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Archive 2015 · Kolari Mod's Improvements: A Summary of Tests

  
 
hiepphotog
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Kolari Mod's Improvements: A Summary of Tests


Update 3: Dedicated Section for A7RII.Mod lens test: Click Here

Update 2: Added A7RII Stock vs. Mod: Click Here

Update 1: Added camera model for each test

Even though we already have a thread on the Kolari, going through 50ish-page to check for tests can be daunting for some . I certainly saw a lot of repeated questions. I'm a strong believer of Kolari Mod.

So I create this thread to organize all the tests we have so far for any newcomer. I will link to all the future tests here in this first post.

Quick summary:

- Drastically improve the edges/corners of rangefinder (and film SLR) lenses, most notably below 50mm.
- Have no visible effect on vignetting and corner color cast
- Minor reduction in CA, most notably purple fringing
- Three iterations so far: 1st is normal thin glass, 2nd is humidity-resistant thin glass, 3rd is 2nd + anti-reflection coatings

Kolari Modded Camera’s DNG Dual-Illuminant Profile (To get your color right after the Mod)
Sony A7RII
Profile 1 (2nd gen. glass)

Sony A7
Profile 1 (2nd gen. glass)
Profile 2 (1st gen. glass)

Sony A7s
Profile 1 (2nd gen. glass)

For tests, I prioritize the more technical tests first. I limit max 5 tests for each lens. I put Jim Kasson’s tests in here as well.

Tests:

Stock vs. Kolari Mod (sorted by focal length)

A7RII Stock vs. Mod Section
Dedicated Section for A7RII.Mod lens test: Click Here

Zeiss Distagon ZM 15mm f/2.8
Test 1 (A7s)

Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5
Test 1 (A7)
Test 2 (A7)

Leica WATE
Test 1 (A7II)
Test 2 (A7II)

Leica Super-Elmar 18mm f/3.8
Test 1 (A7II)

Voigtlander Skopars 21mm f/4.0
Test 1 (A7R)

Leica Elmarit 24mm f/2.8
Test 1 (A7II)

Pentax K 24mm f/2.8
Test 1 (A7)

Leica Elmar 24mm f/3.8
Test 1 (A7II)

Leica Elmarit 28mm f/2.8 ASPH
Test 1 (A7II)

Zeiss Biogon ZM 35mm f/2.0
Test 1 (A7R)
Test 2 (A7R)
Test 3 (A7II)

Sony Sonnar 35mm f/2.8
Test 1 (A7II)

Contax Zeiss Planar 55mm f/1.2 100 Jahre
Test 1 (A7S)

Leica Summilux 50mm f/1.4 ASPH
Test 1 (A7II)

Sony Sonnar 55mm f/1.8
Test 1 (A7S)

Leica Summicron APO 90mm f/2.0
Test 1 (A7II)

Contax G Sonnar 90mm f/2.8
Test 1 (A7S)

Individual Lens Test (sorted by focal length)

Voigtlander 12mm f/5.6
Test 1 (A7R)

Zeiss Distagon ZM 15mm f/2.8
Test 1 (A7S)

Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5
Test 1 (A7)
Test 2 (A7)

Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 III
Test 1 (A7)

Zeiss Distagon ZM 18mm f/4.0
Test 1 (A7)
Test 2 (A7)
Test 3 (A7)

Voigtlander 21mm f/1.8
Test 1 (A7R)

Contax G Biogon 21mm f/2.8
Test 1 (A7S)

Leica Super-Elmar 21mm f/3.4
Test 1 (A7R)
Test 2 (A7)
Test 3 (A7)


Voigtlander Skopars 21mm f/4.0
Test 1 (A7R)
Test 2 (A7R)
Test 3 (A7)
Test 4 (A7)

Canon nFD 24mm f/2.0
Test 1 (A7)

Pentax K 24mm f/2.8
Test 1 (A7)

Leica Elmar 24mm f/3.8
Test 1 (A7S)
Test 2 (A7)

Canon T/S 24mm f/3.8
Test 1 (A7R)

Zeiss Biogon ZM 25mm f/2.8
Test 1 (A7R)

Leica Summicron 28mm f/2
Test 1 (A7S)
Test 2 (A7)
Test 3 (A7)
Test 4 (A7)

Leica Elmarit 28mm f/2.8 V3
Test 1 (A7)
Test 2 (A7)

M-Rokkor 28mm f/2.8
Test 1 (A7R)
Test 2 (A7R)

Contax G Biogon 28mm f/2.8
Test 1 (A7S)

Zeiss Distagon ZF/ZE 28mm f/2.8
Test 1 (A7R)

Zeiss Distagon ZM 35mm f/1.4
Test 1 (A7S)
Test 2 (A7R)

Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f/1.4
Test 1 (A7)

