Infinity test Auto Miranda 50mm f/1.4 (8 element version)

caspert79 · Joined: 31 Oct 2010 Posts: 3247 Location: The Netherlands

First of all, I normally wouldn't take a very old 50/1.4 lens as my go-to landscape lens. But, still I'm always curious how my lenses do in this department. And sometimes, there's a huge surprise (like the Petri CC 55/1.8 which has perfect corners @ f/4).

Click on images for full size:

AutoMiranda5014infinity by devoscasper, on Flickr

There's strong vignetting at wide apertures. Image quality makes a huge jump between f/1.4 and f/2.
Closed down a few stops, image quality becomes very good in most parts of the frame. At f/11, image quality is pretty much perfect into the far corners.

Here's a full image @ f/4, to give a better idea of the image quality at moderate aperture setting.

AutoMiranda5014@f/4 by devoscasper, on Flickr

calvin83 · Joined: 12 Apr 2009 Posts: 7602 Location: Hong Kong

May I know how do you adapter it to E mount? I know that this lens has more vignetting compared to other 50/1.4s but the amount is more than I expected.

caspert79 · Joined: 31 Oct 2010 Posts: 3247 Location: The Netherlands

stevemark · Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 4101 Location: Switzerland

I wouldn't be surprised if the vignetting was indeed from the lens itself. The front lens of the 8L Miranda 1.4/50mm is surprisingly small indeed, and the lens section makes me feel uncomfortable about the vignetting too:

Compare this to the lens section of e. g. the Konica AR 1.4/50mm - its front lens is MUCH bigger:

That said, one cannot judge the image quality of the corner crops at f1.4 to about f2.8. It might be useful to re-shoot them using an EV correction of at least +1EV, mabe even +1.5-2 EV.

Thanks for testing this slightly unusual lens - I have one as well, but never bothered to get the special Miranda adapter. Makes me wonder how the other ones would perform, e. g. the 2.8/28mm versions, the 2.8/35, the 1.4/50 7L, the 2.8/105 and the 2.8/135 ...

S

calvin83 · Joined: 12 Apr 2009 Posts: 7602 Location: Hong Kong

SimonOL · Joined: 28 Aug 2023 Posts: 19

I recently got hold of one of these lenses myself, a Sensorex type with a little window showing the chosen aperture.

Vignetting is noticeable as expected. Viewing the image as a whole, it doesn't seem too intrusive.

I haven't tried it at infinity beyond a few test shots to confirm my homemade adapter was thin enough before bonding the two parts together with JB Weld. I used part of a Miranda extension tube set and the back part of an M42 Adaptall adapter and filed down both parts until the combination focused to infinity using a 'too short' 17-31mm M42 helicoid adapter. The resulting MIR to M42 adapter is very thin and a slot had to be filed out from the M42 threads to accomodate the stop down lever at the back of the lens.

Resolution is way better at f2 than it is wide open. Given the 6 mostly straight aperture blades, the oof highlights at f2 remain surprisingly circular other than right in the centre of the image; the small front element seems to effectively (mostly) mask the shape of the aperture blades. Quite unexpected.

koji · Expire: 2012-12-27

A little more info for guys who want to make Miranda-> Sony E mount adapter:

https://pbase.com/kkawakami/lens_mods_miranda_lens_adapter_for_e

Alun Thomas · Joined: 20 Aug 2018 Posts: 670 Location: New Zealand

I took a few test pictures today using several F/1.4 lenses from the 60s. The 8 element lens does indeed vignette very noticeably. It does manage to keep good resolution wide open right out the the frame edge, despite the lack of light, the 8 elements must make for a well corrected lens in that respect.

I tested all the lenses I had, with the exception of the Ricoh 55/1.4 which I cannot find the adaptor for, and Konica 52/1.4 for which the adaptor malfunctioned terminally when I tried to use it. I also didn't test the Nikkor 58/1.4 or the earlier Canon FL computation, I was trying to use lenses current when the Miranda lens was sold. I also don't own a Pancolar 1.4 lens, preferring to retain all internal organs, needed or not Smile

Of the rest, the best for wide open corner IQ at infinity (no surprise) was the Topcon 58/1.4, followed by the Planar 55/1.4, with honorable mentions for the Nikkor-S and Canon FL-II lenses. Back in the bunch were the three Miranda computations, the Miranda (Kowa) 58/1.5, a Yashinon DX 50/1.4, Minolta MC 58/1.4, and two 7 element and two 8 element Pentax 50/1.4 lenses. I tested all 4 Pentax lenses, because they performed worse than expected for this particular test. I know it might be sacrilegious to say this, but I don't think that lens killed many (if any) planars.

caspert79 · Joined: 31 Oct 2010 Posts: 3247 Location: The Netherlands

Ultrapix · Joined: 06 Jan 2012 Posts: 584 Location: Italy

I have to agree, no special passion for TAKs 50 1.4, average is the correct word

pabeu · Joined: 25 Apr 2018 Posts: 74

I think the special charm of the taks come from their build quality and feel while using.

Considering these traits I do prefer the 55 taks to the 50s. Same fantastic build quality and feel, cheaper and with character.

caspert79 · Joined: 31 Oct 2010 Posts: 3247 Location: The Netherlands

BrianSVP · Joined: 09 Jun 2023 Posts: 366 Location: Philadelphia

Here's some sacrilege: the 7 element Tak 50mm f/1.4, if properly deyellowed, is a better lens than the 8 element. Unlike some others here, I am a big fan of the lens, particularly the SMC version.

The Takumar lenses have a very specific look that some like, and some don't, that stems from the unique and very smooth tone and contrast curves they are optimized for. IMO, the archetype is perhaps the 35mm f/2.8. They don't pop the deeply saturated colors like their Minoltas or Canon counterparts do or do the big skies like Olys, but they are extremely flattering for portraits and do great with forestscapes.