With the M10-P, the base ISO is 200, which makes it difficult to shoot wide open with the MS Optics 50/1 ISM in bright light. This ND filter is essential, and even then, it's sometimes not enough to protect the highlights when shooting at 1/4000s. The last shot was stopped down to around f/1.8, and at that point, the boost in clarity and contrast is noticeable due to the correction of aberrations. One of the images shows the typical veiling flare that often appears when shooting into the light.
LEICA M10-PMS-Optics 50mm f/1.0 ISM lens50mmf/3.41/1500s200 ISO0.0 EV
Wide open showing little axial CA but SA and coma
LEICA M10-PMS-Optics 50mm f/1.0 ISM lens50mmf/3.41/1500s200 ISO0.0 EV
Veiling flare noticeable and adds to the lens character
LEICA M10-PMS-Optics 50mm f/1.0 ISM lens50mmf/2.41/500s200 ISO0.0 EV
At f/1.8: Boost in IQ with higher contrast, resolution and lower SA.
LEICA M10-PMS-Optics 50mm f/1.0 ISM lens50mmf/3.41/4000s200 ISO0.0 EV
Stumbled upon this - and knowing how rare and hard obtainable MS Optics lenses are, I didn't hesitate, nor even blink before placing an order
I might already have too many 50 mm lenses, some with unique rendering (talking about Speed Panchro and Z21), but I just had to get my first MS Optics lens
tommmi wrote:
Stumbled upon this - and knowing how rare and hard obtainable MS Optics lenses are, I didn't hesitate, nor even blink before placing an order
I might already have too many 50 mm lenses, some with unique rendering (talking about Speed Panchro and Z21), but I just had to get my first MS Optics lens
Obviously can't wait to get it in my hands.
It's a gorgeous, tiny f/1.0 lens and easily my favorite 50mm with character. I'm glad you managed to get one as it's definitely not easy to find. Its performance is far more predictable than the Z21. Wide open, it has a gorgeous glow reminiscent of the 35/1.4 pre-asph, but stop it down just slightly and you'll see some of the glow fade while the performance jumps up, all while keeping that beautiful rendering. Be sure to share some samples once yours arrives!
Fred Miranda wrote:
It's a gorgeous, tiny f/1.0 lens and easily my favorite 50mm with character. I'm glad you managed to get one as it's definitely not easy to find. Its performance is far more predictable than the Z21. Wide open, it has a gorgeous glow reminiscent of the 35/1.4 pre-asph, but stop it down just slightly and you'll see some of the glow fade while the performance jumps up, all while keeping that beautiful rendering. Be sure to share some samples once yours arrives!
I'd really like and appreciate it if you could consider writing a bit of an essay about what you think some of these faster character lens with your expertise, the 1966, Z1, MS-Optics F1 or 1.1 1.3 etc....... and elaborate on what you think about them, perhaps best use and lighting conditions, near objects and far, bright day, in doors, cloudy no sun..... I realize this is a big ask, but you have large experience of use. Same could be said for the F2s, rigid elcan's ms-optics and various sonnar and similars........ So many choices to buy new or used, too many, and so difficult to grasp each lens potential.
EMH2025 wrote:
I'd really like and appreciate it if you could consider writing a bit of an essay about what you think some of these faster character lens with your expertise, the 1966, Z1, MS-Optics F1 or 1.1 1.3 etc....... and elaborate on what you think about them, perhaps best use and lighting conditions, near objects and far, bright day, in doors, cloudy no sun..... I realize this is a big ask, but you have large experience of use. Same could be said for the F2s, rigid elcan's ms-optics and various sonnar and similars........ So many choices to buy new or used, too many, and so difficult to grasp each lens potential....Show more →
My apologies, I just saw your post. I haven't shot with the MS Optics 50/1.1, so I can't comment on its qualities, but I'll share my impressions and the differences between the other lenses you mentioned.
