Voigtlander’s New APO-Lanthar 50mm f/3.5 Lenses Promise Vintage Vibes

Jul 12, 2024

Jeremy Gray

An image showing two camera lenses on a dark, reflective surface. The lens on the left is silver with white and red markings, while the lens on the right is black with white markings. Both lenses have "Voigtländer" branding visible on them. — Cosina Voigtlander APO-Lanthar 50mm f/3.5 Type II

Japanese lens maker Cosina has announced the Voigtlander APO-Lanthar 50mm f/3.5 Type I and Type II lenses in VM mount, suitable for use on Voigtlander and Leica rangefinder cameras, plus a wide array of modern full-frame mirrorless cameras through the use of an adapter.

As spotted by Asobinet in Japan, there are technically two new lenses. They are both compact 50mm f/3.5 lenses with an identical apochromatic optical design but differ slightly in size, weight, appearance, and focus distance.

Two vintage-style camera lenses are shown against a dark background. One lens has a silver and black design, while the other is fully black. Both lenses have a manual focus ring with visible aperture and distance markings. — The Cosina Voigtlander APO-Lanthar 50mm f/3.5 Type I lens

The “type” refers to a different lens barrel design. The “Type I” version sports a thinner, slightly lighter barrel with a 34mm filter thread, while the “Type II” variant has a more traditional profile that is a bit beefier; it has a 39mm filter thread.

Depending on the selected material, the 50mm f/3.5 Type I weighs either 150 grams (5.3 ounces) in its matte black paint version or 245 grams (8.6 ounces) in its two-tone black and silver colorway. The Type II lens is available in black paint (175 grams / 6.2 ounces) and silver (250 grams / 8.8 ounces). In both cases, the lenses are built with retro styling in mind and are comprised of metal.

Two camera lenses, one silver and one black, are displayed side by side on a dark surface. Both lenses feature various aperture and focus markings in white and red, with ridged adjustment rings for ease of handling and precise adjustments. — And the Type II version.

The optical designs are the same for each type. The lens features eight elements arranged across six groups, including four pieces of anomalous partial-dispersion glass. Cosina says the lens offers “uncompromising optical performance.” Due to the apochromatic design, the lens promises to “thoroughly eliminate” various aberrations, including chromatic ones. The lens has a 10-bladed, manually controlled aperture diaphragm.

The manual focus lenses feature a high-precision rangefinder coupling mechanism, which couples from 0.7 meters (2.3 feet) to infinity, depending on the specific camera used. It is worth noting that the minimum focusing distances differ slightly between the two lens types, with the Type I focusing at 0.45 meters (1.48 feet) and the Type II version getting a bit closer: 0.35 meters (1.15 feet).

Sample Images

Aerial view of a dense urban cityscape featuring numerous buildings of varying heights and architectures. The iconic Tokyo Tower stands prominently in the center, surrounded by high-rise structures, under a cloudy sky.

A row of empty red metal chairs at black round tables on an outdoor patio. The chairs and tables are partially obscured by green plant leaves in the foreground. The setting appears to be sunny, with shadows indicating bright sunlight.

A black and white image depicting multiple industrial pressure gauges. The central gauge shows a reading of 0.4 with a clear scale. The background features two more blurred gauges, positioned at different heights, creating a sense of depth. — ?? 0.7m

Tall, aged brick wall with three narrow, vertically aligned windows, each with small glass panes. The windows have a rusty frame, and vines grow up from the base, adding a touch of greenery against the brown bricks.

A railway track stretches into the distance at dusk, flanked by buildings on both sides. Streetlights and signal lights illuminate the scene, while the sky is painted in a gradient of pink, purple, and blue from the setting sun.

Pricing and Availability

Cosina says the new Voigtlander APO-Lanthar 50mm f/3.5 Type I and Type II lenses will be available in August. While North American pricing has yet to be announced, based on Japanese pricing, the lenses should cost around $550-650, depending on the type and material finish. The new lenses will join the existing Voigtlander APO-Lanthar 50mm f/2 Aspherical, which is available now for $999.

Image credits: Cosina. Real-world sample photos provided by Cosina and captured by Yasuyuki Takaki.