50 Apo Swirling (with examples)

[Csacwp]

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Sorry for the delay- I was only just able to get good enough wifi to upload some raw files to Wetransfer.  These show the swirling I get with my copy of the 50 Apo.  The grass in some of these backgrounds wasn't very tall, and as you can see, the lens swirled one dirt background that had no grass at all and that wasn't very busy.  My copy produces these subtle to moderate swirls more often than not...

 

The raw files can be downloaded here.  Please note that I shot them 

using the Adobe Raw color profile, not sRGB.

 

https://we.tl/XSj1eOpS6O

[tobey bilek]

Post a photo.  I am not signing up for anything to view a photo.

[Csacwp]

You don’t have to sign up...

[rent]

I looked at several of your photos. The background blur looks normal to me. This is how grass / dirt / foliage background typically renders. I wouldn’t worry about your copy of the 50 APO.

 

The several photos I looked at all have about the same subject / background distance. Just as an experiment, move your subjects closer to you while moving them further away from the background and see if that improves things.

 

Alex

[LocalHero1953]

Please post direct to the forum - with all possible respect, I don't want to download anything from an unknown source. I assume that the effect you write about is visible at normal resolutions that are usable on the forum.

[Csacwp]

I have no way to resize the raw files.

[Exodies]

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Turn them into JPEGs of the appropriate size, then post them. Just like regular folk.

[B-A-C]

I always thought the APO didn't have swirl but what do I know.  

[microview]

'wetransfer' is just a reputable means of transferring large files at full resolution, As noted above, as a recipient you don't sign up – unless you want to start sending DNGs or high-res music files to another person.

[microview]

Sorry for the delay- I was only just able to get good enough wifi to upload some raw files to Wetransfer.  These show the swirling I get with my copy of the 50 Apo.  The grass in some of these backgrounds wasn't very tall, and as you can see, the lens swirled one dirt background that had no grass at all and that wasn't very busy.  My copy produces these subtle to moderate swirls more often than not...

 

The raw files can be downloaded here.  Please note that I shot them 

using the Adobe Raw color profile, not sRGB.

 

https://we.tl/XSj1eOpS6O

 

These just look like pics taken at full aperture (or one 1090387 at 2.8 ?). Background OOF looks perfectly normal to me, and would not describe as 'swirly'. 

[lct]

Thank you for uploading DNG files. I am no optician at all but this kind of halo in the centre of some frames reminds me of the central veiling flare this lens has been suffering from before 2015, except that CVF appeared around f/16 then instead of f/2 you seem to have chosen for your pics. Combined with the natural vignetting of the lens at wide apertures, this could explain to some extent some swirling bokeh or feeling thereof. Just a non-educated guess though. I would ask our colleague Andy Piper (adan) for a better advice.

 

[Csacwp]

I’ve owned the 50 apo twice... my first copy was from the original batch, and I do not know if it had been corrected by Leica or not. It did not flare like this and the bokeh never curled or swirled.

[pedaes]

I’ve owned the 50 apo twice... my first copy was from the original batch, and I do not know if it had been corrected by Leica or not. It did not flare like this and the bokeh never curled or swirled.

 

I don't think anything we say is going to reassure you , so the only sensible option is to send it to Leica. Let us know the outcome.

[otto.f]

Yes, it’s an expensive lens, makes you worry when you own it

Edited January 28, 2018 by otto.f