Voigtländer Apo-Lanthar 50mm f/2 for Z-Mount Review on the Nikon Zf
The Voigtländer Apo-Lanthar 50mm f/2, Z-Mount with the included metal lens hood, mounted on a Nikon Zf
Photo by: Kyle @secondteamkyle
Voigtländer Apo-Lanthar 50mm f/2 Aspherical for Nikon Z-Mount Review
With a Quick Look and Comparison to the Voigtländer Apo-Lanthar 50mm f/2 Aspherical M-Mount Version
What if one of your favorite lens makers stated the following:
Voigtlander's highest performance standard lens in history. The apochromatic design brings the axial chromatic aberration of RGB, which makes up the three primary colors of light, as close to zero as possible, achieving performance that completely changes the value of standard lenses. It has a lean style and has high maneuverability and good handling.
Would you be interested?
Especially after recently reviewing the Voigtländer Nokton 40mm f/1.2 for Nikon Z-Mount, I knew I was enticed. These Voigtländer Z-Mount lenses offer seamless integration with Nikon Z cameras and provide niceties such as EXIF information and focus confirmation.
For ages, the 50mm focal length has been a favorite of mine, so I was excited to see if the Voigtländer Apo-Lanthar 50mm f/2 Aspherical would deliver on the above promise.
Street Photography in Vancouver with the Voigtländer Apo-Lanthar 50mm f/2 Aspherical, Z-Mount, and Nikon Zf
Photo by: Kyle @secondteamkyle
Specs, Handling, and Build Quality
In the following, I will mainly focus on the Voigtländer Apo-Lanthar f/2 Aspherical for Nikon Z-Mount but will also point out a few differences between the Z-Mount and M-Mount versions.
The build quality of the Voigtländer Apo-Lanthar f/2 Aspherical is nothing short of superior. That goes for the Z-Mount as well as the M-Mount version.
An excellent metal lens hood is included with the Z-Mount version. For the M-Mount version, the LH-13 lens hood is optional at $129.00. It is a vented lens hood design optimized for Leica M rangefinder cameras.
Other Specs, Z-Mount Version:
12-blade diaphragm, circular aperture at f/2, f/2.8, and f/16
10 elements in 8 groups, 5 anomalous partial dispersion glasses, 2 double-sided aspherical lenses
Floating elements system
Manual focus
52mm filter
Minimum focusing distance: 17.7" / 45 cm
Aperture range: f/2 - f/16
Dimensions: 2.7 x 2.5", 67.6 x 64.3 mm
Weight: 12.2 oz, 347 g
Price: $999.00 (at the time this review was posted it was on sale for $899.00)
The M-Mount version is slightly smaller with dimensions of 2.2 x 2.1", 55.6 x 53 mm, and a filter size of 49mm. It also weighs less at 10.2 oz, 288 g. The M-Mount version has 2 anomalous partial dispersion glasses whereas the Z-Mount version has 5. A circular aperture is possible also at f/2, f/2.8, f/5.6, and f/16. The minimum focus distance is 27.6", 70 cm.
The Voigtländer Apo-Lanthar 50mm f/2 Aspherical, M-Mount, on the Nikon Zf with a K&F Concept adapter
From the metal mount to the metal lens hood and everything in between the Apo-Lanthar 50mm f/2 Z breathes quality. The all-metal helicoid focus rings on either version are well-dampened with a very luxurious feel.
The aperture rings are equally as nice. On the Z-Mount version, it is clickable in thirds of stop and half stops on the M-Mount version.
I prefer the ergonomics of the Z-Mount version on the Nikon Zf. For one, you don’t have to use an adapter and the slightly beefier design makes for better camera/lens balance and grip.
In Action
The electronic contacts on the Z-Mount version ensure electronic communication between the lens and camera. If you have adapted lenses without contacts you would know that it can be frustrating to miss out on EXIF data.
The electronic compatibility also means you can take advantage of the IBIS in the camera (3-axis), use focus peaking, and get focus confirmation. Your focusing point will light up, green, when you obtain accurate focus.
Hint - In the “Photo Shooting Menu” on your Nikon Zf, go to “MF subject detection area”, then pick one of the three area options. Via the iMenu, in the AF-Mode/subj. detection, pick one of the AF/MF subject detection options, ie. “face”.
Now the the camera will find the eyes of your subject and place two boxes. Via the multi-selector, you can switch eyes, the box will light, green, when you obtain focus. This happens regardless of your composition which is fantastic.
Perhaps needless to say none of these electronic functions will work if you use the M-Mount version as there are no electronic contacts on the M-Mount version.
Image Quality
If you are looking for a native Nikon Z-Mount 50mm Voigtländer lens, you currently have two options, the Nokton 50mm f/1 and the Apo-Lanthar 50mm f/2. The Nokton f/1 version promises beautiful bokeh but is larger, considerably heavier, and about twice the cost, depending on sales.
You may worry that you would be missing out on superior image quality with the Apo-Lanthar f/2 version compared to the Nokton f/1 version but if Voigtländer states that the f/2 version is their highest performance standard lens in history, I believe there must be something to it. This does, however, not necessarily translate into a lens where you love the rendering.
