In an increasingly crowded lens review arena on youtube, I find your reviews some of the very best and feel your 'no agenda' and honest approach very refreshing . Keep up the good work and the concise + in depth format is working a treat.
Dustin, I like the screw on hoods of both the 50mm and 65mm Apo-Lanthars I own because my CPLs can be placed between lens and hood enabling hood rotation to control trimming the CPL. This is so so nice! For my Loxias I had already acquired a vintage Nikon 52mm screw on hood, same purpose. Now that CPLs with high transmission are available (Hoya HD3, B+W, Breakthrough Photography X4) I almost always have a CPL mounted. Enjoy reading and watching your reviews, complete with fine northwoods backgrounds.
Yes, the Sonys might be the same quality or slightly better (what I don‘t see) but the difference is the feeling and the slow down way of shooting with a manual focus lense. To think the picture befor you shoot, the handling of a full metal/glass high precision tool - that is a kind of fotografie that is others than others.
That manual focus rings reminds me of the old Super Takumars from Pentax. One day I will be able to test higher end lenses like that Zeiss glass you review from time to time or these Voigtlanders, meanwhile, I will keep using old glass :) Great video as always Dustin!
Great review as standard. Unfortunately for the price cannot be justified for most,although I like other voightlander lenses.The Focus ring style is not very comfy with a follow focus system (obviously is not aim to videographers) and there is focus breathing on most if not all voightlander lenses(again is not for videographers) Funny fact : 5:32 my country's very old note! Nice review DA
Oh man... This looks like the perfect walk around lens for most situations when you don't want to carry a lot of gear. Any thoughts between this and the 40mm f1.2, Dustin? If you could only choose one factoring strengths and weaknesses of both, which would it be?
Hi Roy, unfortunately that probably won't happen. I have limited access to Voigtlander lenses, and could only do this review because a viewer loaned me their copy.
I love sharpness and I think I might love this lens. I'm considering though, to buy this lens or Samyang 50mm 1.8 and some additional primes for the money... Photos you took with Voigtlander are just amazing
Do you know if its possible to get aftermarket weather sealing? I'm surprised that's not a thing. Even just applying some kind of gasket to the mount would be useful.
Dustin, I shoot M lenses on a Leica SL. I own the Voigtländer 50mm 1.2, it’s on the camera most of the time. The lanther 50mm f2 APO is ready to drop for VM mount. I don’t really want to own two 50mm lenses but which is the one to own. APO or the faster lens.... your thoughts. I’ve been thinking Voigtländer might make them available on the M mount I was hopeful the 65 lanther would come first, but it’s the 50....
I was thinking to purchase this 50mm f2 Apo Lanthar lens. But owning already the 65mm Apo Lanthar I decided against it and went for the Voigtlander 50mm 1.2 Nokton. It's an interesting lens too. The bokeh of the 50mm Nokton 1.2 is even smoother than the Sony Zeiss 50mm 1.4(!), but the imageas have some slight "glow" below f2. The effect is not too obvious and looks very nice imho. So it's a great lens for portraits and people who prefer some kind of vintage look over the perfection of the Apo Lanthar lenses. But maybe I'll go for the Apo Lanthar 50mm f2 in the future too for images, that require perfect sharpness and need to be free of chromatic abberations.
HI DUSTIN, I HAVE A SONY A7RII YOU WHAT YOU RECOMMEND BETWEEN VOIGTLANDER 50mm f2 apo lanthar, voigtlander nokton 50mm f1.2, and zeiss loxia 50mm f2.I will mainly use it to take portraits of my son. sharpness, image quality, bokeh?
my Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 Asph (came with M10-P *white* limited edition) is sharp wide open, even if it's a 2004 design, but images show signs of some CA in high-contrast areas (leaves/branches against Sun), ... since it's not an APO like the Leica APO-Summicron-M 50mm f/2 Asph (2012 design). This Voigtlander may pose strong competition/challenge or a serious threat to the Leica. The bigger, brighter, & better - Voigtlander 65mm f/2 APO half-macro would be my choice if i was a Sony shooter. Thanks, Regards.
