Voigtlander Apo Lanthar 35 mm f/2 Aspherical review - Coma, astigmatism and bokeh

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Voigtlander Apo Lanthar 35 mm f/2 Aspherical

11 June 2021

Maciej Latałło

7. Coma, astigmatism and bokeh

With such parameters of the lens it's not easy to correct coma. Some models, like the Sony FE 1.8/35 or the Samyang FE 1.8/35, found out that much to their cost. The Sigma C 2/35 managed to perform a bit better but still it was far from perfect. The Batis 2/40 fared quite well but, after looking at the photos, shown below, you can say that the Voigtlander defeats them all. A slight enlagement of the diode in the frame corners is the only manifestation of coma and other off-axis aberrations of higher degree that are able to influence point-like images of light. The effect is really insignificant so there are almost no reasons to complain. The Voigtlander fares exceedingly well in this category.

Center, f/2.0	Corner APS-C, f/2.0	Corner FF, f/2.0

Center, f/2.8	Corner APS-C, f/2.8	Corner FF, f/2.8

Astigmatism, understood as an average difference between vertical and horizontal MTF50 function values, amounted to 2.9%. It is a very small value so the lens once again deserves to be praised, especially that most of its rivals fared weaker, with an exception of the Sony FE 1.8/35 that showed an equally good result.

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Defocused circles of light are a very interesting topic. First, because the lens features two aspherical elements and they make themselves felt as slight onion-ring bokeh. Also mechanical vignetting can be easily noticed – its level is high by f/2.0, medium by f/2.8 and it disappears completely by f/4.0. The performance of the aperture is also unusual. At the maximum relative aperture and by f/2.8 you get a very nice, round shape of circles of light, without any bright rim. From f/4.0 onwards the aperture starts looking like a multi-pointed star so the images are really interesting. Can you call it also pleasing to the eye? It's a matter of taste; personally I am glad the producers try to be original and offer you something different than the rivals.

Center, f/2.0	Corner APS-C, f/2.0	Corner FF, f/2.0

Center, f/2.8	Corner APS-C, f/2.8	Corner FF, f/2.8

Center, f/4.0	Corner APS-C, f/4.0	Corner FF, f/4.0