Voigtländer has officially launched the APO-LANTHAR 28mm F2 Aspherical for Sony E-mount, extending its acclaimed apochromatic series to mirrorless shooters seeking Leica-caliber optics without the rangefinder constraints.
Announced by Cosina on November 14, 2025, this manual-focus wide-angle prime arrives as third-party glass floods E-mount with value, pitting it against Sigma’s Art series and Sony’s G Master primes in a market where enthusiasts demand aberration-free performance for street, landscape, and astrophotography.
At $1,049, it’s a smart addition for A7C and A7R V users who crave compact perfection, potentially broadening Voigtländer’s appeal beyond M-system purists while maintaining the APO-LANTHAR’s reputation for surgical sharpness.
Optical Design and Performance
The lens’s optical heart is a 12-element-in-8-group design, boasting:
- Six anomalous partial dispersion elements to virtually eliminate chromatic aberrations
- Two double-sided aspherical lenses for flawless spherical correction
This yields edge-to-edge micro-contrast from f/2 wide open.
The 12-blade iris produces creamy bokeh and renders point-light sunstars without flare—ideal for urban nights or starry skies where coma would otherwise creep in.
The 74° angle of view slots neatly between 24mm drama and 35mm intimacy, while the 0.28m minimum focus distance delivers 1:6.9 magnification for close environmental portraits—handy on high-res bodies like the A1 II.
Build and Handling
Build quality reflects Voigtländer heritage:
- Full-metal barrel with buttery helicoid rings and precise aperture clicks
- Weight of 325g, making it suitable for all-day hikes or gimbal duty
- Included petal hood to tame stray light without vignetting
- 49mm filter thread for slim CPLs or NDs in long exposures
Electronic contacts enable EXIF data, in-body stabilization cues, and focus aids like peaking or magnification on compatible Sony cameras—bridging analog soul with digital workflow.
No autofocus here: it’s for those who savor the deliberate pull. Still, video shooters will appreciate minimal breathing for smooth rack focuses.
Market Position
Voigtländer’s E-mount expansion signals confidence in cross-system versatility, undercutting Sony’s 28mm f/2 GM by two-thirds the price while matching its resolving power in corners.
Early buzz from reviewers like Fred Miranda calls it “the sharpest 28mm for E-mount”, with distortion so low it rivals computational corrections.
For hybrid creators, the lack of AF limits run-and-gun appeal, but for pixel-peepers, it’s a pocketable masterclass in glass—especially as Nikon Z and Canon RF versions hint at broader horizons.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Lens Mount | Sony E-mount |
| Format | Full-frame |
| Focal Length | 28mm |
| Maximum Aperture | F2 |
| Minimum Aperture | F16 |
| Optical Construction | 12 elements in 8 groups (2 aspherical, 6 anomalous partial dispersion) |
| Aperture Blades | 12 |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 0.28m |
| Maximum Magnification | 1:6.9 |
| Filter Thread | 49mm |
| Dimensions | 62.6mm diameter x 58.8mm length |
| Weight | 325g |