Fred Miranda wrote:
The Leica's field curvature at the extreme corners restricts sharpness in those areas. However, focusing on the corners rather than the center improves resolution in those regions, resulting in a noticeable decline in sharpness at the center and mid-field. This effect is also observed with the Simera, as both lenses feature very similar optical designs.
Did you focus on the corners for the landscape test?
I am familiar with the Summilux curvature as well as the MTF with corner performance.
I was surprised how the curvature test you did matched the performance in your landscape test. If you look at infinity map you see more curvature from the summilux in the corners, but you see much better results than the simera which goes soft in the extreme corners. I am amazed how informative this test is and how easy it makes it see how the lens behaves visually. I find this clearer than a MTF chart.
Do you have a write up somewhere on how you do the field curvature test?
cbass wrote:
Did you focus on the corners for the landscape test?
I am familiar with the Summilux curvature as well as the MTF with corner performance.
I was surprised how the curvature test you did matched the performance in your landscape test. If you look at infinity map you see more curvature from the summilux in the corners, but you see much better results than the simera which goes soft in the extreme corners. I am amazed how informative this test is and how easy it makes it see how the lens behaves visually. I find this clearer than a MTF chart.
Do you have a write up somewhere on how you do the field curvature test? ...Show more →
I focused both lenses at their hard stop (which were well calibrated) and confirmed with live view that the center resolution was optimal using high magnification and peaking. I think the example in the other thread was with a previous Summilux I had, which had some variance. I believe I have a better copy now.
I perform the field curvature test in a flat area with real grass, focusing the lens from 1 meter to near infinity in several steps while keeping the camera slightly tilted downward. Then, I use Photoshop to adjust levels and threshold, making the sharpest area black and the rest of the image white. Finally, I compile the images into an animated GIF.
So far, unexpectedly, excellent performance though I’m not super surprised, given how similar the optical formulas are. However, I like the Simera’s midzone, and I will always give up a good mid zone for worse corners.
To be honest, I am not super concerned with how fast rangefinder primes perform at infinity wide open. My primary use for the 50 Lux is wide-open from MFD to 12 feet. Especially center, inner and outer midzone. I want to see if it has the brilliant color and micro contrast and the bite of the 50 Lux. If it has that, or extremely similar, I will purchase a copy.
I am also quite curious how it performs on a stock Sony and if it flares in a pretty way.
Great review so far. It would be good to compare this lens with the CV 50mm f1.2 at portrait distances wide open. Is it possible that this lens has more bite?
nehemiahphoto wrote:
So far, unexpectedly, excellent performance though I’m not super surprised, given how similar the optical formulas are. However, I like the Simera’s midzone, and I will always give up a good mid zone for worse corners.
To be honest, I am not super concerned with how fast rangefinder primes perform at infinity wide open. My primary use for the 50 Lux is wide-open from MFD to 12 feet. Especially center, inner and outer midzone. I want to see if it has the brilliant color and micro contrast and the bite of the 50 Lux. If it has that, or extremely similar, I will purchase a copy.
I am also quite curious how it performs on a stock Sony and if it flares in a pretty way.
Probably not exactly what you want to see but I posted a few images of the Simera 50/1.4 on my Sony A1 using the Techart LM-EA9 adapter. My focus was to see AF responsiveness and gaining AF closer than the lens MFD.
The Simera 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. is a highly versatile lens, capable of focusing as close as 0.45m with a 1:6.4 magnification ratio. The barrel remains stationary during focusing from infinity to 0.45m, as the lens elements move internally, so the lens does not change length while focusing.
Thanks to its floating mechanism, the lens maintains high image quality and excellent aberration control at both its minimum focus distance using Live View and the 0.7-meter closest focusing distance of the Leica M rangefinder. My Leica 50mm f/1.4 Summilux, also equipped with a floating group, delivers great image quality at its minimum focus distance. My version focuses down to 0.7m, and I included a comparison with the Simera at 0.7m as well.
I tested the Simera lens at its minimum focusing distance of 0.45m and at 0.7m using apertures f/1.4, f/2, f/2.8, and f/4. The sharpness remains consistent across the aperture range at both focusing distances, although it performed a bit better at MFD. There are only subtle improvements in resolution and contrast as the aperture stops down. These differences are difficult to detect even when examining pixel-level crops (100% magnification). The Simera matches the Leica's performance at 0.7m, though it shows slightly lower contrast. (Identical settings were used for both lenses.)
