CATProductions wrote:
What do you find better about the 50/2 AL compared with the 35/2 AL?
The 50 is slightly sharper and has better bokeh. I mean, on several occasions the 35/2 AL lens shows onion rings in out-of-focus points of light; see 2nd and 3rd picture here: https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1695782/50#16507838
I guess this is likely due to aspherical elements; however, the 50/2 AL too has two aspherical elements, but I have not noticed yet onion rings in pictures with out-of-focus points of light. Therefore, I think that aspherical elements represent a necessary but not sufficient condition to produce onion rings.
Anyway, I feel the 50/2 AL has - in general - a smoother out-of-focus rendition. Neither lens can be considered as a "character" lens, though.
My comments above refer to my Z mount samples, which do not show macroscopic misalignment issues (the 1st sample of the 50/2 AL I bought had unacceptable - by me - misalignment; the Italian importer sent me another copy, which I still own).
Ballard wrote:
Does anybody on this thread have experience with the 90mm f2.8 Apo-Skopar? I get the feeling that it is a lens to be avoided.
Fred reviewed the VM version that shares the same identical optical scheme as the F-mount lens, here: https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1733542/0?keyword=apo,skopar#15799147
According to the review the VM version has same performance on Sony cameras. So we can infer that the F-mount version has same performance too. Main criticism is mid-field sharpness drop at long distances. For this specific reason I decided not to buy it. I will reconsider my decision when a thorough test of the SL IIs version proves that mid-field performance is not an issue with Nikon sensors.
Sep 05, 2024 at 06:27 AM
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Ripolini wrote:
Fred reviewed the VM version that shares the same identical optical scheme as the F-mount lens, here: https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1733542/0?keyword=apo,skopar#15799147
According to the review the VM version has same performance on Sony cameras. So we can infer that the F-mount version has same performance too. Main criticism is mid-field sharpness drop at long distances. For this specific reason I decided not to buy it. I will reconsider my decision when a thorough test of the SL IIs version proves that mid-field performance is not an issue with Nikon sensors.
I have had the VM 90 f/2.8 APO and here is my take on it. It is a wonderful lens. It is small. It has very low CA. It has quite nice bokeh. It is a great all around and especially nice on Leica M as it doesn't block the frame lines for 90mm.
That said there are many nice lenses at this focal length. What I think doomed it for most Sony shooters is that it is no smaller and not quite as sharp (in the mid frame and corners) as the Sigma 90 f/2.8i. The Sigma, of course also has autofocus. The Voigtlander, however, I think controls CA better and has less distortion. Personally, I would prefer the Voigtlander, but that is not most people's preference.
For portraits it doesn't really compare to the slew of cheaper and faster 85mm lenses like the Sony 85 f/1.8, Batis 85 f/1.8, Samyang 85 f/1.4, but it is notably smaller, and it has a nice close focus so I always really liked it for portraits preferring it over all of these lenses.
For landscapes it is also clearly outshone by the Leica M 90 f/2 APO (which Fred tested it against) and on Sony the Loxia 85 f/2.4 (which is really a spectacular lens) and to some extent the Zeiss ZM 85 f/4. Still I found it to be a good landscape lens as well and just a tick behind these other three.
Now overall, I think on Sony the Loxia 85 f/2.4 is a stronger lens both for portraits and landscapes and is not that different in price, but it is almost twice the weight.
So, I think this lens suffers from tough competition rather than being a bad lens in any particular way.
Thanks for the replies to my inquiry about the 90/2.8 Apo-Skopar. I have several 85mm lenses, so I don't really need a 90. I just thought that being such a compact package, if it were phenomenally sharp I might give in to temptation and then unload one of the 85s. For now restraint wins over temptation.
