Recently, the camera gear world got exciting news.

Recently, the camera gear world got exciting news. A well‑known lens maker, Voigtländer, has introduced a brand‑new standard prime lens that will work on both Sony E‑mount and Nikon Z‑mount mirrorless cameras. This lens is designed for full‑frame cameras, and many photographers are already talking about it because of its small size, classic design, and strong image quality.

In this article, we’re going to explain everything about this new lens — what it is, why it matters, how it’s built, and what it means for photographers. Let’s go step by step and keep everything easy to understand.

Who Is Voigtländer?

Voigtländer is a classic and respected name in photography. It’s actually one of the oldest lens and camera brands ever, with roots going back to the 1800s. Over time, Voigtländer lenses have become known for excellent optical quality, precise metal build, and a timeless design that many photographers love. Today, the brand is run by a company called Cosina, which makes lenses under the Voigtländer name for modern digital cameras.

The new lens announcement continues a long tradition of bringing beautifully designed lenses to serious shooters and enthusiasts.

The New Lens: Voigtländer Septon 40mm F2 Aspherical

The newly announced lens is called the Voigtländer Septon 40mm F2 Aspherical. This is a prime lens, meaning it has one fixed focal length (40mm) and no zoom. Prime lenses are popular because they usually give sharper images and better low‑light performance than zoom lenses, and they are often lighter and simpler in design.

Name and Background

The name “Septon” comes from an older classic lens design that Voigtländer used decades ago for film cameras. That old Septon lens was well known, and many photographers still remember it fondly. Now, Voigtländer has brought the name back, but this time with modern optical design meant for today’s mirrorless cameras.

What Makes This Lens Special?

This new lens has several key features that make it interesting and useful for photographers:

1. Compact Size

One of the first things people notice is how small and light the lens is. On Sony E‑mount it measures only about 30mm in length from the camera mount and weighs just 165 grams. The Nikon Z version is similarly small, though a bit heavier. This makes the lens super easy to carry and perfect for travel, street photography, or everyday shooting.

In fact, photographers often call lenses this shape “pancake lenses” because they are flat and compact, almost like a pancake. These lenses sit close to the camera body and make your camera feel more portable.

2. Bright f/2 Aperture

The lens has a maximum aperture of f/2. That means it can let in a good amount of light, which is helpful in darker situations like indoors or at sunset. A wider aperture also lets you create images with a soft, blurry background (often called “bokeh”), which can make subjects stand out nicely.

Even though f/2 isn’t the fastest aperture you can find on some lenses (some go down to f/1.4 or f/1.2), it still offers a great balance of brightness, size, and weight. For many shooters, that’s a very useful sweet spot, especially for everyday photos and videos.

3. Solid Optical Design

The lens uses a careful arrangement of optical glass elements inside — 7 elements in 6 groups — designed to deliver sharp images with good contrast and detail. An important part of this design is the aspherical element, which helps reduce common optical issues like distortion and spherical aberration, giving more accurate images from edge to edge.

This design is inspired by classic formulas but optimized for modern digital sensors, meaning the lens should give clear, pleasing photos on today’s high‑resolution cameras.

4. Electronic Contacts and Camera Support

Although the lens is manual focus only (meaning you focus by turning a ring on the lens), it does include electronic contacts. These contacts allow the camera to record metadata (like aperture and focal length) in the image file’s EXIF data, and some cameras can show focus aids (like focus magnification and peaking) to help you focus accurately. On cameras with image stabilization in the body, these contacts can also let the stabilization system work better.

This is nice because it gives you the manual‑focus experience many photographers enjoy, while still keeping some modern conveniences.

5. Front Filter Thread and Included Hood

The lens has a 52mm front filter thread, which means you can attach common accessories like ND filters or polarizers. A metal screw‑in lens hood comes in the box, which protects the front element and helps reduce flare when shooting toward bright light.

Physical Build and Feel

Voigtländer lenses are known for their metal construction and smooth, precise control rings. This new Septon lens follows that tradition. The manual focus ring turns with a nice amount of resistance — not too loose and not too tight — giving photographers good control over focusing.

The lens’s small size doesn’t mean cheap build quality. It still feels solid and well made in the hand, something photographers expect from the Voigtländer name.

Who Is This Lens For?

This new Voigtländer Septon 40mm F2 is aimed at photographers who want:

1. A Compact Everyday Lens

Because of its small size and simple focal length, it’s great for street photography, travel, and everyday shooting. You don’t need a big backpack full of gear — this lens and a camera body make a light, capable setup.

2. Manual Focus Lovers

Not everyone likes autofocus. Some photographers prefer to focus manually because it gives them more control and a more thoughtful shooting experience. This lens targets those users, while still keeping some electronic support so the camera and lens communicate useful info.

3. Photographers Who Like Classic Look and Feel

Since the lens design is inspired by vintage optics, it gives a different look and handling compared to modern autofocus zooms. That classic feel is something many street shooters and film lovers appreciate.

Voigtländer Announces a New Standard Prime Lens for Sony E and Nikon Z Cameras

How It Compares to Other Standard Primes

In the mirrorless world, there are many 35mm, 40mm, 50mm, and other standard prime lenses for Sony E and Nikon Z systems — some with autofocus, some without.

For example, Nikon has its own Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.4 lens, which is sharp and autofocus enabled, but is bigger and heavier than this new Voigtländer 40mm.

Meanwhile, Sony’s lineup includes several fast prime lenses that offer autofocus but are usually larger and more expensive.

This Voigtländer lens stands out because:

It’s much smaller and lighter
You get smooth, manual control with metal build quality
It gives a classic photography experience
It’s versatile enough for daily use

Of course, because it’s manual focus it isn’t for everyone — photographers who shoot fast action or rely on autofocus may still prefer other lenses. But for travel, portraits, street photos, and creative work, this is a strong and interesting option.

Price and Availability

Voigtländer says the Septon 40mm F2 will be available starting in March 2026 for Sony E‑mount cameras, and shortly after for Nikon Z‑mount. The expected price is around ¥85,000 in Japan (about $560 USD), though actual retail prices may vary depending on where you live.

This price puts it in a competitive spot — not too expensive for a high‑quality prime lens, especially one with such a classic design and compact size.

Early Reactions From the Camera Community

Many photographers online are excited about this lens. On photo forums and social media, people are talking about how nice it is to see a modern standard lens that’s both compact and thoughtfully built. Some mention that they’re glad Voigtländer is updating classic optical designs for today’s mirrorless cameras.

Some photographers also point out that having electronic contacts on a manual lens is a big plus, because it helps integrate the lens better with modern camera systems.

What This Means for Sony E and Nikon Z Users

For Sony and Nikon mirrorless users, this lens adds another choice in the standard prime category — one that stands out because of its size, feel, and optical character.

Because standard lenses are so useful for many genres of photography, having one that feels great in the hand and produces pleasing images can help both beginners and experienced shooters enjoy their craft more.

In short, this lens gives photographers a creative, classic, and portable option that still fits into modern camera systems.

Final Thoughts

The new Voigtländer Septon 40mm F2 Aspherical lens is an exciting addition to the world of mirrorless lenses. It mixes classic design with modern features, giving photographers a lens that feels good to use and performs well for everyday shooting.

If you like manual focus, small lenses, and beautiful image quality, this lens is worth paying attention to. Whether you shoot street, travel, portraits, or just enjoy photography as a hobby, this lens offers a special experience that’s both practical and fun.

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