I haven't received any e-mail updates about my pre-order of BP version yet (since early March). In previous communication that version was expected to become available somewhat later than Black and Silver versions, so I guess it will still take some more time for that version. I've just sent an e-mail query to Kamii-san to ask about latest estimate for BP version.
p.29 #2 · MS-Optics lenses Image and Discussion Thread
I heard back with info that BP version of 35/1.4 is expected to arrive at MS-Optics sometime later this week (now Monday the 20th in Japan). I guess there's still some work they need to do after arrival but it should be getting ready soon as well. I'm looking forward to mine
p.29 #3 · MS-Optics lenses Image and Discussion Thread
MS-Optics now have a product picture of all 3 versions of 35/1.4 Apoqualia re-release on their new webshop, and Sonnetar 73/1.5 is also listed for pre-orders there (it appears that a new batch of Black and Silver versions will arrive sometime in August).
p.29 #4 · MS-Optics lenses Image and Discussion Thread
I received my Apoqualia 35/1.4 Black Paint #38 (re-release version) today. Just got the e-mail about it being ready and completed payment yesterday and Kamii-san already shipped on the same day (for delivery this morning). Domestic shipping in Japan is always very quick and smooth and it's just ~35km from MS-Optics to my home as well.
The weather is bad today and I have to work so not much shooting done yet but I took it out for a quick spin during my lunch break and I enjoyed taking some wide open bokeh shots on my A7CII until it started to rain. Will wait to get more samples in good weather before posting some. As per initial impressions, I'm very happy with the look and feel and the handling, and ability to focus to 0.4m is very nice. Colors and contrast are strong from wide open (different look from Apollon that prioritizes resolution but has lower contrast). I like my initial bokeh shots quite a bit.
I'll try to find some lens cap that could be used smoothly on top of the hood (as a hood-cap) as I'd like to keep the hood on the lens at all times. So far I found one Konica M-Hexanon cap from my collection that fits on top of the hood but it's not the most elegant solution and it doesn't fit very tight.
I'm looking forward to shooting much more with it in the coming days and months.
p.29 #5 · MS-Optics lenses Image and Discussion Thread
Juha Kannisto wrote:
I received my Apoqualia 35/1.4 Black Paint #38 (re-release version) today. Just got the e-mail about it being ready and completed payment yesterday and Kamii-san already shipped on the same day (for delivery this morning). Domestic shipping in Japan is always very quick and smooth and it's just ~35km from MS-Optics to my home as well.
The weather is bad today and I have to work so not much shooting done yet but I took it out for a quick spin during my lunch break and I enjoyed taking some wide open bokeh shots on my A7CII until it started to rain. Will wait to get more samples in good weather before posting some. As per initial impressions, I'm very happy with the look and feel and the handling, and ability to focus to 0.4m is very nice. Colors and contrast are strong from wide open (different look from Apollon that prioritizes resolution but has lower contrast). I like my initial bokeh shots quite a bit.
I'll try to find some lens cap that could be used smoothly on top of the hood (as a hood-cap) as I'd like to keep the hood on the lens at all times. So far I found one Konica M-Hexanon cap from my collection that fits on top of the hood but it's not the most elegant solution and it doesn't fit very tight.
I'm looking forward to shooting much more with it in the coming days and months....Show more →
I'd love if you could do a few side-by-side comparisons with the Apollon so we can really see the differences between them. I'm reluctant to get the Apoqualia while owning the Apollon, since they're mostly the same design just tweaked differently.
p.29 #6 · MS-Optics lenses Image and Discussion Thread
The photos that first made me take notice of the 35/1.4 Apoqualia were from this guy; I don't like "sexy female model" photos but there's no denying the beautiful rendering of this lens: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmpG2UNy
p.29 #7 · MS-Optics lenses Image and Discussion Thread
Fred Miranda wrote:
I'd love if you could do a few side-by-side comparisons with the Apollon so we can really see the differences between them. I'm reluctant to get the Apoqualia while owning the Apollon, since they're mostly the same design just tweaked differently.
