I also use A7CII as my main camera and I'm also into MF lenses, and I especially like small & light options.
I like the CV 40/1.2 SE, as it is reasonably light (340g) and more compact compared to the original 40/1.2 version (420g). As for smaller 50mm options, I think 50/2 Loxia is another good native E-mount option (320g), as well as the CV 50/1.2 SE (383g) and CV 50/2 APO-Lanthar (364g).
From smaller adapted options, I really like CV 50/1.5 Nokton II: https://www.cosina.co.jp/voigtlander/en/vm-mount/nokton-vintage-line-50mm-f1-5-aspherical-ii/
I have the Black MC version which is only 198g without considering adapter weight. It's quite small and light for a fast aperture lens. I don't think it suffers much at all on Sony sensor stack, haven't noticed any IQ issues with this lens when adapted although I have not had any chance to compare how it performs on native digital M-mount cameras. I never stop it down further than f5.6, and it has perfect corner-to-corner sharpness by that aperture. The lens also works well with LM-EA9.
Some samples on my A7CII: https://photos.app.goo.gl/GSTdmoPoTMKsQ9TWA
I also had the CV 50/2.2 but I sold it as I found 50/1.5 II to work better on my A7CII. 50/2.2 definitely needed f8 for best corner-to-corner performance on the native stack A7CII and it wasn't still as good as 50/1.5 II.
CV APO-Lanthar 50/3.5 VM also works very well adapted and could be another great option if fast aperture is not a priority.
Some samples with my A7CII: https://photos.app.goo.gl/KhNd1HQtfxbTwMit7
Besides those, I also use MS-Optics Sonnetar 50/1.3 and various other MS-Optics M-mount lenses that are all very small and light but those are much harder to get in the 2nd hand market and prices tend to be relatively high.
I also use A7CII as my main camera and I'm also into MF lenses, and I especially like small & light options.
I like the CV 40/1.2 SE, as it is reasonably light (340g) and more compact compared to the original 40/1.2 version (420g). As for smaller 50mm options, I think 50/2 Loxia is another good native E-mount option (320g), as well as the CV 50/1.2 SE (383g) and CV 50/2 APO-Lanthar (364g).
From smaller adapted options, I really like CV 50/1.5 Nokton II: https://www.cosina.co.jp/voigtlander/en/vm-mount/nokton-vintage-line-50mm-f1-5-aspherical-ii/
I have the Black MC version which is only 198g without considering adapter weight. It's quite small and light for a fast aperture lens. I don't think it suffers much at all on Sony sensor stack, haven't noticed any IQ issues with this lens when adapted although I have not had any chance to compare how it performs on native digital M-mount cameras. I never stop it down further than f5.6, and it has perfect corner-to-corner sharpness by that aperture. The lens also works well with LM-EA9.
Some samples on my A7CII: https://photos.app.goo.gl/GSTdmoPoTMKsQ9TWA
I also had the CV 50/2.2 but I sold it as I found 50/1.5 II to work better on my A7CII. 50/2.2 definitely needed f8 for best corner-to-corner performance on the native stack A7CII and it wasn't still as good as 50/1.5 II.
CV APO-Lanthar 50/3.5 VM also works very well adapted and could be another great option if fast aperture is not a priority.
Some samples with my A7CII: https://photos.app.goo.gl/KhNd1HQtfxbTwMit7
Jun 14, 2025 at 07:58 AM
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