Voigtländer Unveils APO-Lanthar 28mm f/2 Lens for Leica M-Mount
Japanese manufacturer Cosina has announced the Voigtländer VM APO-Lanthar 28mm f/2 Aspherical, a new lens designed for full-frame cameras using the Leica M mount. According to Cosina, the lens represents the highest-performing wide-angle lens in Voigtländer’s lineup, an assertion supported by its apochromatic optical design that minimizes axial chromatic aberration across the primary red, green and blue light wavelengths.
The optical structure of the lens consists of 12 elements arranged in eight groups. Among these, six elements are made from anomalous partial dispersion glass to manage chromatic distortion, while two elements have aspherical surfaces on both sides to enhance image clarity. The lens also incorporates a floating mechanism to maintain performance across the focusing range. A 12-blade aperture diaphragm is manually controlled via an aperture ring and is designed to maintain a circular shape to produce natural-looking bokeh, particularly from point light sources.
Focusing is manual, with the lens allowing a minimum focusing distance of 0.5 meters when using live view, even though the rangefinder coupling supports down to 0.7 meters. The lens uses an all-metal helicoid focus unit, engineered for precise adjustment and smooth operation, aided by carefully applied lubricants. This construction is aimed at delivering a refined manual focusing experience, something that is often expected from Voigtländer lenses.
The VM APO-Lanthar 28mm f/2 has a 74-degree angle of view and supports a filter thread of 49mm. It measures 50mm in length and has a maximum diameter of 55.6mm, excluding additional components. The lens weighs 265 grams and is built entirely from metal, contributing to its durability and rigidity.
Finally, a flower-shaped VM mount bayonet-type metal lens hood is included with the lens. Designed to reduce frame vignetting and flare, it can be reversed for storage.
Here are some sample pictures shot by Takashi Koike, courtesy of Cosina:
The Voigtländer VM APO-Lanthar 28mm f/2 is expected to be available in July at an approximate retail price of 150,000 yen, which currently translates to a little over $1,000. Final pricing in other regions may vary.
