Conclusion

The Voigtlander 65mm F2 Macro APO Lanthar is a stunningly sharp standard prime lens that doubles up as a very effective macro lens, all at a price that won't break the bank. Boasting the same stellar build quality that we've come to expect from recent Voigtlander lenses, this new optic is a real gem.

Shooting wide-open at the maximum f/2 aperture shows very little reduction in sharpness in the centre of the frame, and even at the edges performance is excellent throughout the aperture range - you certainly won't be complaining about the sharpness of this lens.

The only proviso is that shooting hand-held at f/2 can be a little hit-and-miss, depending largely on your technique, so be prepared for a fairly steep learning curve if you're new to using a manual-focus lens. That said, the A7R II's Peaking and Manual Focus Assist features, which the Voigtlander 65mm F2 Macro APO Lanthar takes full advantage of, are excellent aids to delivering a higher percentage of keepers than might reasonably be expected.

The 31cm minimum focusing distance and 1:2 magnification ratio also makes this lens versatile enough to shoot close subjects, with the combination of the outstanding sharpness and a high-resolution camera like the Sony A7R II capable of delivering some breath-taking levels of fine detail.

All in all, we're very impressed by the Voigtlander 65mm F2 Macro APO Lanthar, especially when you consider that it only costs £749 / $1059- it's certainly a worthy recipient of our rarely-given 5 star award. Essential!

Ratings (out of 5)
Design	5
Features	5
Ease-of-use	4.5
Image quality	5
Value for money	5