Not easy and requires some analysis of your preferences and intentions, because new (Voigtlander) lenses often open doorways to creative imagery. The lenses encourage this exploration.
This one has lovely medium contrast bokeh, and is bright, with a high impact. The 50/2 APO is maybe less arty, smoother backgrounds, incredible focal plane performance, and surprisingly good stopped down. Colour is more accurate, less vibrant, it is more a pro-level lens than a character lens. It might be more versatile, many samples of the 50/2.2 are relatively close focus thus far.
Many of the Japanese 50/2.2 samples are very different to western eyes in terms of compositions and highlight handling. But take a look through these :
They will give you a solid idea about this genre and focus fade, saturation is excellent. The 50/2.2 is tiny and very discreet (135 grams!), one of the best looking lenses around, it seems to disappear on the camera - this will suit certain kinds of work better.
Cosina did reduce the VM 50/2 size but it's still a mirrorless sourced lens. It's hard to say this, but you almost cannot go wrong and will find plenty to like in both. At $US 600, the 50/2.2 a very good buy IMO (the 50/2 APO is $1000 at B&H). Both will resell easily.
philip_pj wrote:
Not easy and requires some analysis of your preferences and intentions, because new (Voigtlander) lenses often open doorways to creative imagery. The lenses encourage this exploration.
This one has lovely medium contrast bokeh, and is bright, with a high impact. The 50/2 APO is maybe less arty, smoother backgrounds, incredible focal plane performance, and surprisingly good stopped down. Colour is more accurate, less vibrant, it is more a pro-level lens than a character lens. It might be more versatile, many samples of the 50/2.2 are relatively close focus thus far.
Many of the Japanese 50/2.2 samples are very different to western eyes in terms of compositions and highlight handling. But take a look through these :
They will give you a solid idea about this genre and focus fade, saturation is excellent. The 50/2.2 is tiny and very discreet (135 grams!), one of the best looking lenses around, it seems to disappear on the camera - this will suit certain kinds of work better.
Cosina did reduce the VM 50/2 size but it's still a mirrorless sourced lens. It's hard to say this, but you almost cannot go wrong and will find plenty to like in both. At $US 600, the 50/2.2 a very good buy IMO (the 50/2 APO is $1000 at B&H). Both will resell easily. ...Show more →
Superb response! Thanks for the background and insight!
rob_ww wrote:
How well does this lens perform on Sony cameras -- is there a preferred M-to-Sony adapter?
I didn't buy this lens so far as I got the new 75/1.5 for E-mount instead but I might get one at some point. I have also pre-ordered CV 23/1.2 SC (X-mount) Map Camera 30th anniversary limited edition for next month so I need to wait for my lens budget to recover for further lens purchases.
As for the adapter, my recommendation would be Rayqual M to E-mount adapter for best hard infinity calibration if it's important for you to be able to utilize hard infinity on adapted lenses (Rayqual strives to make their adapters exactly right in terms of thickness, and their build quality is excellent). On the other hand, if you prefer to have a helicoid adapter, I'd recommend CV VM-E close focus adapter version II (about 50g lighter than version I and with longer helicoid extension). Voigtländer adapters are slightly thinner than spec so hard infinity on the lenses will usually be a bit beyond infinity, which is why I prefer Rayqual in general.
Not all lenses have their hard infinity calibration perfectly right but all the recent CV VM lenses that I've bought have been spot-on with my Rayqual adapter.
Do we (Fred?) know what aperture blade design Cosina opted for? Is this the same design used in the Apo-Lanthar that are perfectly round at f/2.8 and f/5.6?
oscartb wrote:
Do we (Fred?) know what aperture blade design Cosina opted for? Is this the same design used in the Apo-Lanthar that are perfectly round at f/2.8 and f/5.6?
It's their basic aperture mechanism with 10 straight blades. It doesn't have a special circular aperture.
rob_ww wrote:
How well does this lens perform on Sony cameras -- is there a preferred M-to-Sony adapter?
Maybe, apart from Juha's suggestions, it's worth mentioning the TTArtisan 6-bit M to E adapter for (semi)automatic EXIF data transmision. The mark II is the recommended one, and it is very lightweight.
Another Japanese YouTube video with 50/2.2 with many samples (this video has English subs available also):
I think this couple makes very nice lens review videos with beautiful shots and they get pre-release copies from Cosina for review (this was just the 2nd time, after they reviewed X-mount 27/2).
oscartb wrote:
Do we (Fred?) know what aperture blade design Cosina opted for? Is this the same design used in the Apo-Lanthar that are perfectly round at f/2.8 and f/5.6?
In the video posted here at 1:44min you'll see the aperture iris shape
'How well does this lens perform on Sony cameras -- is there a preferred M-to-Sony adapter?'
Those are two important questions. Second first, I use the expensive Novoflex M-E, 36 grams of German industrial design. There are two schools, but my take is you buy once, and enjoy it for many years.
#1 - See the video where the guy uses a Zf at p.2 #10. Very impressive bokeh and flare resistance, in my opinion. The lens is dwarfed by the Nikon mount, to be expected. But he covers a lot of ground. It should be similar on our Sonys?
If you want the ultimate corners a la 50/2 APO on a 4/5 a7r - I don't think so. But I still use an a7r v1, and fitting this one and the 36 gram adapter brings it to 635 grams, a little more with a Heliopan filter and excellent hood. For the imaging content, I don't need IBIS.
Here would be my use. It fits into a niche, a superb ultralight walk around lens, an everyday carry if you will. Great as a complement to even other 50s, each with their specialisations: the 50/2 APO for exacting work; the 50/3.5 for landscapes, the CY 35-70 at 50mm for character. We have to find ways to justify what we do ;-)
Subjects range from objets d'art, urban bric-a-brac, gardens, street, intimate scenery, non-threatening portraits and splendid for interiors I imagine it to be. If you had one, it'd be very hard to leave behind on a trip or visit. It's fast to use and very discreet in black for Sony, like my adapter. With often extraordinary bokeh and fade. Put it on your camera before it floats away. ;-)
