Home · Register · Join Upload & Sell

Moderated by: Fred Miranda

New fredmiranda.com Mobile Site

New Feature: SMS Notification alert

New Feature: Buy & Sell Watchlist

FM Forums | Leica & Alternative Gear | Join Upload & Sell

3 … 18 19 end

Voigtlander 50mm f/3.5 APO-Lanthar Review

raizans
Offline
•
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #1 · p.2 #1 · Voigtlander 50mm f/3.5 APO-Lanthar Review

I’m quietly pleased that it doesn’t have aspherical elements. Onion rings are especially visible on digital.

Aug 12, 2024 at 03:56 PM

Desmolicious
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #2 · p.2 #2 · Voigtlander 50mm f/3.5 APO-Lanthar Review

Fred Miranda wrote...
As for your question: If I had silver chrome brass M bodies, I would definitely choose the Type II Silver Chrome; it’s stunning. However, for my M cameras, I would probably opt for the Black Paint to match the finish of my M-D, M-P, and M10-R.

Over the panda v1? I know I am now used to the aperture dial rotating w the focus as a user of the C 28 2.8 v1 and CV 40 2.8, but given the choice of getting these optics w/o that feature?

Aug 12, 2024 at 04:03 PM

highdesertmesa
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #3 · p.2 #3 · Voigtlander 50mm f/3.5 APO-Lanthar Review

Fred Miranda wrote:
The key question for me is whether I'd swap my Voigtlander 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar for the f/3.5 version. Since I mostly use APO lenses stopped down a bit, it's something I'm considering. I'll make a final decision at the end of this review once I have a clearer understanding of how the lens performs and compares.

As for your question: If I had silver chrome brass M bodies, I would definitely choose the Type II Silver Chrome; it’s stunning. However, for my M cameras, I would probably opt for the Black Paint to match the finish of my M-D, M-P,...Show more →

Fred, don’t sell the 50 f2 APO since you have an optimal copy. Just shelf it if you have to!

The 50 f2 APO isn’t just their best lens for the more obvious reasons, but also because IMO the look at f/2 at close to mid distance gives subject separation reminiscent of 6x7 medium format shot on some of the best lenses of the era (Mamiya 6/7, Fuji’s fixed lens 6x7/6x9 cameras, Plaubel Makina, etc.).

[post edited to remove incorrect info about the lens being discontinued as that was just for the Z mount versions]

Edited on Aug 12, 2024 at 11:06 PM · View previous versions

Aug 12, 2024 at 04:14 PM

Fred Miranda
Offline
Admin
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #4 · p.2 #4 · Voigtlander 50mm f/3.5 APO-Lanthar Review

Desmolicious wrote:
Over the panda v1? I know I am now used to the aperture dial rotating w the focus as a user of the C 28 2.8 v1 and CV 40 2.8, but given the choice of getting these optics w/o that feature?

I'm really interested in the Type I "panda" look, but I need to handle one before making a final decision. Right now, I'm leaning towards the Type II Black paint because it weighs just 175 grams. I don’t mind the aperture/focus linkage—it actually slows me down, which I consider a benefit.

Aug 12, 2024 at 04:23 PM

Fred Miranda
Offline
Admin
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #5 · p.2 #5 · Voigtlander 50mm f/3.5 APO-Lanthar Review

highdesertmesa wrote:
Fred, don’t sell the 50 f2 APO since 1) they are discontinuing it, and 2) you have an optimal copy. Just shelf it if you have to!

The 50 f2 APO isn’t just their best lens for the more obvious reasons, but also because IMO the look at f/2 at close to mid distance gives subject separation reminiscent of 6x7 medium format shot on some of the best lenses of the era (Mamiya 6/7, Fuji’s fixed lens 6x7/6x9 cameras, Plaubel Makina, etc.).

That's true. I often test multiple copies to find one that I consider optimal and centered. My CV 50/2 APO is one such lens. It might feel a bit large at times, but I really like the image quality it produces. Without the hood, it slightly blocks the 50mm framelines, but I don't see it as a major issue. I can't say the same about my Noct 50/1.

Using the CV 50/2 APO is very similar to using the much larger SL 50/2. I achieve comparable results with both.

Aug 12, 2024 at 04:29 PM

Fred Miranda
Offline
Admin
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #6 · p.2 #6 · Voigtlander 50mm f/3.5 APO-Lanthar Review

Back to Quick Links

Field Curvature

The Voigtlander 50mm f/3.5 APO-Lanthar maintains a flat field from close distances all the way to infinity. While most 50mm lenses exhibit outward field curvature, Cosina has designed this lens to be compact without sacrificing flatness. If there is any curvature, it's almost negligible at infinity. This design achievement is impressive and, in my opinion, crucial for a high performance lens. In contrast, the now-discontinued Voigtlander 50mm f/3.5 Heliar, also a high performer, had noticeable wavy field curvature that affected some long-distance images. This won’t be a concern with the APO-Lanthar!

Here’s a GIF animation showing the focus area from close distance to infinity in seven stages. You'll see that the depth of field is quite extensive, due to the f/3.5 aperture.