Thanks for this great review ! Looks a really promising lens (and lightweight) for astro and nightscapes (it will be my main usage). I prefer a sharp F2 lens than a F1.4 which has soft corners, coma and aberrations on stars (As I can always use a star tracker to get longer exposures). Is that lens performing well for astro and milky way landscapes too ? It should be the case given your review and the MTF charts, but haven't found any night sky pictures shot with it yet !
@@DustinAbbottTWI Thanks for your answer...The more I do astro / nightscapes, the more I like using longer focals with pano stitching (50 to 135mm). Even if my main astro lens is a 35mm. Because it improves a lot the details in milky way and nebulas (with pano stitching and star tracker). This is why I'm lookin for a top 50mm !
I used to drool over the Nikon 50mm f/1.2 just because of the look it gives, but the more I see results from this, the more I want it. It's a modern vintage lens. It's just missing the vintage chrome accents. That's the only thing that could make it better in my mind.
Great review not by pixel peeping but as opinon to reflect this with the own requirements. I‘m a fan of the combination of compact camera design like my Sony A 7 mark1 and the tiny little manual lenses such as Zeiss loxia and Voigtländer. I sold my Zeiss Loxia 35mm caus I‘m more at 24 mm or less, but I must say that the micro contrast is something I learned the meaning when first shoot with the Zeiss. That‘s what makes one difference to other lenses. I keept my Voigtländer 21mm f3.5 cause it is a perfact and handy combination of sharpness, contrast and sunstars. I menawhile own a 15mm Heliar f4.5 and I love it again. For the same reasons. Now I‘m looking to decide either to take the new 50mm APO or the 65mm APO. And when I‘m grown up, I‘ll go for the 35mm APO and hope for a 18mm to be developed by Voigtländer. Thanks for your great review away from the mainstream of crying more speed, pixel peeping,etc. but not knowing the real diffrence to character-lenses
Thanks, Mr. A, I've been waiting for this review. Changing subjects, might you consider giving a bit of consideration to us few f/64-types in your reviews? Not everyone is a portrait shooter or video maker, and a bit of insight as to how a lens performs at f/11 and f/16 would be appreciated if you can find the time to squeeze it in.
I do test for it, but typically the reporting is the same. Diffraction causes softness at smaller apertures due to the high pixel count of the cameras.
I own both; they are so different that they are difficult to compare. Both are excellent lenses; the Sony is heavier, of course, and faster; but there is just a different "feel" to the Voightlander - both ergonomically and in the IQ out of the lens, that puts it in a different category.
I owned it and sold it. I found no use in high performance at f2 already. It seems to be a science project. They showed they can do it. But I see no practical use for that. Maybe astro? I don’t know. It’s the best lense wide open I had so far. But I never shoot an f2 lense wide open. That’s what faster lenses are for. The adorable 58mm Nokton for example. Good lense here but it doesn’t fit.
Dustin Abbott I think what makes this lense so expensive is the superior performance at f2 already. Corner to corner sharp. But what is it good for ? Shooting a flat wall close at f2 ? Infinity at f2 (astro)? What is the practical use of corner to corner sharpness wide open, the feature we pay for ? I get the point when it is a 2.8 wideangle lense, but a 50 f2 ? Maybe I‘m missing the point.
@@pastorofmuppets3628 I have just bought this lens (used demo). What intrigues me as unique and not mentioned in Dustin Abbott's video is that V'lander has designed a novel shape to the aperture blades so that at f/2 and f/2.8 the aperture is round, but from f/4 on up it has 12 straight edges. So this lens can create beautiful bokeh when shooting a portrait and also create wonderful aperture stars when wanted.
i would get the 55/1.8 over this superb voigtlander, even if it is not as sharp/clean as APO lenses, .... i like 5mm extra reach (field of view), 1/3rd stop brighter aperture, & AF. It's much more practical for daily use. Regards.
