I think some of the big benefits of (near) APO (whether it is named so or not) are excellent colour and superior resolution. If all the colours are focusing on the same plane, it only makes sense for them to be sharp and accurate:
FD 300 f4 L on 5D, wide open (all my shots from this lens are wide open, as I have no aperture control. Still very useful though )
I own the CV 125mm APO and I have had a chance to try the CZ 100mm f2.8 and the Contax N 100mm converted. To me the CV 125mm was the clear winner and is worth the premium that it draws on the market today.
The only one I haven't tried is the Leica 100mm APO, that might actually give the CV 125mm APO a run for it's money based on shots I have seen here on the web.
Thanks for sharing that Wayne! I think the CV draws better to my eye, but the Leica and Zeiss come close. I found the Zeiss non-APO behaviour a bit disappointing, but actually it isn't far behind the two APO ones, and is better than most (if not all) the other non-APO ones in the league.
A bit of an aside - how does the 90/2 AA go as an occasional macro lens paired with the Elpro 3? How high a magnification can you get while retaining still great IQ?
Here is the one from Mamiya 120/4 Macro. Std setting on 30D. No sharpening applied. 1:1 ratio at wide open.
It's the sharpest 1:1 macro lens I've ever seen. It's amazing to see a medium format lens having the resolving power better than 135 format.
It has been a pleasure to see all these APO images!
Now, why isn't there a good APO 50mm lens? Seeing images with no longitudinal CA is like goodies to the eyes.
Jonas B wrote:
It has been a pleasure to see all these APO images!
Now, why isn't there a good APO 50mm lens? Seeing images with no longitudinal CA is like goodies to the eyes.
The Leica 50mm Summilux asph is based on the 75mm APO-Summicron and has similar glass types and apo-like performance. Leica just thought it silly to designate it as such. Some enlarging lenses in the 50mm range are designated APO.
My 50mm Summilux-R has very little loCA but still a little.
thrice wrote:
The Leica 50mm Summilux asph is based on the 75mm APO-Summicron and has similar glass types and apo-like performance. Leica just thought it silly to designate it as such. Some enlarging lenses in the 50mm range are designated APO.
why would it be silly?
all the more, i think many more people would be willing and rushing to get it; its all about branding man.
thrice wrote:
The Leica 50mm Summilux asph is based on the 75mm APO-Summicron and has similar glass types and apo-like performance. Leica just thought it silly to designate it as such. Some enlarging lenses in the 50mm range are designated APO.
My 50mm Summilux-R has very little loCA but still a little.
The Summilux ASPH is an M lens, right?
Your 50Lux... reminds me about a post in the "Admirable..." thread - I asked you what version it is. Now I guess it is the E60. (Perhaps I shouldn't have sold mine.).
Sep 08, 2009 at 11:03 AM
Steve Spencer Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
Jonas, there is the Costal Optics 60mm f/4 macro that is an APO lens. I believe burningheart has one. I also believe it is not only APO in the visible spectrum but IR and maybe even ultraviolet as well. It looks like a truly remarkable and unusual lens, however, and it costs to match the unusual specs.
(Wide open)