Was contemplating the ultron 35mm 1.7 since everyones selling their good copies, but now I think I'll have to wait for the 40/1.2 M mount and see how well it works ahhh
One thing to add: If you need to equalise the colors to another lens it is getting very difficult. Also the contrast behaviour is quite different.
Yesterday I was in the atelier of my wife and had to wait. A good moment to do some test shots. Well handhelded testshots... The light situation is terrible (all from the top and different lightsources). But I was after the background at different distances and apertures.
This lens is really impressive. It simply doesnt matter what distance and aperture you take background rendering is great. To my surprise f1.2 is even sharp enough for 1/3 rule (first shot) or even off left or right (3rd shot).
Edit: Interestingly, the bokeh is getting harsher as you stop down. That's very unusual, and after some testing I can't see any reason not to shoot wide open if you want a blurred background (unless for DOF of course).
I’m on a plane . Hope to get images up tonight and I should not do this but it’s going to get tested on Big Bronco in morning. It’s really not a lens for that Test per say. But need to know it’s limits
zaphodm wrote:
I'd love to see some comparison shots with the Minolta M-Rokkor 40/2 if anyone has both (and is kind enough to do it).
I've got the Leica version, which seems to be similar but at tad softer wide open (probably inferior coatings).
Any special type of scene or distance you are interested in? I really hate to do comparisons, haha!
The 40/2 Summicron-C/Rokkor is really bad towards the corners wide open, partly because of the Sony filter stack infront of the sensor. But it works fine stopped down.
Makten wrote:
I've got the Leica version, which seems to be similar but at tad softer wide open (probably inferior coatings).
Any special type of scene or distance you are interested in? I really hate to do comparisons, haha!
The 40/2 Summicron-C/Rokkor is really bad towards the corners wide open, partly because of the Sony filter stack infront of the sensor. But it works fine stopped down.
I have the later Minolta with the better coatings, and my copy doesn't do too bad, even wide open.
Mainly wondering about the differences in falloff and character of the bokeh, particularly in the mid-range I guess. Obviously, there'll be more separation at f/1.2, but wondering if the f/2-f/4 rendering is better, or just different (if that makes any sense).
zaphodm wrote:
I have the later Minolta with the better coatings, and my copy doesn't do too bad, even wide open.
Mainly wondering about the differences in falloff and character of the bokeh, particularly in the mid-range I guess. Obviously, there'll be more separation at f/1.2, but wondering if the f/2-f/4 rendering is better, or just different (if that makes any sense).
I'll see what I can do! But don't expect the usual ton of full size side-by-side samples at every aperture.
IIRC, the Rokkor/Sum-C has very nice bokeh stopped down to f/2.8, while the Nokton doesn't really improve from wide open. Contrast is probably gonna show a huge difference though.
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Edit: Something else I've noticed that I really like about the Nokton, is that the denseness and large-ish outer diameter makes it very easy to shoot handheld at slow shutter speeds. 1/10 of a second is usually no problem at all with IBIS (a7II). Can't say that about the Loxia 35, even if the weight difference is kind of minimal.
As you can see, the Loxia is not much smaller than the Nokton. The Summicron-C though, is tiny even with adapter attached!
So how tiny are the optics of the Summicron really? Well, when I tried to undo the rubber hood, I found out. The whole optical cell came out from the helicoid!. And it's ridiculously small. Almost a joke.
It was 10 years ago, and online lens comparisons have improved a lot - but I think you should be able to get some sense of the bokeh. This new 40/1.2 blows away the old 40/1.4 from everything I've seen.
I also had a Rokkor-M and did some side by side comparisons against the MC Nokton 40/1.4 but can't find the threads anymore. Both of the compact 40's had equivalent bright ring bokeh at comparable apertures, while the CV 40/1.4 was one stop faster, less flare and more macro contrast (though the M-Rokkor had/has a very nice color rendition).
It's fabulously sharp for an f1.2 at those distances, and even centrally good at infinity.
It's OK but not great at MFD, and even at close in half body portrait distances it's less good than a little further out.
So far its growing on me fast. I even like the crazy bokeh
More coming basically just walked in the door from NY but I love shooting it. That part is just fabulous and honestly I love having the Exif data. Its just easier on me when I do tests and post images. Plus I know what I did.
nampramos wrote:
Do you guys think the M-mount version of this 40/1.2 will be optically the same?
Seems like the M version will be about 100g lighter and cost a little less too.
This quote from Cosina that Juha posted:
"This lens shares the same optical configuration as the NOKTON 40mm F1.2 Aspherical E-mount lens, however the NOKTON 40mm F1.2 Aspherical VM is optically adjusted with consideration for use on both film and digital "
Suggests the M mount versions optically adjusted for film/thin sensor cover.
In which case it won't work as well on E mount. Quite apart from EXIF etc.
nampramos wrote:
Do you guys think the M-mount version of this 40/1.2 will be optically the same?
Seems like the M version will be about 100g lighter and cost a little less too.
Im not sure but Im not willing to lose EXIF data on another lens especially since its close to my CV 28. I can easily tell my Laowa 15mm but one main reason I sold the CV 35 1.7 was my 28/35 are to close for me without the Exif data. Im also not sure a great reason to have the M version unless your shooting a Leica as well. 100 grams in your bag you will never notice, not sure going that route is a great idea. Thats my opinion though.
Im down to two lenses without EXIF and love to get to One if I could. Im going to miss that CV 35 1.7 though its a laser on center
