Preview: Voigtlander Macro Apo-Lanthar 125mm F2.5 SL

[khoking]

Recently, I fall in love with this lens

Voigtlander Macro Apo-Lanthar 125mm F2.5 SL

image from http://www.cameraquest.com/


The Voigtlander 125mm f/2.5 APO-Lanthar has 11 elements in 9 groups. With 9 aperture blades, making it round aperture for very smooth and pleasant bokeh!

The lens has a brightest aperture of f2.5, making it the fastest macro lens in the world! Not only that, most macro lens when focus to 1:1, some light will be lost due to the high magnification. The Voigtlander 125SL is an exception. The lens keeps its brightest aperture at f2.5 even at 1:1! Many might not need the f2.5 aperture in macro shot, but f2.5 helps keep the viewfinder bright at all time thus easier in manual focusing!

If one needed the slow speed, he/she can always stop down to the smallest aperture f22.

This is a MACRO LENS, maximum magnification of 1:1 with the closest focusing distance of 0.38m. As most macro shooters need, this is a manual lens, no AF. Some might find this a big disadvantage and it also took me quite some time to think about purchasing it or not.

Lens at 1:1

image from http://www.cameraquest.com/

Canon User
For Canon EOS system users, this lens is FULLY COMPATIBLE! Just look at the photo below, Cosina builds this lens with electronic chip inside, making this lens fully communicable with your camera system! (being a Nikon user I am envy... price are the same but Canon owners got the extra). You can use this lens in Av, P, T, M…etc. modes, what you lost is just the AutoFocus, which you probably will just turn it off when shooting macro 


image from http://bbs.fengniao.com/forum/showth...t=94644&page=6

Nikon User
I am a Nikon user. Many people said that Nikon makes the best macro lens, but after seeing Canon EF 100mm f2.8 macro, I am envy. The Canon macro lens is a better design than Nikkor AFD 105mm f2.8 micro in my opinion. The Canon one maintains its length from infinity to 1:1 focus. Now I found the Voigtlander, so I am a little happier Back to Nikon user. This Voigtlander 125SL is an Ai-s lens. Meaning that it can be mounted to all your Nikon F mount camera with no problem. However, on some cameras (eg. D70), you will not have metering, and can only use your camera in Manual Exposure mode. No P or S or A modes. That's because there is no chip from the lens to communicate with the camera. If would be great if Cosina can just implant a chip (making it a P lens) into this lens. However, the good news is the coming Nikon D200 DSLR can meter and do A, P and M exposure modes with this lens.


Some other specifications of the lens:
Filter size = 58mm
Weight = 690 grams
Lens diameter = 76 mm
Length = 88.2 mm (infinity) ; 152.4mm (1:1)
2 ED elements & 2 Aspherical elements used
whole metal construction body

Accessories (included when purchase)
1. Square hood
2. Square hood cover
3. Round lens cap

Suggest Retail Price of the lens is ￥95,000. The lens is available in Nikon AIS, Canon FD, Pentax 42 or K, Minolta MD, Olympus OM, Contax/Yashica, Canon EOS or Minolta Maxxum mount. There is no Voigtlander distributor in Malaysia (if you know any, please pm me), that's why this lens is unknown or unpopular to the Malaysian photographers. Street price in Singapore is around S$1300~1500, and it is a grey market lens. In Japan, the price is ￥71,200 at Yodobashi Camera (with 10% rebate point).

In Japan, China and Taiwan, this is a very popular lens and is always out of stock. Some say that Cosina might discontinued this lens soon

For more info of the lens, you can visit:
http://www.cosina.co.jp/seihin/voigt...5sl/index.html
http://www.cameraquest.com/Voigt%20SL.htm
http://www.mainlinephoto.com.au/prod363.htm

Some discussion and sample phtoos captured by the lens:
http://bbs.fengniao.com/forum/showthread.php?t=94644
http://bbs.fengniao.com/forum/showthread.php?t=289441
http://www.photographyreview.com/cat...8_3111crx.aspx
http://my.reset.jp/~cat.y/mapo125mm/125mm.html
http://clara.oc-to.net/impressions/tubuyaki/vol210.html
http://www.cameraunion.net/product/s...productid=2707
http://www.overseacruise.com/domesti...0040410titibu/
http://raynow.com/modules.php?name=F...55&view= next

I am sure you can see how deep in love I am with this lens now I have ordered mine, and should arrived within 2 weeks. Just in time as a Christmas present!

