aisnikkor wrote:
I was looking for a 'compact' replacement for the 28mm f/2.8 AiS lens, this one appeared to fit the bill. Not a huge fan of adapted lenses for a walk around setup, there is just something funky about the ergonomics. The awesome thing with the 28 APO is that it appears to have all the nice mechanical properties of a good MF lens coupled with absolutely top shelf image quality. This is my first Voightlander Z mount lens, but will very likely not be my last.
I wish my 40+ year old 28mm f/2.8 AiS was a confirmed good copy so I could make a direct + fair comparison with the new VZ 28/2 Apo. Alas, I suspect that two CLA's over the years--the most recent by Nikon service--have taken a toll on the precise alignment of the two CRC lens groups, yielding a less-than-optimal imaging performance. It's hard to imagine even the very best copy of the 28mm f/2.8 AiS outperforming this new VZ 28/2 Apo. EDIT: Borrowed a friend's 28/2.8 AiS that has never been serviced, and it performs similarly to mine. It's what $200 bought you in 1982.
Keith B. wrote:
I wish my 40+ year old 28mm f/2.8 AiS was a confirmed good copy so I could make a direct + fair comparison with the new VZ 28/2 Apo. Alas, I suspect that two CLA's over the years--the most recent by Nikon service--have taken a toll on the precise alignment of the two CRC lens groups, yielding a less-than-optimal imaging performance. It's hard to imagine even the very best copy of the 28mm f/2.8 AiS outperforming this new VZ 28/2 Apo. EDIT: Borrowed a friend's 28/2.8 AiS that has never been serviced, and it performs similarly to mine. It's what $200 bought you in 1982. ...Show more →
I have no doubt the 28 APO will outperform the 28 AiS. Part of what I was looking for was a 'compact' lens, to give a smaller walk around setup for the Z8. Like my 28 AiS on my D850. This 28 APO seems to fit that need nicely. Top shelf image quality is a huge/nice plus. None of the compact Nikon Z lenses have really interested me up to this point.
Just to double-check, the lens hood doesn’t make a click or is secured in a way when you attach it, right? It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve discovered a “hidden feature” months after buying something. 😅
HendrikV wrote:
Just to double-check, the lens hood doesn’t make a click or is secured in a way when you attach it, right? It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve discovered a “hidden feature” months after buying something. 😅
The Z mount version has a fairly sturdy detent to secure the hood. Not sure about the other mounts. Turn until you feel a stopping point then go just a little more, click!
aisnikkor wrote:
I have no doubt the 28 APO will outperform the 28 AiS. Part of what I was looking for was a 'compact' lens, to give a smaller walk around setup for the Z8. Like my 28 AiS on my D850. This 28 APO seems to fit that need nicely. Top shelf image quality is a huge/nice plus. None of the compact Nikon Z lenses have really interested me up to this point.
The old AiS 28/2.8 has now been moved into the realm of 'atmosphere' lenses. The less said about the Z plastic 28/2.8 the better.
HendrikV wrote:
Just to double-check, the lens hood doesn’t make a click or is secured in a way when you attach it, right? It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve discovered a “hidden feature” months after buying something. 😅
I can confirm on the M mount that there's definitely a satisfying click once the hood's locked in. That works also even when you put the hood on over the barrel itself to keep it compact for storage.
Vic Fontaine wrote:
The Z mount version has a fairly sturdy detent to secure the hood. Not sure about the other mounts. Turn until you feel a stopping point then go just a little more, click!
Thank you and Richardh54.
It turns out the locking click required a bit more force than I expected, but yes, it’s a very satisfying click once it locks into place. I’m glad I checked first, rather than risking damage. 👍🏻
It turns out the locking click required a bit more force than I expected, but yes, it’s a very satisfying click once it locks into place. I’m glad I checked first, rather than risking damage. 👍🏻
apologies, don't know how to upload photos correctly here but just wanted to share this and say I'm very happy this lens finally exists and that I purchased the z mount version. this is a cropped in super 35 4k screenshot with a film filter over it with the 28 apo, stopped down all the way to like f16, which I always thought was silly to do on a lens like this, but it doesn't become overly sharp nor too diffracted on this 28. I wish the aperture were declickable for Z mount for video like the E mount and otus lenses, but oh well. I think the APO lenses produce better results on digital because apparently older glass didn't cause as much chromatic aberration on film but on digital it can get quite ugly in my opinion, just like adapting an M mount lens to sony sensors. this lens still produces some and sonyalpha.blog ranks it as "worse" than the 35 and 50 apo because it is not quite as sharp, which I think is a good thing. The circular lens flares remind me of the 40 f2 EF/F mount but better, and I think the red and blue is nicer than magenta/green colored refraction/CA. Overall it will produce better corrected results than the leica 28mm options, and having shot on the q, q2, q2 monochrome, q3, and q3 43 for many years now I'm happy to have something that is finally better in every way. although the q3 and leica summicron f2 apo might produce sharper or higher contrast appearing images in the center at first glance due to their thin sensor stacks, overall, at close focus, stopped down, and in the corners, this new voigtlander is better. I think the color is better than the q3 using a nikon z8, but the SL cameras have a different warmer look. Of course, I do wish this lens had autofocus at nikon/canon/sony levels for stills. and the bokeh in the second image is actually better looking than the voigtlander 28 1.5 in my opinion.
A few tests with my new APO 28. More than with other lenses I have the idea that this lens can deliver much more resolution than my Z8 can. The files are also over 65 MB for RAWs and I have not seen that yet with other lenses.
Shu786 wrote:
DXO has been real good with supporting the Voigtlander lenses they release on Z mount. Probably will be added in the next batch of new lenses.
I asked DxO support and here is the answer:
"At the moment, the Voigtlander APO-Lanthar 28mm f/2 for Nikon Z does not appear in our list of supported lenses for DxO PureRAW 5, so it is not currently supported as a DxO Optics Module.
We unfortunately can’t confirm if/when a specific lens will be supported in a future update, but you can keep an eye on the supported gear list here (it is updated as new modules are released): DxO Supported Cameras & Lenses".
Just switched to Nikon from Fuji (at least for my main camera, as I kept the smaller X-T30II), as I got the Nikon Zf and my favourite lens of all time, the 40mm f/1.2 Nokton (I've used it for some five years on Sony) as the first and only lens for it, so far. This time with Nikon mount. And I'm pretty sure this will be my wide angle to pair up with the 40mm.
Anyone tried astro with this lens? I could imagine it could work already from f/2.
ustjwenew wrote:
A few tests with my new APO 28. More than with other lenses I have the idea that this lens can deliver much more resolution than my Z8 can. The files are also over 65 MB for RAWs and I have not seen that yet with other lenses.
Can lens itself affect file size?
Mar 13, 2026 at 08:01 AM
Steve Spencer Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
It can a bit. More detail in the file can lead to a little more file size, but it is also very dependent on the subject and especially the depth of field (i.e., the amount of stuff in focus) of the shot.
In this case I think the increased depth of field contributes most to it.
Steve Spencer wrote:
It can a bit. More detail in the file can lead to a little more file size, but it is also very dependent on the subject and especially the depth of field (i.e., the amount of stuff in focus) of the shot.
