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Lens Shoot-Out (50mm)


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If anyone has any suggestions or feedback, I'm all ears.

 

Good idea to compare at f/2.8 thanks.

 

Thanks for the feedback! :)

 

Yeah, that's kind of what I figured. Most lenses will have f/2.8 (until you get into the wider and longer ranges) so it's a good "lowest common denominator" that's not wide-open.

 

Stopping down further while interesting, would be less and less useful as they all started to look the same.

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Ahh, indeed! Good thinking.

 

I have two sets of images ready to go - edge and corner comparisons (which do show some of the bokeh). Maybe these will do the job. Will keep everyone posted.

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An interesting project; thank you for the link and discussion.

 

The visual evidence progressively increases the appreciation of the last lenses in your test until you read your qualifications, viz at full aperture you are not really comparing like-with-like. Frankly it is amazing how well the cheaper lenses perform. If I was starting afresh today, with no prior knowledge of Leica standards, it would be very tempting to build a budget set. However, having experienced the performance of Summicron and Elmarit lenses over many years, I would find it hard adjust to some modern alternatives.

 

Looking at your readable website, I noticed your comparison between table tripods. Once again the differences are modest but significant. I had tried low-cost solutions before I bought the Leica table tripod and taller ball-head second-hand. It is somewhat heavier, but it does support the M9. Without question, the easy locking of the ball is second to none. It is a masterpiece of mechanical engineering and I strongly recommend it. Sorry for this mild digression away from your lens tests.

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I own a 50mm Nokton 1.1 and perhaps I am lucky that I got a finely calibrated version of this lens.

I am always blown away by it's unique rendering and artistic nature especially in low light.

It's not the sharpest lens wide open of course but has a rare kind of magic and makes me look forward to my next shot.

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Thanks for the feedback, guys! :)

 

Nelly, I'd agree - the Nokton "on paper" isn't all that great, at least at/near wide open - but it really does deliver some really nice images when used in the situations it's meant (and designed) for. Even during the day in bright sunshine with an ND filter it can be very rewarding. One of my favorite shots from this year with it (and many more!).

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