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Archive 2009Coastal Optics alternatives?
p.1 #1Coastal Optics alternatives?
I have been admiring images taken with the Coastal Optics 60/4 UV-VIS-IR Macro during the spring. USD 4.500 is a lot of money, for me even a giant pile of money...
So, are there any reasonably good options?
I would like to have a lens in the normal range with as little CA as possible. No lateral and a minimum of longitudinal CA. I don't crave for good UV or IR performance but I would like a lens in this focal length capable of those nice clean colors and absence of CA causing blur when converting to B&W.
Suggestions?
--
Jonas
So, are there any reasonably good options?
I would like to have a lens in the normal range with as little CA as possible. No lateral and a minimum of longitudinal CA. I don't crave for good UV or IR performance but I would like a lens in this focal length capable of those nice clean colors and absence of CA causing blur when converting to B&W.
Suggestions?
--
Jonas
May 27, 2009 at 10:22 AM
jjlphoto
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p.1 #2Coastal Optics alternatives?
Leica 60/2.8 Macro Elmarit-R
May 27, 2009 at 11:03 AM
p.1 #3Coastal Optics alternatives?
I, too, share the challenge of finding the almost as good, at less price, lens.
Part of the cost of the Coastal Optics 60/4 is the extended wavelength coverage. "APO" typically means there are 3 color (wavelength) crossings where there is null chromic aberrations. There are no "APO" labeled 50ish lenses that I am aware of, but the Leica M 50/1.4 ASPH has true floating elements, as does the M 75 Summicron ASPH, and represent the best in class, state of the art optics, in my opinion, but they won't fit a dSLR.
My thought is the Leica R 60/2.8 Macro, with the possible upcoming Zeiss ZE 50/2 Makro as a contender. The ZE, by the way, also has (if like the ZF version) a true floating element design.
Part of the cost of the Coastal Optics 60/4 is the extended wavelength coverage. "APO" typically means there are 3 color (wavelength) crossings where there is null chromic aberrations. There are no "APO" labeled 50ish lenses that I am aware of, but the Leica M 50/1.4 ASPH has true floating elements, as does the M 75 Summicron ASPH, and represent the best in class, state of the art optics, in my opinion, but they won't fit a dSLR.
My thought is the Leica R 60/2.8 Macro, with the possible upcoming Zeiss ZE 50/2 Makro as a contender. The ZE, by the way, also has (if like the ZF version) a true floating element design.
May 27, 2009 at 11:06 AM
p.1 #4Coastal Optics alternatives?
Or Leica APO Macro Elmarit 100; it's a bit long for a "normal range" lens, but it's probably about the shortest extremely-well-Apo-corrected lens you can find short of highly exotic lenses like the Coastal Optics. I don't own a Leica 60 macro to compare to the 100, but judging from Leica's published MTFs, the 60mm may still have a bit of CA (and not nearly as good performance wide-open) compared to virtually none for the 100mm.
May 27, 2009 at 11:14 AM
p.1 #5Coastal Optics alternatives?
Thank you all,
It seems as the Elmarit-R 60/2.8 Macro and the Zeiss ZF 50/2 Macro could be possible options.
The images I have seen from the ZF50/2 have been OK and so are the Elmarit images. I saw some longitudinal CA in the ZF images (at Photozone) while the small images available at pBase didn't show this for the Elmarit. Do you think I got the right impression or am I just lured by the small and low contrast images at pBase?
The 100mm Elmarit is nice but to long for me.
Any outsiders?
It seems as the Elmarit-R 60/2.8 Macro and the Zeiss ZF 50/2 Macro could be possible options.
The images I have seen from the ZF50/2 have been OK and so are the Elmarit images. I saw some longitudinal CA in the ZF images (at Photozone) while the small images available at pBase didn't show this for the Elmarit. Do you think I got the right impression or am I just lured by the small and low contrast images at pBase?
The 100mm Elmarit is nice but to long for me.
Any outsiders?
May 27, 2009 at 12:45 PM
p.1 #6Coastal Optics alternatives?
You can always try: http://www.tochigi-nikon.co.jp/products/lens/il.htm
That being said, you're either paying a huge sum of money, or you're not getting the best.
That being said, you're either paying a huge sum of money, or you're not getting the best.
May 27, 2009 at 02:46 PM
p.1 #7Coastal Optics alternatives?
Yes, shiwan, I guess I always can try that.
For now I just guess I'm lucky I don't read Japanese.
For now I just guess I'm lucky I don't read Japanese.
May 27, 2009 at 03:07 PM
p.1 #8Coastal Optics alternatives?
I have a 50 f2 summi, superb lens but from your post I gather you want some closefocus?
I also have a Voigtlander 40 f2 ultron, a great lens and very small, it came with a screw in close up lens that actually works. Mine is Nikon mount and i use a nik-eos adapter. It gets good results on photozone http://www.photozone.de/nikon--nikkor-aps-c-lens-tests/263-voigtlander-ultron-40mm-f2-ii-nikon-mount-review--test-report
I find it a bit too small for my size of hands but your mileage might differ. Focus control is superb though.
