Review: Voigtländer 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar

Review: Voigtländer 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar

Jordan Steele

Conclusion

Pros

  • Outstanding build quality with precision metal construction
  • Smooth, perfectly damped focus ring
  • Exceptionally sharp across the entire frame from f/2
  • Smooth and neutral bokeh
  • Excellent color and contrast
  • Very low chromatic aberration
  • Minimal distortion
  • Excellent flare resistance

Cons

  • No weathersealing
  • Moderately high vignetting

I’ve had the pleasure to review the two best 50mm lenses I’ve ever used in the past month. First was the Canon 50mm f/1.2L, and now this Voigtländer 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar. And while both are exceptional lenses, the design goals differ drastically. Instead of a large, fast autofocus 50mm lens, Voigtlander has crafted a small, moderate aperture lens that competes with the very best 50mm lenses ever made.

The lens is exceptionally sharp at f/2, such that it comes close to outresolving even the A7R IV’s 60 megapixel sensor across the entire image frame. Stopping down a bit yields corner to corner sharpness even using the 240 megapixel sensor-shift multi-shot mode of the A7R IV. But this lens is more than blisteringly sharp: it also has an apochromatic design with exceptionally low CA, very pleasing bokeh, excellent flare resistance and minimal distortion.

Voigtländer has crafted a modern classic with the 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar. It’s a reference optic at 50mm and a triumph of optical design.

Image Samples

Click on an image to enlarge:

LeVeque Tower Reflected – Sony A7R IV with Voigtländer 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar @ f/7.1, 1/200s, ISO 100
Columbus – Sony A7R IV with Voigtländer 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar @ f/10, 25s, ISO 100
Honey Run Bridge – Sony A7R IV with Voigtländer 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar @ f/2, 1/80s, ISO 100
Train Bridge – Sony A7R IV with Voigtländer 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar @ f/5.6, 30s, ISO 200
Chess – Sony A7R IV with Voigtländer 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar @ f/2, 1/20s, ISO 400
Flowing Kiss – – Sony A7R IV with Voigtländer 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar @ f/2, 1/3s, ISO 100
Honey Run Falls – Sony A7R IV with Voigtländer 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar @ f/11, 8s, ISO 100
Illuminated Grass – Sony A7R IV with Voigtländer 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar @ f/2, 1/25s, ISO 200
Honey Run Falls – Sony A7R IV with Voigtländer 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar @ f/8, 2.5s, ISO 100
Watchful Deer – Sony A7R IV with Voigtländer 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar @ f/2, 1/2500s, ISO 100
Switch – Sony A7R IV with Voigtländer 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar @ f/2, 1/60s, ISO 200
Fountain Arcs – Sony A7R IV with Voigtländer 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar @ f/5.6, 1/200s, ISO 100
Flowing Kiss – Sony A7R IV with Voigtländer 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar @ f/2, 2.5s, ISO 100
Cliffside – Sony A7R IV with Voigtländer 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar @ f/11, 2s, ISO 100
Honey Run Falls – Sony A7R IV with Voigtländer 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar @ f/11, 30s, ISO 200
Path to Columbus – Sony A7R IV with Voigtländer 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar @ f/2, 1/2s, ISO 400

If you enjoyed this review, please check out my other reviews in the Review Index

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Comments

9 responses to “Review: Voigtländer 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar”

  1. Mahesh Avatar
    Mahesh

    I found manual focussing a bit of an issue with its focus throw and the way my A7C works. The focus peaking with A7C was inaccurate and magnification a bit fiddly as you need a few presses before the view returns to normal after magnification. I have removed automagnification and set the video record button to magnify. While I do that, bringing to normal view then takes a couple of additional presses.

    Reply
  2. Mahesh Avatar
    Mahesh

    Hi Jordan, please ignore my previous comment. It is not a big problem. Anyway, I want to ask you between this and the 40/1.2 which reviewed before which one would you recommend? I am trying the 50 APO at the time but tempted by the f1.2 of the 40mm.

    Reply
    1. Jordan Steele Avatar
      Jordan Steele

      They are two very different lenses. The 50 APO is optically near perfect, as I’m sure you’ve noticed in your use. The 40mm definitely has more character. Stopped down, the 40mm is quite sharp across the frame, but never reaches 50 APO resolution at the edges. Bokeh has a bit more character as well, and there’s some CA on the 40mm also.

      With all that said, the 40/1.2 is one of my all time favorite lenses, and for my own use, I would pick the 40mm. It’s got a wonderful character and rendering at f/1.2, and becomes quite sharp and good for landscape use stopped down. It’s not as technically good as the 50 APO, but it speaks to me more. Alas, I had to let my copy go, as I recently switched over to Canon RF, but I am contemplating buying the M mount version for use on my R5 and R6.

      Reply
      1. Chris Hauke Avatar
        Chris Hauke

        Curious if you ever tried the m mount cv 40mm 1.2 on the eos r5? I’m thinking of getting one for the eos r but can’t find much info on the combination. Also curious if there is a m-rf adapter you have used/recommend?

        Reply
        1. Jordan Steele Avatar
          Jordan Steele

          I have not tried the M mount on my R5. I owned the E mount version for several years when I was shooting Sony. I have heard that the 40/1.2 M mount performs essentially identically to the E mount version on mirrorless cameras, but can’t verify that first hand. I do hope to perhaps pick one up for my R5 eventually.

          The only M to RF adapter I’ve used is the cheap Fotasy one from Amazon, and I’m using it with the 7Artisans 50/1.1. It seems to work quite well, but I don’t think that lens is particularly sensitive to small changes in register.

          Reply
          1. Chris Hauke Avatar
            Chris Hauke

            Good stuff – thanks for the information!

  3. Scott Avatar
    Scott

    I have both the 50mm f2 APO and the 40mm f1.2. Both are outstanding. The 50 is sharper and more consistent through the stops with a more modern look. The 40 is sharp at f2.8+ and somewhat funky (classic look) at f1.2 to f2.0. The 40 is my standard go to lense.

    Reply
  4. Faisal Saeed Avatar
    Faisal Saeed

    Those are some very beautiful images! I have the 35 1.2 and I love it on my Z7 and the APSC Zfc, now also considering the 35 & 50 APO lenses, they are sharper and consistent as many have mentioned already.

    Great review 🙂

    Reply
  5. Richard Paul Handler Avatar
    Richard Paul Handler

    It’s a wonderful lens but the lack of weather sealing means it often stays in the bag or at home. For rain and snow, seashore salty mist, and blowing sand I prefer my well sealed Zeiss Batis 40 CF. The Batis 40 is also a pleasure to use.

    To focus closer with the Voigtlander 50 APO I add a Marumi 3 diopter Achromat magnifying filter. The Batis already focus closely. An alternative is the Voigtlander 65 APO, but it is heavy and its barrell exposes a lot of surface to draw in dirt when extended for close focus. Wildflower pollen is sticky stuff.

    Reply

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