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 p.7 #6 · First Sighting: A7rii Thin filter in action | |
Another review of NK mod performance vs M9 and M240
In Kasson's methodical testing with a series of M lenses: one thing seemed clear to me: the "harder" the lens, the bigger the gab between the M240 and A7.kolariv2. As noted, the SEM 18 was equal, but that was very much an outlier. SEM24, ZM35/2, 21/2.8 pre-asph(i think), the M240 was well ahead, though of course the V2 utterly killed the stock A7ii(which Kasson used in both) with the same lenses.
So in trying to access how effective the NK mod in Sam Lee and Astroman's camera really is, I was on the lookout for a classic. If the M240 could shoot it well, then the best which could be shown would be the NK was "as good", in unprofiled performance. So I hunted for common, good lenses, which were not good on digital M. The ZM21/4.5 came up again and again. The least distortion ever seen in a 21 by many experienced photographers and very high performance on film has made this lens a legend. It was so good many wanted to use it with M9 and M240. The howling was such, that its very easy to find many discussions of the problems.
Then I suddenly noticed Sam actually had one mounted in one of his stream photos. He is often trying very unusual lenses. I begged him to do some tests for us. Now I did not explain about the diagonal etiquette which has evolved here, but that very telling method is not the only way to see anything. 
Anyway, once Sam had a number of sample F/5.6 shots I sent them to the two most experienced users of the ZM21/4.5 on M9 and M240 I could find. Dante and MarkP (at LUF), both of whom used cornerfix for quite some time, but both who eventually gave up. You can see Dante's reaction up above few pages ago.
MarkP recently got back to me, after he finally had time to really look:
"So if these are uncorrected in PP, then your modified sensor is indeed most impressive. Not only is there no significant red-dege, there appears as best as I can tell on these images to be no significant corner smearing. Especially as the lens' nodal point is so close to the sensor.
The 4.5/21 ZM C-Biogon is a fabulous lens with excellent resolution and minimal distortion in a compact and relatively cheap package. I initially bought it as a light companion to my 21 Summilux. However, the red edging really bothered me after a while. Even if used for B&W conversions there were still tonal irregularities that needed correction and almost always left some 'damage' to the final file.
When I finally bought a 21 SEM I initially kept the 21 Biogon. On further comparison the 21 Biogon really didn't compare to the 21 SEM in resolution, 3D rendering, etc. I then sold on the lens.
Kind regards,
Mark"
Sam's NK modded A7rii is beating the M240 and M9 with the ZM 21/4.5, which has a chief ray angle of 44.4 degrees, with or without any M in-camera profile, in the eyes of people who know the lens very well, and not by a small margin. Anyone whose jaw does not drop at this either doesn't care or doesn't want to know. 
I post my own edit of Sam's RAW shot at 5.6:
Testshot by Charlie Webster, on Flickr
As Sam has noted many times, his .7mm is a bit weird in WB, but Astroman's STC .85mm is very near to the stock Sony WB. The shot is at infinity, so I was gasping at the 44 degree left edge. I challenge anyone to show better performance from any M, including M10, with the Zeiss Biogon ZM 21/4.5 at f//5.6 (let alone the Kolari V2 which has never beaten the M240 with ANY lens).
At some point I hope we will see it on the UT Kolari. Sam has set a very high bar with his remarkable coverglassless mod by NK of Taiwan 
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