I returned my first sample after talking with Thypoch. They said it was in the range for their norms but asked me to send them back (I gave it to their representative at the Paris photo show) and managed for my reseller to send me a new one.
They have been very nice, helpful and incredibly reactive.
This one is exactly like Fred described: as good as the Ultra in the center (even better) with field curvature.
All in all, an excellent lens that will become my main 35mm because it is smaller than the 35mm/1.5 Voigt and has a nicer bokeh than the Ultron.
A few ergonomics details are not perfect (would prefer a matt finish, focusing ring a bit too hard, diaphragm ring a bit too soft, screw in the middle of the 6 bits coding space, engraving should be more white, no mounting dot) but this is not a deal-breaker and I can fix the last 2 or 3 (and did).
A special note for those artistically inclined, is to visit Milan Swolfs fascinating, informed and informative review of the Ksana 35mm. It's beautifully illustrated with his particular artistic style, and runs to several thousand words. Highly commended. As is his whole site.
BTW, I add a removable red dot (like I do on some Voigt) and a short hood. Nice lens, slightly longer than the very small 28mm/2.8 Voigt and heavier but still compact.
I could change the fillings to pure white too but decided against it.
Removed the detent when going below 0.7m is easy too but kept it.
6 bits coding works in a quick & dirty way but I'm working with jin (jinfinance on EBay) to have a better solution.
It's 8:30am in China so there is a good chance they will get back today. And even if not, you'll have a paper trail which they may honor later. Or buy now at regular discount and have it cleared up later.
It's 8:30am in China so there is a good chance they will get back today. And even if not, you'll have a paper trail which they may honor later. Or buy now at regular discount and have it cleared up later.
Might have to. Seems no code is accepted now. For me anyway
pmeheut wrote:
This one is exactly like Fred described: as good as the Ultra in the center (even better) with field curvature.
All in all, an excellent lens that will become my main 35mm because it is smaller than the 35mm/1.5 Voigt and has a nicer bokeh than the Ultron.
How noticeable does the size difference from the voigt 35mm f1.5 feel to you? Also, how would you compare the lenses optically in general? I'm currently deciding between the two.
ichiboy wrote:
How noticeable does the size difference from the voigt 35mm f1.5 feel to you? Also, how would you compare the lenses optically in general? I'm currently deciding between the two.
Optically, I would say very close, the Thypoch being slightly better wide open.
The size difference depends on whether you use their hoods or smaller ones like I do. It is not that big but to me it makes a difference because I carry my M11 in a domke insert and with the Thypoch, its fits perfectly. With the Voigt too but it is tight.
Unless you are a maniac like me, I would advise you to buy the Voigt: 1.5 is useful sometimes, less variability (I have 2, both centered), slightly better ergonomics, more neutral look, white engravings easier to read...
And if you want to 6 bit code it, you can buy the flange from jinfinance on EBay. The Thypoch has its screws in non standard position, one the them being in the coding part. I managed to make it work with black paint but this is a less clean and durable job.
Like you, I have both the Voigtländer 35/1.5 and the Thypoch Ksana. Right now I prefer the Ksana, which handles better due it being smaller than the Voigtländer (although it is 7g heavier; my Voigtländer 35/1.5 is the aluminum version).
I use a Leica 12504 type on the Ksana. It partly obscures the marking for the aperture reading, but changing that marking from dark red to white helped a lot.
The bokeh of the Voigtländer 35/1.5 is super smooth. I'm a big fan of smooth bokeh, but I find the Ksana a little more interesting in this respect (we are talking very minor differences here).
So, to answer the question of which one I would choose if I could have only one of them: I really don't know.
cabophoto wrote:
The bokeh of the Voigtländer 35/1.5 is super smooth. I'm a big fan of smooth bokeh, but I find the Ksana a little more interesting in this respect (we are talking very minor differences here).
I agree. This is the reason why I did not kept the Voigt Ultron nor the Leica 35mm/1.4 ASPH: great lenses but busy bokeh sometimes.
Except for that, I do not care that much about optical quality as long as a lens is good enough. Differences you can see whilst pixel-peeping are invisible on a print and modern post-processing tools can do magic.
cabophoto wrote:
So, to answer the question of which one I would choose if I could have only one of them: I really don't know.
I'm more undecided on which to choose now than before I asked here - haha. I guess in some ways, good to know I'll be happy either way. I'm going to be adapting it on my Nikon Zf, likely with the Techart adapter. I guess the main thing I'm trying to balance out is if the shorter length of the Ksana is noticeable enough as a trade off from going f1.5 to 2.0. I've mainly been using a Nikon 35mm f1.8 S in low light and I'd like something I can take out with me at night that's less obtrusive.
