Voigtlander APO-Lanthar 35mm F2 Aspherical

Reviewers rank it among the sharpest 35mm lenses for Sony E. Resolution is very high across the frame from f/2, the extreme corners need only a stop, and longitudinal and lateral colour errors are almost absent. Distortion is low and sunstars are crisp.

The drawbacks are the modest f/2 aperture for subject isolation, bokeh that can turn slightly busy against detailed backgrounds, and noticeable vignetting wide open. Its price is high compared with good autofocus 35mm f/1.8 lenses.

Owners describe it as a lens that makes files look clean and three-dimensional, with colour accuracy that suits landscape, architecture and documentary work. The focus ring's damping and the compact size get repeated praise.

Some note that the hood is bulky compared with the lens, that the f/2 maximum feels slow indoors, and that manual focus at 35mm is harder to nail on moving subjects than with an autofocus alternative.