Aug 12, 2024 at 05:04 PM

Fred Miranda
Offline
Admin
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #7 · p.2 #7 · Voigtlander 50mm f/3.5 APO-Lanthar Review

Back to Quick Links

Infinity Resolution and Contrast compared to Voigtlander 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar on Leica M10-R (40MP)

The battle of the Titans is here!

Can the compact Voigtlander 50mm f/3.5 APO-Lanthar, with its 8 elements, rival the performance of Cosina's best lens ever made? The Voigtlander 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar (Review) is widely regarded as one of the top M-lenses available today. Cosina took great pride in it, incorporating all their latest technology, including 4 aspherical surfaces and two low dispersion elements. Its MTF graph is nearly perfect. So, how can a smaller lens with two fewer elements and no aspherical surfaces even come close? Remarkably, it not only competes but matches its performance!

In this test, I compared the CV 50/2 APO-Lanthar, starting at f/3.5, to the CV 50/3.5 APO-Lanthar, wide open. I didn’t expect the CV 50/3.5 lens to perform similarly, but it did surprisingly well. The 50/2 has an edge in terms of lower vignetting (since it’s nearly stopped down 2 stops) and might show a very slight advantage off-axis at f/3.5. However, the difference is so minor that variations between individual copies of these lenses could account for any perceived performance differences.

Another observation is that the CV 50mm f/3.5 APO-Lanthar has a narrower field of view compared to the CV 50/2 APO-Lanthar, as expected from the specifications provided by Cosina. Many might appreciate this, as the CV 50/3.5 APO-Lanthar behaves more like a true 50mm lens.

Distance: Infinity
Focus: Center - Best of three shots at maximum magnification
White Balance: Daylight
Both lenses are perfectly centered, as verified with my decentering test.
Software used: Lightroom with FM Default Landscape Sharpening; all other settings are at default.

PS: Vignetting, Chromatic Aberration (CA), and distortion were not corrected either in post-processing or in-camera.

Center Resolution and Contrast
Infinity Resolution and Contrast compared to Voigtlander 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar on Leica M10-R (40MP)

Center at f/3.5

Center at f/5.6

Center at f/8

Aug 12, 2024 at 05:20 PM

Fred Miranda
Offline
Admin
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #8 · p.2 #8 · Voigtlander 50mm f/3.5 APO-Lanthar Review

Mid-field Resolution and Contrast
Infinity Resolution and Contrast compared to Voigtlander 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar on Leica M10-R (40MP)

Mid-field at f/3.5:

Mid-field at f/5.6:

Mid-field at f/8:

Aug 12, 2024 at 05:20 PM

Fred Miranda
Offline
Admin
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #9 · p.2 #9 · Voigtlander 50mm f/3.5 APO-Lanthar Review

Extreme Corner Resolution and Contrast
Infinity Resolution and Contrast compared to Voigtlander 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar on Leica M10-R (40MP)

Extreme Corner at f/3.5:

Extreme Corner at f/5.6:

Extreme Corner at f/8:

Aug 12, 2024 at 05:20 PM

Fred Miranda
Offline
Admin
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #10 · p.2 #10 · Voigtlander 50mm f/3.5 APO-Lanthar Review

highdesertmesa wrote:
Fred, don’t sell the 50 f2 APO since 1) they are discontinuing it

Where did you hear that Cosina is discontinuing the CV 50/2 APO VM? I thought it was only the Z-mount version that was being discontinued.

Aug 12, 2024 at 06:45 PM

freaklikeme
Online
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #11 · p.2 #11 · Voigtlander 50mm f/3.5 APO-Lanthar Review

Yep. The black type II will be pre-ordered.

Aug 12, 2024 at 07:19 PM

highdesertmesa
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #12 · p.2 #12 · Voigtlander 50mm f/3.5 APO-Lanthar Review

Fred Miranda wrote:
Where did you hear that Cosina is discontinuing the CV 50/2 APO VM? I thought it was only the Z-mount version that was being discontinued.

Oh, jeez, my mistake. I just read the thread title, "Voigtlander 35/2 APO-Lanthar in stock for the last time" and didn't notice every single post in the thread referenced the Z. I probably saw it was in the Nikon forum but assumed it was cross-posted.

I do wonder if it means a version II will be coming for all the mounts. Not sure what they would improve on the M version, perhaps just get rid of the chrome ring, and everyone would buy a new copy

Aug 12, 2024 at 09:40 PM

highdesertmesa
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #13 · p.2 #13 · Voigtlander 50mm f/3.5 APO-Lanthar Review

Fred Miranda wrote:
Extreme Corner Resolution and Contrast
Infinity Resolution and Contrast: Voigtlander 50/3.5 APO-Lanthar vs Voigtlander 50/2 APO-Lanthar

Is it just me, or does the 3.5 look like it resolves ever so slightly more detail at 3.5 for both mid-frame and corners? I guess if I'm squinting this hard, they're pretty much equal.

