highdesertmesa wrote:
Versatility/adaptability of the mount is another – the Sony will only work on Sony, but a Leica M mount lens is nearly universal when it comes to mirrorless systems.
I see the CV 50 f/1 being a compliment to a system's native pro f/1.2 lens. I would use the CV when I want the manual focus experience and the native lens when I needed AF or the ultimate in IQ.
I've tried the CV 50/1 on the Sony sensor and the FC gets amplified further. Having said that, outwards FC is a characteristic of this lens, even when used on the M.
At 482 grams, it can be used with the new TAP EA9 AF adapter without any issues -- adding to its versatility.
Fred Miranda wrote:
I've tried the CV 50/1 on the Sony sensor and the FC gets amplified further. Having said that, outwards FC is a characteristic of this lens, even when used on the M.
At 482 grams, it can be used with the new TAP EA9 AF adapter without any issues -- adding to its versatility.
Regarding the outward FC: In the shots I've taken at f/2-f/4, it appears focus is super sharp at the edges and softer at mid/center, and I was wondering if that means the focus plane toward the center is actually pushed slightly behind infinity in that situation. Would adapting it to a non-M platform where focus often can go a bit past infinity help the center of the frame at those apertures at infinity distance?
highdesertmesa wrote:
Regarding the outward FC: In the shots I've taken at f/2-f/4, it appears focus is super sharp at the edges and softer at mid/center, and I was wondering if that means the focus plane toward the center is actually pushed slightly behind infinity in that situation. Would adapting it to a non-M platform where focus often can go a bit past infinity help the center of the frame at those apertures at infinity distance?
I've only tested this wide open but here is a difference in field curvature shape when the Voigtlander 50/1 is used on a Sony vs Leica M sensor stack:
(1.5 to 7 meter)
On the Sony, the shape gets more wavy at long distance.
Fred Miranda wrote:
I've only tested this wide open but here is a difference in field curvature shape when the Voigtlander 50/1 is used on a Sony vs Leica M sensor stack:
(1.5 to 7 meter)
On the Sony the shape gets more wavy at long distance.
Wow, huge difference. Dang.
Evidently I had the term "outward FC" backward in my head, thinking it curved the other way. So on the M when the edges are super sharp and the center is a bit softer, that means sharper infinity focus in the center could be achieved by focusing slightly before infinity. I'll try that out today.
At f/2.8 through f/8, infinity focus is just to the left of the hard stop – when the white dot is in the middle of the left side of the infinity symbol. When watching focus peaking (green/high in my case), the moment that infinity lights up, that's infinity – It's misleading because focus peaking gets even stronger when the focus ring is turned further all the way to the hard stop. This is one lens that makes me wish the Visoflex 2 was higher resolution like the SL EVFs.
Also, there is a sliver of mid frame that never fully sharpens to match the center until f/8.
I think for me this means for infinity shooting, I will shoot at f/1 for effect or at f/8 for IQ. Probably simpler just to reacquire the CV 50 APO for landscape. I just hate the narrow/long lens body of the CV 50 APO, which reminds me of an empty toilet paper roll. Maybe I would prefer the Leica 50 APO then.
I like his reviews and I would agree for the most part. The CV 50 1.2 is the best for most people.
The only thing I would add is that halation is easily added in post for glow (and to be fair so is bokeh nowadays) and the TTA 50 0.95 the balance feels distracting vs the CV 1.0 which has a really nice balance and handling to it.
Plus he's right for street cred, you get to say F1 as well
I do like watching Matt Osborne’s Voigtlander reviews. I believe that I made the correct choice, in my case, buying the Nokton f/1.0, because I tend to like lenses with some amount of diameter and heft, and wanted that full stop more light, for my M10 and M Type 246 cameras, in some conditions. I already had Summilux-M ASPH, Summicron Version IV, and Elmar-M 50mm Leica lenses, and so the Nokton f/1.0 offered something completely different. Moreover, I liked the images I had seen posted on this site, and am liking the images I am getting, now.
Yes, I am accumulating 50mm M-mount lenses!
If I need “perfect” images, adding the 50mm APO VM would make sense, but, for now, I am more inclined to want a “perfect” 35mm lens, and I have that, with the Zeiss Distagon 1,4/35mm ZM, “close enough to perfect, for me,” as the song says…
Cosina misjudged latent demand and put in place a production run that was inadequate. They underestimated the high price inelasticity of a full frame character lens of the dimensions and qualities of the 50/1.
High end manual focus lenses are a clear case of product exceptionalism. In the yawning gap of this post-Otus, post-Milvus era, Cosina really should see as a sound business model the manufacture of a range of $2000 lenses. And not spread themselves too thin.
also highdesert i was afraid you sold the lens with your m11, but glad to see you kept it.
the utility of this lens is extended with LIDAR-AF cine systems (which i'm testing atm), other options are too heavy, too long, or too glowy WO for great usability but this one is just right!
