i keep meaning to look into what sort of helicoids i could buy though. it might be possible to make my own adapter with a second focus ring to push the lens into macro mode. i know it's doable with slr lenses, not sure if there is enough room to do something like that with an m39 lens without losing infinity.
That would be more convenient than carrying two adapters, and more practical than my other idea, telescoping adapters.
You can always recognize those as they have the typical color shift. Unfortunately, for a city walk, the 35mm Biogon is not wide enough, so the Voigt had a lot of work. Biggest problem was focusing since it goes past infinity on both adapters I have and unlike the Zeiss it only is 4.5. So focusing for infinity was a little hit an miss.
Given the huge DOF of the 15mm, I found that it was usually just as easy to focus at about 8 feet or so and everything would be in focus.
Very rarely are you ever going to want to actually focus on infinity, unless your shooting subjects that are several hundred feet away. The tower in the background of your photo for example would not actually be at infinity.
Luckily given the huge DOF, this isn't that big of issue with a wider angle lens. Using a 90mm though, for example, if you were to just try to hard focus on infinity, assuming even that your using a body that lines up with the hard infinity stop, such as a M8/M9, you'd see disappointing results because again, most things are not at the true infinity.
I used the 15 on the NEX a bit and found it far easier to just do a bit of hyperfocal focusing, such as focusing on some of those chairs and even at f4.5, your DOF will cover everything
this sweet little girl was born with the rare apert syndrome. She is doing really well, speaks fine and runs around playing like any other child. Loved having her picture taken. Her normal twin sister is half out of the frame. I consider this one of the best photos I've ever taken, but I may be crazy.
just a touch of NR, otherwise as shot. The nFD 20 is a fantastic lens--this wide open as is the first shot, but quite sharp in 100% crops.
Here is a pretty boring shot to see how my new C-Biogon 35 2.8 does with a busy background in the bokeh department. In my limited use of this lens, it seems to be my favorite lens, so far. It is just killing my poor Contax G 35 f2. Here it is wide open, out of the raw converter without ANY sharpening or nr applied:
Honestly, this lens is the first one I've tried on NEX that really hits me hard. It has no distortion, great bokeh, extreme sharpness, no flare...really no aberrations at all, and it is very compact. It really almost reminds me of shooting my Hasselblad lenses. I think I've reached the top of the NEX mountain, and I can actually start selling some lenses that I don't use!
douglasf13 wrote:
Here is a pretty boring shot to see how my new C-Biogon 35 2.8 does with a busy background in the bokeh department. In my limited use of this lens, it seems to be my favorite lens, so far. It is just killing my poor Contax G 35 f2. Here it is wide open, out of the raw converter without ANY sharpening or nr applied:
Honestly, this lens is the first one I've tried on NEX that really hits me hard. It has no distortion, great bokeh, extreme sharpness, no flare...really no aberrations at all, and it is very compact. It really almost reminds me of shooting my Hasselblad lenses. I think I've reached the top of the NEX mountain, and I can actually start selling some lenses that I don't use! ...Show more →
that looks very nice. i just can't get over the f/2.8 aperture of that lens. i feel like whenever i want a small single lens i'm shooting in low light.
That's actually pretty good for the 15. Focus on anything less than a couple of feet away and the color shift starts to look like heavy vignetting. It's a much better behaved lens on the m4/3s cameras. On a Bessa, it's a notch or two below the performance of the Nikon 15/3.5 (but much, much smaller).
sebboh wrote:
that looks very nice. i just can't get over the f/2.8 aperture of that lens. i feel like whenever i want a small single lens i'm shooting in low light.
Makes a good pair with a CV 35 1.4. Basically everything the 1.4 is weak at (edge to edge sharpness, curvature of field, distortion, flare, bokeh) the 35c excels at, and the things the 35c is weak at (low light, "character") the f1.4 does pretty well.
Makes a perfect two lens combo, of what I personally find the most useful overall focal length. You've got an amazing optic for landscapes thats unrivaled in its focal length that gives a great modern look, and then you've got more of a retro low light lens, that while having some bad CA and not that sharp, really doens't look bad at higher ISO night shooting, especially in b/w.