Aug 12, 2024 at 09:44 PM

rscheffler
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #14 · p.2 #14 · Voigtlander 50mm f/3.5 APO-Lanthar Review

Fred Miranda wrote:
Extreme Corner Resolution and Contrast
Infinity Resolution and Contrast: Voigtlander 50/3.5 APO-Lanthar vs Voigtlander 50/2 APO-Lanthar

highdesertmesa wrote:
Is it just me, or does the 3.5 look like it resolves ever so slightly more detail at 3.5 for both mid-frame and corners? I guess if I'm squinting this hard, they're pretty much equal.

I don't know but it looks like the 50/2 has a slightly wider field of view, assuming identical framing. Is that the case?

Aug 12, 2024 at 10:15 PM

highdesertmesa
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #15 · p.2 #15 · Voigtlander 50mm f/3.5 APO-Lanthar Review

rscheffler wrote:
I don't know but it looks like the 50/2 has a slightly wider field of view, assuming identical framing. Is that the case?

Yes, he said so in post #7. I didn't think about that increasing detail slightly since it's a slightly closer view with the 3.5.

Another observation is that the CV 50mm f/3.5 APO-Lanthar has a narrower field of view compared to the CV 50/2 APO-Lanthar, as expected from the specifications provided by Cosina. Many might appreciate this, as the CV 50/3.5 APO-Lanthar behaves more like a true 50mm lens.

Aug 12, 2024 at 10:25 PM

Desmolicious
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.2 #16 · p.2 #16 · Voigtlander 50mm f/3.5 APO-Lanthar Review

highdesertmesa wrote:
Oh, jeez, my mistake. I just read the thread title, "Voigtlander 35/2 APO-Lanthar in stock for the last time" and didn't notice every single post in the thread referenced the Z. I probably saw it was in the Nikon forum but assumed it was cross-posted.

I do wonder if it means a version II will be coming for all the mounts. Not sure what they would improve on the M version, perhaps just get rid of the chrome ring, and everyone would buy a new copy

Maybe they are updating the line up with close focus versions?

Aug 12, 2024 at 10:38 PM

Fred Miranda
Offline
Admin
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #17 · p.2 #17 · Voigtlander 50mm f/3.5 APO-Lanthar Review

---------------------------------------------

Desmolicious wrote:
Maybe they are updating the line up with close focus versions?

I don’t have any info on this...Cosina is so secretive about their lens development that their releases always come as a surprise.

It’s fascinating how Leica seems to have discovered the fountain of youth with their “close-focus” strategy for existing M-lenses. By re-releasing their classic designs with added close-focus capabilities -- like they did with their 28mm, 35mm, and 50mm lenses -- they’re cashing in on a clever update. I wouldn’t be surprised if their 50mm f/2 APO gets a makeover soon. Cosina might see this as a golden opportunity to follow suit.

For those using the rangefinder for focusing, this may not be a crucial feature, but many Leica M body users do rely on live view.

Aug 12, 2024 at 10:50 PM

Fred Miranda
Offline
Admin
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #18 · p.2 #18 · Voigtlander 50mm f/3.5 APO-Lanthar Review

I tested sunstar rendering today and found it to be well-defined starting at f/4 (see below). You also get some definition wide open at f/3.5, but the shape is a bit uneven. I’ll do a more thorough test on a tripod and share the results soon.

Aug 12, 2024 at 11:00 PM

highdesertmesa
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #19 · p.2 #19 · Voigtlander 50mm f/3.5 APO-Lanthar Review

Fred Miranda wrote:
---------------------------------------------

I don’t have any info on this...Cosina is so secretive about their lens development that their releases always come as a surprise.

It’s fascinating how Leica seems to have discovered the fountain of youth with their “close-focus” strategy for existing M-lenses. By re-releasing their classic designs with added close-focus capabilities -- like they did with their 28mm, 35mm, and 50mm lenses -- they’re cashing in on a clever update. I wouldn’t be surprised if their 50mm f/2 APO gets a makeover soon. Cosina might see this as a golden opportunity to follow suit.

For those using the rangefinder for...Show more →

Close focus versions would make sense, especially when these new 50 3.5 APOs are focusing so close.

I do wish Voigtlander would port over the Z-mount aesthetic to their less whimsical M lens designs like the f/2 M APOs. The look of the CV "regular" M lenses is starting to look a bit dated. I know that's an odd thing to say about a retro lens company, but I feel like they could give the more normal-looking M lenses a minor refresh that moves away from the Zeiss ZM and Zeiss ZF/ZE look and splits the difference between that and the Leica lens' external designs.

Aug 12, 2024 at 11:01 PM

Steve Spencer
Online
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.2 #20 · p.2 #20 · Voigtlander 50mm f/3.5 APO-Lanthar Review

Desmolicious wrote:
Maybe they are updating the line up with close focus versions?

That would make a lot of sense given that they have floating elements and should perform well at close focus. They could easily do the same thing for the 21 f/1.4 that has floating elements as well.

Aug 13, 2024 at 06:32 AM

1 2 3 … 18 19 end
FM Forums \| Leica & Alternative Gear \| Join Upload & Sell 1 2 3 … 18 19 end

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.