Just spoke with Stephen at camera quest the official distributor for the 28 apo in z mount. I have one on the way and supplies are running low. If you really want one, i suggest you move fast.
Late to this conversation but I’m just wondering if this guy is supposed to be the same lens as the 35 apo except as a 28 or is there something else different about it?
A quite different design, similar outcome. Very high resolution. 28s, in my opinion, are easier to make. A very important focal length. Specs tell all:
Sorry, but I have to go on a little rant regarding Voigtländer's design of Z mount lenses, specifically their choice for filter sizes:
Initially they wanted to stick to what had been Nikon's standard filter thread sizes for ages: 52mm and 62mm.
But because Z mount is so wide it resulted in the APO lenses looking a bit odd when not mounted to a camera. They "fixed" this by making the lens barrels wider and moving to a 58mm filter thread.
And this is what I don't get: all their lenses now have a diameter that would easily allow standardizing to a 62mm filter thread and yet we end up with a mix of 58mm and 62mm. It makes zero sense to me..
I guess I'm just a bit pissed because I spent almost 100€ on a bunch of Heliopan brass step up rings yesterday. AND my 28mm APO hasn't shipped yet either..
'the 28/2 APO should have a better bokeh than 35's.'
Inquiry was re 'be the same lens as the 35 apo except as a 28', so I focused on keeping it simple with respect to performance, as for most APO users that is the key interest. You're unusual.
28mm is often an excellent FL for out-of-focus content, my favourite of the wides in fact for background content. The 28/2 APO repro ratio is 1:6.9, we see 1:6.8 for the 35/2 APO; weight 325g down from 352g; MTF much the same, except the 28mm is stronger wide open for broad edges (10lpmm). 8mm shorter, same diameter. Shorter MFD, 0.28m vs 0.35, both are very good.
Design is different in key respects (to me), the 35/2 APO is already five years old this year. Here, Cosina are stepping away from the 'row of glass slices' seen in the 35's 11/9 config; the 28mm has some of the coming arrangements of more achromat doublets in the 12/8 configuration they chose. (doublets may be air-spaced or cemented, both arrangements are used in high end lenses.)
Leica's 35/2 APO and Noct 35/1.2 are both 10/5 designs, each with three doublets and a triplet, to give you some idea where things are heading. Thypoch's 28/1.4 runs four doublets in an 11/7. Twop of these three lenses were warmly received, and the Noct will join them, even at its very high price.
So the 28/2 APO has twice as many doublets as the 35/2 APO, in fact. Two of these are traditional flint/crown glass groups (up from one) and two are both APD element pairs in the back of the lens (also up from one such). It's a more even correction throughout the lens block whereas the 35mm does most of it at the rear of the lens, presumably using differential RIs in those APD doublets.
It's more modern Leica/Chinese in character in these respects, and yes, I would hope for better bokeh in such a design plus more perceptible image depth and a smoother transition zone - the very important ingredient that links the edge of the DOF field to the onset of the bokeh field. This design tendency helps 28s to appear longer in FL, better for portraits/general and it opens the door wider for creative photography, such as yours. (and mine). MFD compositions benefit.
3D gains from these moves, without CV saying any of this. We had a soft mention in passing from the new Noktilux chief designer, of three dimensionality. The very thing that gets you heartily rubbished here is quietly becoming acceptable. And that adds to the natural 3D from a 28mm. Smoothness matters greatly.
It has a rounded aperture only wide open at f2. No idea why, they don't talk much, even to their distributors. Maybe someone in Japan can ask.
So not a targeted portrait-friendly or ideal close-to-wide-open option. They have the 28/1.5 (0.28m MFD also), but I understand it also lacks stopped-down circularity, where it is a more egregious oversight.
And high blade counts are still seen as a natty adjunct rather than a serious image-enhancing feature, despite them being used in the latest and greatest from Zeiss Supremes (16 and 18) and Leica Thalia (15) in cine. (The stills folks are wrong about that, in a 2026 context anyway).
I ordered mine from Cameraquest.com on Friday afternoon, got a tracking number in a few hours, and it arrived this morning (Monday) as it was shipped UPS Overnight. My guess, you will get it tomorrow.
The 28mm APO for Z mount is about the same size as the 40mm Nokton, which is what I plan to pair up on the Zf. Very happy with the purchase.
jrscls wrote:
I ordered mine from Cameraquest.com on Friday afternoon, got a tracking number in a few hours, and it arrived this morning (Monday) as it was shipped UPS Overnight. My guess, you will get it tomorrow.