In an increasingly crowded lens review arena on youtube, I find your reviews some of the very best and feel your 'no agenda' and honest approach very refreshing . Keep up the good work and the concise + in depth format is working a treat.
That's really fantastic feedback. Thank you!
Dustin, I like the screw on hoods of both the 50mm and 65mm Apo-Lanthars I own because my CPLs can be placed between lens and hood enabling hood rotation to control trimming the CPL. This is so so nice! For my Loxias I had already acquired a vintage Nikon 52mm screw on hood, same purpose. Now that CPLs with high transmission are available (Hoya HD3, B+W, Breakthrough Photography X4) I almost always have a CPL mounted.
Enjoy reading and watching your reviews, complete with fine northwoods backgrounds.
Thanks all around.
I hope you are able to review the Voigtlander 21mm f1.4. That is a beast of a lens!
I compared it to the Sony 20mm 1.8 G lens and thought the Sony was better -- and I am a HUGE Voightlander fan.
Sony makes the impossible with the 20mm 1.8 and the 24mm 1.4. They scream quality
I had the M version on M10 and it was fantastic.
Yes, the Sonys might be the same quality or slightly better (what I don‘t see) but the difference is the feeling and the slow down way of shooting with a manual focus lense. To think the picture befor you shoot, the handling of a full metal/glass high precision tool - that is a kind of fotografie that is others than others.
Again your reviews are class leading, touching every question someone might ask.
That manual focus rings reminds me of the old Super Takumars from Pentax. One day I will be able to test higher end lenses like that Zeiss glass you review from time to time or these Voigtlanders, meanwhile, I will keep using old glass :)
Great video as always Dustin!
Great review as standard. Unfortunately for the price cannot be justified for most,although I like other voightlander lenses.The Focus ring style is not very comfy with a follow focus system (obviously is not aim to videographers) and there is focus breathing on most if not all voightlander lenses(again is not for videographers)
Funny fact : 5:32 my country's very old note!
Nice review DA
Thanks for the feedback.
Oh man... This looks like the perfect walk around lens for most situations when you don't want to carry a lot of gear. Any thoughts between this and the 40mm f1.2, Dustin? If you could only choose one factoring strengths and weaknesses of both, which would it be?
I would personally probably choose the 50mm, as I don't love the low contrast look at wider apertures of the 40mm.
@@DustinAbbottTWI, awesome! Thank you very much for the opinion.
Dustin, could you make a comparison with the Voigtlander Nokton 50mm F1.2 and the APO Lanthar 50mm F2
Hi Roy, unfortunately that probably won't happen. I have limited access to Voigtlander lenses, and could only do this review because a viewer loaned me their copy.
I love sharpness and I think I might love this lens. I'm considering though, to buy this lens or Samyang 50mm 1.8 and some additional primes for the money... Photos you took with Voigtlander are just amazing
The Voigtlander color is also very special. That's one of the main advantages over other lenses.
Do you know if its possible to get aftermarket weather sealing? I'm surprised that's not a thing. Even just applying some kind of gasket to the mount would be useful.
I've heard of people doing something like that at the lens mount (even like an elastic band).
Dustin, I shoot M lenses on a Leica SL. I own the Voigtländer 50mm 1.2, it’s on the camera most of the time. The lanther 50mm f2 APO is ready to drop for VM mount. I don’t really want to own two 50mm lenses but which is the one to own. APO or the faster lens.... your thoughts. I’ve been thinking Voigtländer might make them available on the M mount I was hopeful the 65 lanther would come first, but it’s the 50....
I think the APO is probably the more special lens.
