Voigtlander APO-LANTHAR 50mm f/2.0 Aspherical - Review

If you are a photographer who enjoys using manual focus lenses for your Leica M mount cameras, then you may have heard of the Voigtlander APO-LANTHAR 50mm f/2.0 Aspherical VM-Mount Lens. This lens is truly worth considering if you are looking for an exceptional lens that is capable of delivering outstanding sharpness and image quality.

Appearance and Handling

The Voigtlander APO-LANTHAR 50mm f/2.0 Aspherical VM-Mount Lens for Leica M is a medium-sized lens, measuring about 67mm in length, and weighing approximately 364g. It features a sleek black aluminum body with clear markings for aperture, focus distance, and depth of field. The focus and aperture rings are confidently smooth to use. The lens hood is sculpted to the contour of the lens plus you may choose to attach the Voigtlander LH-12 metal hood which adds another sleek dimension to the lens.

Performance and Features

This lens comes with several advanced features. It has 10 elements arranged in 8 groups, including two aspherical elements. The use of aspherical elements has improved the lens's imaging properties, allowing it to correct lens distortion and reduce chromatic aberration. The APO-LANTHAR lens is also equipped with an apochromatic design that helps minimize color fringing while delivering natural colors.

The lens has an impressive 12 circular aperture blade system which helps to deliver a buttery bokeh quality in out-of-focus areas. This lens is capable of producing sharp images throughout its aperture range, with excellent center resolution even at f/2.0.

Another feature that makes this lens a standout among its peers is its "floating system." The floating system design optimizes image sharpness throughout the lens's focusing range, making it ideal for both close-up and long-distance photography.

Compatibility

The Voigtlander APO-LANTHAR 50mm f/2.0 Aspherical VM-Mount Lens is compatible with all Leica M mount cameras. This includes both film and digital bodies. But because it is an M-mount lens, it is not directly compatible with other camera systems without an adapter.

The M-mount system's advantage is that contrary mounts to the Leica M body may have a longer flange distance, which could result in a compromised image quality. The Leica M mount lenses have optimized distance from the sensor plane to the lens's rear element.

Customer Reviews

This lens has received a total of 16 customer reviews resulting in an impressive 4.6 out of 5 stars average rating. The majority of reviewers praised this lens's optical performance and image quality. Some even said this lens delivered better image quality than some Leica lenses at a very reasonable price.

Conclusion

The Voigtlander APO-LANTHAR 50mm f/2.0 Aspherical VM-Mount Lens is an extraordinary lens that delivers outstanding performance. Its combination of sharpness, contrast, color rendition, and bokeh quality make it an ideal lens for photographers who require superior image quality. The apochromatic design and aspherical elements make this lens a standout among all other manual 50mm lenses.

If you are considering investing in a high-quality manual focus lens, the Voigtlander APO-LANTHAR 50mm f/2.0 Aspherical VM-Mount Lens will not disappoint. Its solid build quality, impressive optics, and reasonable price point make it an attractive option for professionals and enthusiasts alike. Overall, we would highly recommend this lens to anyone looking for uncompromising image quality.

Voigtlander APO-LANTHAR 50mm f/2.0 Aspherical

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