Fred Miranda wrote:
It seems Techart hasn’t reinstated the 1.7.0 firmware on their update app. I’ve been using 1.6.0 without any problems.
I wanted to mention that the LM-EA9 adapter performs significantly better with the Sony A7CR. In my review, I tested it with the Sony A9, A7R II, A74 and A7CR, and the new camera notably enhances its performance. AF tracking is now much more effective and Eye AF is both more reliable and precise. It’s truly a game changer for me!
Good to hear. I've been pleased with it on my A7IV as well, but I would like to move to a C body.
Fred Miranda wrote:
I wanted to mention that the LM-EA9 adapter performs significantly better with the Sony A7CR. In my review, I tested it with the Sony A9, A7R II, A74 and A7CR, and the new camera notably enhances its performance. AF tracking is now much more effective and Eye AF is both more reliable and precise. It’s truly a game changer for me!
Fantastic. I've become an enthusiastic A7CR shooter these last three months, and just ordered the adapter off eBay.
I love my Nokton 1.2/50 SE, but I've noticed that I almost only use the 1.2/50 GM because taking photos with autofocus is so much more relaxed. I'm actually considering selling the SE version and getting a version for M-Mount and the Techart adapter for my A7iv instead. This swap would obviously mean losing a lot of money, because I bought the SE version new last spring. But that's my problem. The question I want to ask here is how accurate and reliable the AF works with the Nokton 1.2/50 (or 1.2/40) with Sony, even if the subject is not centered. I don't think the image quality itself will be noticeably worse, right? I'm not a pixel peeper.
Does anyone have experiences they would like to share?
Nifty Fifty wrote:
I love my Nokton 1.2/50 SE, but I've noticed that I almost only use the 1.2/50 GM because taking photos with autofocus is so much more relaxed. I'm actually considering selling the SE version and getting a version for M-Mount and the Techart adapter for my A7iv instead. This swap would obviously mean losing a lot of money, because I bought the SE version new last spring. But that's my problem. The question I want to ask here is how accurate and reliable the AF works with the Nokton 1.2/50 (or 1.2/40) with Sony, even if the subject is not centered. I don't think the image quality itself will be noticeably worse, right? I'm not a pixel peeper.
Does anyone have experiences they would like to share?...Show more →
Because the Sony A7 IV has a thicker sensor stack, the field curvature shape changes when using the CV 50mm f/1.2 on this camera. The curvature becomes more outward, causing the mid-zone and corners to be out of focus when focusing on a subject at the center: https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1561782/32#15316872
That's a consideration, but it also affects the out-of-focus rendering when shooting at wide apertures due to the more extreme curvature. This means that areas that should be out of focus may appear sharper (more in focus). This is more prominent when focusing on subjects at mid-distance, where blur does not mask these ill effects.
Other than that, the lens should perform the same as the E-version.
Regarding the LM-EA9 AF adapter, it works best when focusing around the center of the frame. When focusing outside of the center, sometimes focus is not possible, but that depends on the lens. Some lenses focus right to the corners, while others don't. The adapter also performs better with newer cameras like the A7CR and A7RV, benefiting from the improved AF tracking of these cameras.
Nifty Fifty wrote:
I love my Nokton 1.2/50 SE, but I've noticed that I almost only use the 1.2/50 GM because taking photos with autofocus is so much more relaxed. I'm actually considering selling the SE version and getting a version for M-Mount and the Techart adapter for my A7iv instead. This swap would obviously mean losing a lot of money, because I bought the SE version new last spring. But that's my problem. The question I want to ask here is how accurate and reliable the AF works with the Nokton 1.2/50 (or 1.2/40) with Sony, even if the subject is not centered. I don't think the image quality itself will be noticeably worse, right? I'm not a pixel peeper.
Does anyone have experiences they would like to share?...Show more →
I did the E to M mount swap with the CV40 when the LM-EA9 came out. I bought the adapter solely for using the CV40 with AF. The image quality concerns that Fred outlined are there, yes, but not hugely noticeable to me. Even the E-mount version of the 40 has some field curvature visible in the bokeh anyways. If you are not a pixel-peeper, I think you will not care.
For the ability to use autofocus, it is a small price to pay. While the TAP adapter AF is only 'ok' on the Noktons, I accept the limitations here. It will lose eye tracking outside of the central portion of the image with most lenses and the Noktons are in that category. DPR's video has a good demonstration of the 'sweet spot':
I love the results from this lens, and AF means I can use it more often. I can take it out and hand it to someone else to take a picture. I do sometimes need more reliability and speed, and in that case right now I have the 35GM. I know what each lens can do and can pick the best one for the job. If you like the CV50 and want to use it more, but lack of AF is stopping you, I'd say give it a try.
Fred Miranda wrote:
Because the Sony A7 IV has a thicker sensor stack, the field curvature shape changes when using the CV 50mm f/1.2 on this camera. The curvature becomes more outward, causing the mid-zone and corners to be out of focus when focusing on a subject at the center: https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1561782/32#15316872
That's a consideration, but it also affects the out-of-focus rendering when shooting at wide apertures due to the more extreme curvature. This means that areas that should be out of focus may appear sharper (more in focus). This is more prominent when focusing on subjects at mid-distance, where blur does not mask these ill effects.
Other than that, the lens should perform the same as the E-version.
Regarding the LM-EA9 AF adapter, it works best when focusing around the center of the frame. When focusing outside of the center, sometimes focus is not possible, but that depends on the lens. Some lenses focus right to the corners, while others don't. The adapter also performs better with newer cameras like the A7CR and A7RV, benefiting from the improved AF tracking of these cameras....Show more →
Thank you Fred for the explanations. Does anyone have experience with the new adapter on the A9 Mark 3?
Thank you very much for your additional information, Graham. I'll think about it again, but I'm leaning towards leaving everything as it is for now. The fun is a bit too expensive for me, considering that the autofocus doesn't work in the peripheral area. Even if I can sell the SE, I would have to pay around €500 extra to buy the M-mount version. Together with the adapter, that would already be €1000 and I don't think it would be worth it under these circumstances.
hsiunghsiung wrote:
Ah okay. I heard the Z mount version for Nikon has autofocus in video, so I was hoping it'd be the same for sony
I think there are no adapters for Sony E-mount that allow autofocus in video. It's a software lock applied by Sony, in the camera, not the adapter manufacturer. Sony blocks adapted lenses from focussing in video. This is wrong of them, and they should stop doing it.
The only exception I know of is that Sigma Art lenses for Canon EF, when used with the Sigma MC-11 adapter, will autofocus in video. But that pair (Sigma Art + Sigma MC-11) is made for each other and Sigma signed some kind of deal with Sony to make it possible. And other Canon-mount lenses, when paired with the Sigma MC-11, don't autofocus in video (not even older Sigma lenses prior to the Art line).
Disregard the version numbers; the current model is simply the LM-EA9. It’s confusing because Techart refers to it as version II since it’s the replacement for version I, which was the LM-EA7.