I just added a 6-bit code to my MS Optics 50/1 ISM. It was very easy on the silver version. It's very helpful that MS Optics includes an indentation for the 6 bit code, so the paint stays in place and never touches the camera mount, just like with Cosina lenses. I coded it as a Leica 50/1 Noctilux and the vignetting is now greatly reduced straight out of the camera.
Does anyone have a source showing where Mr. Miyazaki actually explained "ISM" on the MS Optics 50mm f/1.0?
I know it's a minor detail, but I'm curious. The claim that it stands for "Small and Mighty" traces back to a single 35mmc review, but the author didn't provide a photo, quote, or citation to back it up.
That phrase sounds pretty odd for a Japanese lens designation, so I'm wondering if there's any official insert, spec sheet, or interview that actually confirms it.
Fred Miranda wrote:
Does anyone have a source showing where Mr. Miyazaki actually explained "ISM" on the MS Optics 50mm f/1.0?
I know it's a minor detail, but I'm curious. The claim that it stands for "Small and Mighty" traces back to a single 35mmc review, but the author didn't provide a photo, quote, or citation to back it up.
That phrase sounds pretty odd for a Japanese lens designation, so I'm wondering if there's any official insert, spec sheet, or interview that actually confirms it.
I have not found any obvious source using the wording "Small and Mighty", but "ISM" seems to be some kind of wordplay that does refer to that kind of concept. MS-Optics use "Big & Mini" English wording (next to ISM label) on the data sheets that come with the lenses. There doesn't appear to be "Small and Mighty" English words there. In the box they write "Max&Minimum" next to ISM label. There doesn't seem to be a very fixed and well defined English label for the concept that they would use consistently.
There is this kind of Japanese text on the data sheet:
「超小型化の軽量化に挑戦、常識を破る設計... (AST) I S M を完成...」
Something like: "Taking on the challenge of extreme miniaturization and weight reduction, and a design that defies convention... (AST) ISM has been completed..."
I haven't found anything directly from the source that explains ISM as a specific acronym of something like "Is Small and Mighty", but it seems to somehow refer to this concept of "Small and Mighty" or "Big & Mini" or "Max&Minimum".
I still don't own this lens by the way, it's too rare in the 2nd hand market and prices are always too high. This and Sonnetar 50/1.1 remain on my wanted list but I'm waiting for potential re-releases.
Juha Kannisto wrote:
I have not found any obvious source using the wording "Small and Mighty", but "ISM" seems to be some kind of wordplay that does refer to that kind of concept. MS-Optics use "Big & Mini" English wording (next to ISM label) on the data sheets that come with the lenses. There doesn't appear to be "Small and Mighty" English words there. In the box they write "Max&Minimum" next to ISM label. There doesn't seem to be a very fixed and well defined English label for the concept that they would use consistently.
There is this kind of Japanese text on the data sheet:
「超小型化の軽量化に挑戦、常識を破る設計... (AST) I S M を完成...」
Something like: "Taking on the challenge of extreme miniaturization and weight reduction, and a design that defies convention... (AST) ISM has been completed..."
I haven't found anything directly from the source that explains ISM as a specific acronym of something like "Is Small and Mighty", but it seems to somehow refer to this concept of "Small and Mighty" or "Big & Mini" or "Max&Minimum".
I still don't own this lens by the way, it's too rare in the 2nd hand market and prices are always too high. This and Sonnetar 50/1.1 remain on my wanted list but I'm waiting for potential re-releases....Show more →
Thanks for the insight on the max & minimum naming...that makes a lot of sense! Still, we keep referring to this lens as the "ISM" without knowing for sure what those letters actually stand for. I might reach out to MS Optics directly just out of curiosity.
I took the MS Optics ISM 50mm f/1 out yesterday with the M11-D, and it makes for an unbelievably lightweight 60MP setup with a 50/1 lens, coming in right around 700 grams total! It's so easy to carry around all day. The vignetting wide open is definitely strong, but honestly no worse than what I see from the Leica 50mm f/1 Noctilux.
