Voigtländer APO-Lanthar 50mm f/3.5 Type II

The Voigtländer APO-Lanthar 50mm f/3.5 Type II is a compact manual focus standard lens with the VM bayonet, compatible with Leica M. It uses the same apochromatic optical design as Type I but a different housing that focuses closer. Cosina announced both versions in February 2024, and they were released later that year. Type II is the one to look at if close focusing matters.

Optical design

The lens has 8 elements in 6 groups, four of which are made of anomalous partial dispersion glass. Cosina describes the apochromatic design as one that thoroughly eliminates aberrations such as axial chromatic aberration, aiming for the best resolution and contrast. The aperture range is f/3.5 to f/22 with 10 blades, and the lens covers full frame.

Focusing and handling

Focusing is manual through an all-metal helicoid. The minimum focus distance is 0.35 m, closer than the 0.45 m of Type I, and a click at 0.7 m marks the end of the rangefinder coupled range. Cosina points out that this is useful with live view. A metal hood and a metal cap are included, in the finish of the lens body. As with Type I, a black lens with a black mount is not recognised by cameras that read a 6-bit code, and lens detection should be turned off.

Build and size

Type II comes in a silver brass version at 250 g and a black painted version with aluminium parts at 175 g. Both are 45.0 mm long and 52.0 mm in diameter, and take 39 mm filters. The database entry uses the silver brass weight. Cosina describes the design as slim and stylish, reminiscent of rangefinder lenses of the 1950s.

Where it fits

The differences to Type I are the closer focusing (0.35 m instead of 0.45 m), the 39 mm filter thread instead of 34 mm and slightly different weights (245 g and 150 g for Type I). Among other 50 mm options for Leica M in the database are the Voigtländer APO-Lanthar 50mm f/2 (288 g), the Leica Summarit-M 50mm F2.4 ASPH (190 g) and the Zeiss Planar T* 2/50 ZM (230 g). All of them are faster, while the APO-Lanthar f/3.5 is the choice for anyone who wants the apochromatic design in a smaller body.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Apochromatic design with 4 elements of anomalous partial dispersion glass
• Minimum focus distance of 0.35 m
• Compact, 45 mm long, from 175 g
• Common 39 mm filter thread
• Metal hood and cap included

Cons

• f/3.5 is slow for a standard lens
• Manual focus only
• Type I is lighter in its aluminium version
• Black version with black mount is not read by 6-bit code cameras

Verdict

The APO-Lanthar 50mm f/3.5 Type II is the closer focusing version of Cosina's small apochromatic standard lens for Leica M and VM bodies. It suits photographers who prefer size and correction over speed and who want to focus nearer than Type I allows.