Voigtlander Ultron 35mm f/1.7
Test 1 (A7R)

Leica Summicron 35mm f/2 IV
Test 1 (A7)

Zeiss Biogon ZM 35mm f/2.0
Test 1 (A7R)
Test 2 (A7R)
Test 3 (A7)
Test 4 (A7)
Test 5 (A7)

Voigtlander 35mm Skopars
Test 1 (A7)

M-Rokkor 40mm f/2.0
Test 1 (A7)
Test 2 (A7)

Sonnetar 50mm f/1.1
Test 1 (A7)

Contax Zeiss Planar 55mm f/1.2 100 Jahre
Test 1 (A7S)

Leica Summilux 50mm f/1.4 ASPH
Test 1 (A7S)
Test 2 (A7R)
Test 3 (A7R)

Sony Sonnar 55mm f/1.8
Test 1 (A7S)

Leica Summicron 50mm f/2 V
Test 1 (A7)

Contax G Sonnar 90mm f/2.8
Test 1 (A7S)

CA Reduction
Test 1 (A7R)
Test 2 (A7S)

Edited on Nov 17, 2015 at 01:39 PM · View previous versions



Oct 16, 2015 at 05:21 PM
sebboh
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Kolari Mod's Improvements: A Summary of Tests


sweet! thanks for doing this.

no contax g 28/2.8 test?




Oct 16, 2015 at 06:03 PM
brendans
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Kolari Mod's Improvements: A Summary of Tests


Wow, thanks for putting that together.

I have a g28 that I can test when I get my cam back from Kolari next week...



Oct 16, 2015 at 06:48 PM
charles.K
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Kolari Mod's Improvements: A Summary of Tests


Fantastic work Hiep!!!


Oct 16, 2015 at 06:51 PM
hiepphotog
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Kolari Mod's Improvements: A Summary of Tests


A7RII.Mod Lens Test:

Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 II
Test 1

Zeiss ZM 25mm f/2.8
Test 1

Contax G 28mm f/2.8
Test 1



Edited on Nov 17, 2015 at 01:10 PM · View previous versions



Oct 16, 2015 at 07:11 PM
hiepphotog
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Kolari Mod's Improvements: A Summary of Tests


sebboh wrote:
sweet! thanks for doing this.

no contax g 28/2.8 test?



Quick results. I only include the edge and corner crops for 2.8, 8.0 and 11.0.







Frame of Reference









Oct 16, 2015 at 07:54 PM
justruss
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Kolari Mod's Improvements: A Summary of Tests


Can you include in your summary and test index information on how this impacts native lenses?


Oct 17, 2015 at 02:44 AM
Steve Spencer
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Kolari Mod's Improvements: A Summary of Tests


justruss wrote:
Can you include in your summary and test index information on how this impacts native lenses?


My take is that from the tests so far it is hard to tell. Only two native lenses have been tested the FE 35 f/2.8 that has a mild decrease in performance and the FE 55 f/1.8 that seems to perform about the same on the modded and unmoved cameras. Other lenses may or may not be affected. It would be great to see the FE 16-35 f/4 OSS tested and the new Loxia 21mm f/2.8. Even the FE 28 f/2, the Loxia 35, and Loxia 50 haven't been tested yet. The normal zooms haven't been tested yet and all the longer lenses as well. The Batis 25 and 85 haven't been tested yet either. So, I think it is way too earlier to say anything general about the affect of the mod on native lenses.



Oct 17, 2015 at 05:19 AM
retrofocus
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Kolari Mod's Improvements: A Summary of Tests


Good summary thread about an otherwise spread-out topic and then much harder to find information. Results coming from A7R II modifications should be maybe listed and summarized separately in the future from the A7/A7R/A7S Kolari-modified posts.


Oct 17, 2015 at 08:53 AM
hiepphotog
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Kolari Mod's Improvements: A Summary of Tests


justruss wrote:
Can you include in your summary and test index information on how this impacts native lenses?


Like Steve said, only the FE 35/2.8 and 55 were tested. Both show loss, with the 35 has more, but not too significant as the gain in performance of RF lenses. I will wait for more native test cause right now, any conclusion I put there would be misleading.

---------------------------------------------

retrofocus wrote:
Good summary thread about an otherwise spread-out topic and then much harder to find information. Results coming from A7R II modifications should be maybe listed and summarized separately in the future from the A7/A7R/A7S Kolari-modified posts.


Is there any particular reason why the A7RII's result should be separated?



Oct 17, 2015 at 09:45 AM
retrofocus
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Kolari Mod's Improvements: A Summary of Tests


hiepphotog wrote:
Is there any particular reason why the A7RII's result should be separated?


