The Voigtländer APO-LANTHAR 50mm f/3.5 Type I is a compact apochromatic M-mount rangefinder lens that revives a classic name with modern corrected optics.</parameter> <parameter name="long_description">## Voigtländer APO-LANTHAR 50mm f/3.5 Type I The APO-LANTHAR 50mm f/3.5 Type I revives one of Voigtländer's most prestigious names in a compact, slow-aperture standard prime built by Cosina for the Leica M mount. Announced in July 2024, it pairs a deliberately classical exterior with a fully corrected modern optical design, and the "APO-LANTHAR" engraving signals an apochromatic formula intended to suppress chromatic aberration across the visible spectrum [1][4]. Although its profile recalls older collapsible normal lenses, the Type I is a rigid, non-collapsing barrel despite a styling that some observers compare to vintage designs [2]. Optically the lens uses eight elements in six groups, four of which are made of anomalous partial-dispersion glass, an arrangement Cosina describes as delivering uncompromising performance with very little distortion. The aperture relies on ten straight blades, which produce ten-pointed sunstars from roughly f/4 to f/16, a trait common to Cosina-made lenses. The Type I focuses to 0.45 m by means of a linear all-metal helicoid that extends past the 0.7 m point where rangefinder coupling ends, with a tactile click marking the transition from the coupled range to live-view focusing on capable bodies [3][6]. The lens is rangefinder coupled, takes a 34 mm filter, and its compatible optical design makes it adaptable to mirrorless cameras through an M adapter[5]. The "Type" designation refers to barrel design rather than optics: the Type I is the slimmer, more compact variant with a 34 mm filter thread, while the Type II adopts a more traditional, slightly larger barrel with a 39 mm filter thread and a closer 0.35 m minimum focus. Within the Type I family Voigtländer offers two finishes, a two-tone black paint and chrome version of heavier brass construction and a lighter matte black version using aluminium, which accounts for the difference between the heavier and lighter recorded weights. None of these versions is six-bit coded for Leica bodies. --- ## Optical qualities **Rendering** Reviewers position the lens as a refinement of the long-running Voigtländer 50mm f/3.5 Heliar, a design noted for high resolution and contrast, with the APO-LANTHAR said to build on those qualities while keeping a broadly similar rendering. The apochromatic correction is intended to remove longitudinal and lateral chromatic aberration, and Cosina states there is effectively no visible distortion. **Flare resistance** The simple optical layout and small front element give the lens strong resistance to flare, which reviewers rate among the best of Cosina's lenses. **Bokeh and transitions** The ten-blade diaphragm is intended to keep the aperture nearly circular for smoother out-of-focus rendering, in addition to producing its characteristic ten-point sunstars when stopped down. --- ## History **Development and Launch** Voigtländer unveiled the APO-LANTHAR 50mm f/3.5 in Type I and Type II forms in July 2024, with pre-orders opening in September 2024. The lens reuses the historic APO-LANTHAR name, which Cosina applies to designs intended to demonstrate the highest level of optical correction, and it follows the company's long-produced 50mm f/3.5 Heliar in the slow-normal segment of the M-mount lineup. **Special editions** To mark 25 years of Cosina Voigtländer production, the company released a 25th Anniversary Limited Edition of the Type I in late 2024, totalling 750 lenses split across navy, gray, and olive painted finishes, with 250 of each colour [7][8]. Each carries an individually engraved limited-edition number and a matching colour pouch, and includes a heavy knurled brass hood, a chrome-finished brass hood cap, and an all-metal brass rear cap; the limited run reportedly sold out quickly. **Collector Notes** Buyers should distinguish the Type I from the Type II, since the two share optics but differ in barrel size, filter thread (34 mm versus 39 mm), and minimum focus, and they should confirm which Type I finish they hold, as the brass two-tone and aluminium matte black versions differ substantially in weight. The standard catalogue colours are the matte black and the two-tone black and chrome (sometimes referred to as a panda finish), while navy, gray, and olive indicate the numbered anniversary editions. As with most current Cosina lenses, the standard versions ship with a dedicated metal hood and caps worth verifying as present and matching on the used market. --- ## Sources * [1] PRONEWS. *Voigtländer APO-LANTHAR 50mm F3.5 Type I/II VM Unveiled*. https://en.pronews.com/news/2024071614288155.html * [2] Leica Rumors. *Voigtländer APO-LANTHAR 50mm f/3.5 Type I / II VM lens review*. https://leicarumors.com/2024/09/23/voigtlander-apo-lanthar-50mm-f-3-5-type-i-ii-vm-lens-review.aspx/ * [3] Mainline Photographics. *Voigtländer 50mm f3.5 APO-LANTHAR VM Type I Black Paint & Chrome Lens*. https://mainlinephoto.com.au/voigtlander-50mm-f3-5-apo-lanthar-vm-type-i-black-paint-chrome-lens/ * [4] PetaPixel. *Voigtländer's New APO-Lanthar 50mm f/3.5 Lenses Promise Vintage Vibes*. https://petapixel.com/2024/07/12/voigtlanders-new-apo-lanthar-50mm-f-3-5-lenses-promise-vintage-vibes/ * [5] Leica Rumors. *The new Voigtländer APO-LANTHAR 50mm f/3.5 Type I / II VM lenses are now available for pre-order*. https://leicarumors.com/2024/09/17/the-new-voigtlander-apo-lanthar-50mm-f-3-5-type-i-ii-vm-lenses-are-now-available-for-pre-order.aspx/ * [6] CameraQuest. *Voigtländer 50mm f/3.5 APO-Lanthar Limited Navy*. https://shop.cameraquest.com/voigtlander-leica-mount-lenses/voigtlander-50mm-f/3.5-apo-lanthar-limited-navy/ * [7] Robert White. *Voigtländer 50mm f3.5 APO-LANTHAR VM Type I Limited Edition Olive Lens*. https://www.robertwhite.co.uk/voigtlander-50mm-f3-5-apo-lanthar-vm-type-i-limited-edition-olive-lens.html * [8] Rangefinder Forum. *Voigtländer APO-LANTHAR 50mm F3.5 VM Limited coming in December 2024*. https://rangefinderforum.com/threads/voigtlander-apo-lanthar-50mm-f3-5-vm-limited-coming-in-december-2024.4817230/

Voigtländer APO-LANTHAR 50mm f/3.5 Type I

M mount