Wow that's pretty intense Jonas, if I still had my 100APO I would test it but alas I don't I don't remember it being that bad though, I never saw it in real-world shots.
Pretty intense, but it is also a test designed to reveal the problem. In real world use the problem showed up from time to time only. Here is an example; first the complete scene, taken outdoors, overcast, no extreme contrasts, but of course strong contrasts in the chrome parts of the bikes. Already at this small size we can see the CA:
Here is the central part of the image enlarged (I don't have the raw file any more) to show more clearly how the defocus CA rears its ugly head:
Then we have another image from the same place and the same time but here I had moved closer:
And a crop from that situation:
And no, there is nothing wrong with the lens. It is perfectly aligned and the resolution is as expected from the Leica MTF curves.
phuang3, yes, I'm sure. Recently bought and eager to see what it could do. Here are two other images for your comparison, taken with the well known Zuiko OM90/2 Macro:
and
So the APO Leica did better than the non-APO Zuiko.
You image is taken way closer than my samples. In the bike samples above you can see the Leica does worse in the first image than in the second one. Maybe the distance matter? And, I'm not sure what the, not very big, difference between your bar code and focus sheet means.
(I wish Paul had figured out the ultimate CA test. I have that modified A4 focus test sheet barely covering the sensor as a "formal" test. Then I just look for stuff and fire away liking or not liking what I get.)
It's a good test indeed. Simple. Any paper will do. The A4 paper I use, placed to barely cover the sensor means a magnification around 1:10 at the focus plane. The test images were developed in ACR with everything set to default or neutral, contrast to linear and of course no sharpening or saturation increase.
The Zuiko isn't horrible. There is a reason for its good reputation and it has beem used for many a wonderful image. In context and with the demanding audience of this thread... well, I just say it isn't APO.
I meant horrible with respect to defocus CA only. I have seen many great images from it, too.
Despite the wonderful (peerless?) performance of the CV 125/2.5, I have sold it. I just wasn't using it as much as I should have and I had other priorities for the money that I had in that lens.
Most people missed the boat with the APO-Lanthar. The original price was what.. $600?
The going rate when I got mine was around $1100-$1200. I got a fairly good deal because I had access to a different market.
Since then, the price has hit $1400 and higher, from the e-bay auctions I've seen. Hell, I saw a Nikon F mount one climb to over $1600 last week before all the bids were "mysteriously" canceled and the auction ended early.
Someone with a huge ego or an over-active imagination might like to think they had something to do with the price rising so much, but I'm a bit more realistic than that. I think it is just a terrific damn lens in short supply. I also had no intention of ever selling the lens. If there was a way I could have kept it, I would have.
Yup, I, too missed the boat. Based on this forums's sterling examples, I bid on a couple and was just a bit too stingy (or not widly generous enough).
Still, no doubt, a splendid lens. I feel for you, Paul, but, as you say, it's just a lens, and I see another one in your future. Sorry, not in yours. In your wife's...
I was one of those who got on the boat with the 125 APO. I bought mine in Contax SLR mount, which was available as special order. Still, since I worked in a camera shop I got a good deal, to say the least.
Voigtlander Apo-Lanthar 3.5/90mm SL - try that with a non APO lens...
shit hey, looks like I need to spend more money
lol.
Nice preformance on the 90! It's not my focal length of choice but is prety desireable anyhow! Give me a 75 CV anyday though
Paul, I'm also not the best at the ol' financial plans. Thankfully though (sort of) I have a really limited cash flow so i never aim too high and thus can't fall to far into any holes
Still, I've sold about $2300 of stuff this year and only bought about $1k with that. The rest... who knows where it went!
True "APO Power"! Just a sample shot: VC 125mm, wide open (F2,5) on D300, Lightroom 3.0 Beta, no lens correction. The second image is the 100% top-center crop. Enjoy!
The Voigtlander 125/2,5 is a very hard match even for my Leica 90/2 APO-Asph and is, probably, the best glass in my little arsenal.
I got my 125/2.5 at a great price and I am not complaining about the price I paid for my 90/3.5 (it is worth the money-I just got in on it late) but I didn't get it at as good of a price as the 125.
I don't remember it being that bad though, I never saw it in real-world shots.
