APO-Summicron-M 35mm VS APO Lanthar 35mm

Sep 24

Sep 24 APO-Summicron-M 35mm VS APO Lanthar 35mm

Hello everyone,

this time I tested the new Leica APO-Summicron-M 35mm f/2 and compared it the Voigtlander APO Lanthar 35mm f/2 to see how the two would look against each other.
How do they compare?
Short answer: they are very similar in detail rendition, the APO-Summicron being quite better at f/2 with less chromatic aberrations and nicer boke falloff. The APO Lanthar is also a bit more contrasty.
Equipment used:

Leica M11;
Leica APO-SUMMICRON-M 35 F/2 ASPH.;
Voigtländer APO-LANTHAR 35 mm F2 Asphärisch.

Let’s see first how the lenses look:

Having said that, let's dive in with some test pictures. On the left Leica, on the right Voigtländer:

Leica APO-Summicron-M 35mm f/2

Voigtländer APO Lanthar 35mm f/2

APO-Summicron 35mm bokeh @0,5m

APO Lanthar 35mm bokeh @0,5m

APO Lanthar 35mm colours @f/2

APO-Summicron-M Colours @f/2

APO-Summicron-M 35mm bokeh @0.7m

APO Lanthar 35mm bokeh @0.7m

APO Summicron bokeh @0.5m

APO Lanthar bokeh @0.5m

APO Summicron-M @f/2

APO Lanthar @f/2

APO Summicron-M @f/2

APO Lanthar @f/2

APO Summicron-M @f/4

APO Lanthar @f/4

APO Summicron-M @f/2

APO Lanthar @f/2

APO Summicron-M @f/2 at night.

APO Lanthar @f/2 at night.

APO Summicron-M @f/4 at night.

APO Lanthar @f/4 at night.

What do you think so far?
Next up, some 100% and 200% close ups. When the lens metadata appears, APO Summicron, when not, APO Lanthar.

Last but not least, infrared performance on a modified full spectrum Leica CL. The black and white pictures are taken with a 850nm filter, the colour ones, with a IR Chrome filter.