Home

Please support mflenses.com if you need any graphic related work order it from us, click on above banner to order!

SearchSearch MemberlistMemberlist RegisterRegister ProfileProfile Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages Log inLog in

Voigtländer SL APO Lanthar serial numbers production volumes
View previous topic :: View next topic  


PostPosted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 3:36 pm    Post subject: Voigtländer SL APO Lanthar serial numbers production volumes Reply with quote

Original post updated Jan 2013

These are the lenses: http://www.cameraquest.com/Voigt%20SL.htm

The serial number starts with a 9 and is always 7 digits long. The 2nd digit is year of manufacture. Some lenses are engraved "Japan" while others "Lens made in Japan". Some serials are machine engraved in a precise fashion, others seem almost hand engraved with numbers not fully aligned.

Year 2000
75/2.5 in Canon, N/Ai-S, O/OM , M/MD and P/M42 mounts, all bayonets total batch size 2500 (possibly more)
90/3.5 in LTM mount, (batch size 750 according to a Japanese retailer, who claims source for that number is Cosina)

9030xxx 75/2.5 N/Ai-S, O-OM
9031xxx 75/2.5 FD, M/MD, PK-A, C/Y
9032xxx 75/2.5 FD, N/Ai-S, O/OM, P/M42

9040xxx 75/2.5 N/Ai-S

905xxxx ???

9060xxx 90/3.5 LTM



Year 2001
125/2.5 in N/Ai-S mount, batch of 1000-1200 units
125/2.5 in P/K-A mount batch of 750 (confirmed in press release)
125/2.5 in M/MD, P/M42 and C/Y mount, only a few hundred total
125/2.5 in FD/EF mount, batch of 1000-1500
125/2.5 batch of 1500 to 2000 in multiple mounts
90/3.5 for N/Ai-S and P/M42, batch of 1500 to 2000

9120xxx 125/2.5 N/Ai-S
9121xxx 125/2.5 FD, N/Ai-S, M/MD, P/K-A, P/M42, C/Y
9122xxx 125/2.5 N/Ai-S

9130xxx 125/2.5 EF
9131xxx 125/2.5 EF

9140xxx 125/2.5 M/MD

9150xxx 125/2.5 EF, N/Ai-S, O/OM, M/MD, P/K-A, P/M42

9160xxx 90/3.5 N/Ai-S, P/K-A, P/M42
9161xxx 90/3.5 N/Ai-S



Year 2002
90/3.5 for P/K-A & P/M42 mount, batch of 1000 (?)
75/2.5 and 40/2 in P/M42 mount, a few hundred
125/2.5 in N/Ai-S mount, batch of 1000

9210xxx 90/3.5 FD, N/Ai-S, P/K-A, P/M42
9210xxx 75/2.5 P/M42 (super-rare!)

9220xxx 90/3.5 O/OM, P/K-A
9221xxx 40/2 N/Ai-S

923xxxx ???

9240xxx 40/2 P/M42

9250 125/2.5 N/Ai-S
9251 125/2.5 M/MD



Year 2003
85/3.5 for Nikon rangefinder mount, extremely rare, Japan only
180/4 in N/Ai-S batch of max 800-1000
180/4 in O/OM, P/K-A, P/M42 and C/Y mount, batch of 1000-1500 (?)
90/3.5 in LTM mount, 500-1000

9310xxx 85/3.5 Nikon S mount

932xxxx ???

9330xxx 180/4 N/Ai-S, FD, P/K-A
9331xxx 180/4 N/Ai-S, P/K-A

9340xxx 180/4 N/Ai-S, P/K-A, P/M42, C/Y
9341xxx 180/4 FD, O/OM, P/K-A, P/M42



Years 2004-2006
58/1.4 SL II
40/2 SL N/Ai-S and P/M42, unknown batch size

2004
9410xxx 58/1.4 N/Ai-S SL II
9420xxx 58/1.4 N/Ai-S SL II
9430xxx 58/1.4 N/Ai-S SL II

2005
9540xxx 40/2 P/M42 and other mounts


2006
9640xxx 40/2 N/Ai-S
9641xxx 40/2 N/Ai-S

Note: 2004-2006 seems to have been a record-low production volume period for Cosina Voigtländer. Could it be factory line-ups being re-modified and staff trained for Zeiss Z* lens production?

Years 2007-2009
58/1.4 SL II in several mounts, unknown batch size
20/3.5 SL II in several mounts, unknown batch size
40/2 SL II in several mounts, unknown batch size

2007
[i]9750xxx 40/2 N/Ai-S SL II
9750xxx 90/3.5 LTM SL II
9751xxx 40/2 N/Ai-S SL II

9760xxx ???
9761xxx 58/1.4 SL II N/Ai-S

2008
9810xxx 20/3.5 N/Ai-S
9811xxx 40/2 N/Ai-S
9820xxx 58/1.4 PK/A
983xxxx 58/1.4 SL II N/Ai-S
984xxxx 58/1.4 SL II N/Ai-S
9850xxx 58/1.4 SL II N/Ai-S
9860xxx 40/2 SL II N/Ai-S

2009
9910xxx 20/3.5 N/Ai-S

992xxxx ???
993xxxx ???
994xxxx ???