Here are a few snaps from my son's back-to-school teacher conference yesterday...a few of these were shot in near-total darkness:
LEICA M11-DMS Optics ISM 50mm f/1 lens50mmf/1.21/160s640 ISO0.0 EV
LEICA M11-DMS Optics ISM 50mm f/1 lens50mmf/1.21/160s8000 ISO0.0 EV
LEICA M11-DMS Optics ISM 50mm f/1 lens50mmf/1.21/125s5000 ISO0.0 EV
LEICA M11-DMS Optics ISM 50mm f/1 lens50mmf/1.21/180s80 ISO0.0 EV
LEICA M11-DMS Optics ISM 50mm f/1 lens50mmf/1.21/125s6400 ISO0.0 EV
LEICA M11-DMS Optics ISM 50mm f/1 lens50mmf/1.21/125s2000 ISO+0.3 EV
LEICA M11-DMS Optics ISM 50mm f/1 lens50mmf/1.21/1000s64 ISO+0.3 EV
LEICA M11-DMS Optics ISM 50mm f/1 lens50mmf/1.21/160s3200 ISO0.0 EV
LEICA M11-DMS Optics ISM 50mm f/1 lens50mmf/1.21/160s1250 ISO0.0 EV
LEICA M11-DMS Optics ISM 50mm f/1 lens50mmf/1.21/60s32000 ISO0.0 EV
LEICA M11-DMS Optics ISM 50mm f/1 lens50mmf/1.21/125s32000 ISO0.0 EV
Juha Kannisto wrote:
I have not found any obvious source using the wording "Small and Mighty", but "ISM" seems to be some kind of wordplay that does refer to that kind of concept. MS-Optics use "Big & Mini" English wording (next to ISM label) on the data sheets that come with the lenses. There doesn't appear to be "Small and Mighty" English words there. In the box they write "Max&Minimum" next to ISM label. There doesn't seem to be a very fixed and well defined English label for the concept that they would use consistently.
There is this kind of Japanese text on the data sheet:
「超小型化の軽量化に挑戦、常識を破る設計... (AST) I S M を完成...」
Something like: "Taking on the challenge of extreme miniaturization and weight reduction, and a design that defies convention... (AST) ISM has been completed..."
I haven't found anything directly from the source that explains ISM as a specific acronym of something like "Is Small and Mighty", but it seems to somehow refer to this concept of "Small and Mighty" or "Big & Mini" or "Max&Minimum".
I still don't own this lens by the way, it's too rare in the 2nd hand market and prices are always too high. This and Sonnetar 50/1.1 remain on my wanted list but I'm waiting for potential re-releases....Show more →
Juha, the user manual does show the english words "Big and Mini" right before ISM as you wrote. They also referred as "GA" (Gaussian optical design)
Here is a translation from the manual to English:
Canon, Angénieux, Xenon and Noctilux (famous 50 mm fast lenses) have traditionally been very large, often adapted from SLR mounts, and have weighed more than 600 g.
MS-OPTICS set out to create a modern, compact, lightweight, thin lens while retaining the character and image quality of those classic masterpieces. This involved solving difficult problems in compact design, optical construction, and mount integration.
We succeeded in creating what is described as a world-first: an ultra-compact, ultra-lightweight large-aperture lens for the Leica M system.
Lens performance
In the past, very fast lenses often suffered from flare and a resulting loss of contrast. With this lens, central flare is suppressed even at its very wide aperture.
At around f/1.4, the center and corners deliver very good contrast. From f/2 to f/2.8, coma flare decreases smoothly, making it possible to obtain strong contrast while preserving the photographer’s intended expression.
Stopping down further produces increasingly balanced, high-quality rendering across the frame.
Optical/specification drawing
- Name: "BIG & MINI ISM 1.0/50 GA"
- Lens construction: 5 groups, 7 elements
- Mount: Leica M
- Weight: 178 g
- External drawing labels show approximately 55 mm diameter and a compact body/hood arrangement.
- Maker: MS-OPTICS MIYAZAKI, Funabashi, Chiba, Japan.
