I guess the M-version will feature 1/2 aperture click stops like CV lenses for M-mount usually do while the E-mount has 1/3 stops. I like the 1/3 stops with this lens, more aperture options and there's the clickless option too (that I don't use).
davewolfs wrote:
Could someone kindly provide some details on what it is about the Leica mount which allows for an overall lighter lens?
Is this potentially a less sharp lens since the sensor is unable to resolve as many details or is the mount itself more conducive to achieving similar image quality using less glass?
I think it will boil down to..The VM version will perform best on a film or digital Leica body and the E-mount on a Sony.
davewolfs wrote:
Could someone kindly provide some details on what it is about the Leica mount which allows for an overall lighter lens?
I think it's due to longer MFD. The shorter MFD of the FE version means that the lens is pulled out further, which probably means you need a larger helicoid for it to be stable enough. It could also be a different ratio of the helicoid to match the usual focus tab movement of M lenses.
One thing I noted on the Nokton is the very short focus throw (in relation to DOF). I'd like it to be longer, but the focus ring is very well dampened, so it works if you're careful.
Edit: I wonder how the M lens will cope with focus shift. Must be a nightmare on a rangefinder camera!
Juha Kannisto wrote:
I guess the M-version will feature 1/2 aperture click stops like CV lenses for M-mount usually do while the E-mount has 1/3 stops. I like the 1/3 stops with this lens, more aperture options and there's the clickless option too (that I don't use).
I don't think it has a clickless option. I know the CV 65 f/2 does not. I have not seen a lens with an aperture ring at the front of the lens with a clickless option. I think that would be a bit complicated to do, so I suspect this 40 f/1.2 does not have a clickless option.
Steve Spencer wrote:
I don't think it has a clickless option. I know the CV 65 f/2 does not. I have not seen a lens with an aperture ring at the front of the lens with a clickless option. I think that would be a bit complicated to do, so I suspect this 40 f/1.2 does not have a clickless option.
The CV 65/2 does not have it. True.
But the CV 40/1.2 E-mount has it and the aperture is at the front. (Same for their 10, 12 and 15mm E-mount versions)
From the picture below, it does not seem the VM version has this option and that should be a weight advantage.
The focusing ring is also thinner in comparison.
The E-mount version has three rings: de-clicking ring, aperture ring and focusing ring.
VM version (no de-clicking ring)
E-mount version (de-clicking ring on top of aperture ring)
Gary Clennan wrote:
I really dislike those chrome filter rings. So many unwanted reflections which can ruin a shot at times...
+1, this is the only thing i dislike about the m version compared to the e-mount version. i like rounded blades better (i actually find sunstars kinda annoying as well as polygonal bokeh), half stop clicks better than 1/3 stop, smaller, lighter, and adaptable to non sony mirrorless cameras. i'm hopeful the m version will perform a bit better too without the need to compensate for the sony thick filter. the one bad thing is that it i won't be able to buy the Guy's copy when he sells it in a few weeks.
btw, a lot of the weight savings probably comes from needing a centimeter less metal in body length because of the different flange distances between e-mount and m-mount.
also, i doubt the 52mm vs 58mm filter thread means different size front elements. it looks like the m-mount one is just less recessed to minimize viewfinder blockage.
I've only had the lens since noon today (it's 9 pm here now), and I'm already impressed. There are obvious pros and cons, but I'd say it's very versatile. Could easily be my only lens!
It draws sort of the same as many of the old 50/1.2 legacy lenses, but is sharper, less prone to flare, gives smoother bokeh, and so on. Almost everything you'd want from a "classic" lens, but better. Except for LCA and fringing that can be a little bit worse. Or perhaps it's just showing more because of the sharpness.
I'd say the character is very "Sonnarish". Or why not medium format-ish? Shots at ~3-5 meters distance resembles my Pentax 67 90/2.8 pretty well.
The corners are funky, but you'll only see it when the background has very high contrast.
A few shots from today without ambitions. First two are at f/5.6 and the rest wide open. I'll probably remove the "test" shots in a couple of days (don't like to have junk on my Flickr).
Steve Spencer wrote:
I don't think it has a clickless option. I know the CV 65 f/2 does not. I have not seen a lens with an aperture ring at the front of the lens with a clickless option. I think that would be a bit complicated to do, so I suspect this 40 f/1.2 does not have a clickless option.
All the CV lenses for μ43 have clickless options (the 25mm f/.95 was released as a mkii for the feature). You can see here: https://youtu.be/vtcnlfIIbZ0?t=1m37s
I'm glad they didn't go circular aperture for the E-mount version and I hope it's not a new trend at Cosina. The good news is that Sony shooters can use both versions, although changes in IQ are still unknown.
Fred Miranda wrote:
The CV 65/2 does not have it. True.
But the CV 40/1.2 E-mount has it and the aperture is at the front. (Same for their 10, 12 and 15mm E-mount versions)
From the picture below, it does not seem the VM version has this option and that should be a weight advantage.
The focusing ring is also thinner in comparison.
The E-mount version has three rings: de-clicking ring, aperture ring and focusing ring.
Thanks for that update. It is interesting that the clickless mechanism is so different from the Loxia lenses they also make. I do like the front aperture ring a lot better than the back somewhat inaccessible aperture ring on the Loxia lenses. I think the Loxia lenses would be improved with this CV placement of the aperture ring and the clickless ring.
Steve Spencer wrote:
Thanks for that update. It is interesting that the clickless mechanism is so different from the Loxia lenses they also make. I do like the front aperture ring a lot better than the back somewhat inaccessible aperture ring on the Loxia lenses. I think the Loxia lenses would be improved with this CV placement of the aperture ring and the clickless ring.
Definitely. Many shooters don't like the aperture ring position for the Loxias. I personally don't have a problem with it but would prefer if it was located at the front. I also agree that the de-clicking mechanism is very inconvenience on the Zeiss for sure.
I haven't seen anyone comment on distortion, and to my surprise it's pincushion shaped. This means you won't have to crop the image when correcting it. It's not easily corrected without a profile though.
Fred Miranda wrote:
No, you were right. I overlooked the 'circular' word as it's unusual for Cosina.
The translated Japanese version reads:
"Beautiful blur taste with 10 diaphragm blades. In order to make the hole in which the diaphragm blades form a circle, we adopted a 10 aperture diaphragm.
The out focus part is a natural depiction, the point light source etc is also not a polygon but a round and soft blur."
I’m still not 100% sure this means curved blades, it may just claim 10 blades gives you a more circular opening than more typical six or seven...
Juha Kannisto wrote:
The English text says it's optimized for both film and digital so I guess the digital will be something with a thin sensor cover like Leica.
I find it hard to believe that they'd have a different optical formula for the VM version . . .
There are obvious pros and cons, but I'd say it's very versatile. Could easily be my only lens!