Another option, though far more expensive is the CV 35 1.2, which I like, or you could go with something like a CCTV lens like the 35 1.7 even for a low light option/character lens and then the Biogon for landscapes etc.
Just not really going to get a nice do it all lens otherwise without some real compromise. CV35 1.2 is great wide open and also great stopped down, but its quite large and heavy and not really something I'd want to take on a daytime hike.
Leica 35 Lux ASPH is very good wide open and great stopped down, but again getting heavy and costing what $4500 or so ? Not very realistic either for a fast 50 equiv for most people.
As such, I think a two lens combo makes the most sense in terms of getting everything you want, assuming of course you value both speed and also quality optics.
I hear ya, Sebboh. I struggled with the decision to spend so much on a relatively slow lens. I'd heard that is rendering is pleasantly different than the f2 Biogon, so I took a risk. I tell ya, I think I may be at the end of the road in my search for my normal prime. Being nearly an exclusive 50mm equivalent shooter, it really works for me. I've got the Nokton 35/1.4 for when the light gets too low. Each lens is around 29mm, so it is a killer small duo.
millsart wrote:
Makes a good pair with a CV 35 1.4. Basically everything the 1.4 is weak at (edge to edge sharpness, curvature of field, distortion, flare, bokeh) the 35c excels at, and the things the 35c is weak at (low light, "character") the f1.4 does pretty well.
Makes a perfect two lens combo, of what I personally find the most useful overall focal length. You've got an amazing optic for landscapes thats unrivaled in its focal length that gives a great modern look, and then you've got more of a retro low light lens, that while having some bad CA and not that sharp, really doens't look bad at higher ISO night shooting, especially in b/w.
Another option, though far more expensive is the CV 35 1.2, which I like, or you could go with something like a CCTV lens like the 35 1.7 even for a low light option/character lens and then the Biogon for landscapes etc.
Just not really going to get a nice do it all lens otherwise without some real compromise. CV35 1.2 is great wide open and also great stopped down, but its quite large and heavy and not really something I'd want to take on a daytime hike.
Leica 35 Lux ASPH is very good wide open and great stopped down, but again getting heavy and costing what $4500 or so ? Not very realistic either for a fast 50 equiv for most people.
As such, I think a two lens combo makes the most sense in terms of getting everything you want, assuming of course you value both speed and also quality optics....Show more →
yeah, 50mm equiv for me is all about portability. that is where most of the small lenses are for the NEX. if i take a 35mm, 50mm, and 85mm equiv lens with me all my shots would be with the 35mm and 85mm (i actually prefer ~70mm to 85mm). so i don't have much interest in getting two 35mm on the NEX and carrying them with me. i just want one small and fast but decent lens for when i can't fit an extra lens. right now i'm using the contax g 35/2 in that capacity, but i'm always a little disappointed with it. part of that may be the focal length though. i admit i've always been curious about the cv 35/1.2 though just because of the speed and that i've seen lots of shots i really liked from it. that would be a specialty lens though.
I just found a Canon LTM 1.2 supposed to be in great condition for a price I can afford--which I knew would happen once I sprung for the nokton. So I will try a little shootout, and maybe sell one of them, or trade for 35 1.2
I really like the nokton 1.1 performance, but handling is not great.
sebboh wrote:
yeah, 50mm equiv for me is all about portability. that is where most of the small lenses are for the NEX. if i take a 35mm, 50mm, and 85mm equiv lens with me all my shots would be with the 35mm and 85mm (i actually prefer ~70mm to 85mm). so i don't have much interest in getting two 35mm on the NEX and carrying them with me. i just want one small and fast but decent lens for when i can't fit an extra lens. right now i'm using the contax g 35/2 in that capacity, but i'm always a little disappointed with it. part of that may be the focal length though. i admit i've always been curious about the cv 35/1.2 though just because of the speed and that i've seen lots of shots i really liked from it. that would be a specialty lens though. ...Show more →
I don't normally bring both lenses. I just pick one. Granted, if I do decide to bring a bag with other lenses, bringing both 35s is no biggie.
I've also been interested in the Nokton 1.2, but I've been turned off by the size. The new version is going to be a little smaller, and I may consider that.