I had to delete my original remark over Philip's comment lol but if you ask me, Voigtlander played it perfectly:
- It's been less than a year since it's been released, in arguably a relatively challenging logistical/production environment, so I'd say you don't have a super clear picture of the actual demand just yet (supply vs. demand restrictions)
- Most expensive retail Voigtlander lens ever with no precedent over market interest
- Global softness in the financial markets (price of M-mount gear will sit longer/come down in price) so better to trod carefully
- They've validated their brand with an experiment pushing the boundaries
- They're relatively protected on the demand side, I don't see it waning they're clearly the better option than rivals below/above them and sit alone in that ~$low 4-figure price range
Just because you (a general "you," not calling anybody out) weren't able to walk into your local store to get one in the first 12 months, doesn't equate to a misinterpretation of demand, especially right now.
In Japan (mainly observing Tokyo stores) the CV 50/1 has not been extensively out of stock, it can be bought from some stores most of the time. I think after initial release it was sold out everywhere for a month or 1.5 months but since then it's been fairly easy to find them although it seems to come in and go out of stock cyclically in each store. Pretty much similar situation to other CV lenses that have been relatively popular. Looking at kakaku.com's lens sales rankings, this lens has been sticking around in top 10 among CV lenses consistently but now it is at #11. Most of the time it's been closer to #5. I think it peaked at #1 for a short amount of time.
There was a precedent of another CV lens that was priced exactly same (at least in Japan): Voigtländer Super Nokton 29mm f0.8 for MFT. I think that one has been in much lower demand and that might have also guided Cosina's expectations a little bit although they are in quite different categories based on VM vs. MFT.
Anyhow, Cosina tends to do production runs for limited volumes of different lenses (across their product mix) cyclically and I think they should be able to adjust the volumes reactively when some lens is in especially high demand unless they have shortages of some parts etc.
Would be informative to know the US/NA/Europe experience since the release date. Markets are very different in behaviour and size (and supply scheduling), and it will take time to settle enough to make solid observations. Being OS from the start is never a good situation - release date Jan 2022. Unless of course the only thing they really care about is Japan. Strange times for MF users.
highdesertmesa, what are you doing with the 50 f/1 Nokton to have your SL2-S ibis and other goodies implemented, or are you? BTW, very nice landscape photos.
goodbokeh wrote:
highdesertmesa, what are you doing with the 50 f/1 Nokton to have your SL2-S ibis and other goodies implemented, or are you? BTW, very nice landscape photos.
Thanks! Before the recent SL2/SL2-S firmware update, I was choosing the same M lens profile for the CV 50 f/1 that I did on the M11: the Leica f/1 Noctilux. After the firmware update that just came out, I can now also choose the generic "50mm". Either way, IBIS works as long as the camera knows the focal length. Each way has a benefit. With the Leica profile, the image in Live View has reduced vignetting from the Leica profile correction, so metering is more accurate when shooting at wider apertures. Or by just selecting "50mm", I can see the as-is performance of the lens in Live View, which is helpful for envisioning the artistic potential of the vignetting when shooting at f/1.
ftllens wrote:
lol phillip should run an editorial section.
also highdesert i was afraid you sold the lens with your m11, but glad to see you kept it.
the utility of this lens is extended with LIDAR-AF cine systems (which i'm testing atm), other options are too heavy, too long, or too glowy WO for great usability but this one is just right!
I'm glad I kept it, too. I'm not seeing the mid-frame resolution drop at f/2.8–f/5.6 that I saw on the M11. I know the SL2-S is much lower resolution than the M11, but I tested it with the SL2-S multi-shot 96mp mode, too. Not sure what that means or how it's possible that the M11 would have worse performance at mid-frame than the SL2-S. I do know it's much easier to get perfect infinity focus with the SL2-S EVF over the Visoflex 2 on the M11. This lens is very particular about infinity and getting it exactly perfect at f/1 before stopping down.
highdesertmesa wrote:
Thanks! Before the recent firmware update, I was choosing the same M lens profile for the CV 50 f/1 that I did on the M11: the Leica f/1 Noctilux. After the firmware update that just came out, I can now also choose the generic "50mm". Either way, IBIS works as long as the camera knows the focal length. Each way has a benefit. With the Leica profile, the image in Live View has reduced vignetting from the Leica profile correction, so metering is more accurate when shooting at wider apertures. Or by just selecting "50mm", I can see the as-is performance of the lens in Live View, which is helpful for envisioning the artistic potential of the vignetting when shooting at f/1. ...Show more →
Thanks for the report. The new SL2/SL2-S firmware is excellent news! That must be the world's best low light setup, I'm envious.
