APO 50 flare example, normal or flawed unit?

[MRJohn]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I have acquired an Apo Cron in June of 2015 (SN4290XXX) and got some quite good shots out of it. In terms of characteristics it is nicely complementary to my 3 other 50 mm lenses, but hence I do not use it all the time.

 

Interestingly, I noticed quite some flare when I pointed it to WTC1 which had an reflection of the sun on the facade:

 

There was no flare when the sun-spot was basically in the frame (see example 1 taken with the Apo 50).

 

Once the sun-spot moved to a corner, or even just outside of the visible frame, it flared big time (see example 2 taken with the Apo 50).

 

For comparison I used a 28mm 2.0 Asph (see example 3) under similar conditions as example 2. And while it does flare a bit, it is much less than with the Apo 50.

 

From what I have read any lens can flare but it also seems that the Apo 50 had a particular problem with it in the past. So do you think this is a flawed unit (and I should ship it back) or ist the flare shown here normal and to be expected? Any advice/opinion much appreciated. 

 

Thanks, Mark

 

PS: sorry for the picture quality, I had to reduce file size for this post

 

Example 1: Apo 50 no flare

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

 

Example 2: Apo 50 with flare

 

Example 3: comparison to example 2; 28 Asph with little flare

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[lct]

All lenses do flare more or less when a strong light source lies outside the frame, as in your pic 2 if i read you correctly. But the same lenses can be flare free when the same sources are inside the frame as in your pics 1 & 3. Such a flare has nothing to do with the "CVF" (central veiling flare) the 50/2 apo was suffering from at its launch.

[MRJohn]

Thanks, lct, I do not see CVF in any of my images with this lens, just the type which I showed.

[lct]

Don't worry even the Summilux 50/1.4 asph can flare badly when a strong light source (here an halogen lamp) is just outside the frame.

 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!