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Voightlander apo-lanthar 90mm f/3.5

Voigtländer’s Apo series has gained a high reputation for such examples as the Apo-lantahar 35mm f/2, the 50mm f/2 and the 65mm f/2. Others have caused less applause, such as the Apo-skopar 90mm f/2.8. However, the 90mm f/3.5 has been relegated to silence. A bit older, modest in its pretensions: a classic focal length and an unambitious maximum aperture, it is notable for its compact size and light weight (ideal for taking along on hikes). The APO designation, however, is ambitious, boasting high correction of chromatic aberrations. It is also interesting that its price is the lowest of the apo-lanthar series and therefore it is accessible on the used lens market for less than $250 in good condition. Will its optical performance be as versatile as its physical dimensions or as modest as its claims and price? Let’s see.

Focal distance	90 mm
Max. aperture	f/3.5
Min. aperture	f/22
Diameter	51 mm
Long	90 mm
Filter diameter	39 mm
Weight	260 gr
Min. focus distance	1 m
Aperture blades	10
Elements/groups	6/5
Mount	Ltm

• Introduction
• Specifications
• Construction/Handling
• Sharpness
• Chromatic aberrations
• Flare resistance
• Optical vignetting
• Bokeh
• Sunstars
• Vignetting

The build quality is very good, but not excellent. The tolerances in the fit between parts are noticeable and do not resemble the quality of Zeiss or Leica lenses. However, the use experience is pleasant. Light weight and small size are two strong points in favor of this lens, , making it attractive for hiking and street photography.

The housing of the Voigtländer 90mm f/3.5 is made of metal only and all markings are engraved and filled with paint. Although oddly shaped, it comes with a nice lens hood and a front cover, both made of metal. The focusing ring has a very good (tending to soft) resistance. It travels aprox. 100° from the minimum focusing distance of 1m to infinity. The turn feels short: focusing on objects at longer distances shorter than infinity becomes a cumbersome task. The aperture ring is located on the front of the lens and has click steps every half stop of diaphragm opening. The lens diameter is also small, the filter thread is 39mm. The optical design is simple as well, consisting of 6 elements (one of which is low dispersion) in 5 groups. The APO brand should result in a lens with well controlled chromatic aberrations. Its mount is ltm (leica thread mount), very easy to adapt to leica-m or any mirrorless digital camera. There are also versions for Canon and Nikon mount wit different housing, in two successive series, but they are supposed to keep the same optical formula.

Focus shift

There is no focus shift.

Infinity

As with its Apo-lanthar peers, this is a very sharp lens from its maximum aperture. Even if its maximum aperture is just f/3.5 lens, it is better a lens with a modest but useful one, than big promises in giant and heavy lenses, which are useless except by closing the aperture even further.

Long story short: excellent sharpness across the frame from f/3.5. If you look at pixel level, from the mid frame the image improves slightly at f/5.6. At f/16 the image deteriorates noticeably due to defraction. Good for Voigtländer, excellent sharpness from the maximum aperture, even if it is not a very ambitious one. A lens that can be chosen for landscapes and architecture without reservation.

Mid distance

At mid distance the lens is also very sharp from wide open in the center and in the outer frame, but it improves a bit in contrast and acuity at f/5.6. Nonetheless, it can be used with confidence at its maximum aperture.

Minimum distance

Short distance sharpness at 3.5 is equally very good and at f/5.6 leaves nothing to be desired. Extreme corners are a bit softer at f/3.5 due to field curvature, but at this distance is probably irrelevant in the field.

Lateral

Lateral chromatic aberration is corrected very well, and makes honor to the apo tag. Nonetheless, longitudinal chromatic aberration is another story.

Lngitudinal

Longitudinal chromatic aberration is not well corrected and is in the strong side at maximum aperture and results bothersome in the field. It reduces at f/5.6, but it is still present even at f/8. This is a very poor performance for a lens with the apo tag in its name. It also presents moderate purple fringing in areas with strong contrast.

Coma

Coma is very well corrected.

Flare resistance is good, there is some veiling glare with the sun in the frame, but it keeps contrast. There are not noticeable artifacts.

At the maximum aperture optical vignetting is very pronounced, stopping down outlining of bokeh balls become more evident as the shape of the ten straight aperture blades.

With maxuimum aperture of f/3.5 bokeh is not the strongest side of this lens. Nonetheless, out of focus areas are usually soft as the transition zone. Bokeh balls on the other side have some outlining which makes the shape of the aperture blades more evident when stopped down.

At longer distances there is not much boken to talk about. But, still, defocused areas are smooth.

Due to the straight aperture blades, there are nice and defined sunstars from f/4 to f/16.

There is some vignetting at f/3.5, but it is almost gone by 5.6.

Distortion is not a problem with this lens.

The Voigtlander 90mm f/3.5 se is a well-built lens, small and light, and with very good sharpness and flare resistance. However, its aperture is limited to f/3.5, longitudinal chromatic aberration is strong for a lens that carries the “apo-lanthar” label, although in practice it performs no worse than the Voigtlander Apo-lanthar 35mm f/2 or the Contax Zeiss Sonnar 100mm f/3.5, but it is not on par with the Voigtlander 110mm 2.5 Apo-Lanthar. The outlining on bokeh balls can be annoying, but overall it is smooth, and it has very nice sunstars. The compromises are mild and the advantages are important. Its price is on the low side and it has all the qualities for landscape and architectural photography, ideal for carrying on hikes. But let’s see where it finds competition. For a similar price you can find the Zeiss Sonnar 100mm f/3.5. It is not particularly better or worse in any category. For a third more you can buy the Sony 85mm 1.8 on the used lens market, heavier and larger, with autofocus, a 1.3 times wider aperture, but with worst problems with chromatic aberrations and worse flare resistance; it is however a better choice for portraiture.