I was thinking to purchase this 50mm f2 Apo Lanthar lens. But owning already the 65mm Apo Lanthar I decided against it and went for the Voigtlander 50mm 1.2 Nokton. It's an interesting lens too. The bokeh of the 50mm Nokton 1.2 is even smoother than the Sony Zeiss 50mm 1.4(!), but the imageas have some slight "glow" below f2. The effect is not too obvious and looks very nice imho. So it's a great lens for portraits and people who prefer some kind of vintage look over the perfection of the Apo Lanthar lenses. But maybe I'll go for the Apo Lanthar 50mm f2 in the future too for images, that require perfect sharpness and need to be free of chromatic abberations.
That's essentially the difference between the APO and non-APO Voigtlanders.
Hi Dustin, I am wondering if you plan reviewing the 35/2 APO-Lanthar too.
Unfortunately getting Voigtlander loaners is tough. They don't have distribution in Canada.
HI DUSTIN, I HAVE A SONY A7RII YOU WHAT YOU RECOMMEND BETWEEN VOIGTLANDER 50mm f2 apo lanthar, voigtlander nokton 50mm f1.2, and zeiss loxia 50mm f2.I will mainly use it to take portraits of my son. sharpness, image quality, bokeh?
I would say the Voight 50mm F2 is probably the standout of that bunch.
my Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 Asph (came with M10-P *white* limited edition) is sharp wide open, even if it's a 2004 design, but images show signs of some CA in high-contrast areas (leaves/branches against Sun), ... since it's not an APO like the Leica APO-Summicron-M 50mm f/2 Asph (2012 design). This Voigtlander may pose strong competition/challenge or a serious threat to the Leica. The bigger, brighter, & better - Voigtlander 65mm f/2 APO half-macro would be my choice if i was a Sony shooter. Thanks, Regards.
Hi dustin what do you think of the new NOKTON e-mount 35mm, 40mm, 50mm, f1.2 SE voighlander lenses?
They are basically the same optically in lower end casings.
@@DustinAbbottTWI THE SHAREST LENS BETWEEN 35,40,50MM?
Thanks for this great review ! Looks a really promising lens (and lightweight) for astro and nightscapes (it will be my main usage). I prefer a sharp F2 lens than a F1.4 which has soft corners, coma and aberrations on stars (As I can always use a star tracker to get longer exposures).
Is that lens performing well for astro and milky way landscapes too ?
It should be the case given your review and the MTF charts, but haven't found any night sky pictures shot with it yet !
I rarely test astro at longer focal lengths. It requires the correct conditions and there are few people who use longer focal lengths for astro.
@@DustinAbbottTWI Thanks for your answer...The more I do astro / nightscapes, the more I like using longer focals with pano stitching (50 to 135mm). Even if my main astro lens is a 35mm. Because it improves a lot the details in milky way and nebulas (with pano stitching and star tracker). This is why I'm lookin for a top 50mm !
I already have 8 50/55mm lens. This lens is so good I find it painful not to buy it.
LOL - you may have an addiction!
I used to drool over the Nikon 50mm f/1.2 just because of the look it gives, but the more I see results from this, the more I want it. It's a modern vintage lens. It's just missing the vintage chrome accents. That's the only thing that could make it better in my mind.
I think that's a fair assessment.
Would worth buy this lens if we have zeiss 55?
Hmmm, this lens is more special optically than the 55mm, but you may find it less flexible if you're not accustomed to manual focus.
This lens is a bargain compared to Leica ASPH sumicron
Great review not by pixel peeping but as opinon to reflect this with the own requirements. I‘m a fan of the combination of compact camera design like my Sony A 7 mark1 and the tiny little manual lenses such as Zeiss loxia and Voigtländer. I sold my Zeiss Loxia 35mm caus I‘m more at 24 mm or less, but I must say that the micro contrast is something I learned the meaning when first shoot with the Zeiss. That‘s what makes one difference to other lenses.
