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Explore the world of vintage lenses through repair notes, real test shots, and detailed archive threads packed with images.

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Yashica ML 50mm f2 test
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Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2022 11:28 pm
Post subject: Yashica ML 50mm f2 test
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Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2022 11:28 pm
Post subject: Yashica ML 50mm f2 test
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I finally got one to test. Over all a good lens but I had some difficulties nailing focus at f/2. Maybe I'm just getting old and less sharp eyes.

Sharpness is good out to the edges stopped down. I like that it has focus down to the standard 0.45m unlike some of its competitors.

Taken with a Sony a7, raw format. Not straight out of camera.




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Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2022 5:17 am
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Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2022 5:17 am
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what is #4? Shocked


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Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2022 9:35 am
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Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2022 9:35 am
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I feel like I just bonked my forehead on #9! Razz


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Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2022 10:55 am
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Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2022 10:55 am
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kansalliskala wrote:
what is #4? Shocked
It's a reconstructed hut for a charcoal pile worker locally known as a "kolarkoja". A charcoal pile needed good supervision.


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Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2022 10:57 am
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Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2022 10:57 am
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Crazy Leica Fox wrote:
I feel like I just bonked my forehead on #9! Razz


Some good 3d-pop Very Happy


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Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2022 11:36 am
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Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2022 11:36 am
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How does it compare to other F2 lenses you may have?


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Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2022 12:58 pm
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Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2022 12:58 pm
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pabeu wrote:
How does it compare to other F2 lenses you may have?


No direct comparisons yet. But I think it is somewhat similar to my last purchase, a Auto Rikenon 50mm f2. The ML seems to have better flare resistance and be a bit better on sharpness.

It will probably be most similar or a bit worse than my MC and MD Minolta lenses that are my top performers.

Here is a link to my Rikenon post that shows what other 50mm F2 lenses I have to compare.
http://forum.mflenses.com/rikenon-50mm-f2-question-t83949.html


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Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2022 10:46 pm
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Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2022 10:46 pm
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It's a good, dependable, well made lens that delivers very nice images that rarely need correcting in PP.

It should be more popular than it is, but....it's a Yashica. And they aren't as popular and sought after as other brands.


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Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2022 10:51 pm
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Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2022 10:51 pm
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Very nice shots , I've read some time ago ,the 1.7 ML is pretty close to Zeiss c/y version, how would the f2 and 1.7 compare? I need a 50's for my c/y mount , thanks


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Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2022 5:16 am
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Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2022 5:16 am
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I still seem to have one in my gear list, that is about 7 years old. :-O


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Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2022 11:53 am
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Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2022 11:53 am
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kiddo wrote:
Very nice shots , I've read some time ago ,the 1.7 ML is pretty close to Zeiss c/y version, how would the f2 and 1.7 compare? I need a 50's for my c/y mount , thanks


Thanks! I have a Carl Zeiss 50mm f/1.7 but no ML 50mm f/1.7. In previous testing the lens closest to Planar f/1.7 was its bigger brother 50mm f/1.4 Planar. Both with a similar 7 element setup that I think looks a bit different from 6 element designs. Good smooth gaussian blur up close.

From what I have seen the ML 50mm f/1.7 is a good choice too so it would be hard to pick one. But I place the Zeiss lenses on the very top of my favorites.


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Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2022 2:42 pm
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Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2022 2:42 pm
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The 1.4 AEG I've got rid off was a very bad decision, and now I have to cover with another cheaper option just to fill in the gap


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Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2022 3:10 pm
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Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2022 3:10 pm
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kiddo wrote:
Very nice shots , I've read some time ago ,the 1.7 ML is pretty close to Zeiss c/y version, how would the f2 and 1.7 compare? I need a 50's for my c/y mount , thanks


I have the M42 Yashinon DS 50/1.7 It is probably pretty similar and an excellent lens:
Apple by The lens profile, on Flickr


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Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2022 4:18 pm
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Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2022 4:18 pm
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Some comparisons from today.

First wide open.

Converted from raw, no adjustments.

#1 Yashica ML 50mm f2



#2 MC Rokkor PF 50mm f2



#3 Meyer Optik Görlitz Domiron 50mm f2 (with fungus)



#4 Auto Rikenon 50mm f2



#5 Auto Yashinon 5cm f2



#6 Jupiter 8M 50mm f2



Best Minolta MC Rokkor. Close second Yashica ML.
Worst Domiron and Jupiter.


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Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2022 4:24 pm
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Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2022 4:24 pm
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Stopped down to f/5.6.

#1 Yashica ML 50mm f2



#2 Minolta MC Rokkor PF 50mm f2



#3 Meyer Optik Görlitz Domiron 50mm f2



#4 Auto Rikenon 50mm f2



#5 Auto Yashinon 5cm f2



#6 Jupiter 8M 50mm f2


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Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2022 8:21 pm
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Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2022 8:21 pm
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blotafton wrote:
Crazy Leica Fox wrote:
I feel like I just bonked my forehead on #9! Razz


Some good 3d-pop Very Happy


Agreed. Makes me think about Minolta MD 2/50.
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