rscheffler Online Upload & Sell: Off
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Just picked up a used copy of this lens, VM version, black. This was an online purchase from a camera store about 600km from me, so no opportunity to try before buying.
Briefly tested it during a rainy walk in the woods (not so great light) and so far I'm not feeling the excitement others have expressed for it. I think I'm OK with most of its quirks, such as the aperture ring rotating when focusing. My intention is to mostly use it as an f/8 'snapshot' lens, but was hoping for pretty high across-frame performance/sharpness by f/5.6-8 based on the earlier test by Fred and other images, including Juha's sets (I realize the far corners may never become sharp). Instead, on my M240, I'm seeing OK sharpness and what looks like field curvature coming towards the camera at the edges that is still noticeable at f/8. TBH, its stopped down look is reminding me a lot of my LLL 35 Cron V1 replica (sharp, but not 'modern' sharp) but without the wide open mojo option of the LLL.
For other VM40 Heliar owners, are you seeing some field curvature at farther distances? If aiming for optimal across-frame sharpness, is it better to focus in the midfield instead of the center?
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