Ulysseita wrote:
Hi Mark, please let me know about that
"Still difficult to get the M240 colors spot on..."
It's most visible in the bookstore image - the magentas, purples and greens are off. I am unable to get that corrected easily in any of the sliders in LR. Cobalt did improve the color translation! Happy to send the DNG file if that helps.
ArchnemeSwiss wrote:
Has anyone taken shots with the 50mm APO Lanthar with a Tiffen Black ProMist or other diffusion filter? I am curious whether the diffusion filter can soften some of the "too sharp for portraits" criticism that these lenses can have. I am considering selling my 50 Summilux for this lens (don't use 50mm as much but like it for portraits) and am wondering how a diffused/softened approach to this lens might work out. Thanks!
These were taken with a Tiffen Black Pro-Mist 1/8th strength on the 50 APO mounted to an A7R iii.
To enhance the cinematic bloom, both clarity and dehaze are set to negative values in Lightroom.
If you want to pixel peep, follow the flickr link under each photo and download the full original resolution files.
I had this for my Leica. Sold it and replaced it with the Summicron (v5).
Yes the IQ was near perfect. The issue for me is I learned I didn’t want perfect. It was soulless and sterile. It was also way too big and heavy for my M10R.
The Mandler design is perfectly flawed. The images have a beauty the APO-Lanthar didn’t have, because it has been perfected to oblivion.
So for me it’s a niche lens for specific use cases. But I didn’t find it beautiful for every day documenting and expressing myself.
When you are perfect from f2 to f16 or whatever there’s nowhere to go. Like a 1 note song.
carlosmcse wrote:
... I didn’t find it beautiful for every day documenting and expressing myself.
When you are perfect from f2 to f16 or whatever there’s nowhere to go. Like a 1 note song.
Could you please be more specific? For example, looking at the last image by Jorge Torralba, what's wrong in that picture? Is there something bad that doesn't allow expressing yourself?
The APO has a look about it. I suppose you can say it is 'perfect', but it is a look like any other lens might have. Not bad or good necessarily but subjective. It is very attractive to me. Shockingly so. Would I use it for everything all the time? No, but these APO's are unique in their own right and create wonderful images. You can't please everybody all the time, but I wouldn't take a slight as in any way universal.
I love the look of the 50 APO Lanthar. It’s subjective though, some folks will want a different look. Nothing wrong with that. I think it’s a pretty versatile lens - great for landscapes and I also like the look for portraits, though I can understand wanting more of a character lens I think the wide open vignette, bokeh, and contrast delivered by this lens look lovely.
I always have to recalibrate my thoughts regarding size and weight for M lenses. This lens still strikes me as puny, though it is larger for an M mount lens I guess. I think it feels great on my M11. The only thing I’d want is a focus tab.
itai195 wrote:
I love the look of the 50 APO Lanthar. It’s subjective though, some folks will want a different look. Nothing wrong with that. I think it’s a pretty versatile lens - great for landscapes and I also like the look for portraits, though I can understand wanting more of a character lens I think the wide open vignette, bokeh, and contrast delivered by this lens look lovely.
I always have to recalibrate my thoughts regarding size and weight for M lenses. This lens still strikes me as puny, though it is larger for an M mount lens I guess. I think it feels great on my M11. The only thing I’d want is a focus tab. ...Show more →
It's definitely a modern look with minimal flaws. That's a character on itself though.
Having said that, the optical vignetting in this lens is noteworthy as it is not minimal, resulting in a cats-eye shape for specular highlights in the corners. This, in turn, leads to swirling effects that vary based on the subject distance.
Yeah, I don’t find the swirling excessive with this one but it is there. That rendering effect is endearing to me, and unexpected for a lens that is sometimes described as clinical.
Ripolini wrote:
Could you please be more specific? For example, looking at the last image by Jorge Torralba, what's wrong in that picture? Is there something bad that doesn't allow expressing yourself?
It's a gorgeous image taken in lighting that is perfect for the CV 50 APO and of a subject that has a very nice complexion. But it's not a lens I would use for say flash-based event photography of average looking people