9950xxx 58/1.4 SL II N/Ai-S

Nikon users might be interested in numbers for the discontinued apochromatic SL I "family" in N/Ai-S mount:

180/4 APO exists in 700 (max 1000) units
90/3.5 APO exists in 1000 to 1500 units
125/2.5 APO exists in 2500 to 3000 units (theoretically, could be 4200 but one 2000 unit batch is mixed mounts, Nikon share of that batch is likely 500 to 750 units)

125/2.5 APO in Canon FD/EF is a batch of 1500 total
Of the SL first series (chrome, R/G/B) lenses, Minolta/MD and Contax/Yashica mount lenses are by far the rarest of the rare, manufactured probably in hundreds each version.

While accuracy of the data is improving with every serial I receive (or collect from eBay), it is already clear that previous estimates of production volumes have been grossly over-estimated. Previous estimates were in "tens of thousands" whereas data indicates each SL I APO Lanthar lens was manufactured only a few thousand.

There are also many indicators that the production volumes were originally intended to be higher, but were cut in mid-production.

1) It is commonly speculated that Cosina signing a contract license to manufacture Zeiss' modern (D)SLR lenses ended the production of some Voigtländer SL lenses, which were overlapping the Zeiss product line. This is speculation, indicated by the sudden end of production for 75/2.5, 90/3.5, 125/2.5 and 180/4 by the end of the year 2003. The 180/4 remains extremely rare, production ended only 4 months after announcement!

2) It seems a large number of the boxes in which the lenses were delivered were originally printed with another lens mount than later placed in box. The original printed text was covered at the factory with a sticker.

3) Production started with mount-specific serial number ranges, ie a particular serial number range only included a certain mount. In the final production runs, it seems that a lot of the lenses originally intended for one mount were factory-converted to another, but the serial number range was maintained.

TIMELINE OF THE ORIGINAL SL SERIES

Voigtländer SL 90mm f/3.5 APO Lanthar (rangefinder)
Announced Feb 2001, in black or silver, price 58,000 and 55,000 yen respectively

Voigtländer SL 75mm f/2.5 Color-Heliar (SLR)
Announced May 2001, price 50,000 yen (lens) and 7,500 yen (LH-75S square hood).

Voigtländer SL 125mm f/2.5 Macro APO Lanthar (SLR)
Announced May 2001, price 95,000 yen (lens including hood)

Voigtländer SL 90mm f/3.5 APO Lanthar (SLR)
Announced Feb 2002, price 55,000 yen (lens) and 7,500 (LH-75 hood). Same LH-75 hood also recommended for 75/2.5 Color Heliar (SLR version)

Voigtländer SL 40mm f/2 Ultron Aspherical (SLR)
Announced Apr 2002, price 45,000 yen (lens) and 4,500 yen (hoods LH-40S and LH-40 D)

Voigtländer SL 180mm f/4 APO Lanthar (SLR)
Announced Aug 2003, price 65,000 yen (lens) and 7,500 yen (hoods LH-75S and LH-75)

Great link for anyone interested in more info, page (c) Pete Evans: http://peat.org/cvfaq.html


Last edited by Esox lucius on Sun Jan 06, 2013 10:48 am; edited 51 times in total


PostPosted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 5:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great Project! Thank you Smile






.


PostPosted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 7:55 am    Post subject: I've got two Reply with quote

One 125 EF mount and one 180 Ni-Ais mount. I cannot locate a serial # on either and the boxes don't have the serial # either. Any hints as to where to look on the lens?

I just sold another 125 EF mount last week. The box for that lens had a serial #.

Let me know if I can help further or if you could let me know where the serial #'s located on the lens.

Ray


PostPosted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 8:47 am    Post subject: Re: I've got two Reply with quote

rayatphonix wrote:
One 125 EF mount and one 180 Ni-Ais mount. I cannot locate a serial # on either and the boxes don't have the serial # either. Any hints as to where to look on the lens?

I just sold another 125 EF mount last week. The box for that lens had a serial #.

Let me know if I can help further or if you could let me know where the serial #'s located on the lens.

Ray


Hard to see, on the end of the lens, black imprint on black metal, need a strong light shine at it at an angle. Turn the lens till you see it.


PostPosted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 11:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

My lens:

APO 125/2.5 SL, Pentax K-mount: 9121546


PostPosted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 11:45 am    Post subject: Re: I've got two Reply with quote

Thank you no-X!

rayatphonix wrote:
if you could let me know where the serial #'s located on the lens


Excellent question.

I updated the original post with a photo. It shows location of serial, it is same on all Voigtländer SL lenses.


