philip_pj
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 Re: Voigtlander 50mm f/3.5 APO-Lanthar Review | |
A few quick comments on the T2 black:
The focus ring travels around 130 degrees from 0.7m to infinity, then spaces progressively (a la macro lenses) out to MFD, permitting very fine setting. The soft click at 0.7m is easy to notice. The focus ring is fast to use because its diameter is just over 40mm, you can move from 0,7m to infinity in one slightly extended turn.
The aperture ring has very positive clicks in half stops. Aperture ring stops reminds me of early CY and R Leica lenses. The white aperture index mark is very easy to see, even from some distance. The aperture ring is thin and close to the focus ring, a 5mm gap. Fingers can work it comfortably by resting from the front extension of the lens body, while the other hand stills the focus ring, which is a little raised above the aperture ring. (this will drive plenty of people away).
It's very clearly an aperture-first lens, leaving the user to work the focus ring with no worries about the aperture ring moving. If you need to alter aperture for a given focus, the focus ring needs a medium firm hold to prevent it moving while doing so.
The focus ring is nicely damped, and has a reduced scallop finish - the scalloped zone is 12mm wide. There are two aperture setting scales for the rather large full rotation of the focus ring. One set for close focus; and one for ~1.5 to infinity. At infinity, f8 is centred - a nice touch.
There is a dead spot where the regular apertures we use disappear from the DOF index markings between approx 0.65 and around 1.1m. The DOF index marks are busy but with good contrast (white on black). The hood is snug and looks perfect for the lens, and hood cap is the same.
On my scale: bare lens: 178g; lens with hood: 183g; lens w/- hood and hood cap:191g. The front element is close to the front of the lens body, making the hood a sound idea, it adds just 8mm to the unit's length and looks like part of the lens.
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