Voigtlander APO-LANTHAR 35mm f/2 Aspherical VM

[astrostl]

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Well, I already have way too many 35s but this is exciting!

[sutlore]

11 hours ago, chasdfg said:

I feel VM/Cosina can be quite fickle with their lens lineup and direction. Not long before the 35mm f2 Ultron there was a new 35mm 1.7, but that was dropped too. I guess they can only run so many lines at once. The 35mm f2 Ultron might just be a cosmetic refresh though. 

Really waiting for a 28mm f2/1.4 by them. Should be interesting. 

Yeah, the other lens that has the same design also being discontinued. I still have them both 35/1.7 and 50/1.5, the built quality is top notch in brass version, love the bumpy click on aperture ring so much.

Still, APO Lanthar is the way to go for me in the ... lens collection, I would say that 😆

[calijax]

On 2/10/2021 at 3:03 AM, Guest said:

My guess is that they will align the design of the Ultron with the other members of the Vintage line (1.5/50, 1.5/75). That would mean replacing the current black/silver version with two versions in either black or silver. I would welcome such a move! If so, then the 21mm Vintage lens probably will be replaced as well soon.

 

On 2/10/2021 at 4:40 AM, FrozenInTime said:

It may seem petty, but the aesthetics of current black and chrome mix did put me off getting the 21mm.

I felt unhappy about the black/chrome as well since, at the time, I only owned black cameras and prefer an all black package. I must say, it might be the best looking lens on my new body, however. 

FWIW I do like the focus stick

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[artjom.kutuzov]

On 2/10/2021 at 7:27 PM, darkinners said:

I love the 35/2 Ultron, if the new version remove the stick and make it MFD 0.7m I would be all over it.

Isn't it removable?

Edited February 14, 2021 by artjom.kutuzov

[padam]

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http://www.cosina.co.jp/seihin/voigtlander/vm-mount/vm-apo-35mmf2/index.html


http://www.cosina.co.jp/seihin/voigtlander/vm-mount/vm-35mm2/index.html

[Edax]

5.1mm longer than the VC50APO; certainly not in the good direction w.r.t. finder blockage.

[roma]

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Yeah, it's a long one....probably to accommodate the 0.5-meter shortest focusing distance. Hope it doesn't block the finder too much. On paper, it looks pretty perfect. They just need to produce one of those in 24/25mm focal length and we'd be really cooking 😊

Edited February 15, 2021 by roma

[FrozenInTime]

The MTF curves of the VC 35mm APO look better than any 35mm M Summicron or Summilux ; Leica should be worried - it's almost at the same level as the 35mm SL Summicron.

https://leicarumors.com/2021/02/15/announced-voigtlander-apo-lanthar-35mm-f-2-asph-and-voigtlander-ultron-vintage-line-35mm-f-2-asph-type-ii-vm-lenses-for-leica-m-mount.aspx/#more-71748

 

Edited February 15, 2021 by FrozenInTime

[chasdfg]

The 35APO is tempting from an image quality point of view, though I must say I don't find the 35FLE lacking in this respect due to my undiscerning eyes. I am quite interested in the Ultron in silver though. It looks very much like a steel rim 35lux in terms of modelling. Been keeping an eye out for a small lens in silver to put on my cameras for the whole panda look, primarily the 50 cron rigid, but if the ultron is priced about the same as the rigid, as a 35mm guy I'd probably get that instead. 

These 2 new VM lenses have given me renewed GAS...I was already eyeing the 35 1.2 V3. One could build an excessive kit consisting of the 35APO, 35 1.2 V3, 35 ultron (the last of the lot for a small compact 35mm), and then add the 50APO and 50 1.2/50 1.5, and a 21mm 1.4 plus 21mm Voigtlander finder, and 75mm 1.5 for about the cost of a new 50APO Summicron. That's some value. When VM comes out with an updated 28mm their lens lineup would pretty complete. I wonder why they have neglected the 28mm focal length - maybe they're perfecting something.

Edited February 15, 2021 by chasdfg

[Stuart Richardson]

Wow, that is some seriously good performance. Combined with Voigtlander's solid build and price, that is a killer. I think it will be even better on a camera like the SL2 if you don't need AF. The bigger size will be compact and balance well and the VF obstruction is not going to be a thing. It will be interesting to see how it does in terms of longitudinal chromatic aberration and bokeh character and flare. If it can keep all those in the good range, it will be a superb value.

[Cobram]

1 hour ago, chasdfg said:

The 35APO is tempting from an image quality point of view, though I must say I don't find the 35FLE lacking in this respect due to my undiscerning eyes. I am quite interested in the Ultron in silver though. It looks very much like a steel rim 35lux in terms of modelling. Been keeping an eye out for a small lens in silver to put on my cameras for the whole panda look, primarily the 50 cron rigid, but if the ultron is priced about the same as the rigid, as a 35mm guy I'd probably get that instead. 

These 2 new VM lenses have given me renewed GAS...I was already eyeing the 35 1.2 V3. One could build an excessive kit consisting of the 35APO, 35 1.2 V3, 35 ultron (the last of the lot for a small compact 35mm), and then add the 50APO and 50 1.2/50 1.5, and a 21mm 1.4 plus 21mm Voigtlander finder, and 75mm 1.5 for about the cost of a new 50APO Summicron. That's some value. When VM comes out with an updated 28mm their lens lineup would pretty complete. I wonder why they have neglected the 28mm focal length - maybe they're perfecting something.

