newyork wrote:
Now that you’ve had the 50 1.5 a little bit, what are your thoughts?
I'm getting along with it just fine. Make note, this is the version II, not the original version I (just for clarification). I've got the panda version in nickel / black, so, it's a bit heavier than some lenses, but it doesn't "shoot heavy". I only notice it when I change lenses with it from a much lighter lens. Then, it gets forgotten once I get in the groove of things.
Minor update / note from my previous comments about it early on. I had mentioned that it was kinda easy to move from my zone focus setting ... well, turns out it was kinda operator induced. By that, I mean mine has an aftermarket tab on it. I'd set in on my lap, and the tab would then act like a lever and turn the focus ring from my setting. Once I figured out that I was doing that, it stays in place pretty good ... i.e. damping is smooth, but not "too silky" like I mentioned before.
Optically, it fits to its "vintage" namesake. By that, I mean it improves as you stop down more ... classically 2-3 stops from wide open is optimal. I shoot it mostly between 3.5 - 5.6 depending on how much dof wiggle room I want. But, it shoots fine on either side of that, too, i.e. f/8 and it becomes a bit more point and shoot with a hyperfocal dof focus.
Some of the newer ASPH lenses start off really sharp close to WO, and don't benefit from stopping down much. Not sure if I'd categorize it as "dual character", but I do take note of whether I'm shooting south of f/2.8 or north of 4.0 ... depending on what I'm shooting. So, it's pretty much what I was expecting / hoping it to be.
It can flare a bit, but I've been using it without a hood. I need to get one for it, but just haven't gotten around to it yet.
I am kinda curious how it might compare to a 50 Cron, but for now ... I'm still learning it. I just mounted it onto the SL2-S for the first time, today. Gonna give that a ride and see how they play with each other.
