xpfloyd wrote:
I realised the lens element is quite recessed at the front so I should be fine just using it without the hood now which will allow me to use the MM10 bag. Normally on my lenses I use the cheap metal screw on hoods and no lens caps. The hoods sole purpose to keep the lens element off the bottom of my bags. I was using the actual CV40 hood for the same reason as it’s about the same length of the metal ones I normally add
Same here . I never use the OEM hoods just buy cheap metal hoods and no front caps.less fuss in the field and you don’t lose those 30 dollar lens caps. I never scratched a front element in all these years. I buy usually on eBay from a seller called heavystar
Did you test it at 1.2? I'd say it looks mildly decentered for sure, but it may be that it won't ever show up in real-world use if you are looking at wide open infinity. Unless your primary use is astro.
If it is at f1.2, I would guess it will improve significantly by f2. I have not tested my copy like this at f1.2, but it wouldn't surprise me if it is similar to the above results. The CV 40 1.2 is similar to the 85 GM in that they improve drastically in sharpness from wide open to f2.
If this was my lens, I would return it and try another copy.
Personally, I've seen many 'below average" copies of this lens but perhaps creating a super compact and high IQ 40mm f/1.2 lens requires great symmetry when elements are being assembled. Perhaps the design requires super tight tolerance.
A couple of questions,
(I'm assuming the lens is the E version)
What was the point of focus, i.e., was the lens racked all the way in to the infinity hard stop?
Could you post the entire image for the center crop? (doesn't need to be full size)
mapgraphs wrote:
A couple of questions,
(I'm assuming the lens is the E version)
What was the point of focus, i.e., was the lens racked all the way in to the infinity hard stop?
Could you post the entire image for the center crop? (doesn't need to be full size)
Yes, it's the E version. It was focused at infinity, which on this copy it right at the hard stop. Here is the attached full image for the center crop, with the vase-like building (called the Cheese Grater) in the middle.
Fred Miranda wrote:
If this was my lens, I would return it and try another copy.
Personally, I've seen many 'below average" copies of this lens but perhaps creating a super compact and high IQ 40mm f/1.2 lens requires great symmetry when elements are being assembled. Perhaps the design requires super tight tolerance.
I'll do that, Fred. Robert White have been kind enough to suggest I send it back for testing. As I've had it for a while I can't just get a replacement with no questions asked. I'll make it a point of testing lenses next time. I'll see what they come up with and report back. Thanks for chiming in!
cwnchkn wrote:
Yes, it's the E version. It was focused at infinity, which on this copy it right at the hard stop. Here is the attached full image for the center crop, with the vase-like building (called the Cheese Grater) in the middle.
Interesting. Given what you posted earlier, I would expect the L&R edges and the bottom corners to be a mess. This is clean.
Selling my copy because I really need the AF for some things coming up. I'll really miss this tiny little lens (made traveling sooo easy). See some of my shots below from my recent trip to Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, and Italy.
Yeah, I'm still getting used to the manual focus. I wear glasses for distance, but my eyesight is not that bad ( I can squint to make out street signs in the distance) but never feel confident that I have it in focus. I don't even know if it would be my far vision anyway since I'm looking at the EVF.
I recently came back from a trip with this lens, and had a great time with it. Lots of excellent shots, and MF was fine for the most part. I brought out my Samyang 35/2.8 only once when I was on a bicycle and needed AF for one-handed operation. Otherwise, after using this lens for a few months, I'm pretty confident and quick with confirming focus.
The main downside to MF is when I hand the camera to someone else. For my wife, I'll stop down to f2.8 or so, but for strangers, I go down to something like f8 if possible and pre-focus, .
I'll have some pictures processed to post after this weekend.
This is my Goldilocks lens. It just checks off so many boxes for me - size, build, sharpness, FOV, DOF control, rendering style. The only issue for me is the lack of 40mm framelines on my Leicas, but I just treat the lens like a 50mm.
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