Last edited by Esox lucius on Tue Feb 09, 2010 10:42 pm; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 12:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mine are all Nikon Ais.

90mm f3.5 : 9160132

125mm f2.5 : 9120482

180mm f4.0 : 9330551

Cheers!


PostPosted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 2:19 pm    Post subject: Thanks Reply with quote

The serial #'s are:

CV 180/4, N/Ai-S mount 9330846
CV 125, EF mount 9130488


PostPosted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 7:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

CV Apo Lanthar 90/3.5, nikon mount, dd approx 2007, 9161162


patrickh


PostPosted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 8:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Intresting project Esox lucius. Smile

A) 125/2.5
B) 9130751
C) Canon EF


A) 180/4
B) 9340305
C) M42


A) 75/2.5 (supposed you meant this one, the Color-Heliar?)
B) 9032459
C) Olympus OM


I've just sold my Ultron 40/2 in Nikon mount, but I have another one in EOS mount on it's way home instead.
I didn't write down the serial on the Nikon version.


PostPosted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 9:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ok, here you are:

APO-Lanthar 90mm f/3.5 SL #9161640, Nikon Ai-S mount


PostPosted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 2:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have only 2 Apo-Lanthars made by Cosina
2.5/125SL in M42 mount, body of the lens is marked with white U(white dot0 box has sticker "Practica M-42", SN #9150534 (yellow dots)
3.5/90SL in PK/A mount, body of the lens is marked with white PK-A box has sticker "PK-A", SN #9220225











PostPosted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 9:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A) 90/3.5 APO
B) 9220314
C) PKA


A) 125/2.5 APO
B) 9150125
C) PKA


PostPosted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 10:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mine's a 125 EF - 9131043


PostPosted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 9:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here are mine:

- 125/2.5 in PK-A mount No. 9150308
- 180/4 in PK-A mount No. 9341305

Cheers!

Abbazz


PostPosted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 10:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

My lens:

VOIGTLÄNDER APO-LANTHAR 90mm F 3.5 SL
Serial number: 9160446 Japan
Mount: N/AI-S

I think my serial number upsets a bit your timing reconstruction


PostPosted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 12:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Orio wrote:
I think my serial number upsets a bit your timing reconstruction


Somewhat yes. I have now entered serials received during the weekend and it is now clear that only 125/2.5 APO-Lanthar has mount-specific serial ranges. The 90/3.5 and 180/4 serial ranges contain different mounts = their serial range is lens-specific (not mount-specific).

I have so far not found a single SL lens in Contax/Yashica mount.


Last edited by Esox lucius on Fri Feb 12, 2010 1:56 pm; edited 6 times in total


PostPosted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 12:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

But C/Y does exist.
I naively turned down a 2.5/125 a couple years ago in that mount ($800).


PostPosted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 12:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

F16SUNSHINE wrote:
But C/Y does exist.
I naively turned down a 2.5/125 a couple years ago in that mount ($800).


Yes, I know, it's official press release confirmed. I just have not (yet) come across a serial belonging to an SL I/II lens in C/Y mount.


PostPosted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 1:01 am    Post subject: Voigtländer database Reply with quote

This may be a ridiculous question but has anyone ever thought to write Cosina to see if they would share the production numbers?


PostPosted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 10:16 am    Post subject: Re: Voigtländer database Reply with quote

james wrote:
This may be a ridiculous question but has anyone ever thought to write Cosina to see if they would share the production numbers?


I did, but I tossed the idea aside mainly due to two reasons:

1. In a magazine interview I have torn out of an English-speaking journal, a representant of Cosina replied to the question on production numbers by replying "limited edition" ie. going around the question. I doubt they will want to reveal any facts.

2. Cosina gives press info in Japanese, not English. I don't speak or write Japanese, thus my chances for a reply are even lower.

If someone who speaks & writes Japanese would be as kind as to approach Cosina and share the reply they receive, I think I and many many more photographers would be very thankful.


Last edited by Esox lucius on Thu Mar 04, 2010 3:30 pm; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 11:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

SL in Nikon AIS:

CV90 9160342 bought Mar 2009

SL2 in Nikon AIP:

CV20 9910472 bought Dec 2009
CV40 9751504 bought Dec 2007


PostPosted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 4:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I see a Voigtländer 180mm F 4 SL APO Lanthar in Olympus Om
s/n 9341061


PostPosted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 1:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

A) lens type 125/2.5 APO
B) serial number 9130495 Japan
C) Canon EF

After the SN, the engraving is simply Japan and the lens was produced for the Japanese mkt, blue box, and all documents in Japanese.


PostPosted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 10:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

To facilitate tracking changes, I have updated the original (1st) post in this topic with newest findings. I will continue to do so, to make information easier to access for readers and search engines.

Last edited by Esox lucius on Fri Feb 12, 2010 1:57 pm; edited 1 time in total