CP+ 2026 Day 1 Lens Roundup: Voigtlander, 7Artisans, Samyang, and Brightin Star

Key Takeaways

• Cosina Voigtlander unveiled two compact APO M-mount primes – a 75mm f/2.8 and 90mm f/4 Close Focus – prioritizing size over speed.
• 7Artisans AF 40mm f/2.5 brings full-frame autofocus with eye detection to Sony, Nikon Z, and L-mount for just $159.
• Samyang x Schneider Kreuznach officially debuted a constant f/2.8 60-180mm telephoto zoom for Sony E-mount.
• Brightin Star showed a rare 35mm f/1.7 APO for Leica M-mount plus a creative 50mm f/2 Tri-Sight lens.
• The bigger story: Chinese lens makers are no longer budget novelties – they are genuinely competitive.

CP+ 2026 kicked off in Yokohama today, and the lens announcements came fast. Japan’s biggest camera and imaging trade show is where manufacturers debut their latest glass, and Day 1 delivered a mix of precision German-Japanese optics, shockingly affordable Chinese autofocus lenses, and a telephoto zoom that could shake up a category Sony has owned for years.

If you missed our earlier preview, check out our CP+ 2026 preview for the full show overview. Here is what dropped on Day 1 – specifically, the lenses worth paying attention to.

Cosina Voigtlander: Two Compact APO M-Mount Primes

While most manufacturers chase faster apertures, Cosina is going the opposite direction. The two new Voigtlander prototypes shown at CP+ 2026 are deliberately small and slow – and that is the whole point.

APO-Skopar 75mm f/2.8 VM

A compact mid-telephoto for the Leica M system. The specs tell the story of restraint:

• Mount: Leica M
• Optical design: 7 elements in 6 groups, apochromatic
• Aperture: f/2.8, 10-blade diaphragm
• Size: 44mm long, 191g
• Filter thread: 43mm
• Finish: Silver and black

At 191 grams and just 44mm long, this is the kind of lens that disappears in a jacket pocket. The APO designation means Cosina is correcting for chromatic aberration across the spectrum – so while the aperture is modest, the optical quality should be anything but.

APO-Lanthar 90mm f/4 Close Focus VM

The more interesting of the two. This 90mm brings a minimum focus distance of 0.5 meters – significantly closer than the typical 0.7m limitation of most rangefinder lenses. A click stop at 0.7m maintains rangefinder coupling compatibility, while closer distances are available in live view or via an EVF adapter.

• Mount: Leica M
• Optical design: 8 elements in 7 groups, apochromatic
• Aperture: f/4, 10-blade diaphragm
• Size: 54.8mm long, 235g
• Filter thread: 43mm
• Minimum focus: 0.5m (0.7m with rangefinder coupling)

The APO-Lanthar line has always been Cosina’s optical flagship. An f/4 aperture on a 90mm portrait lens might seem limiting, but paired with apochromatic correction and close-focus capability, this lens is clearly designed for photographers who prioritize sharpness and portability over background blur. Both lenses were shown as prototypes with official release expected soon.

7Artisans AF 40mm f/2.5: Full-Frame Autofocus for $159

This is the lens that will get people talking. The 7Artisans AF 40mm f/2.5 is part of the company’s new “Lite Series,” and the spec sheet is hard to believe at the price point:

• Price: $159
• Weight: 90g (Sony E-mount)
• Dimensions: 63 x 40mm
• Optical design: 7 elements in 6 groups
• Aperture: f/2.5 to f/16, 9-blade diaphragm
• Autofocus: STM motor with continuous AF, face/eye detection (Sony)
• Mounts: Sony E, Nikon Z, L-mount
• Filter thread: 46mm
• Minimum focus: 0.4m

Ninety grams. Let that sink in. This is a full-frame autofocus lens that weighs less than most smartphone cases. The 40mm focal length sits in that sweet spot between 35mm and 50mm (56.1-degree field of view), making it a versatile everyday carry.

The plastic exterior keeps weight and cost down, but the 9-blade diaphragm reportedly produces a distinctive “bubble bokeh” character that gives the lens some personality. STM autofocus with face and eye detection on Sony bodies means this is not just a cheap manual focus novelty – it is a genuinely functional modern lens.

A few years ago, $159 Chinese lenses were curiosities. Manual focus only, questionable coatings, hit-or-miss quality control. The AF 40mm f/2.5 represents something different: a mature product from a manufacturer that is clearly investing in autofocus engineering and multi-mount compatibility.

Samyang x Schneider Kreuznach AF 60-180mm f/2.8

LK Samyang’s collaboration with German optics house Schneider Kreuznach has produced what could be the most disruptive lens announcement at CP+ 2026: a constant f/2.8 telephoto zoom covering 60-180mm.

Details are still emerging – the lens was first teased as a mockup at IBC 2025, but CP+ marks its official unveiling as a production-ready product. What we know:

• Focal range: 60-180mm
• Aperture: Constant f/2.8
• Mount: Sony E (possibly L-mount as well)
• Autofocus: Yes
• Collaboration: Schneider Kreuznach optical design

The obvious comparison is Sony’s 70-200mm f/2.8 GM II, which retails for around $2,800. If Samyang can deliver Schneider Kreuznach optical quality at even half that price, this becomes one of the most compelling telephoto zoom options for Sony and potentially L-mount shooters.

The slightly wider 60mm starting point is interesting too – it makes the lens more versatile for event and portrait work where 70mm can sometimes feel too tight in confined spaces.

Brightin Star: APO Quality in Compact M-Mount Bodies

Brightin Star is a lesser-known Chinese lens maker, but their CP+ 2026 showing deserves attention – especially the 35mm.

35mm f/1.7 APO (Leica M-mount)

An f/1.7 APO lens for Leica M-mount is genuinely rare. Most APO-corrected M-mount lenses come from Voigtlander or Leica themselves, and they are typically slower. Brightin Star is packing three high-precision double-sided aspherical elements into a very compact body with close focus capability around one foot.

The long focus throw is a thoughtful touch for manual focus precision, and the lens can be adapted to Sony or Nikon Z bodies via a TechArt autofocus adapter. For M-mount shooters who want a fast APO 35mm without paying Leica prices, this could be a game-changer.

50mm f/2 Tri-Sight

The 50mm f/2 Tri-Sight is a different beast entirely – a creative/artistic lens in the vein of Lensbaby or Lomography optics. Available in full-frame mirrorless mounts, it is designed for photographers who want distinctive, stylized rendering rather than clinical perfection. Not for everyone, but a fun option for those who like optical character.

The Bigger Picture: What Day 1 Tells Us

Step back from the individual specs and two trends emerge from CP+ 2026’s opening day.

Chinese brands are no longer a novelty. The 7Artisans AF 40mm f/2.5 is not a “pretty good for the price” lens – it is a genuinely competitive product with modern autofocus, multi-mount support, and eye detection at $159. Brightin Star offering APO-corrected M-mount glass puts them in territory previously occupied only by Voigtlander and Leica. The gap between Chinese and established Japanese/German manufacturers is closing faster than most people expected.

Compact is the new fast. Cosina deliberately chose f/2.8 and f/4 apertures to keep their new lenses tiny. Brightin Star packed APO quality into a small 35mm body. Even 7Artisans went with f/2.5 instead of f/1.8 to hit 90 grams. The industry is clearly responding to photographers who are tired of carrying heavy, oversized lenses – and are willing to trade a stop or two of light for a lens that actually fits in a pocket.

We will be covering more CP+ 2026 announcements as they come. Stay tuned.

Featured image: Photo by Philipp Katzenberger on Unsplash.