Henning wrote:
Unfortunately, that spec sheet is wrong. Even looking at the images of the lenses (v1 vs. current version) it's clear that they are almost the same length. The current version is larger in diameter by a bit, and maybe 2mm longer, but no more than that. Definitely noticeably shorter than the Apo-Lanthar. Just compare the size of the mount diameter to the lens length with the assumption that the images weren't compressed differentially in the two axes.
This type of mistake in the specifications that are published in lens pdf's is hardly unusual in Leica's case, and for that matter, also in other manufactureres'.
Whether this matters to anyone is of course a different topic....Show more →
But it is the spec sheet for the latest version that is wrong, no? You seem to have the latest version. Can you give us the measured specs. I had, version one of the lens (28 cron Asph), and I am pretty sure the spec sheet for that is correct with a diameter of 53mm, a length of just over 40mm and a weight of about 270g. Is the latest version basically a 58mm diameter, a length of 42mm, and a weight of 275g? If so, Leica just got the length wrong and perhaps measured length from the back of the bayonet rather than from the lens mount.
Steve Spencer wrote:
I am pretty sure the spec sheet for that is correct with a diameter of 53mm, a length of just over 40mm and a weight of about 270g. Is the latest version basically a 58mm diameter, a length of 42mm, and a weight of 275g? If so, Leica just got the length wrong and perhaps measured length from the back of the bayonet rather than from the lens mount.
This points to inexperienced staff in both market and mechanical engineering. The ME, when asked, sets the markers to measure the whole object length in their CAD tool - rather than the flange to front face distance. Both should know better. This is also why there have been so many basic design errors with hoods and filters on new lenses. Maybe Leica M cameras and lenses are now just too expensive for recent graduates to afford.
Just for those curious,
It looks like the Voigtlander 28mm f/2 APO-Lanthar is shaping up to be a very popular lens for Cosina. Right now, there's no stock available anywhere, so hopefully production will ramp up soon. If you already managed to purchase one, consider yourself lucky!
My review copy went back to CameraQuest today so others can get a chance to test it and share their impressions.
Because of the FL, it may not end up being as popular as the Voigtlander 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar, which I considered one of the best 50mm lenses in M-mount when it was released. But in this case, Leica doesn't really have anything that competes directly. The only lenses that come close in terms of performance and rendering are the Voigtlander 28mm f/2 Ultron II and the Leica 28mm f/2 Summicron, but neither really reaches the same level of CA correction and refinement as the APO-Lanthar.
Fred Miranda wrote:
Just for those curious,
It looks like the Voigtlander 28mm f/2 APO-Lanthar is shaping up to be a very popular lens for Cosina. Right now, there's no stock available anywhere, so hopefully production will ramp up soon. If you already managed to purchase one, consider yourself lucky!
My review copy went back to CameraQuest today so others can get a chance to test it and share their impressions.
Because of the FL, it may not end up being as popular as the Voigtlander 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar, which I considered one of the best 50mm lenses in M-mount when it was released. But in this case, Leica doesn't really have anything that competes directly. The only lenses that come close in terms of performance and rendering are the Voigtlander 28mm f/2 Ultron II and the Leica 28mm f/2 Summicron, but neither really reaches the same level of CA correction and refinement as the APO-Lanthar....Show more →
I stopped by MAP Camera on Sunday in Tokyo, they were out of stock. I stopped by another nearby store and they did not have it either.
Can't say which of those stores would be good to buy from as I haven't personally bought anything from those. Many of them seems to be in other parts of Japan (not in Tokyo). Some of them seem to also sell online only. I usually buy my new CV glass from Map Camera, Fujiya Camera or from Ogisaku Camera (Ogikubo Sakuraya near Okigubo station, their in-store stock can't be checked from their website).
Fred Miranda wrote:
Just for those curious,
It looks like the Voigtlander 28mm f/2 APO-Lanthar is shaping up to be a very popular lens for Cosina. Right now, there's no stock available anywhere, so hopefully production will ramp up soon.
Do we have figures concerning both production and sales volumes?
It would be interesting to know how niche VM lenses are, and how sales of E- and Z-mount Apo-Lanthars (i.e., 35/2 & 50/2) compare to M-mount siblings.
Anyway, the VM 28/2 AL seems available from the Italian importer: https://fotoimport.it/prodotti/obiettivi/serie-vm-attacco-a-baionetta-leica-m/
Can't say which of those stores would be good to buy from as I haven't personally bought anything from those. Many of them seems to be in other parts of Japan (not in Tokyo). Some of them seem to also sell online only. I usually buy my new CV glass from Map Camera, Fujiya Camera or from Ogisaku Camera (Ogikubo Sakuraya near Okigubo station, their in-store stock can't be checked from their website).
BruceRH wrote:
Thank you for the information, I will check some of those next time.
You're lucky to be walking the streets of Tokyo, hopping from one camera store to the next. I had so much fun doing that myself, especially with Juha there to guide me!
But it seems you were able to create some fringing.
Can one assume that the wider we go, the less APO corrected the APO lenses are (or, in other words, the wider we go, the more difficult is to correct the lenses)?
catacore wrote:
Can one assume that the wider we go, the less APO corrected the APO lenses are (or, in other words, the wider we go, the more difficult is to correct the lenses)?
