Is this lens the same, optically, as the previous version? Digging through my archives for some shots I took with that lens and found this shot. I like the look. I can't remember what aperture I shot it at, but it certainly is sharp.
It's a different optical design with 8 elements in 7 groups while the previous one was 6 elements in 5 groups.
Dave Sanders wrote:
Is this lens the same, optically, as the previous version? Digging through my archives for some shots I took with that lens and found this shot. I like the look. I can't remember what aperture I shot it at, but it certainly is sharp.
Incidentally, the not-so vintage Konica M-Hexanon 50mm f/2 does very well on my "classic" Sony A7, the lack of a Kolari-mod notwithstanding.
I recently purchased a pretty hefty Voigtlander Close-focus adapter in lieu of the excellent conventional Kipon and like the combo's enhanced capability.
Not so happy with the focus-throw on many Voigtlander lenses - the need for precision is so much greater nowadays.
Very glad Voigtlander is continuing to invest in their range of compact, quality manual lenses, though!
aPointedView wrote:
Incidentally, the not-so vintage Konica M-Hexanon 50mm f/2 does very well on my "classic" Sony A7, the lack of a Kolari-mod notwithstanding.
I recently purchased a pretty hefty Voigtlander Close-focus adapter in lieu of the excellent conventional Kipon and like the combo's enhanced capability.
Not so happy with the focus-throw on many Voigtlander lenses - the need for precision is so much greater nowadays.
Very glad Voigtlander is continuing to invest in their range of compact, quality manual lenses, though!
That’s also my experience with the M-Hexanon 50/2, which is excellent on the A7R2 as well. The thicker Sony stack doesn’t seem to bother the M-Hex at all.
Sep 27, 2020 at 06:22 AM
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aPointedView wrote:
Incidentally, the not-so vintage Konica M-Hexanon 50mm f/2 does very well on my "classic" Sony A7, the lack of a Kolari-mod notwithstanding.
I recently purchased a pretty hefty Voigtlander Close-focus adapter in lieu of the excellent conventional Kipon and like the combo's enhanced capability.
Not so happy with the focus-throw on many Voigtlander lenses - the need for precision is so much greater nowadays.
Very glad Voigtlander is continuing to invest in their range of compact, quality manual lenses, though!
I believe most of the six element double gauss design 50mm f/2 lenses do fairly well on Sony mirrorless cameras. Not quite as well as on Leica camera, but they still do fairly well. This is a very different optical design than a Sonnar, however.
Taylor Sherman wrote:
Wow those look so much like ZM lenses. I wonder if a contractual prohibition has just expired for them. Or possibly Zeiss is about to stop making ZMs?
Not a fan of the chrome filter ring. I wish Voigtlander would drop it in future releases.
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philip_pj wrote:
'At a recent photo gear show, a reader asked a Zeiss representative if the company is planning to release any updates to the existing ZM range of lenses or any new ZM lenses for Leica M mount and the answer was: *no imminent updates or roadmap updates whatsoever*, with the Distagon T* 35mm f/1.4 still being the latest ZM update.'
But the ZMs rolled out of the same factory as these gems, so there is that.
IMO the ZM line was most relevant 10-15 years ago as a more mainstream Leica alternative when Cosina's Voigtlander offerings were more niche and seemingly had lower production and optical quality. However, as we all know, Cosina has recently upped their game, effectively moved Voigtlander VM lenses into the ZM void, are as good or better than Zeiss and Leica and are the most attractively priced. Pretty hard to argue against them from a value standpoint. That said, they will face increasing competition from the various Chinese brands now developing a foothold.
For example, I was interested in the VM 35/2 as a fast compact 35 but instead decided to spend the money on the Chinese replica project of the 35mm Summicron eight element. (I started a thread about it back in December 2019.)
Still looking forward to Fred testing this 50/1.5II. It ticks a few boxes for me: small and light. I would like to know how it compares to the 50/2 APO FE mount lens...
Dave Sanders wrote:
Is this lens the same, optically, as the previous version? Digging through my archives for some shots I took with that lens and found this shot. I like the look. I can't remember what aperture I shot it at, but it certainly is sharp.
