What if

[denizg7]

What if in photokina Cosina released a 50mm Extremly sharp 2.0 APO ASPH lens for the M mount at $850?

That would be nice considering a lot of leica snobs complain that 35mm and 50mm cosina lenses are soft , when they are meant to have a unique signature..

Anyway I just think it would be great if they could just make a clinical sharp lens just to shove in their face..

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

My experience with the 35mm Ultron and 35mm Color-Skopar and 50mm f1.5 Nokton was that they were very sharp.

[Godfrey]

Originally Posted by Chriscrawfordphoto

My experience with the 35mm Ultron and 35mm Color-Skopar and 50mm f1.5 Nokton was that they were very sharp.

And the Color Skopar 50/2.5, 28/3.5, Nokton 40/1.4 as well. I thought denizg7 was a purist ... What's he doing with CV lenses? :-)

[Chris101]

I had the 35 Ultron, and it was ... the best lens evar. In addition to it's eyeball slicing sharpness, it had the magical ability to render anything outside the focal plane with considerably lower contrast with a silky, yet structured bokey.

One of several lenses that I no longer have.

[BobYIL]

Originally Posted by denizg7

What if in photokina Cosina released a 50mm Extremly sharp 2.0 APO ASPH lens for the M mount at $850?

That would be nice considering a lot of leica snobs complain that 35mm and 50mm cosina lenses are soft , when they are meant to have a unique signature..

Anyway I just think it would be great if they could just make a clinical sharp lens just to shove in their face..

It's such general assumptions that cause some people feel "obliged" to afford $$$$ for a specific lens with the hope to improve their photography (if not also to satisfy some other needs.)

I have run some tests of various lenses (Leica, Zeiss, Leica-R, CV, Canon, Nikon, etc.) on a Nex-5N, pixel density corresponding to 36MP on FF; also some tests of Leica-R lenses with Leitax adapters on my D800E against the 1.8G series lenses. Resolution tests were performed at enlargements of about 1.80m in horizontal length for all.

To give you an idea about "super sharpness" compare the MTF value of the Apo-Summicron 50/2 vs Macro-Elmarit-R 60/2.8 at their sharpest aperture of f5.6 at the central portion from the curves published by Leica AG. See any difference? None?

Now if you want to see how a Nokton 50/1.5 stands against the "super sharp" Macro-Elmarit-R 60/2.8, both at f5.6; check the below crops, all again about 1.80m on horizontal edge.

Short:

1. Generally the visual resolution differences may not be that "striking" as the hype the manufacturers try to create.

2. If you are after "super sharpness" then rather pay attention to FF-sensors with "super" pixel quantities. Such sensors may stun you with their resolution powers even with lowly 50mm lenses costing around $200. (Try to see a D800E shot with 50/1.8G for example.)

3. The recent trend is to "handle" distortion, CA or other optical deficiencies through in-camera or PP softwares. Old methods of "taking care" of such things on the drawing board is going to phase out. Smart techniques are being developed each year, to offer first-class optics with plausible costs. Many such lenses today provide zero distortion and zero CA either OOC or after PP.

[steveclem]

Is the Nokton on the left?

[BobYIL]

Originally Posted by steveclem

Is the Nokton on the left?

One of them is 50mm and the other one is 60mm lens.

[steveclem]

Aaah,very intriguing professor, well, the left shot takes the prize for me whatever it's marque.

[denizg7]

Originally Posted by Godfrey

And the Color Skopar 50/2.5, 28/3.5, Nokton 40/1.4 as well. I thought denizg7 was a purist ... What's he doing with CV lenses? :-)

lol i was kidding about the Leica CL comment hahahaha. But in all seriousness In the 80's and before that ordinary people could afford New Leica Glass , now it's a different thing , maybe because they don't melt their own glass and the price of glass keeps going up..

I used to think 800 dollars was a lot for an M mount glass that was decent. Now we are talking 3 grand

[denizg7]

Originally Posted by BobYIL

It's such general assumptions that cause some people feel "obliged" to afford $$$$ for a specific lens with the hope to improve their photography (if not also to satisfy some other needs.)

I have run some tests of various lenses (Leica, Zeiss, Leica-R, CV, Canon, Nikon, etc.) on a Nex-5N, pixel density corresponding to 36MP on FF; also some tests of Leica-R lenses with Leitax adapters on my D800E against the 1.8G series lenses. Resolution tests were performed at enlargements of about 1.80m in horizontal length for all.