(I will update this preview when I got mine! Anybody interested in getting this lens, private message me

Those who want to order this lens from Japan from me, price = RM2250 inclusive of EMS shipping from Japan to Malaysia

[khoking]

nobody interested in this lens? Noordin...where are you?

[ted]

Looking very phallic, if u know what i mean.. *wink*

[david.tan]

kinda not really familar with Voigtlander lens

[Brian]

Originally Posted by khoking nobody interested in this lens? Noordin...where are you?

When I went to Poi Ai Rd this past Saturday with my b-day cash I found 3 shops that carried CV lenses and all were sold out of this one except one shop, which had the floor demo on sale. They all said that they would be getting new stock no earlier then January.

Umm, BTW you know that bag I wuz gonna look for? Well, before that shop I passed by a shop that had the CV 90/3.5 APO Lanthar RF lens on sale...

Kho, you can I can do a RF vs SLR Lanthar design comparison

[hcc97]

KKK,
plan for a MO???

[Brian]

Originally Posted by hcc97 KKK, plan for a MO???

Kho can definately get them cheaper where he is, but they are still quite a bit of money to front or collect for a MO. Plus there is the issue of shipping & customs

[khoking]

Anybody interested in purchasing this lens do private message me. I guarantee the price is cheaper than what you can get in Malaysia, Australia, Singapore, USA or UK!

[khoking]

it is good to know that I am not alone...another PMer will be the proud owner of this lens soon!

[gojira]

Oooh, please let it be who I hope it is......

[Brian]

Originally Posted by khoking Anybody interested in purchasing this lens do private message me. I guarantee the price is cheaper than what you can get in Malaysia, Australia, Singapore, USA or UK!

Taiwan & HK, too

[Caveman]

Originally Posted by khoking it is good to know that I am not alone...another PMer will be the proud owner of this lens soon!

someone has just bought a X'mas present for his wife that know nothing about camera.

[drchee]

KK, any info on the lens mtf resolution?

[khoking]

Originally Posted by drchee KK, any info on the lens mtf resolution?

I can't seems to be able to find the MTF graph of Voigtlander lenses on the internet, but I will check my Voigtlander brochure at home later

[Brian]

Originally Posted by khoking I can't seems to be able to find the MTF graph of Voigtlander lenses on the internet, but I will check my Voigtlander brochure at home later

Stephen Gandy's site (http://www.cameraquest.com) references MTF graphs at Cosina's Japanese homepage a few times in his lens reviews but doesn't provide links. I tried navigating Cosina's site but my Japanese isn't that great...hey, I'm happy when I can read "beef noodles" in traditional Chinese

[thembo]

how much kk??

[khoking]

Ok, since I got some pms...for the convenient sake of all PMers, I better post the price here

RM2250 inclusive of EMS shipping back to Malaysia

[azrul]

hmm nice! i think with the politcal n environmental correctness of todays climate (pardon the pun), i dont think it uses the same base as the apo-lanthars of the 50s. the name came from the fact that they used lanthanum n thorium glass to provide apochromatic correction. for those not scientifically inclined, these elements are radioactive. most of the old lens formulas from the classical european manufacturers used pretty nasty stuff including lead and arsenic. i still use a vintage apo-lanthar using lanthanum glass.

when the voightlander empire waned, the large format lens division was bought by carl zeiss. the 35mm stuff went into obscurity until cosina came along.

[clementc]

Originally Posted by Brian Kho can definately get them cheaper where he is, but they are still quite a bit of money to front or collect for a MO. Plus there is the issue of shipping & customs

King, don't list the package down as "Lens" cuz our silly customs will try to be funny. Brian once sent me something and they held it up in KLIA with an excuse that they thought it's some fishing equipment.

[khoking]

Azrul is right. I have read in some other forums that although Cosina still use Lanthar in their 125SL, but it shouldnt be the old Lanthar no more. The old Lanthar is 5~6 elements, this one is 11 elements in 9 groups

Clementc, thanks for the tips! So what should I put it as? I thought of just writing it as Photographic Equipment, 125mm lens. This should be pretty clear as a non-taxable photographic equipment, right?