I also have a Voigtlander 40 f2 ultron, a great lens and very small, it came with a screw in close up lens that actually works. Mine is Nikon mount and i use a nik-eos adapter. It gets good results on photozone http://www.photozone.de/nikon--nikkor-aps-c-lens-tests/263-voigtlander-ultron-40mm-f2-ii-nikon-mount-review--test-report
I find it a bit too small for my size of hands but your mileage might differ. Focus control is superb though.
May 27, 2009 at 04:13 PM
p.1 #9Coastal Optics alternatives?
Maybe the 105mm UV-Nikkor? They should run about 1/2 of a Coastal Optics 60mm, and are exceedingly well corrected.
May 27, 2009 at 04:18 PM
p.1 #10Coastal Optics alternatives?
UV Nikkors are the same price new. Used ones are hard to come by.
May 27, 2009 at 04:56 PM
p.1 #11Coastal Optics alternatives?
The Coastal Optics 60/4 UV-VIS-IR Macro sounds like the ultimate lens for sharpness and color quality in it's given focal range. It seems on paper anyway to be even better corrected for color error than the extraordinary Zeiss Superachromat lenses. The magnificent but now defunct Alpa 35mm cameras had a 50mm Macro Switer 1.8 and 1.9 lens that was apochromatic and had this extraordinary color richness and 3d quality in the images lensed with them, particularly when used in conjunction with a tripod and Kodachrome 25. Never to be rivalled in my opinion.
May 27, 2009 at 05:43 PM
p.1 #12Coastal Optics alternatives?
dave chilvers wrote:
I have a 50 f2 summi, superb lens but from your post I gather you want some closefocus?
I also have a Voigtlander 40 f2 ultron, a great lens and very small,(...)
Thank you Dave. I don't like the Voigtländer ver much. It's an aspherical thing witch often renders OOF backgrounds not at all to my taste.
The Summicron. Hmm. Maybe. I have one in a drawer where it has been sleeping since I had this idea about "fast and wide open" for some time. I'll exercise it a little and see what I think.
knodl wrote:
(...) now defunct Alpa 35mm cameras had a 50mm Macro Switer 1.8 and 1.9 lens that was apochromatic and had this extraordinary color richness and 3d quality in the images lensed with them,(...)
The Switar lenses are very nice and the build quality is like... well, Swiss made. I have a small cine lens, Kern Switar 26/1.1 macro. Beautiful rendering.
I think I'll have a look at those 50mm Macro Switars. Expensive stuff I guess.
I have a 50 f2 summi, superb lens but from your post I gather you want some closefocus?
I also have a Voigtlander 40 f2 ultron, a great lens and very small,(...)
Thank you Dave. I don't like the Voigtländer ver much. It's an aspherical thing witch often renders OOF backgrounds not at all to my taste.
The Summicron. Hmm. Maybe. I have one in a drawer where it has been sleeping since I had this idea about "fast and wide open" for some time. I'll exercise it a little and see what I think.
knodl wrote:
(...) now defunct Alpa 35mm cameras had a 50mm Macro Switer 1.8 and 1.9 lens that was apochromatic and had this extraordinary color richness and 3d quality in the images lensed with them,(...)
The Switar lenses are very nice and the build quality is like... well, Swiss made. I have a small cine lens, Kern Switar 26/1.1 macro. Beautiful rendering.
I think I'll have a look at those 50mm Macro Switars. Expensive stuff I guess.
May 28, 2009 at 06:14 AM
jjlphoto
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p.1 #13Coastal Optics alternatives?
Jonas B wrote:
I think I'll have a look at those 50mm Macro Switars. Expensive stuff I guess.
Those Alpa bodies had an extremely short flange to film distance, shortest of any 35mm SLR. Will be next to impossible to mount on a modern SLR.
The Switars have a 37.8mm flange to film distance, Canon EOS/EF mount is 44mm, Nikon F is 46.5mm.
I think I'll have a look at those 50mm Macro Switars. Expensive stuff I guess.
Those Alpa bodies had an extremely short flange to film distance, shortest of any 35mm SLR. Will be next to impossible to mount on a modern SLR.
The Switars have a 37.8mm flange to film distance, Canon EOS/EF mount is 44mm, Nikon F is 46.5mm.
May 28, 2009 at 09:12 AM
p.1 #14Coastal Optics alternatives?
jjlphoto wrote:
Those Alpa bodies had an extremely short flange to film distance, shortest of any 35mm SLR. Will be next to impossible to mount on a modern SLR. (...)
Thank you for the heads up.
I did some research on the Alpa stuff and the short register distance doesn't prohibit impressive prices. I found a couple of lenses converted to M-mount which would make them suitable for my G1 (if not for my wallet).
I also vaguely remember something about a faster version in C-mount. Gotta love those Switar DOF-scales... I'll see what I can found. For a DSLR camera maybe the Leica Elmarit-R 60/2.8 Macro still is a good option, for a long-term stop-gap at least.
