Dublin Castle

I USE THIS SCULPTURE AT DUBLIN CASTLE AS A REFERENCE

The Veronica Guerin Bust is a bronze sculpture located in the Memorial Garden at Dublin Castle. It was created by Irish sculptor Rowan Gillespie in memory of the investigative journalist Veronica Guerin, who was assassinated in 1996 for her reporting on organised crime. The bust depicts Guerin with a determined expression, symbolising her courage and dedication to uncovering the truth.

Today I used a Voigtlander APO LANTHAR 65mm F2 lens with my Sony FX30. This is a manual lens and it has worked very well when attached to my Sony A7RIV. In general he results were disappointing and I am wondering if there could be any reasons why the Voigtlander might not have been a good match for the Crop-Sensor FX30.

I am aware of the following:

Change in Field of View: Crop-sensor cameras have a smaller sensor than full-frame cameras. This means they effectively “crop” the image circle projected by the lens. My 65mm lens will behave more like a 97.5mm (approx) lens on the FX30 due to the 1.5x crop factor. This change in focal length can significantly impact composition and the feel of images.

While a 65mm lens will still capture images, the effective resolution will likely be lower on the FX30. This is because the same number of pixels from the lens’ image circle are being spread over a smaller area. I do not believe that this is a problem.

Focusing Challenges: As there is no EVF [viewfinder] manual focusing was very difficult on the FX30. I suspect that this was what caused the reduction in quality that I encountered.

The Voigtlander APO LANTHAR 65mm F2 is a fully manual focus lens designed for full-frame mirrorless cameras, especially Sony E-mount. It’s known for its exceptional optical quality, build, and macro capabilities.

Key Features:

Apochromatic (APO) Design: This minimises chromatic aberrations (colour fringing), resulting in extremely sharp images with accurate colour rendition.
Macro Capabilities: Offers a 1:2 magnification ratio, allowing for close-up photography.
Fast f/2 Aperture: Great for low-light shooting and creating shallow depth-of-field for subject isolation.
All-Metal Construction: Exudes a premium feel and durability.
Smooth, Long Focus Throw: Precise for manual focusing.

Pros:

Stunning Image Quality: Delivers incredible sharpness, micro-contrast, and colour accuracy, even wide open.
Beautiful Bokeh: The smooth rendering of out-of-focus areas adds a pleasing aesthetic.
Excellent Build Quality: Feels solid and luxurious in its construction.
Versatile Focal Length: Useful for portraits, close-ups, and general “long normal” photography.

Cons:

Manual Focus Only: Not ideal for fast-paced shooting or those who strongly prefer autofocus.
Some Vignetting: Noticeable at wider apertures, but often adds a pleasing effect and easily corrected in post.
Price: Relatively expensive, but in line with similar, high-performance lenses.
Size and Weight: Can be a little bulky compared to some alternatives.

Best Suited For:

Detail-Oriented Photographers: Those who appreciate and prioritise top-notch image quality.
Macro Enthusiasts: The close-focusing capability makes it a great choice for macro work.
Portrait Photographers: The focal length and bokeh quality are excellent for portraits.
Deliberate Shooters: Those who enjoy the tactile experience and slower pace of manual focus.
Overall:

The Voigtlander APO LANTHAR 65mm F2 is an outstanding lens for photographers demanding the highest image quality and love the experience of manual focus. Its optical performance is hard to beat, making it a worthy investment for the right user.