I'm also waiting  new 28mm Voigtlander lens. 

All released lenses in last few years point to the lack of a proper camera. They need to develop their own body.

About the 35 APO. I prefer smaller lenses so... no, not interested any more in (too big) 35 APO. 

[Ivar B]

1 hour ago, roma said:

Yeah, it's a long one....probably to accommodate the 0.5-meter shortest focusing distance. Hope it doesn't block the finder too much. On paper, it looks pretty perfect. They just need to produce one of those in 24/25mm focal length and we'd be really cooking 😊

Size is also critical when it comes to performance. I recall the Zeiss ZM 1.4/35mm, which also was a bit longer than the Summilux-M 1.4/35mm FLE, but with better performance. This is partly what has made the SL lenses so special - not having to worry about extreme compactness. 

[chasdfg]

11 minutes ago, Cobram said:

I'm also waiting  new 28mm Voigtlander lens. 

All released lenses in last few years point to the lack of a proper camera. They need to develop their own body.

About the 35 APO. I prefer smaller lenses so... no, not interested any more in (too big) 35 APO. 

True that the 35APO is on the larger side. I haven't actually paid attention to the length of the 35APO, only the weight (and it is a fair bit lighter than the 35mm 1.4 ZM). If its bigger than the 50APO VM which is already 50lux Asph size IIRC, then that's quite a sizeable lens even if it isn't dense.

I had the 35 1.4 ZM alongside my 35FLE at one point, I sold the ZM because I preferred the compactness of the 35FLE even if the ZM was a better lens.

[Cobram]

24 minutes ago, chasdfg said:

True that the 35APO is on the larger side. I haven't actually paid attention to the length of the 35APO, only the weight (and it is a fair bit lighter than the 35mm 1.4 ZM). If its bigger than the 50APO VM which is already 50lux Asph size IIRC, then that's quite a sizeable lens even if it isn't dense.

I had the 35 1.4 ZM alongside my 35FLE at one point, I sold the ZM because I preferred the compactness of the 35FLE even if the ZM was a better lens.

I also used to own ZM 35 1.4 but sold it and bought 28mm Summicron instead.. Never regretted the decision to change the lens and focal length 🙂 

Currently I'm without 35mm lens but due to @Steven and @Daniel C.1975 comments and posted photos I'm more and more thinking of 35mm SL APO Summicron option for my SL system. You guys infected me with GAS😁

 

Edited February 15, 2021 by Cobram

[Daniel C.1975]

vor einer Stunde schrieb Cobram:

I also used to own ZM 35 1.4 but sold it and bought 28mm Summicron instead.. Never regretted the decision to change the lens and focal length 🙂 

Currently I'm without 35mm lens but due to @Steven and @Daniel C.1975 comments and posted photos I'm more and more thinking of 35mm SL APO Summicron option for my SL system. You guys infected me with GAS😁

 

You are most welcome

[AZN]

7 hours ago, Cobram said:

no, not interested any more in (too big) 35 APO

Have you seen how big the 35mm SL APO Summicron is?  !!!! 😃

Maybe a problem for rangefinder use, but on on the SL (601, 2, 2-S) the new Voigtlander 35 APO looks just about the right size.  I currently use the Voigtlander 40mm Nokton-M on my Typ601 and it is as if it's made for the camera.

YMMV of course

[Cobram]

12 hours ago, AZN said:

Have you seen how big the 35mm SL APO Summicron is?  !!!! 😃

Maybe a problem for rangefinder use, but on on the SL (601, 2, 2-S) the new Voigtlander 35 APO looks just about the right size.  I currently use the Voigtlander 40mm Nokton-M on my Typ601 and it is as if it's made for the camera.

YMMV of course

Indeed Nokton 40 is a very nice lens...

Size: You have to take into the account autofocus! 

My philosophy is: Big lenses on big body (SL system), small lenses on small body (M system)🙂 

I use now almost exclusively LUX 50 ASPH on Leica SL body because I was always frustrated how long and front heavy appeared on M-E. As I told in my previous post I even sold very sharp and by all parameters perfect ZM Distagon due to size...

 

I'm totally aware of SL Summicron size but there are two important features compensating the size issue :

 - minimal focus distance --> 0,27m (this is a huge advantage for my family photography)

 - autofocus

[padam]

1 hour ago, Cobram said:

I'm totally aware of SL Summicron size but there are two important features compensating the size issue :

 - minimal focus distance --> 0,27m (this is a huge advantage for my family photography)

 - autofocus

You can get a helicoid adapter for the SL and with this lens, the 0.6m minimum focus distance should improve to the same level.
I've used one with the 35/1.4 ZM and it remained surgically sharp even outside its optimised range with the floating elements, this might be even better still.

[Rob L]

No personal experience, but I've read that floating elements don't play well with extension tubes or helicoid adapters?

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[padam]

1 hour ago, Rob L said:

No personal experience, but I've read that floating elements don't play well with extension tubes or helicoid adapters?

Theoretically speaking, the E-mount version will play better at a close focusing distance instead of an extension tube with the M-mount version.
But when the level of optical correction is as high as these lenses, there is really not much of a penalty, you will not shoot it at its widest aperture anyway.
 

 

Edited February 16, 2021 by padam