I keept my Voigtländer 21mm f3.5 cause it is a perfact and handy combination of sharpness, contrast and sunstars. I menawhile own a 15mm Heliar f4.5 and I love it again. For the same reasons. Now I‘m looking to decide either to take the new 50mm APO or the 65mm APO. And when I‘m grown up, I‘ll go for the 35mm APO and hope for a 18mm to be developed by Voigtländer.
Thanks for your great review away from the mainstream of crying more speed, pixel peeping,etc. but not knowing the real diffrence to character-lenses
Thank you very much for the nice feedback.
Compared to leica APO summicron this lens is almos equal ?
I'm not familiar with Leica lenses, so I can't really comment.
Thanks, Mr. A, I've been waiting for this review. Changing subjects, might you consider giving a bit of consideration to us few f/64-types in your reviews? Not everyone is a portrait shooter or video maker, and a bit of insight as to how a lens performs at f/11 and f/16 would be appreciated if you can find the time to squeeze it in.
I do test for it, but typically the reporting is the same. Diffraction causes softness at smaller apertures due to the high pixel count of the cameras.
Compared to the Sony Zeiss 50mm 1.4 it’s bigger, 50 Lanthar is manual. Eye for an eye?
I own both; they are so different that they are difficult to compare. Both are excellent lenses; the Sony is heavier, of course, and faster; but there is just a different "feel" to the Voightlander - both ergonomically and in the IQ out of the lens, that puts it in a different category.
Hows the comparison between Voliglanther APO 50 F2 and Loxia 50 F2
Voightlander all the way; I have the APO 50; I owned and sold the Loxia.
I agree with Navi.
Is it better or as good as the Otus 55mm?
Not better, for sure. Very good, though.
Thanks, Adam!
For sure!
Great videos. Just subscribed. The danger here is that your channel will give me even more gear lust!
That is a chief complaint among my viewers!
using the hood forever. no compromises
That's generally a good choice.
compareable findings as Phillip Reeve, it seems in the same ballpark as the Nikkor Z 50mm 1.8 S
I mount the lens hood and then fit a pinch cap over it.
That's what most people will do, I suspect
I just got it and love what I'm seeing. $9000 for the Leica .. seems this is a bargain to me.
Well, if that is your standard, it definitely is a bargain!
I owned it and sold it. I found no use in high performance at f2 already. It seems to be a science project. They showed they can do it. But I see no practical use for that. Maybe astro? I don’t know. It’s the best lense wide open I had so far. But I never shoot an f2 lense wide open. That’s what faster lenses are for. The adorable 58mm Nokton for example. Good lense here but it doesn’t fit.
That's an interesting take. Not one that I share...as I buy wide aperture lenses to shoot at wide apertures primarily.
Dustin Abbott I think what makes this lense so expensive is the superior performance at f2 already. Corner to corner sharp. But what is it good for ? Shooting a flat wall close at f2 ? Infinity at f2 (astro)? What is the practical use of corner to corner sharpness wide open, the feature we pay for ? I get the point when it is a 2.8 wideangle lense, but a 50 f2 ? Maybe I‘m missing the point.
@@pastorofmuppets3628 I have just bought this lens (used demo). What intrigues me as unique and not mentioned in Dustin Abbott's video is that V'lander has designed a novel shape to the aperture blades so that at f/2 and f/2.8 the aperture is round, but from f/4 on up it has 12 straight edges. So this lens can create beautiful bokeh when shooting a portrait and also create wonderful aperture stars when wanted.
Why should I get this lens over Sony 50mm 1.8 or 55mm 1.8?
because it is better 🤷🏼♂️
i would get the 55/1.8 over this superb voigtlander, even if it is not as sharp/clean as APO lenses, .... i like 5mm extra reach (field of view), 1/3rd stop brighter aperture, & AF. It's much more practical for daily use. Regards.
You shouldn't. This lens is not aim for the crowd. You buy this just to say you have one,same as Leica junk