine
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p.90 #12 · p.90 #12 · Voigtlander 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar Review

That's interesting. I don't have the 35 GM, but I do have the E mount CV AL 35 & 50. I have to be very carful when I pull them out of the bag, as I have often mounted the wrong one on the camera (based on what I was intending.)

From B&H

35/2 AL
Dimensions: 2.5 x 2.6" / 62.6 x 67.3 mm
Weight: 12.4 oz / 352 g

50/2 AL
Dimensions: 2.46 x 2.41" / 62.6 x 61.3 mm
Weight: 12.84 oz / 364 g

35/1.4 GM
Dimensions: 3 x 3.8" / 76 x 96 mm
Weight: 1.2 lb / 524 g

Without hood and caps the CV 35/2 AL is actually lighter than the 50/2, and given the hood is smaller on the 35/2 I would expect with hood it is still measurably lighter. The CV 35/2 AL is much closer to the size and weight of the 50/2 AL than it is the GM 35.
I have the 24 GM, which I think is smaller and lighter than the 35 GM. I can tell you there is no way I'd mistake the 24mm GM with either of the CVs based on size and weight feel. (There are other tactile differences in the feel of the lens that would make it really obvious though, but size and weight alone would be enough to have me not mix them up....)

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/compare/Voigtlander_APO-LANTHAR+50mm+f_2+Aspherical+Lens+for+Sony+E_vs_Voigtlander_APO-LANTHAR+35mm+f_2+Aspherical+Lens+for+Sony+E_vs_Sony_FE+35mm+f_1.4+GM+Lens/BHitems/1526146-REG_1626272-REG_1613424-STUD

lensfan wrote:
I like 50APO more than 35APO.
50APO is probably the best lens for E-mount optically, I'd say with Samyang 135 1.8.
35APO has longer barrel than 50APO and is less optically. I feel it is close to 35GM in size/weight, so I use 35GM more than any other 35mm. If I want a smaller 35mm, I go for 40G, Zony 35 2.8, Loxia 35 before I go for 35APO...

Aug 18, 2023 at 11:01 AM

lensfan
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p.90 #13 · p.90 #13 · Voigtlander 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar Review

tsdevine wrote:
That's interesting. I don't have the 35 GM, but I do have the E mount CV AL 35 & 50. I have to be very carful when I pull them out of the bag, as I have often mounted the wrong one on the camera (based on what I was intending.)

From B&H

35/2 AL
Dimensions: 2.5 x 2.6" / 62.6 x 67.3 mm
Weight: 12.4 oz / 352 g

50/2 AL
Dimensions: 2.46 x 2.41" / 62.6 x 61.3 mm
Weight: 12.84 oz / 364 g

35/1.4 GM
Dimensions: 3 x 3.8" / 76 x 96 mm
Weight: 1.2 lb / 524 g

Without hood and caps the CV 35/2...Show more →

Maybe on paper the difference is not that significant but each time I put 35APO on a camera it feels and looks long and heavy for a manual f2 I'd love to carry. I don't use hoods on small lenses but adding Hoya HD3 to it adds even more length.

In my mind 50APO always battles 50GM 1.2 and wins in size/weight/performance across the frame at any aperture.
On the other hand 35APO is very close to 35GM in size/weight and loses in performance, lacks autofocus.
Overall, I see 35APO as bulky while I don't have similar thoughts about 50APO when I use it.

Aug 18, 2023 at 11:33 AM

lensfan
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p.90 #14 · p.90 #14 · Voigtlander 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar Review

I decided to put the competition side by side.
Funny enough, most fun recently comes from shooting 24G and 40G.

Aug 18, 2023 at 11:53 AM

fededuran
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p.90 #15 · p.90 #15 · Voigtlander 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar Review

"On the other hand 35APO is very close to 35GM in size/weight and loses in performance, lacks autofocus".

Revisiting Fred's review of the CV 35 Apo Lanthar, I understand this one is optically superior to the 35GM, but maybe that's not the case. Everyone has different tastes and rendering wise it is even more obvious. Thanks for the size comparison!

lensfan wrote:
Maybe on paper the difference is not that significant but each time I put 35APO on a camera it feels and looks long and heavy for a manual f2 I'd love to carry. I don't use hoods on small lenses but adding Hoya HD3 to it adds even more length.

Aug 18, 2023 at 12:06 PM

lensfan
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p.90 #16 · p.90 #16 · Voigtlander 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar Review

fededuran wrote:
"On the other hand 35APO is very close to 35GM in size/weight and loses in performance, lacks autofocus".

Revisiting Fred's review of the CV 35 Apo Lanthar, I understand this one is optically superior to the 35GM, but maybe that's not the case. Everyone has different tastes and rendering wise it is even more obvious. Thanks for the size comparison!

Resolution charts I saved from Lenstip. 35GM has extra f-stop, fast and reliable autofocus - these make me choose 35GM over 35APO.

Aug 18, 2023 at 12:12 PM

fededuran
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p.90 #17 · p.90 #17 · Voigtlander 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar Review

If the 35 renders like the 50 (consider that I use an M all manual system), I'd go for the 35 all the way.

lensfan wrote:
Resolution charts I saved from Lenstip. 35GM has extra f-stop, fast and reliable autofocus - these make me choose 35GM over 35APO.

Aug 18, 2023 at 12:21 PM

lensfan
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p.90 #18 · p.90 #18 · Voigtlander 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar Review

fededuran wrote:
If the 35 renders like the 50 (consider that I use an M all manual system), I'd go for the 35 all the way.

Frankly, I'm not a big fan of 35mm. I just think it is flat and boring focal length. 35GM is too "perfect". But I use it as a one lens solution for travel. 35GM is perfect for that - can-do-it-all lens paired with 61mpix body.
I love 50GM 1.2 rendering more - I believe it is the best lens ever made. Must have. 50APO incredible too, but it does not have sublime AF at f1.2.

Aug 18, 2023 at 12:24 PM

zugzwang2
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p.90 #19 · p.90 #19 · Voigtlander 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar Review

lensfan wrote:
I decided to put the competition side by side.

Ah, now I can see that the 35 APO is much larger than the 50 APO and that the 35 APO is very close to 35GM in size.

Edited on Aug 18, 2023 at 12:35 PM · View previous versions

Aug 18, 2023 at 12:32 PM

lensfan
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p.90 #20 · p.90 #20 · Voigtlander 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar Review

zugzwang2 wrote:
Ah, now I can see that the 35 APO is much larger than the 50 APO and that 35 APO is very close to 35GM in size.

You are forgetting to factor in 1-stop + 2 linear motors.

Of course there is weight and volume difference, but all things considered basically same size.

Charts show optically they are almost identical at similar apertures. I had the same impression when I was looking at Fred's comparison.
35APO has definitely less fringing, while 35GM shows some at close focus when there is a lot of contrast.

Between 35APO vs 50APO on camera - 35APO feels loooong.

Edited on Aug 18, 2023 at 12:38 PM · View previous versions

Aug 18, 2023 at 12:34 PM

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