In my experience, the 28mm is corrected far better than the 35mm Apo Lanthar. In my opinion, the 35mm doesn’t even deserve the “Apo” badge.
gammarART wrote:
In my experience, the 28mm is corrected far better than the 35mm Apo Lanthar. In my opinion, the 35mm doesn’t even deserve the “Apo” badge.
I think that might be a bit of an overstatement. The Voigtlander 35mm f/2 APO-Lanthar is actually very well corrected for both axial and lateral CA. Only minimal traces show up when scrutinizing the files, and that's typically under challenging very high contrast lighting. Even the best lenses are not entirely free of color error, including the Voigtlander 50mm f/2 APO and even the new 28mm f/2. If there’s any fringing in your images, a non-APO lens like the Leica 35mm f/2 Summicron or Sigma 35mm f/2 Contemporary would typically show much more.
What qualifies a lens as apochromatic isn't the complete absence of color fringing but rather how well it controls it through optical design. In the case of the APO-Lanthar lenses, Cosina uses a combination of special low-dispersion elements and high-refractive index glass to bring the 3 primary wavelengths of light (red, green, and blue) into the same focal plane. This is the core of what defines an apochromatic correction..
The 35mm f/2 APO-Lanthar in particular includes several anomalous partial dispersion elements along with aspherical surfaces to reduce both axial and lateral CA to a level that is difficult to see in most real-world use. This puts it in a different class from most standard fast 35mm lenses, which usually prioritize speed and compactness over extreme correction. That's also why the 35mm f/2 APO is relatively large for its FL and speed.
My main complaint about the Voigtlander 35mm f/2 APO-Lanthar isn't about its CA correction or rendering. In fact, I prefer its more structured look, even though it's not for everyone. The real drawback, especially for the M-mount version, is the size and the way it blocks the frameline.
Hopefully, Cosina will find a way to make it more compact without sacrificing IQ, like they did with the CV 35/1.2 Nokton.
I found a new 28/2 AL VM at a good in-store price (111720 JPY including tax at Ogikubo Sakuraya, I'm often surprised at how good the prices can be in their physical store) so I picked it up to experiment with it while waiting for E-mount version.
I figured I can trade it in later without losing too much money in the process.
Field Curvature on my A7CII at infinity is definitely noticeable due to the thicker filter stack (like reported by Fred from his testing). Will be also playing with it on my Sigma fp.
Fred Miranda wrote:
Just for those curious,
It looks like the Voigtlander 28mm f/2 APO-Lanthar is shaping up to be a very popular lens for Cosina. Right now, there's no stock available anywhere, so hopefully production will ramp up soon. If you already managed to purchase one, consider yourself lucky!
My review copy went back to CameraQuest today so others can get a chance to test it and share their impressions.
Because of the FL, it may not end up being as popular as the Voigtlander 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar, which I considered one of the best 50mm lenses in M-mount when it was released. But in this case, Leica doesn't really have anything that competes directly. The only lenses that come close in terms of performance and rendering are the Voigtlander 28mm f/2 Ultron II and the Leica 28mm f/2 Summicron, but neither really reaches the same level of CA correction and refinement as the APO-Lanthar....Show more →
Most places don’t even list it, let alone have it in stock.
On the one hand, this lens intrigues me. On the other, I’m not sure I need the performance for what I shoot with 28mm. The irony for me is that in 28mm I have the only Leica lens, albeit the lowly Elmarit. All my other M lenses are VL and Zeiss.
when available on B&H, i am planning get this to use on my Fuji x cameras. wondering if I can fit a square hood on this lens like the ones on Leica Q3 and 43. All seems to have filter size of 49mm, but not sure if i get a hood made for q343 work with this lens. Is there anyone who would know this? thanks!
Some Chinese brands like Haoge and Tahusa should release a square variant at some point. Will vignette on full frame but apsc should be fine. In meantime can prolly use a screw on variant if they have the secondary centering adjustment ring.
mattbacon wrote:
when available on B&H, i am planning get this to use on my Fuji x cameras. wondering if I can fit a square hood on this lens like the ones on Leica Q3 and 43. All seems to have filter size of 49mm, but not sure if i get a hood made for q343 work with this lens. Is there anyone who would know this? thanks!
Voigtländer/Cosina normally acts very cost efficient: the sun shade bayonet of E52 lenses (Nokton 1.2/35, 1.2/40 and 1.2/50) is the same, likewise for E43 lenses (Nokton 1.4/35, Nokton 1.4/40, Biogon 2/35, Planar 2/50 and Nokton 1.5/28) and for E49 lenses (Lanthar 2/50, Lanthar 2/35, Distagon 1.4/35).
Possibly the new Lanthar 2/28 continues the sequence. If so (easy to check if someone has access to one of the pairing lenses) it could be checked if the 35mm hood vignettes or not (the Nokton 35 shade does not vignette on the 28mm). If it shades, there is already a squared hood by Haoge for the 35mm Distagon that could work.
I don’t know and I do not encourage anybody to spend money to try out, but it would be nice to know if the bayonet is the same and how much a 35mm hood would vignette stopped down.
Finally available for pre-order at B&H Photo. The next shipment might take a while, and I was told this lens will likely be backordered for some time, so it's best to get your pre-order in now.
It would be interesting to see how the 28/2 AL does compare to the Simera 28/1.4 ...
Probably at f/2-f/2.8 the AL is sharper across the frame; the Voigt suffers less from ghosting and flare, but what about rendering?
