Voigtländer APO-LANTHAR 50mm f/3.5 Type II

Voigtländer APO-LANTHAR 50mm f/3.5 Type II

Cosina reserves the APO-LANTHAR name for its highest-performing Voigtländer optics, and the 50mm f/3.5 Type II applies that standard to a deliberately compact, slow-aperture standard lens. Announced in July 2024 and released that summer, it was offered alongside a differently styled Type I version, both built around the same apochromatic optical core but distinguished by handling, focusing range, finish, and filter size [1][2]. The Type II adopts a slim, classically styled barrel meant to evoke the rangefinder lenses of the mid-twentieth century[3].

The optical formula uses eight elements in six groups, four of them made from anomalous partial-dispersion glass to suppress axial chromatic aberration and to maximize resolution and contrast[4]. The barrel is all metal, with a high-precision rangefinder coupling that keeps the lens in step with the camera's focusing mechanism. Rangefinder-coupled focusing works down to 0.7 m, but the Type II continues focusing to a minimum of 0.35 m, with a tactile click marking the point at which the rangefinder can no longer be used and Live View becomes necessary for closer work. The aperture is built from ten blades, which Cosina links to rounded out-of-focus rendering and ten-point sunstars when stopped down. The lens uses 39 mm filters, a size shared with many M-mount optics.

The Type II is offered in two finishes that also differ in material and weight: a silver brass version and a lighter version finished in black paint that uses aluminum for some parts. A color-matched metal hood and a metal hood-cap are supplied; the silver model pairs with a black pear-finish cap, while the black model uses a black paint cap matched to the body. One handling trait noted in use is that the aperture and focus rings are coupled in their movement, so it is easier to set the aperture before focusing, a behavior familiar to users of other compact Voigtländer lenses.

Optical qualities

Rendering The Type II is an apochromatic standard lens engineered for very high resolution and contrast with minimal chromatic aberration, and reviewers describe results approaching optical perfection. Cosina states there is practically no distortion or flare, and the design is described as flat-field from close range to infinity, keeping the focus plane parallel to the subject.

Sharpness A review of both versions reported strong central and edge resolution wide open at f/3.5, with performance that met or exceeded the published MTF expectations, making the lens usable at full aperture rather than requiring stopping down to correct aberrations.

Aberrations The four anomalous partial-dispersion elements are intended to remove axial chromatic aberration, and testing found the correction rivaled that of much larger and more expensive lenses.

Bokeh and transitions The ten-blade aperture is designed for rounded out-of-focus highlights, and one review noted slightly less optical vignetting than the faster 50mm f/2 APO-LANTHAR, producing less cat's-eye deformation of bokeh toward the corners.

Digital use The optical design is described as adapter-friendly and optimized for digital sensors, and the close-focus capability to 0.35 m is most useful on cameras with Live View, where the magnification approaches macro range.

History

Development and Launch Cosina announced the Voigtländer APO-LANTHAR 50mm f/3.5 in July 2024 in two distinct styles, Type I and Type II, for the Leica M (VM) mount, with a release scheduled for that summer and an initial price of roughly ¥100,000. The lens was positioned as a high-performance manual standard optimized for full-frame M-mount sensors, sharing the apochromatic design philosophy of the earlier 50mm f/2 APO-LANTHAR while returning to the f/3.5 maximum aperture associated with classic rangefinder standard lenses.

Production Evolution The principal differences within the line are between the two types rather than running production changes. The Type I focuses to 0.45 m and uses a 34 mm filter, while the Type II focuses to 0.35 m and uses a 39 mm filter, each with its own barrel styling. Both share the eight-element, six-group apochromatic formula.

Collector Notes Within the Type II, buyers should confirm which of the two finishes they are handling, since the silver brass model and the black aluminum-and-paint model differ in material and weight, and the supplied caps differ accordingly. The lens is also easy to confuse with the Type I, which has a different filter thread, focusing distance, and exterior design, so checking the marked type and filter size helps avoid mismatched hoods, caps, and filters. Because rangefinder coupling functions only to 0.7 m, the tactile click that marks the end of the coupled range is a normal feature rather than a fault.