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13 hours ago, wattsy said:

Odd 'zebra' pattern in the flare in these two photos, Jono. An artefact of the APO correction or some other phenomenon?

Good catch.

The rainbow-order (and purity) of the color bands screams "diffraction" to me. And I note in the diagram that there are a massive number (well, 5, including a triplet) of large cemented surfaces, with curves that have to fit hand-in-glove to really high tolerances (wavelengths, not 1/mm).

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I'm thinking even slightly uneven cemented joins would produce color patterns akin to Newton rings, oil-slick-on-wet-pavement patterns, or even plain old diffraction gratings.

I would not think it has anything to do with APO (or even ASPH) construction directly - although obviously the glass was designed to fit together that way for some overlying optical purpose.

(Images linked from wikimedia)

It might even be a one-off, since Jono was using an early pre-announcement lens, made (possibly) while the production was still getting zeroed in.

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Thank you Jono for the great Review - as always ! - and the amazing images.

I truly enjoy the M APO 50 you perfectly describe : clarity, sharpness and wonderful / smooth bokeh.

The APO 35 clearly seems to be playing in the same league.

looking forward to reading the coming reviews ;) 

 

didier 

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7 hours ago, farnz said:

Hi Jono,

Superb review as always and from just the right perspective imho.

I suggest calling the prismatic colour banding effect in flare when the sun is in shot "The Dark Side of the Sun" effect. ^_^

Pete.

Good thinking Pete

Scott Kirkpatrick reckons it’s Newton’s rings and perhaps he’s right. 

Thank you for the kind words, sometimes I feel guilty about the lack of comparison shots and tech stuff. So it’s good you think I’ve got it about right. 

If you want detailed tech stuff then Sean Reid can oblige! He does it so well too 

How is the 100-400?

Edited by jonoslack
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4 hours ago, adan said:

Good catch.

The rainbow-order (and purity) of the color bands screams "diffraction" to me. And I note in the diagram that there are a massive number (well, 5, including a triplet) of large cemented surfaces, with curves that have to fit hand-in-glove to really high tolerances (wavelengths, not 1/mm).

I'm thinking even slightly uneven cemented joins would produce color patterns akin to Newton rings, oil-slick-on-wet-pavement patterns, or even plain old diffraction gratings.

I would not think it has anything to do with APO (or even ASPH) construction directly - although obviously the glass was designed to fit together that way for some overlying optical purpose.

(Images linked from wikimedia)

It might even be a one-off, since Jono was using an early pre-announcement lens, made (possibly) while the production was still getting zeroed in.

Hi Andy

Many thanks for that  excellent analysis 

These pictures were taken with a prototype lens. I now have a production lens (arrived yesterday). 

It’s new lens weather here (flat grey), but as soon as the sun pops out I’ll go and try again. 

all the best

 

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2 hours ago, jonoslack said:

How is the 100-400?

Ooh that naughty minx of a lens makes it too easy what with its fast, silent accurate AF, and its feather lightness.  In terms of pure IQ I think that the 280/4 APO-Telyt-R is a smidge ahead but my hand always appears to reach for the 100-400 ... there might be a difficult decision looming.

Pete.

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I truly love that Leica is pushing the envelope and producing marvels like APO lenses. I also hope that they will sell a lot of this lens.

But in my humble opinion that flare (should it exist in production, and not only pre-production, lenses) is just outright ugly and quite far from what I would expect to see from such a lens. 

I guess quite soon it will be filed under "Leica glow" which can only be fully appreciated by purists.

Philip

4 hours ago, sebben said:

The Rainbow flare is very cool. Maybe that will be one of the main signatures of this lens going forward 

 

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44 minutes ago, philipus said:

I truly love that Leica is pushing the envelope and producing marvels like APO lenses. I also hope that they will sell a lot of this lens.

But in my humble opinion that flare (should it exist in production, and not only pre-production, lenses) is just outright ugly and quite far from what I would expect to see from such a lens. 

I guess quite soon it will be filed under "Leica glow" which can only be fully appreciated by purists.

Philip

 

HI Phillip

I was trying to reproduce it today with a production lens and didn't succed (we only had a few minutes of sunshine. But looking through hundreds of pictures it just appeared in those two (and I quite often shoot into the sun). 

