Voigtlander APO-LANTHAR 50mm f/2 Aspherical

This Voigtlander prime is a compact 50mm for photographers who like to work deliberately. The focal length suits street scenes, portraits and everyday documentary subjects. It comes in Leica M and Sony E versions, so choose the one made for your camera. Both mount versions share the same optical design; only some measurements differ. The Leica M version covers full frame.

Released in 2021 and still in production, it is a current design rather than an older model. The main trade-off is focus: it has no autofocus, so you focus by hand every time. That rewards practice and suits slow, considered shooting more than fast action.

For anyone who enjoys that process, the lens stays out of the way and lets you concentrate on the frame.

The Leica M version weighs 10.2 oz (288 g) and measures 2.19 in (55.6 mm) wide and 2.09 in (53 mm) long. It barely adds bulk to a rangefinder body. The Sony E version may differ.

A screw-in filter must match the 49mm thread on the front. Our physical specification scoring gives it 93/100.

A 50mm prime frames subjects much as your eye sees them. Street scenes, half-length portraits and quiet documentary moments all fall within its reach. One focal length keeps you moving: you frame with your feet instead of a zoom ring, and the kit stays small.

The f/2 maximum aperture does two jobs. It gathers light for evening streets and dim interiors, so you can keep working as the light falls. It also separates a portrait subject from a busy background at portrait distance.

Stopping down trades that separation for depth of field, so both a face and its setting stay sharp. Twelve aperture blades help the opening stay round as you stop down, so out-of-focus highlights stay smooth instead of hard-edged.

The closest focus is 2.3 ft (70 cm) on the Leica M version. That allows a tight head-and-shoulders portrait. Tabletop objects and detail shots sit out of reach. In our optics specification scoring it earns 70/100.

There is no image stabilisation, so handheld frames in dim light rest on your shutter speed and a steady hold. At 50mm this costs less than it would on a long telephoto, since shorter focal lengths are easier to hold steady.

There is no weather sealing, so this is a lens to keep away from rain and dust. The front element also lacks a fluorine coating, so water and oil do not slide off it. None of this affects the optical path; it only shapes how carefully you handle the lens.

Ten elements sit in eight groups. Two of them are bi-aspherical, shaped on both faces, and aspherical surfaces help correct optical faults such as distortion and spherical aberration. For a 50mm used on street scenes and architecture, that correction is welcome.

The lens uses no low-dispersion glass. Our construction specification scoring gives it 31/100.