Overall, the Simera lens performs exceptionally well at close distances, producing sharp, detailed images. The following sequence shows its performance from wide open at f/1.4 to f/4. The lens was initially focused at f/1.4, and the subsequent aperture changes to f/2, f/2.8, and f/4 were made without refocusing, demonstrating minimal to no focus shift. (More on focus shift later on.)
At 0.45m MFD using LiveView
***Expand the browser window to view the full image without any resizing.
Anyone know when these will be shipping? I have one on pre-order at B&H. It doesn't seem like any of the independent dealers will be selling them. Unless someone knows of one.
1bwana1 wrote:
Anyone know when these will be shipping? I have one on pre-order at B&H. It doesn't seem like any of the independent dealers will be selling them. Unless someone knows of one.
I got mine from B&H last week. So, they must be waiting on their next shipment.
I got it from B&H around Oct 13... They even had $100 sale on it after a few days of its release and had a used one for $500 during that time... It was most probably sold out esp with the sale... Adorama shows also backordered...
1bwana1 wrote:
Anyone know when these will be shipping? I have one on pre-order at B&H. It doesn't seem like any of the independent dealers will be selling them. Unless someone knows of one.
rji2goleez wrote:
I got mine from B&H last week. So, they must be waiting on their next shipment.
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serhan_ wrote:
I got it from B&H around Oct 13... They even had $100 sale on it after a few days of its release and had a used one for $500 during that time... It was most probably sold out esp with the sale... Adorama shows also backordered...
I just checked again and they have updated with an expected shipping date of November 11. Not too long a wait if that turns out to be true.
I just checked again and they have updated with an expected shipping date of November 11. Not too long a wait if that turns out to be true.
How are you guys finding the lens?
I am loving it. Already sold one of my other 50s (CV50/1.2). I like its 3D look, great color and sharpness. I never owned a 50 Summilux but I feel like I now have one.
rji2goleez wrote:
I am loving it. Already sold one of my other 50s (CV50/1.2). I like its 3D look, great color and sharpness. I never owned a 50 Summilux but I feel like I now have one.
I may be selling my 50mm Summicron if I like this one a lot. All reports on the lens seem excellent. We'll see how I gell with it.
Random notes: It's consistent with the cine background. Not entirely a completely different set of priorities, but different emphasis on aberrations. Colors should look more realistic, image quality more 'center outwards', excellent bokeh back and (critically) front. Punchy contrast to bring out the photorealism needed for human subjects close up, also helps landscapes. You see this even in the distortion test.
We see a clear break in corner resolution from the bottom right to top left corner of the extreme corners crops, the Summilux is more consistent across this diagonal, but the Simera is actually stronger towards the bottom-right corner of the crop box. Motifs are better drawn here, even at f1.4. It does very well everywhere else.
At all apertures, the top tree next to the sky is well drawn, with detail. At this point the Summilux shows strong magenta CA, even at f8. Stills people tend to think corners, cine people think depth, bokeh and impact, certainly for the now popular faux vintage look.
By the way, it's a true 52mm; the Summilux is close to a true 50mm. In the curvature GIF, see the more consistent thickness and flatness for the Simera across apertures, very important for focus pulls. The Summilux appears more concentrated in a narrower band. DZO are selling this one as 'clinical' but inside a vintage look.
What they mean is that aberration control is sound apart from those that have been designed for. CA is something most are happy with, not perfect but very good.
Lens construction can be described as: one asph, one ED and three high refractive index elements. It gave them a lot of design freedom in an eight element lens.
People are getting familiar with the fine longitudinal separation. Bokeh is personal but I was instantly impressed, to me it looks beautiful behind the sharp close focus quality. It's also technically sound regarding SA correction. Billowy and even highlights, nothing distracting. Very soft, low contrast at near focus distances - for human subjects in movies - and in stills, for portraits. 'Designer swirl' wide open in outer frames, it settles into regular circles before f2.8 - the look is big in the cine world.
Focus breathing narrows AOV further. Most in the stills world would describe its extent as low to moderate, certainly from infinity to a little off MFD. MFD is 17.7 inches, similar to Sony's GM 50/1.4 (16.1 inches) and much closer than CV Nokton 50/1.2 and 50/2 APO (both 27.5 inches in VM). Bokeh is very soft and overlaid at this closer range. Everyone is impressed with the build. Flares will be interesting, also movie based but not so popular in the stills world.
I have plenty of clinical lenses. A sharp but more cinematic drawing lens is one thing I hope this lens brings to my camera bag. I love the 14 aperture blade bokeh as well.
1bwana1 wrote:
I have plenty of clinical lenses. A sharp but more cinematic drawing lens is one thing I hope this lens brings to my camera bag. I love the 14 aperture blade bokeh as well.