To give you an idea about "super sharpness" compare the MTF value of the Apo-Summicron 50/2 vs Macro-Elmarit-R 60/2.8 at their sharpest aperture of f5.6 at the central portion from the curves published by Leica AG. See any difference? None?

Now if you want to see how a Nokton 50/1.5 stands against the "super sharp" Macro-Elmarit-R 60/2.8, both at f5.6; check the below crops, all again about 1.80m on horizontal edge.

Short:

1. Generally the visual resolution differences may not be that "striking" as the hype the manufacturers try to create.

2. If you are after "super sharpness" then rather pay attention to FF-sensors with "super" pixel quantities. Such sensors may stun you with their resolution powers even with lowly 50mm lenses costing around $200. (Try to see a D800E shot with 50/1.8G for example.)

3. The recent trend is to "handle" distortion, CA or other optical deficiencies through in-camera or PP softwares. Old methods of "taking care" of such things on the drawing board is going to phase out. Smart techniques are being developed each year, to offer first-class optics with plausible costs. Many such lenses today provide zero distortion and zero CA either OOC or after PP.

Wow great post.Thanks

[denizg7]

all in all I think CV should produce more 50mm lenses , so maybe leica can lower the new price for a summicron asph 50mm to $1400 and a summilux 50mm to $1800

[Godfrey]

;-) for the CL comment. I figured it was tongue in cheek.

Leica's latest lenses are just staggering quality, as the shocking prices would imply. The cost of manufacturing such ne plus ultra equipment has surely gone through the roof.

Happily, though, Voigtländer and Zeiss are both producing lenses at a quality level that is on par with the older Leica lenses (at least) which I at one time could afford more easily. In practical terms, they are as much as or more than I need and do the job very well for me. And they provides alternatives in terms of rendering qualities as well.

Much as I'd love a full complement of the latest Leica lenses, I'm not a brand purist or Leica snob. I'm very happy with the funky mix of older Leica and M-Rokkor coupled with new Voigtländer lenses I've acquired.

CV has made quite a few very nice 50mm lenses already, at a wide range of approachable prices as well, including a 50/2 collapsible. I have both the Color Skopar f/2.5 and older Nokton f/1.5 ... both are delightful. The Zeiss Planar f/2 and Sonnar f/1.5 are also stunners. Add the Leica Elmarit, Summicron, Summilux, APO-Summilux, and Noctilux ... Prices from $400 to $7200 for the lot, new.

Do we not have enough super 50mm lenses to choose from?

[denizg7]

Originally Posted by Godfrey

;-) for the CL comment. I figured it was tongue in cheek.

Leica's latest lenses are just staggering quality, as the shocking prices would imply. The cost of manufacturing such ne plus ultra equipment has surely gone through the roof.

Happily, though, Voigtländer and Zeiss are both producing lenses at a quality level that is on par with the older Leica lenses (at least) which I at one time could afford more easily. In practical terms, they are as much as or more than I need and do the job very well for me. And they provides alternatives in terms of rendering qualities as well.

Much as I'd love a full complement of the latest Leica lenses, I'm not a brand purist or Leica snob. I'm very happy with the funky mix of older Leica and M-Rokkor coupled with new Voigtländer lenses I've acquired.

CV has made quite a few very nice 50mm lenses already, at a wide range of approachable prices as well, including a 50/2 collapsible. I have both the Color Skopar f/2.5 and older Nokton f/1.5 ... both are delightful. The Zeiss Planar f/2 and Sonnar f/1.5 are also stunners. Add the Leica Elmarit, Summicron, Summilux, APO-Summilux, and Noctilux ... Prices from $400 to $7200 for the lot, new.

Do we not have enough super 50mm lenses to choose from?

Yeah I've actually been trying to get a 50mm Zeiss Planar because of how sharp it is , and easier to focus than my pre asph 35mm 'lux. But then I always see the Sonnar which has a much higher aperture and is much smaller , which always makes me stuck between the two..

[Jockos]

Originally Posted by denizg7

What if in photokina Cosina released a 50mm Extremly sharp 2.0 APO ASPH lens for the M mount at $850?

It'd have focus shift and a 1.5m MFD

[Roger Hicks]

Old proverb: If wishes were horses, then beggars might ride.

Cheers,

R.

[Sparrow]

Whatever drawbacks the Nokton f1.5/50 has optical performance isn't one of them, that new leica f2/50 may have the edge now, but I bet it's very slight and it's taken a few years for them to catch up