I'll see if I can do some comparison shots on 2 different cameras (A7CII and A7C) with Apoqualia on one and Apollon on the other next weekend. Not enough time during the week as I have days off this week. I think they are quite different lenses in terms of rendering details even though not so different in terms of optical design.
p.29 #8 · MS-Optics lenses Image and Discussion Thread
bjhurley wrote:
The photos that first made me take notice of the 35/1.4 Apoqualia were from this guy; I don't like "sexy female model" photos but there's no denying the beautiful rendering of this lens: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmpG2UNy
p.29 #9 · MS-Optics lenses Image and Discussion Thread
Juha Kannisto wrote:
I'll see if I can do some comparison shots on 2 different cameras (A7CII and A7C) with Apoqualia on one and Apollon on the other next weekend. Not enough time during the week as I have days off this week. I think they are quite different lenses in terms of rendering details even though not so different in terms of optical design.
For what it's worth, I owned them both and like the Apoqualia much better. It's more corrected than the 35 Lux Pre-ASPH I thought, while the Apollon is less. WO, the Apollon crosses over to what I consider a too much/a bit gimmicky WO for my tastes. Knowing your tastes, I think you'd enjoy the Apoqualia more.
p.29 #10 · MS-Optics lenses Image and Discussion Thread
nehemiahphoto wrote:
For what it's worth, I owned them both and like the Apoqualia much better. It's more corrected than the 35 Lux Pre-ASPH I thought, while the Apollon is less. WO, the Apollon crosses over to what I consider a too much/a bit gimmicky WO for my tastes. Knowing your tastes, I think you'd enjoy the Apoqualia more.
Could it just come down to a tweak in the optical design? MS Optics lists the 35/1.4 Apoqualia as actually a 36mm f/1.48, while the Apollon is a 36mm f/1.38. That would explain why the Apollon shows more spherical aberration wide open, so maybe stopping the Apollon down just a touch brings it in line with the Apoqualia.
Worth noting: the SA difference between f/1.48 and f/1.38 might be bigger than it looks. SA blur scales roughly with the cube of the aperture, so that small gap could mean ~23% more blur at f/1.38, even with identical designs. Plus, stopping down even slightly cuts the outer rays first, and those are the biggest SA offenders wide open. So a tiny stop-down could close most of the gap between the Apollon and the Apoqualia.
p.29 #11 · MS-Optics lenses Image and Discussion Thread
Juha Kannisto wrote:
I'll see if I can do some comparison shots on 2 different cameras (A7CII and A7C) with Apoqualia on one and Apollon on the other next weekend. Not enough time during the week as I have days off this week. I think they are quite different lenses in terms of rendering details even though not so different in terms of optical design.
Thanks for doing this. I'll hold off ordering mine until I see your test. If you could also stop the Apollon down just a touch and compare, that would be awesome.
p.29 #12 · MS-Optics lenses Image and Discussion Thread
Fred Miranda wrote:
Could it just come down to a tweak in the optical design? MS Optics lists the 35/1.4 Apoqualia as actually a 36mm f/1.48, while the Apollon is a 36mm f/1.38. That would explain why the Apollon shows more spherical aberration wide open, so maybe stopping the Apollon down just a touch brings it in line with the Apoqualia.
Worth noting: the SA difference between f/1.48 and f/1.38 might be bigger than it looks. SA blur scales roughly with the cube of the aperture, so that small gap could mean ~23% more blur at f/1.38, even with identical designs. Plus, stopping down even slightly cuts the outer rays first, and those are the biggest SA offenders wide open. So a tiny stop-down could close most of the gap between the Apollon and the Apoqualia....Show more →
It very well may. Honestly, I know they’re both double gausse designs, but I did not even look at the element count or spacing or that kind of thing. To be honest, I can observe those things on paper but I don’t have a functional understanding of how they impact actual images. I did find the Apollon to be noticeably lower contrast and having more bokeh than the Apoqualia. The explanation of the f-stop numerical difference be more significant than you would think makes sense in this situation.
And yes, the Apollon has noticeably more SA than the 35 Apoqualia on my opinion. It increases more at the super short and awesome MFD too in my experience. But to see them both at the same aperture and distance would be quite interesting. I’d like to see the FC characteristic compared on both as well. The Apollon as outward FC (corners coming into focus) which I dislike.
