Today, Cosina officially released the previously reported Voigtlander APO-LANTHAR 28mm f/2 Aspherical VM lens (for Leica M-mount).
For pre-orders, check B&H Photo, Foto Erhardt, and WEX Photo.
Here are the details on the new lens:
Specifications:
- Focal length: 28mm
- Aperture ratio: 1:2
- Minimum aperture: F16
- Lens construction: 12 elements in 8 groups
- Angle of view: 74.0°
- Number of aperture blades: 12
- Minimum focusing distance: 0.5m
- Distance coupling range: ∞ to 0.7m (depends on camera)
- Maximum diameter x total length: φ55.6×50.0mm (excluding accessories and protrusions)
- Filter size: φ49mm
- Weight: 265g
- Accessories: Front cap, rear cap, lens hood
- Optical design optimized for digital imaging devices
- Highly rigid and durable all-metal lens barrel
- Equipped with a floating mechanism
- Bayonet-type VM mount
- High-precision rangefinder linkage mechanism
- Full-size image circle
Main features:
Apochromatic Design
In addition to thoroughly eliminating various aberrations including axial chromatic aberration, we also pursue the ultimate in resolution and contrast reproduction.
Optical glass and mechanical components deliver high performance
The lens consists of 12 elements in 8 groups, including 6 elements of anomalous partial dispersion glass and 2 double-sided aspherical lenses, and is also equipped with a floating mechanism.
Natural bokeh with 12 aperture blades
The 12 aperture blades are nearly circular, allowing for accurate depiction of bokeh from point light sources.
The minimum shooting distance is 0.5m
The minimum shooting distance of the rangefinder is now 0.7m, making it possible to focus down to 0.5m. By utilizing the live view function of the rangefinder-coupled digital camera, you can get closer to the subject.
Flower-shaped bayonet hood included
The included metal bayonet hood is specially designed to block light and reduce vignetting from the bright frame. It can also be installed in reverse.
Manual focus for precise focus control
The all-metal helicoid unit is machined and adjusted with high precision, and the use of high-quality grease that produces just the right amount of torque makes focusing feel smooth and allows for subtle focus adjustments.
Bayonet VM mount
The lens mount uses the VM mount, which is compatible with the Leica M mount.
Equipped with rangefinder interlocking system
The high-precision rangefinder linkage mechanism enables precise focusing even at maximum aperture.
Full size image circle
It has a generous image circle that is compatible with full-size 35mm format.
Press release:
Cosina Corporation will release the APO-LANTHAR 28mm F2 Aspherical VM, a wide-angle lens designed exclusively for the Voigtlander brand full-frame VM mount.
APO-LANTHAR is a designation given to Voigtlander lenses that are particularly high-performance, and APO stands for apochromatic design. The apochromatic design, which reduces the axial chromatic aberration of RGB, which constitute the three primary colors of light, to as close to zero as possible, was required with the advent of color film. Even more severe than the severe conditions that arose when film formats shifted from monochrome to color in the mid-20th century, today’s high-pixel digital sensors require extremely high levels of chromatic aberration suppression.
The APO-LANTHAR 28mm F2 Aspherical VM is the highest-performance VM mount wide-angle lens in Voigtlander history, following the already released APO-LANTHAR 50mm F2 Aspherical VM, APO-LANTHAR 35mm F2 Aspherical VM, and APO-LANTHAR 50mm F3.5 VM.
Optimized for full-size M mount sensors, the apochromatic design thoroughly eliminates various aberrations, including axial chromatic aberration, while also pursuing ultimate performance in terms of resolution and contrast reproduction (see attached MTF chart). The lens is made up of 12 elements in 8 groups, and includes 6 pieces of anomalous partial dispersion glass and 2 double-sided aspherical lenses, boasting performance that completely changes the value of a large-aperture wide-angle lens such as 28mm F2.
The dream of engineers to achieve ultimate performance can sometimes fall into self-righteousness, and the increase in size and weight of the lens can sometimes not lead to the joy of the photographer. We believe that a Voigtlander lens should be easy to handle while achieving uncompromising optical performance. The APO-LANTHAR 28mm F2 Aspherical VM aims to achieve both ultimate optical performance and compactness, which is one of the ideal forms. The total length from the mount surface is 50.0mm, which is shorter than the already released semi-wide-angle lens APO-LANTHAR 35mm F2 Aspherical VM, achieving a compact size. In addition, the 12 aperture blades are close to circular, and the bokeh of point light sources is depicted naturally.
This lens is designed to be used with rangefinder-coupled digital and film cameras. Equipped with a high-precision rangefinder coupling mechanism, it offers the silky operation feel of an all-metal helicoid ring, as well as the pleasure of focusing using a traditional optical rangefinder. The shortest shooting distance linked to the rangefinder is 0.7m (depending on the camera attached), but by extending the helicoid further, shooting can be done up to 0.5m. Equipped with a floating mechanism, it demonstrates high performance even when shooting close up. The included metal bayonet hood is specially designed and adopts a flower-shaped design that takes into consideration both the light blocking effect and the vignetting of the bright frame. Reverse mounting is also possible.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbquXSnMqM8
