Voigtlander APO-LANTHAR 35mm F2 Asph II (Nikon Z) – Full-Frame, Manual Focus, APO Correction, Aspherical Lens
The Voigtlander APO-LANTHAR 35mm F2 Asph II (Nikon Z) is engineered for discerning photographers who demand uncompromising optical precision and robust manual focus control for Nikon Z-mount full-frame cameras. Designed to address the critical needs of professionals in portraiture, landscape, and documentary work, this lens solves the challenge of chromatic aberration and edge-to-edge sharpness in demanding shooting environments. Its apochromatic (APO) correction, advanced aspherical elements, and all-metal construction position it as a reference-class prime for those seeking the highest image quality from their Nikon Z system.Leveraging Voigtlander’s legendary optical heritage, the APO-LANTHAR 35mm F2 Asph II incorporates cutting-edge lens technologies that rival or surpass leading autofocus primes, while offering tactile manual control and unique artistic rendering. The lens’s compact size and featherweight build make it ideal for travel and street photography, while its optical formula is optimized for today’s high-resolution Nikon Z sensors, ensuring every pixel is rendered with fidelity and nuance. For professionals and enthusiasts who demand maximum performance in a manual focus lens, the APO-LANTHAR 35mm F2 Asph II is the definitive choice.
1. Apochromatic (APO) Correction
The Voigtlander APO-LANTHAR 35mm F2 Asph II features true apochromatic correction, utilizing specialized lens elements to virtually eliminate axial and lateral chromatic aberrations across the visible spectrum. This technology ensures color fringing is suppressed even in high-contrast scenes, outperforming many competing 35mm primes in color accuracy and clarity. Compared to standard aspherical lenses, the APO-LANTHAR delivers unmatched neutral color rendering and micro-contrast.This enables photographers to achieve exceptionally clean files with minimal post-production correction, critical for commercial and fine art workflows.
2. Advanced Aspherical Optics
The optical design incorporates two precision-molded aspherical elements, optimizing sharpness and minimizing distortion from center to edge. The aspherical elements contribute to a flat field of focus, making the lens ideal for high-resolution sensors and demanding applications such as product or architectural photography. This allows users to capture edge-to-edge detail without the need for digital correction, maximizing image quality straight out of camera.
3. Full-Frame Nikon Z Mount Compatibility
Engineered specifically for Nikon Z-mount mirrorless cameras, the lens provides a native electronic interface for full-frame coverage, EXIF data transmission, and enhanced compatibility. It supports both FX (full-frame) and DX (APS-C) formats, ensuring versatility for a wide range of Nikon Z bodies. This seamless integration allows photographers to leverage the latest Nikon camera features while enjoying Voigtlander’s renowned manual focus experience.
4. Manual Focus Precision with Focus Peaking Support
The lens features a buttery-smooth, all-metal focusing ring with a long throw and deep knurling for tactile, precise manual adjustments. The electronic contacts enable in-camera focus peaking and magnification, streamlining critical focus in both still and video applications. This empowers users to achieve pinpoint sharpness, crucial for high-megapixel sensors and selective focus techniques.
5. f/2 Maximum Aperture for Low Light Performance
With a fast f/2 maximum aperture, the lens excels in low light performance, enabling hand-held shooting in challenging conditions while maintaining sharpness and contrast. The wide aperture also facilitates shallow depth of field and beautiful background separation, ideal for portraits and creative photography. This gives photographers the flexibility to shoot in available light and control subject isolation with cinematic bokeh.
6. 12-Blade Circular Aperture for Smooth Bokeh
The 12-blade diaphragm creates a nearly perfect circular aperture, delivering exceptionally smooth and natural bokeh even when stopped down. This design minimizes “onion ring” artifacts and ensures pleasing out-of-focus highlights, setting it apart from competitors with simpler aperture constructions. This results in images with a creamy, three-dimensional look that enhances subject separation and visual impact.
7. Robust All-Metal Construction
Constructed from precision-machined aluminum and brass, the lens offers exceptional durability and a premium tactile feel. Its build quality surpasses most plastic-bodied competitors, ensuring long-term reliability in professional field use. This robust construction provides confidence for photographers working in demanding environments, from urban streets to remote landscapes.
8. Compact and Lightweight Form Factor
Measuring just 70.4mm in length and weighing only 360g, the lens is remarkably compact for its optical performance class. Its slim profile complements the portability of Nikon Z mirrorless cameras, making it ideal for travel and street photography. This enables users to carry the lens all day without fatigue, encouraging spontaneous creativity and discreet shooting.
9. Optimized Anti-Reflective Coatings
Voigtlander’s proprietary multi-layer coatings are applied to all air-glass surfaces, significantly reducing flare, ghosting, and internal reflections. This ensures high contrast and color fidelity even in challenging lighting, such as backlit or night scenes. This allows photographers to shoot confidently in strong sunlight or mixed lighting, delivering clean, vibrant images with minimal post-processing.
10. Close Focusing Capability
With a minimum focus distance of just 0.35m, the lens enables semi-macro shooting for detailed close-ups and creative compositions. This is a notable improvement over many competing 35mm primes, expanding the lens’s versatility for everyday and specialty applications. This lets users capture subjects at intimate distances, perfect for food, product, or environmental portrait photography.
Summary
The Voigtlander APO-LANTHAR 35mm F2 Asph II (Nikon Z) stands out as a reference-class manual focus prime, combining apochromatic optical precision, aspherical clarity, and robust mechanical craftsmanship. Its unique blend of APO correction, fast f/2 aperture, and full-frame native Z-mount support positions it at the pinnacle of 35mm lens choices for both professionals and advanced enthusiasts. Compared to legacy Voigtlander models and autofocus competitors, this lens delivers superior color fidelity, sharpness, and tactile control, making it an essential tool for demanding photographic disciplines.Available now at ebphotovideo.com, the APO-LANTHAR 35mm F2 Asph II is the definitive choice for photographers who demand the highest image quality and manual focus artistry in a compact, durable package. Whether capturing editorial portraits, immersive landscapes, or documentary moments, this lens ensures every frame meets the highest standards of professional imaging.