Because of the difference in the BSI sensor technology which might provide some additional benefit for a Kolari-modified A7R II. From some earlier posts and reviews we already know that just the new sensor improves color cast with rangefinder lenses on the A7R II.



Oct 17, 2015 at 10:42 AM
hiepphotog
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Kolari Mod's Improvements: A Summary of Tests


retrofocus wrote:
Because of the difference in the BSI sensor technology which might provide some additional benefit for a Kolari-modified A7R II. From some earlier posts and reviews we already know that just the new sensor improves color cast with rangefinder lenses on the A7R II.


Besides vignetting and color cast, I have not spotted any additional benefit in term of smear control when I compared stock A7RII and A7S with my RF lenses. But we'll see.



Oct 17, 2015 at 11:05 AM
retrofocus
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Kolari Mod's Improvements: A Summary of Tests


hiepphotog wrote:
Besides vignetting and color cast, I have not spotted any additional benefit in term of smear control when I compared stock A7RII and A7S with my RF lenses. But we'll see.


Correct. My saying to separate both was according to this that you can so far only see a benefit of the BSI sensor with RF lenses for less color cast but still both sensor generations show the same smearing effects with some RF lenses. So it would be interesting to see how a Kolari-modified A7R II BSI sensor changes in regard to (a) smearing and (b) color cast if the color cast reduction without modification is already decent. This can then separately compared to the Kolari-modified first gen of A7 series cameras where only the Kolari modification itself lead to a big difference in color cast.



Oct 17, 2015 at 11:10 AM
Harleythor
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Kolari Mod's Improvements: A Summary of Tests


How does the A7II with the Kolari sensor mod work with these lenses


Oct 18, 2015 at 11:52 AM
k-h.a.w
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Kolari Mod's Improvements: A Summary of Tests


Thanks for starting this thread hiepphotog. Very timely and useful.
Hopefully the Batis 25/2 and Loxia 21/2.8 work well with the mod.

Regards, K-H.



Oct 18, 2015 at 12:04 PM
hiepphotog
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Kolari Mod's Improvements: A Summary of Tests


Harleythor wrote:
How does the A7II with the Kolari sensor mod work with these lenses


If you went through the tests, you will see Jim Kasson's tests with the A7II. It's pretty much the same thing with others. The A7II has the same sensor architecture as others. However, with your question, I think it's better that label next to each test which body was tested.

---------------------------------------------

k-h.a.w wrote:
Thanks for starting this thread hiepphotog. Very timely and useful.
Hopefully the Batis 25/2 and Loxia 21/2.8 work well with the mod.

Regards, K-H.


Thank you. I'm eager to see some tests with the Batis and Loxia as well.



Oct 18, 2015 at 12:56 PM
k-h.a.w
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Kolari Mod's Improvements: A Summary of Tests


hiepphotog wrote:
Thank you. I'm eager to see some tests with the Batis and Loxia as well.


Of course, BTW, when do you expect your camera back? TIA.



Oct 20, 2015 at 10:49 AM
hiepphotog
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Kolari Mod's Improvements: A Summary of Tests


k-h.a.w wrote:
Of course, BTW, when do you expect your camera back? TIA.


Next week. Unfortunately, Ilija ran into problems with the AR coated glass. The vendor left so much dust particles under the coating that they would show up when stopped down. He had to throw out the entire batch and moved to another vendor. The AR coated glass might not be ready, at least, in another month. I sent mine back for several reasons, so I don't want to wait. At least the upgrade is free .



Oct 20, 2015 at 10:55 AM
k-h.a.w
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Kolari Mod's Improvements: A Summary of Tests


hiepphotog wrote:
Next week. Unfortunately, Ilija ran into problems with the AR coated glass. The vendor left so much dust particles under the coating that they would show up when stopped down. He had to throw out the entire batch and moved to another vendor. The AR coated glass might not be ready, at least, in another month. I sent mine back for several reasons, so I don't want to wait. At least the upgrade is free .


Many thanks for the update. I'll wait until Kolari has all that under control then I'll send in my cameras.
Question: Which one first, the A7r or the A7r2?



Oct 20, 2015 at 10:59 AM
hiepphotog
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Kolari Mod's Improvements: A Summary of Tests


k-h.a.w wrote:
Many thanks for the update. I'll wait until Kolari has all that under control then I'll send in my cameras.
Question: Which one first, the A7r or the A7r2?


A7RII is infinitely better at reducing vignetting and color cast (slightly better than the A7S). You would be in for a treat. It's better than the native Leica with in-cam correction. I will also wait and see what Lloyd is going to say about the modded A7RII behavior. He hinted that the ZM 35/1.4 is still a disappointment. And that is the opposite of what I see. The lens has no induced field curvature after the mod. Lloyd has not returned his loaner yet so we'll see.



Oct 20, 2015 at 11:13 AM
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