Voigtlander APO-Lanthar 50mm F2 Aspherical
Launch MSRP
$1,049- Weight
- 364g
- Filter
- ⌀49mm
- Min focus
- 0.45m
- Max mag.
- 0.15×
- Formula
- 10E / 8G
- Released
- 2019
Specification sheet
Optical construction
- 2x Aspherical
- 5x APD
- Aperture range
- f/2 — f/16
Physical & ergonomics
- Weight
- 364g
- ⌀ × length
- 62.6 × 61.3mm
- Filter
- ⌀49mm
- Weather sealed
- No
- Aperture ring
- Yes · de-click
Autofocus actuator
- Stabilisation
- Body IBIS
- Teleconverter
- Not supported
- AF speed score
- —
Close-up performance
- Min focus distance
- 0.45m
- Max magnification
- 0.15× (1:6.5)
Optical character
Cosina's apochromatic 50 is a true APO design. Five anomalous partial-dispersion elements bring the three primary wavelengths to the same focus, so it shows almost no longitudinal colour fringing even on high-contrast edges at f/2.
It is an all-metal manual-focus lens with a damped helicoid and 12 aperture blades. Electronic contacts pass EXIF, trigger focus magnification as soon as you turn the ring, and feed distance data to in-body 5-axis stabilisation.
Reviewer consensus
Reviewers count it among the sharpest standard lenses ever tested on full frame, with near-perfect correction of colour aberrations from f/2 into the corners. Distortion is negligible, and micro-contrast is often described as "three-dimensional".
The trade-offs are the f/2 maximum aperture, manual focus only, and focus-throw and stiffness preferences that vary between users.
Owner sentiment
Landscape, architecture and studio photographers love the bite and lack of fringing. Many describe it as the lens that made them enjoy manual focus again because the focus-magnify trigger is so seamless.
Some owners note the focus ring can feel stiff in the cold, and the clicked 1/3-stop aperture needs the de-click switch for video. A few find the bokeh slightly busy compared with softer vintage-style fifties.
Strengths, weaknesses & performance
Strengths
- +APO correction — virtually no colour fringing
- +Outstanding sharpness from f/2
- +Compact all-metal build, 364g
- +Electronic contacts: EXIF, focus magnify, 5-axis IBIS
- +12-blade aperture with de-click switch
Weaknesses
- −Manual focus only
- −f/2 is modest for a 50mm
- −No weather sealing
Six-axis rating
- Sharpness
- 9.8
- Bokeh Rendering
- 8.1
- Autofocus Speed
- MF
- Flare Resistance
- 8.7
- Build / Sealing
- 9.2
- Value / Size
- 8.4
Editorial 0–10 ratings synthesised from published reviews.
Technical specifications
| Mount | Sony E (FE) · full frame |
|---|---|
| Focal length | 50mm |
| Category | Standard |
| Maximum aperture | f/2 |
| Minimum aperture | f/16 |
| Construction | 10 elements in 8 groups |
| Special elements | 2x Aspherical · 5x APD |
| Aperture blades | 12 |
| Focus type | Manual Focus |
|---|---|
| Drive | Manual Helicoid |
| Minimum focus | 0.45m |
| Max magnification | 0.15× |
| Stabilisation | None (uses body IBIS) |
| Teleconverters | Not supported |
| Weight | 364g |
|---|---|
| Diameter × length | 62.6 × 61.3mm |
| Filter thread | ⌀49mm |
| Weather sealing | No |
| Aperture ring | Yes |
| De-clickable aperture | Yes |
| Release year | 2019 |
| Launch MSRP | $1,049 USD |
Sources
Specifications
- cosina.co.jp/voigtlander/en/e-mount/apo-lanthar-50mm-f2-aspherical/
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- VSAPO-Lanthar 50mm F2 Aspherical vs 50mm F1.05
- VSAPO-Lanthar 50mm F2 Aspherical vs AF 50mm F1.8
- VSAPO-Lanthar 50mm F2 Aspherical vs 50mm F1.4 AS UMC
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- MFD
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MFRING