Hi Dave,
Did you take this one a Sony? It looks like induced field curvature towards the corners (where they appear shaper)
Yes that's on an A7R. I mostly used it for people, so field curvature wasn't as relevant as it was on, say, the CV 35/2.5 I'll see if I can dig up some landscape shots as I know I spent some time at the beach running through some aperture series.
Fred Miranda wrote:
Hi Dave,
Did you take this one a Sony? It looks like induced field curvature towards the corners (where they appear shaper)
Cosina's production trajectory has been so on/off I hope they get the E lenses done sooner rather than later. This 8/7 design shown on p1 looks very modern Zeiss/Cosina to me.
'I would like to know how it compares to the 50/2 APO FE mount lens'
Always of interest. It would sad for Cosina to not do more like that one, but the 50/2 is about 25% more complex with a lot of APD glass and they lavished attention on it (like the rounded f2.8).
Also, how does the 50/1.5 compare against their 50/1.2? I'm sure this new lens will be very good, they all must be good for high Mp from now onwards.
sebboh wrote:
yeah, shoot something flat in focus. if it gets oof focus toward the edge you have field curvature.
Yep! That would be the way to determine whether a lens has field curvature. I was thinking of how to determine this from an image taken by someone else.
This is typical behavior from some lenses designed for the Leica's thin sensor when used on a Sony body.
I see the difference when testing the same lens on Sony and Leica bodies side by side. Depending on their optical design and speed, using wide angle and even normal M-mount lenses on the Sony, can cause rendering issues where the OOF corners sharpen up, and that was not how the lens was designed to behave.
Fred Miranda wrote:
This is typical behavior from some lenses designed for the Leica's thin sensor when used on a Sony body.
I see the difference when testing the same lens on Sony and Leica bodies side by side. Depending on their optical design and speed, using wide angle and even normal M-mount lenses on the Sony, can cause rendering issues where the OOF corners sharpen up, and that was not how the lens was designed to behave.
here is a comparison i did of the cv 50/1.5 (not this newest one, but the previous) on a stock sony body compared to UT modified camera (equivalent thickness of a leica body). the zm 50/1.5 is included too.
sebboh wrote: here is a comparison i did of the cv 50/1.5 (not this newest one, but the previous) on a stock sony body compared to UT modified camera (equivalent thickness of a leica body). the zm 50/1.5 is included too.
Great test. That's a big difference. I've been debating for the last year or two about turning my original A7R into an M mount machine. Looks like if I did, it would make a difference.
Dave Sanders wrote:
Great test. That's a big difference. I've been debating for the last year or two about turning my original A7R into an M mount machine. Looks like if I did, it would make a difference.
And that's on 24MP. The difference is even more noticeable on the A7R IV's sensor.
I've seen that as well and the main reason I no longer shoot with the ZM 50/1.5 even on the Leica. It is still a special lens with very nice character though.
I would not care so much for the corners but the mid-field is a bit soft (especially on the Sony) at wide apertures and that's where I usually place my subject. Your test does not show but there is actually a noticeable drop in resolution right outside the center area with this lens.
I've seen that as well and the main reason I no longer shoot with the ZM 50/1.5 even on the Leica. It is still a special lens with very nice character though.
I would not care so much for the corners but the mid-field is a bit soft (especially on the Sony) at wide apertures and that's where I usually place my subject. Your test does not show but there is actually a noticeable drop in resolution right outside the center area with this lens.
yeah, it's right in the spot where i normally frame portrait subjects. it doesn't bother me much on the thin sensor though.
So I just noticed a bit late that TTArtisan has released an M-mount 50/1.4 ASPH for only $370. B&H is showing 2-4 weeks delivery. There's some info at Leica Rumors. If you click through to the video review, there is a link to download some full resolution images. And here's an earlier Leica Rumors post with some sample images on Flickr. The lens looks sharp enough, but difficult to get a good feel for rendering. I'd say it's somewhere between Lux ASPH and Lux pre-ASPH, but closer to the pre-ASPH. MTF suggests it might have better mid zone performance than the Lux ASPH. LoCA and purple fringing appear to be stronger than the Lux. It's also bigger than the Lux or this new Voigtlander, being an 8 group, 10 element, 400g, 67mm long, 57mm diameter, 49mm filter design. As a refresher, the Voigtlander is 7 groups, 8 elements, 200g, 37mm long, 55mm diameter, 43mm filter.
I wish Voigtlander would drop it in future releases.
