Flek 2.4/35 v Mir-24M 2/35-Head to head -

peterqd · Expire: 2014-01-04

Well, we've discussed these two lenses a lot but never compared results, so here goes. This picture is of The Crescent at Buxton, originally built in 1780 as a hotel and town houses for the Duke of Devonshire, but used as offices for some time I think. It's empty at present and in desparate need of repairs, but there's recent good news that a hotel chain have bought it and are going to restore it and turn it back into a luxury hotel.

The reference picture was shot with the Mir:

Both lenses were set on infinity focus and all camera settings are constant. This is a very severe test I think!

100% centre crops:

I think there's actually very little to choose between the two from this test. The extra stop of the Mir is very usable at f2.0 although you can see some minor flaring. The slightly out of level shots of the Flek are my fault, having touched the tripod leg while changing lenses. The warmer colour rendition of the Mir is very noticeable.

100% corner crops:

Here is where the Flek shows its pedigree. At f2 the Mir is pretty poor at the corners, not forgetting this is a 1.6 crop camera. Sharpness becomes optimal at f8 but begins to fall off again at f16, whilst the Flek is much more constant, and it also has another stop to go (f22).

Close focussing is also an important factor for macro work, and I'll be posting a newspaper test soon.

LucisPictor · Expire: 2013-12-03

Hmmm... I would say the MIR got it in the centre and the Flek in the corners...

Orio · Expire: 2012-12-04

But if you look closely at MIR's corner crops, you can see that there is a good half stop overexposure on it.
Avoid looking at the highlights (which flare naturally when overblown), concentrate only in the better exposed parts, you can see that the difference is not so huge.
Where MIR fails visibly is at f/11 - but it's so sudden and big, that I wonder if there is something else going on, like a slight movement of focus wheel, or even micromotion (look at the wheel). I'd like to see this part redone.

dimitrygo · Joined: 01 Apr 2009 Posts: 561

Could it be we see here an impact of field curvature? Because the left (farther) car on Mir's shots seems to me to be more in focus. So may be a field curvature of Flectogon is more aligned with the curvature of the object itself while Mir has less field curvature?

Basilisk · Joined: 21 Mar 2013 Posts: 356 Location: UK

If I get a Sony A7 the flek will probably be my go-to lens. But it would nice to see some full frame corners.

Excalibur · Expire: 2014-04-21

ManualFocus-G · Expire: 2014-11-24

The Flek 35/2.4 on full frame is not great for landscapes. Borders are weak and the lens is over hyped IMO...it does have a nice close focusing distance though and a lovely character. Just don't expect corner to corner sharpness, you're better off buying a C/Y Distagon 35/2.8 for that.

Excalibur · Expire: 2014-04-21

ManualFocus-G · Expire: 2014-11-24

Were you stopped right down though? Like most lenses, I found it much better at say f/11.

Excalibur · Expire: 2014-04-21