The 28mm APO for Z mount is about the same size as the 40mm Nokton, which is what I plan to pair up on the Zf. Very happy with the purchase.
I also have the 40 1.2 Nokton. 35 f2 & 50 f2 APO also. version 1. I am not crazy on how long the 35 & 50 are. But the 40mm 1.2 is perfect size.
jrscls wrote:
I ordered mine from Cameraquest.com on Friday afternoon, got a tracking number in a few hours, and it arrived this morning (Monday) as it was shipped UPS Overnight. My guess, you will get it tomorrow.
The 28mm APO for Z mount is about the same size as the 40mm Nokton, which is what I plan to pair up on the Zf. Very happy with the purchase.
This time the US deliveries are faster than in Europe. Still no trace of the 28/2 APO for Nikon here.
Jorge Torralba wrote:
results on the zf look amazing.
btw, does exif show its the voigtlander 28? my other z mount lenses dont record the lens model but they do record aperture.
Thanks! I have the Z mount version of the 28 APO and according LR, the exif is reported as 28mm f/2, which is the same as my 40 Nokton that is simply reported as 40mm f/1.2.
In case of E-mount, the lens details including model info (such as Voigtlander APO-Lanthar) are shown in EXIF in addition to focal length and aperture. I don't have the exact strings at hand now since I'm away on a business trip but I've observed those details before. It's the same situation with other CV E-mount lenses.
Juha Kannisto wrote:
In case of E-mount, the lens details including model info (such as Voigtlander APO-Lanthar) are shown in EXIF in addition to focal length and aperture. I don't have the exact strings at hand now since I'm away on a business trip but I've observed those details before. It's the same situation with other CV E-mount lenses.
Exactly correct. I can confirm that photos I've taken with my E-mount version report it as "Voigtlander APO-LANTHAR 28mm F2 Aspherical" in Lightroom as well as showing the aperture they were taken at.
BTW, I have the Z mount version lets you get insanely close to your subject. almost like shooting macro. Will have some pictures up later. Butthe balance and feel is very nice on the ZF.
Jorge Torralba wrote:
BTW, I have the Z mount version lets you get insanely close to your subject. almost like shooting macro. Will have some pictures up later. Butthe balance and feel is very nice on the ZF.
Hm I’d say 0.28m close focus isn’t bad but it’s also nothing super special.
The CV 28mm APO has a reproduction ratio of 1:6.9
In comparison:
Nikon 28mm f1.4E does 1:5.5
Nikon Z 28mm f2.8 does 1:5
Nikon 28mm f1.8G does 1:4.3
Nikon Ai-S 28mm f2.8 does 1:3.9
Voigtländer SL II 28mm f2.8 does 1:2.3
So as far as 28mm prime lenses for Nikon goes, the CV APO has the least exciting minimum focus distance.
Still looking forward to it - my copy should arrive on Monday
fjablo wrote:
Hm I’d say 0.28m close focus isn’t bad but it’s also nothing super special.
The CV 28mm APO has a reproduction ratio of 1:6.9
In comparison:
Nikon 28mm f1.4E does 1:5.5
Nikon Z 28mm f2.8 does 1:5
Nikon 28mm f1.8G does 1:4.3
Nikon Ai-S 28mm f2.8 does 1:3.9
Voigtländer SL II 28mm f2.8 does 1:2.3
So as far as 28mm prime lenses for Nikon goes, the CV APO has the least exciting minimum focus distance.
Still looking forward to it - my copy should arrive on Monday
The CV 28mm f/2 APO-Lanthar is apochromatic and doesn't push for super close focus. Its design favors ultimate optical correction and more balanced IQ across shooting distances rather than chasing high magnification.
Wide-angle lenses naturally struggle up close, but the APO-Lanthar keeps IQ consistent from center to edges, with near-zero CA, excellent resolution at MFD. Other 28mm lenses might get higher magnification, but they usually sacrifice sharpness, lower contrast (SA) or show more fringing. This lens trades a bit of close-up reach for consistent performance where most people actually use a 28mm f/2: landscapes, street, and general photography.
I always thought the E-mount and Z-mount versions focusing down to 0.28m (giving 1:6.9 magnification) was impressively close compared to the M-mount version (0.5m via LV). But putting it in perspective (like you said) your list shows many native mirrorless options (especially AF ones) go even closer because they have different priorities.
