Sony - FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II vs Voigtländer - APO-Lanthar 50mm f/2 SE
Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | Sony - FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II | Voigtländer - APO-Lanthar 50mm f/2 SE |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 547 g | 364 g |
| Weather sealed | true | false |
| Min focal | 16 mm | 50 mm |
| Max focal | 35 mm | 50 mm |
Between the FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II and APO-Lanthar 50mm f/2 SE, the FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II comes out ahead in weather sealed, while the APO-Lanthar 50mm f/2 SE wins on weight / min focal. Overall, the FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II scores 62.8 and the APO-Lanthar 50mm f/2 SE scores 70.9 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The APO-Lanthar 50mm f/2 SE is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 8.1 points on the Mars Score. The margin is wide enough that the underdog only makes sense if its individual strengths line up with what you specifically need.
Pick the FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II if you care most about weather sealed. The biggest gaps in its favor are weather sealed. The single most decisive one: Has Weather sealed.
Pick the APO-Lanthar 50mm f/2 SE if you carry the device everywhere and weight or thickness has been the deciding factor before. Its strongest claims are weight, min focal, max focal. The single most decisive one: Weight — 183.00 g less. 364 vs 547.
Both ship with comparable optical stabilization, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the APO-Lanthar 50mm f/2 SE is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Which should you buy: Sony - FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II or Voigtländer - APO-Lanthar 50mm f/2 SE?
Voigtländer - APO-Lanthar 50mm f/2 SE leads the current Mars Score by 8.1 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare min focal, max focal, weight against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose Sony - FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II if…
Sony - FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II has the measurable edge on weather sealed.
Choose Voigtländer - APO-Lanthar 50mm f/2 SE if…
Voigtländer - APO-Lanthar 50mm f/2 SE has the measurable edge on weight g, focal min mm, focal max mm.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why Sony - FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II wins
- ▲Has Weather sealed.
Why Voigtländer - APO-Lanthar 50mm f/2 SE wins
- ▲Weight — 183.00 g less. 364 vs 547.
- ▲Min focal: 50 (vs 16).
- ▲Max focal: 50 (vs 35).
Spec comparison
Optics
| Spec | Sony - FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II | Voigtländer - APO-Lanthar 50mm f/2 SE |
|---|---|---|
| Min focal | 16 mm | 50 mmlead |
| Max focal | 35 mm | 50 mmlead |
| Max aperture | f/2.8 | f/2 |
| Min aperture | f/22 | f/22 |
Build
| Spec | Sony - FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II | Voigtländer - APO-Lanthar 50mm f/2 SE |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 547 g | 364 glead |
| Weather sealedⓘ | truelead | false |
| Optical stabilizationⓘ | false | false |
Mount
| Spec | Sony - FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II | Voigtländer - APO-Lanthar 50mm f/2 SE |
|---|---|---|
| Lens mount | Sony E | Sony E |