I am talking about the Voigtländer Apo-Lanthar 90mm F3.5 SL II for Nikon F-mount. I understand that it is not made any more, but copies turn up on Ebay (and elsewhere) for around $450-$500. This is a small lens that comes with a tiny hood and its own close-up lens.
Lens: Voigtlander 90mm f/3.5 SL-II APO-Lanthar
Focal Length: 90 mm
Widest Aperture: f/3.5
Narrowest Aperture: 22
Aperture Blades: 9
Filter Size: 52mm
Hood: Include, small hood.
Close Focus Distance: 19.68 inches (50 centimeters), 12.6 inches (32 centimeters) with close-up lens.
Reproduction Ratio: 1:3.5/1:1.8
Focus Throw: 270º
Weight: 11.29 ounces (320 grams)
Pros: Very sharp lens, APO, 9 blades, close focus only with close-up lens, ample focus throw.
Cons: Slow lens.
This little gem is probably the least-expensive top quality APO lens on the market for the value you get. This is an all-metal lens that is built like a tank. It is smallish and includes a close-up filter that screws into the hood of the lens. This is as odd-shaped lens compared to most lenses, but the sharpness and clarity are right up there with the best of lenses and here is APO at a price anyone can afford. The SL-II version (most recent) of this lens is fully metered to Nikon bodies. It is a manual focus lens.
The little 39mm hood adaptor allows you to screw in the small close-up lens which has its own tiny lens cap. Otherwise you can bag the close-up and hood and treat this as any 52mm lens. Just get yourself a 52mm rubber lens hood like the Nikon HR-2 (and pinch-type lens cap) and presto!, you have a normal-looking lens.
If you yearn for the APO coloring you find in the Voigtlander CV-125 and Leica 100mm APO Elmarit-R, which are four or five times more expensive, here you go.
Shot with the Nikon D810, ISO 64, Zerene Stacker. The first image is without the close-up lens, and the second is with the close-up lens to get you to 1:1.
Sorry for the same group of Calla Lilies, but right now that’s all I have around. It is winter.
