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MS Optics Sonnetar 73mm 1.5


hiepphotog

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Just placed my order. I'm excited. I wonder if any of you here bought this lens. This is going to be part of my super small and light weight set-up. Even in this day and age, it's hard to find a fast 70ish that only weighs 200 grams and about half the size of the nearest equivalent lens. I was debating between this lens and the Macro Elmar, decided to go with this one for now. Borrowed this picture from a friend of mine. If you already have one, please share some shots.

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I was going to order one but when I read the reviews of owners who owned other MS-Optical lenses, i decided against it. 

The thing that put me off the most was reports of inconsistent performance.  Also, I figured I could probably get the same look from a vintage Leica lens, which would not only have more consistent quality control but be cheaper as well.

I'd be interested in hearing about your lens once you receive it,

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Of the 3 MS Optic lenses I have bought new, 2 had to go back for a repair immediately on receipt.  On the last one (the 28mm f2), the RF cam just spun freely around the mount. I was told that Miyazaki didn't have time to fix the brand-new, but defective, lens, which left me with no choice but to ask for my money back.  Miyazaki doesn't have his QC sorted.

However, when the lenses are correctly assembled, they are pretty great.

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A few from today with M9 all wide open. I'm pleased with it. Incredibly small and light and image quality good. Bokeh can be a little busy (e.g. leaves and stalks) but generally pleasing. Sharpness fine for my purposes wide open - a little like 50mm ZM C Sonnar, with sharp definition to hairs etc. but a sort of light softness superimposed. Operation slightly awkward in that aperture ring rotates with focus and vice versa. Aperture ring on mine seems a little stiff (there are no click stops), so I need to hold focus with one finger whilst using the other to rotate aperture. A couple more to follow. 

 

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Edited by sinjun
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18 hours ago, oldwino said:

Of the 3 MS Optic lenses I have bought new, 2 had to go back for a repair immediately on receipt.  On the last one (the 28mm f2), the RF cam just spun freely around the mount. I was told that Miyazaki didn't have time to fix the brand-new, but defective, lens, which left me with no choice but to ask for my money back.  Miyazaki doesn't have his QC sorted.

However, when the lenses are correctly assembled, they are pretty great.

Precisely the reason I decided against buying one. 

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I already have 6 of Miyazaki's "creations" - and the 73/1.5 is also on its way to me.

Miyazaki's QC is indeed abysmal. And, unfortunately, it hasn't improved over time. Interestingly, some of his 'problem' lenses only need a couple of tiny extra screws on the internal part of the mount and some focus tweaking (he does it by eye...) to become fully reliable. I can only come to the conclusion that he's only interested in optical design, not in delivering actual working products...

BUT, he makes unique lenses - if weirdly designed.

FWIW, after a period of frustration/rejection, I have devised a few 'mitigating strategies' to keep using these lenses. These involve buying used (as long as the previous owner has already had the lens adjusted) or only from reliable dealers (ie, not on eBay), ensuring that they check the construction and proper focus of the lens before shipping and, as a last resort, sending it to a competent specialist for further adjustment. I appreciate that this should NOT happen, and that it is entirely unacceptable from a customer's viewpoint, but I live with the irrationality because I'm a fool who (a) values the artisan work of a bigger fool and (b) finds these lenses both challenging and fun to use.

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2 hours ago, Ecar said:

I already have 6 of Miyazaki's "creations" - and the 73/1.5 is also on its way to me.

Miyazaki's QC is indeed abysmal. And, unfortunately, it hasn't improved over time. Interestingly, some of his 'problem' lenses only need a couple of tiny extra screws on the internal part of the mount and some focus tweaking (he does it by eye...) to become fully reliable. I can only come to the conclusion that he's only interested in optical design, not in delivering actual working products...

BUT, he makes unique lenses - if weirdly designed.

FWIW, after a period of frustration/rejection, I have devised a few 'mitigating strategies' to keep using these lenses. These involve buying used (as long as the previous owner has already had the lens adjusted) or only from reliable dealers (ie, not on eBay), ensuring that they check the construction and proper focus of the lens before shipping and, as a last resort, sending it to a competent specialist for further adjustment. I appreciate that this should NOT happen, and that it is entirely unacceptable from a customer's viewpoint, but I live with the irrationality because I'm a fool who (a) values the artisan work of a bigger fool and (b) finds these lenses both challenging and fun to use.

Great advice!

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I should temper my initial assessment with some concerns about rangefinder coupling. Clearly there are challenges in getting the target into such a narrow depth of field wide open. I initially tested at around MFD to 2 metres and found a little back focus which I was happy enough to compensate for manually. This afternoon I went out and shot rather more distant targets, and beyond 4-5 metres found a lot of the images were front focussed, i.e. point of focus lay in front of the target, which was often outside the depth of field. I know the coma adjustment will alter back and front focus, but I wouldn't have thought there should be such a large range dependence at any particular setting. When I get some time I'll try to investigate more. 

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34 minutes ago, jdlaing said:

Pico,

The rear element is not adjustable on the 50 f/1.1

The adjustments are in the mount flange like Leica uses shims for.

It looks to me that the rear element is shifted using the rear adjustment ring.
It is supposed to moderate coma, which makes sense with a Sonnetar type.
Perhaps we have another beer bet.

 

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1 hour ago, jdlaing said:

When you loosen the two screws that are sitting in detents on a toothed ring it adjusts the stop  on the focus ring. The rear element does not move.

There are no screws on the 50mm ƒ1.1 rear. There is a ring to turn by fingers. It includes three orienting marks for near to far.

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This guy is not used to wear a tie, I had time to walk to him,

stop, focus, shoot, go and he was still struggling to get it right.

I am not bashing him, I am pretty sure I would not have done any better.

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