My time with the Nokton f/1 has been quite limited and after brief tests, I would view the two lenses in a different light. As a creative tool creating super shallow depth of field, the Nokton f/1 may be a good bet but if you are looking for clinical sharpness and color accuracy the Apo-Lanthar f/2 could be your ticket.
It wasn’t until I loaded RAW files into Lightroom that I truly appreciated the detail the Apo-Lanthar 50mm f/2 renders throughout the aperture range. The quality of the bokeh may not rival that of my Voigtländer Nokton 40mm f/1.2 Z but I find that the two lenses complement each other well.
The Apo-Lanthar 50mm f/2 is more of a clinically correct lens showing razor-sharp detail and the Nokton 40mm f/1.2 is more dreamy with a classical look while still being sharp when stopped down.
The two photos below are taken a couple of months apart with the Z-Mount version, in December, and the M-Mount version, in October. From my limited test shots with the M-Mount version, you can tell that the two lenses share a similar DNA and I was hard-pressed to see any meaningful difference in performance.
The sample images in this review can be viewed up to 2500 pixels wide, depending on your monitor size. Please click to view larger images or pinch-zoom if on your mobile phone.
Voigtländer Apo-Lanthar 50mm f/2 Aspherical, Z-Mount
Voigtländer Apo-Lanthar 50mm f/2 Aspherical, M-Mount
Conclusion
There are a few reasons you may consider the M-Mount version over the Z-Mount version and it mostly boils down to the fact that the M-Mount lens can be adapted to most if not all camera brands.
You may already own different brands of cameras or perhaps you are considering a Leica M camera in the future. You can also use it with different size sensors. I have used M-Mount lenses on my Fujifilm X-Series and GFX cameras.
However, if you are looking for a seamless experience with your Nikon Z Series camera it is hard to look beyond the Z-Mount version of the Voigtländer Apo-Lanthar 50mm f/2 Aspherical.
The Voigtländer Apo-Lanthar 50mm f/2 Aspherical is a formidable fit on the Nikon Zf and the build quality matches the solid feel of the Zf. The retro-styling of the lens is a bonus and again, a great match for the Zf.
With all these benefits it is almost easy to forget the one feature that will have some photographers worried before entering the realm of these Voigtländer Z-Mount lenses.
The Apo-Lanthar 50mm f/2 does not have autofocus! To those photographers, I would say that it would be wise to have a mix of autofocus and manual focus lenses in your kit if possible.
Autofocus is invaluable in several scenarios but don’t let that stop you from trying manual focusing. Focusing your lens manually is a wonderful tactile experience and often it makes you approach a scene differently and remember, you will be the one in charge.
As a reviewer, I probably go through more gear than the average user, and when I purchased this Apo-Lanthar 50mm f/2 Aspherical I intended to sell it again after testing and reviewing it. Admittedly I am positively surprised by its performance and parting with it again may not be as straightforward a decision as I initially had thought.
Thanks to Kyle, @secondteamkyle, for lending me his Apo-Lanthar 50mm f/2, M-Mount lens, and for the photos of me in this review.
Pros
Fantastic build quality
Optical formula
Retro-style looks and ergonomics
Chipped for EXIF info and focus confirmation
Smooth focus ring
Cons
Lack of weather-sealing
Please see more sample images below.
Price / Availability
Thank you for reading my review. I hope you found it helpful. If you are planning a purchase and would like to support our site you can do so, at no additional cost, by using the affiliate links below.
Check availability and current price at B&H Photo
Voigtländer Apo-Lanthar 50mm f/2, Z - B&H Photo
Voigtländer Apo-Lanthar 50mm f/2, M - B&H Photo
Thank you for your support.
Voigtländer Apo-Lanthar 50mm f/2 Aspherical - Sample Images on a Nikon Zf
Please see the sample images below. Editing was done in Lightroom. I have not applied any profile correction to the sample images in this review.
Please click to view larger images.
North Vancouver, Nikon Zf, Voigtländer Apo-Lanthar 50mm f/2, Z-Mount @ f/5.6
Granville Street, Vancouver, Nikon Zf, Voigtländer Apo-Lanthar 50mm f/2, Z-Mount @ f/2.5
Granville Street, Vancouver, Nikon Zf, Voigtländer Apo-Lanthar 50mm f/2, Z-Mount @ f/4
Ambleside Beach, West Vancouver, Nikon Zf, Voigtländer Apo-Lanthar 50mm f/2, Z-Mount @ f/11
Ambleside Beach, West Vancouver, Nikon Zf, Voigtländer Apo-Lanthar 50mm f/2, Z-Mount @ f/8
Ambleside Beach, West Vancouver, Nikon Zf, Voigtländer Apo-Lanthar 50mm f/2, Z-Mount @ f/11
Ambleside Beach West Vancouver, Nikon Zf, Voigtländer Apo-Lanthar 50mm f/2, Z-Mount @ f/8
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