Home

Please support mflenses.com if you need any graphic related work order it from us, click on above banner to order!
SearchSearch MemberlistMemberlist RegisterRegister ProfileProfile Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages Log inLog in

A curious comparison of old and modern 50mm lenses
Post new topic   Reply to topic
Home   Manual Focus Lenses
View previous topic :: View next topic  


PostPosted: Mon Jun 07, 2021 7:10 pm    Post subject: A curious comparison of old and modern 50mm lenses Reply with quote
Some of you must have already seen the post Why are modern 50mm lenses so damned complicated? It does not offer test shots, but certainly introduces into a matter of interest, boosted with optical tests. Some of the almost 1000 comments it gathered on Dpreview are also very interesting for different reasons (I've read only the latest ones).


PostPosted: Mon Jun 07, 2021 10:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I've been testing some of these lenses (Zeiss Otus series mainly). They're impressive, but simply too large and too heavy for my kind of work. I was told by Zeiss representatives here in Switzerland that a very substantial proportion of the Otus lenses is bought by collectors. What a shame ... but understandable. I personally know only one photographer who uses a set of Otus lenses to really make money. And he says his Otus images, taken with a high res sensor, are quite a bit better than the 18 x 24 cm large format slides he took ages ago from the same subjects (industrial photography all over the world, mainly for large Swiss companies). Interesting.

S


PostPosted: Tue Jun 08, 2021 4:03 am    Post subject: Re: A curious comparison of old and modern 50mm lenses Reply with quote
alex ph wrote:
Some of you must have already seen the post Why are modern 50mm lenses so damned complicated? It does not offer test shots, but certainly introduces into a matter of interest, boosted with optical tests. Some of the almost 1000 comments it gathered on Dpreview are also very interesting for different reasons (I've read only the latest ones).


I read that article too. I recently bought the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8s, so I can compare with the Nikon series E 50mm f/1.8. Technically I expect the very modern lens wins but I'd like to see the images taken with both lenses.


PostPosted: Tue Jun 08, 2021 6:45 pm    Post subject: Re: A curious comparison of old and modern 50mm lenses Reply with quote
vivaldibow wrote:
Nikon series E 50mm f/1.8.


FWIW, the reason I love that lens - which, unless I'm mistaken, is very similar to the AiS 50 1.8 pancake - is because it has almost zero distortion, which makes it superb for landscapes and that sort of thing. Plus it's super small and light, of course.


PostPosted: Tue Jun 08, 2021 7:30 pm    Post subject: Re: A curious comparison of old and modern 50mm lenses Reply with quote
KEO wrote:
vivaldibow wrote:
Nikon series E 50mm f/1.8.


FWIW, the reason I love that lens - which, unless I'm mistaken, is very similar to the AiS 50 1.8 pancake - is because it has almost zero distortion, which makes it superb for landscapes and that sort of thing. Plus it's super small and light, of course.


I have the Ais 50/1,8 and is ver similar, in overall rendering, than the MDIII 50/2 and Rikenon 50/2 PK.

Softer borders till f/5,6. Nice lenses for general use


PostPosted: Tue Jun 08, 2021 8:31 pm    Post subject: Re: A curious comparison of old and modern 50mm lenses Reply with quote
papasito wrote:
I have the Ais 50/1,8 and is ver similar, in overall rendering, than the MDIII 50/2 and Rikenon 50/2 PK.

Softer borders till f/5,6. Nice lenses for general use


Like 1 small

I have an MDIII 50/2 sitting around that I've never tried. I'll have to pick up a minolta adapter one of these days.


PostPosted: Wed Jun 09, 2021 12:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Here a comparison of Sony SEL 55mm F 1.8 Zeiss versus the then 55 year old Minolta Auto Rokkor-PF 55mm F 1.8 from the very early production of SLR lenses so circa 1958-59. All tested on Sony A7R using A-Mode, fixed ISO and Daylight white balance.

First the Minolta: https://www.flickr.com/photos/55173440@N08/albums/72157647305018172

Then the Sony/Zeiss with in body lens corrections: https://www.flickr.com/photos/55173440@N08/albums/72157646907335818

Finally if we remove the in-body lens corrections: https://www.flickr.com/photos/55173440@N08/albums/72157647255858186


PostPosted: Wed Jun 09, 2021 1:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
...

Last edited by Blazer0ne on Tue Feb 22, 2022 5:58 pm; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Wed Jun 09, 2021 1:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
My copy of the ZA 1,8/55 had more CA and less sharpnes at f/4 and 5,6 than my ZA 50/1,4.

This last lens hasn't good fame, but it is a really very good one.

I don't use it so often now. But the 50ZA has a solid performer.


PostPosted: Wed Jun 09, 2021 1:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Blazer0ne wrote:
michelb wrote:
Here a comparison of Sony SEL 55mm F 1.8 Zeiss versus the then 55 year old Minolta Auto Rokkor-PF 55mm F 1.8 from the very early production of SLR lenses so circa 1958-59. All tested on Sony A7R using A-Mode, fixed ISO and Daylight white balance.

First the Minolta: https://www.flickr.com/photos/55173440@N08/albums/72157647305018172

Then the Sony/Zeiss with in body lens corrections: https://www.flickr.com/photos/55173440@N08/albums/72157646907335818

Finally if we remove the in-body lens corrections: https://www.flickr.com/photos/55173440@N08/albums/72157647255858186


The Sony/Z at f1.8 looks like the Minolta at f4. Yet, the Sony/Z never achieves that special look, where the Minolta can do both.


And the Sony was about 1,000$ where the Minolta cost me 55$ with a working SR-3 body.
So i ended up selling the Sony/Zeiss after they called for a firmware update ( What do you mean i need to update firmware on a lens ??? I bought a lens, not a computer)

My other conclusion is that the Minolta is still working after 55 years, i wonder how long before something goes wrong with the Zeiss that can not be repaired.


PostPosted: Wed Jun 09, 2021 4:49 pm    Post subject: Re: A curious comparison of old and modern 50mm lenses Reply with quote
vivaldibow wrote:
Nikon series E 50mm f/1.8.


Less than impressed with the plastic focus collar on my 2nd variant. Grind city.
I haven't seen it do anything improved over what any of my other 50mm f1.8 nikkors can do.
It's coatings are insufficient in harsh lighting conditions.
There is a reason why it resides in an old sock at the back of the cabinet.

The link at the start of this thread will not load for me.

-D.S.


PostPosted: Wed Jun 09, 2021 7:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Test shots could have been a valuable addition to this article. Michelb thank you for sharing yours!
Post new topic   Reply to topic
Home   Manual Focus Lenses
Page 1 of 1