Those Alpa bodies had an extremely short flange to film distance, shortest of any 35mm SLR. Will be next to impossible to mount on a modern SLR. (...)
Thank you for the heads up.
I did some research on the Alpa stuff and the short register distance doesn't prohibit impressive prices. I found a couple of lenses converted to M-mount which would make them suitable for my G1 (if not for my wallet).
I also vaguely remember something about a faster version in C-mount. Gotta love those Switar DOF-scales... I'll see what I can found. For a DSLR camera maybe the Leica Elmarit-R 60/2.8 Macro still is a good option, for a long-term stop-gap at least.
May 28, 2009 at 09:48 AM
p.1 #15Coastal Optics alternatives?
The Zuiko 50/2 Macro is an excellent all around lens.
May 28, 2009 at 12:05 PM
p.1 #16Coastal Optics alternatives?
Jonas B wrote:
I would like to have a lens in the normal range with as little CA as possible. No lateral and a minimum of longitudinal CA. I don't crave for good UV or IR performance but I would like a lens in this focal length capable of those nice clean colors and absence of CA causing blur when converting to B&W.
The Zeiss 50/2 makro ZF fits your description rather perfectly.There's basically zero distortion. It's also one of the sharpest lenses, corner-to-corner, ever made. The bokeh is good, though not incredible.
I don't think it's an APO, and have no idea about color accuracy, but I see no appreciable CA in even the worst conditions. (judging by eye, and not lab specs. I haven't done any B&W conversion with this lens so....)
I'm using one on my 5D, and find it hard to take it off. I have no desire for the ZE, when it comes out, as I'm a "fully manual" kind of guy, esp at 50mm.
I would like to have a lens in the normal range with as little CA as possible. No lateral and a minimum of longitudinal CA. I don't crave for good UV or IR performance but I would like a lens in this focal length capable of those nice clean colors and absence of CA causing blur when converting to B&W.
The Zeiss 50/2 makro ZF fits your description rather perfectly.There's basically zero distortion. It's also one of the sharpest lenses, corner-to-corner, ever made. The bokeh is good, though not incredible.
I don't think it's an APO, and have no idea about color accuracy, but I see no appreciable CA in even the worst conditions. (judging by eye, and not lab specs. I haven't done any B&W conversion with this lens so....)
I'm using one on my 5D, and find it hard to take it off. I have no desire for the ZE, when it comes out, as I'm a "fully manual" kind of guy, esp at 50mm.
May 28, 2009 at 12:33 PM
p.1 #17Coastal Optics alternatives?
I have a feeling the above test was done with a bad copy. Other, dependable sites show the Zeiss to be nearly perfect. Mine certainly is (I have a nice collection of bricks shots )
May 28, 2009 at 11:08 PM
p.1 #18Coastal Optics alternatives?
pdmphoto wrote:
The Zuiko 50/2 Macro is an excellent all around lens.
Yes it is. I have it and I like it - but it is not exactly free from CA.
If I get the time I'll take a couple of 50mm lenses and setup something to compare them. Any suggestions for a test scene?
The Zuiko 50/2 Macro is an excellent all around lens.
Yes it is. I have it and I like it - but it is not exactly free from CA.
If I get the time I'll take a couple of 50mm lenses and setup something to compare them. Any suggestions for a test scene?
May 29, 2009 at 02:58 AM
p.1 #19Coastal Optics alternatives?
Cableaddict wrote:
The Zeiss 50/2 makro ZF fits your description rather perfectly. (...)
I don't think it's an APO, and have no idea about color accuracy, but I see no appreciable CA in even the worst conditions. (judging by eye, and not lab specs. I haven't done any B&W conversion with this lens so....)
From what I saw at Photozone it looks good. Do you have any experience from the Elmarit 60/2.8? The price difference is around €600-800 as the Elmarit can be found used without problems.
The Zeiss 50/2 makro ZF fits your description rather perfectly. (...)
I don't think it's an APO, and have no idea about color accuracy, but I see no appreciable CA in even the worst conditions. (judging by eye, and not lab specs. I haven't done any B&W conversion with this lens so....)
From what I saw at Photozone it looks good. Do you have any experience from the Elmarit 60/2.8? The price difference is around €600-800 as the Elmarit can be found used without problems.
May 29, 2009 at 03:01 AM
p.1 #20Coastal Optics alternatives?
Cableaddict wrote:
I have a feeling the above test was done with a bad copy. Other, dependable sites show the Zeiss to be nearly perfect. Mine certainly is (I have a nice collection of bricks shots )
The MTF curves were obtained directly from the Zeiss and Leica websites. No reason to believe they are anything less than accurate. Hard to believe there are sites more dependable than the Zeiss and Leica sites.
I have a feeling the above test was done with a bad copy. Other, dependable sites show the Zeiss to be nearly perfect. Mine certainly is (I have a nice collection of bricks shots )
The MTF curves were obtained directly from the Zeiss and Leica websites. No reason to believe they are anything less than accurate. Hard to believe there are sites more dependable than the Zeiss and Leica sites.
May 29, 2009 at 06:10 AM