Zenitar-M 50mm f/1.7 + comparison

[caspert79]

Despite the terrible weather lately, here a few first wide open images of my Zenitar-M 50mm f/1.7. Click for full size.

ZenitarM5017 by devoscasper, on Flickr

ZenitarM5017_1 by devoscasper, on Flickr

ZenitarM5017_2 by devoscasper, on Flickr

Then a bokeh comparison with 2 other 50/1.7 lenses. Focus distance is just over 45cm:
bokehcomparison by devoscasper, on Flickr

Conclusion: the Zenitar shows the biggest bokeh balls ones stopped down. Real aperture is probably bigger than indicated. There's differences in aperture shape. The Mamiya seems to have most saturated colors (by a small margin). Otherwise, no huge difference.

Then, 100% crop comparison:
cropcomparison by devoscasper, on Flickr

Wide open, all three lenses seem pretty sharp. I think the Mamiya wins by a small margin. In earlier similar tests I did between many standard lenses, the Mamiya EF 50/1.7 always had the best center sharpness wide open. Unfortunately, the Zenitar seems to show focus shift once you stop the lens down. I often like to stop down after focusing wide open, before I take a picture. With the Zenitar, this seems to be not a good idea. Best contrast and sharpness from the Mamiya IMO, at least at this subject distance.

[calvin83]

Many reviews on pentaxforums mentioned this is a very sharp lens. From your samples, it is just as sharp as the others.

[caspert79]

[D1N0]

I'd say instead of fussing over minute sharpness differences take more pictures of your bored cat

[caspert79]

[stevemark]

Interesting to see how much focus shift the Zenitar has, compared to the others. Thanks for that information!

Of course I'm not surprised that common Japanese 1.7/50mm vintage lenses give pretty much identical results when comparing the image center

S

[Baekmann]

Very nice results, thanks for sharing

[KEO]

[visualopsins]

[visualopsins]

[stevemark]

[cbass]

I am a big zenitar 50 f/1.7 fan especially when it comes to portraits. It has good coverage on a GFX size sensor as a bonus. I like the bokeh and falloff. Very soft and creamy. That typically means under corrected spherical aberrations. However, whatever is left is at a good balance as the lens performs well for its time even wide open. Color rendering is also not in your face saturated but falls more toward saturated pastels. I prefer this for people photography. It's a very flat plane as well at least in the mid distance test I did. Very even performance across the frame in the focus area even wide open. I did not test at infinity or close distance. It also appears that the contrast drops as you move away from the focus plane. This is something that is not reproducible in post. At least not in the same way it happens optically. However, it's a contributing factor for the impression of depth.

[alex_d]

thanx for sharing your results.
yet again .. im re-assured by the fact that common vintage 50-ish lenses will generally produce nearly identical results,
with a similarity rating of around 99.X%

having a one good copy of a 50/1.7-2.0 solves all the daily photographic needs, chores & necessaries.
and beyond that ..

like that saying ffrom the old Winnetou; give a lens to a man will temporarily fulfill his g.a.s.
However, teaching a man the zen of photography, equips him with the lifelong skill of capturing images through a single lens

[calvin83]

[Ultrapix]

I have, or used to have, or just used, dozens of lenses, but when it comes to this Zenitar it definitely has something special, I'll never part with it.
Thanks for sharing

[caspert79]

[Indigo82]

Inspired by this post about Zenitar and autumn I went for a walk in a nearby tree area. Literally I took this photo one hour ago.
Zenitar 50mm @1.7

[caspert79]

[Indigo82]

Thank you

One more from the same shoot today. Zenitar 50mm @f1.7

[lumens pixel]

Very nice

[Indigo82]

Thank you.

Some more from the same series with Zenitar, all at f1.7.

[caspert79]

Nice colors!

[Dejan]

Indeed, really nice colours and the lens performed quite well in the bokeh department too.