More later (hopefully better weather at the weekend)

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1 hour ago, philipus said:

But in my humble opinion that flare (should it exist in production, and not only pre-production, lenses) is just outright ugly and quite far from what I would expect to see from such a lens.

Kinda reminds me of the Woody Allen line: "The food here is terrible - and such small portions!"

If flare is bad (presumably) - the color seems a minor side issue.

Geez, Photoshop offers "flare filters" to add simulated flare - and none of them are as pretty as the (possbily pre-production) 35 ASMA's unique rainbow. ;)

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1 hour ago, adan said:

Kinda reminds me of the Woody Allen line: "The food here is terrible - and such small portions!"

If flare is bad (presumably) - the color seems a minor side issue.

Geez, Photoshop offers "flare filters" to add simulated flare - and none of them are as pretty as the (possbily pre-production) 35 ASMA's unique rainbow. ;)

"The Astra-Zeneca vaccination doesn't work . . . and we want more of it"

HI Andy

Tomorrow we're promised sunshine - I shall go in search of the same images (not much greenery around now).

 

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18 minutes ago, jonoslack said:

"The Astra-Zeneca vaccination doesn't work . . . and we want more of it"

HI Andy

Tomorrow we're promised sunshine - I shall go in search of the same images (not much greenery around now).

 

chasing rainbows?

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As a big fan on vintage Leica lenses and someone who just sold my APO 50mm -I will of course have to buy this after this review. I mostly use M film bodies but I do have the M10M - I loved the pictures. I'm glad they dropped the ridiculous hood from the 50mm APO. March will be expensive with the Noctilux and now this one.  

I guess this also kills all rumours of 35mm Noctilux.... At least for now. 

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On 3/4/2021 at 5:12 AM, jonoslack said:

There is a feeling amongst many photographers that modern lenses don't have a 'soul' like vintage glass; that they all look the same.  I would really dispute that, and I think that these in particular have a lovely look and feel about them, quite unlike any other lenses I have used. 

Thanks for the review! Nice images.

Whats your thoughts of the APO 35mm to the ASPH 35mm. Is it the 3d/ medium format look & the closeup zone range that differs between them? Can you describe the overall character / impression that defines it to you?

Thanks, 

All the best

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Leica has to up the game with Voigtlander hot on its heels in lens development with the recent apo lanthars. 
There will always be purists who can afford and enjoy the porsches of the world of photography. There will always be that demand, as long as Leica continues the rangefinder and M mount. But there is that other group who may, for affordability and practicality sake, buy the 3rd party lenses because they see no significant persuasion to pay x no of times cost unless they can find a mint used leica, by which severely limits first hand buyer losses, because Leica lenses command an intrinsic value. Whereas VM and the rest are not holding value much used. 

8 hours ago, padam said:

https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/352121396

Leica 50/2 APO LHSA versus APO-Lanthar 50/2 VM 

 

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Jono,

I felt you could have put a wee bit more effort into the dog photography!  Not up to your usual standard of - dog on a windy cliff sort of photography, somewhat disappointing.  ;)

I'll have to go see what Sean Reid has done with his test photos of his veritable quandary of vegetables. :D

 Seriously, all the best.

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5 hours ago, scott kirkpatrick said:

Sean really shines when it comes to cows and calves, and Jono is famous for his chickens.  Now that one can focus down to 30 cm, I expect to really get a personal side of both sets of critters.

Hi Scott - Meet our new Cockerel - Clint - he arrived on Thursday and is already making himself at home.

SL2 35 APO, F2

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7 hours ago, cboy said:

Thanks for the review! Nice images.

Whats your thoughts of the APO 35mm to the ASPH 35mm. Is it the 3d/ medium format look & the closeup zone range that differs between them? Can you describe the overall character / impression that defines it to you?

Thanks, 

All the best

Hi There

Well, c'mon this is all rather subjective, but like describing wine, it might be hard to pin it down, but there definitely is a difference!

My feeling about the 35 Asph lenses - is that they're very good - nice bokeh, sharp, but they don't have a particular character beyond 'good character'

I think the APO lenses have a definite character: The Iron Fist in the Velvet Glove - they look quite gentle, especially wide open, but when you really examine them the detail is incredible - it isn't acuity it's just detail, and it isn't harsh.

This was actually taken at f2 on the SL2 this morning

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