M-Hexanon 90mm - color fringing?

[Sorekara]

I recently landed a 90/2.8 M-Hexanon in great condition and promptly took the lens out to shoot a few rolls. I just got my first shots back, and for the most part they look great - I'm very happy with the lens.

The only thing that worried me a bit was what appears to be some purple fringing in a few shots. It appears in the classic high-contrast places - things like overhead telephone wires against an overcast but bright sky. I also think I saw a bit of it along other high-contrast lines, like along the edge where the window of a silver-colored car meets the body. The strange thing is, it doesn't appear in every shot in the same conditions - there are some shots that include the wires-against-sky with no fringing, for example. (Just for reference, the film was Portra 400VC, processed and printed at a local lab.)

I'm probably being a bit niggly considering that these were some tough conditions for any lens, but does anyone have any experience with fringing on the 90 M-Hexanon? I like the lens a lot and plan on keeping it, but I'm just a bit curious how others have the found the lens in this respect (compared to a 'reasonable' norm). Or perhaps I just don't understand fringing and the circumstances it can occur in well enough, in which case I'd appreciate any available enlightenment. Thanks in advance!

(I would post some shots but unfortunately my film scanner is stuck in the US right now...)

 

[Larry H-L]

Any filters on the lens? That might cause an issue in some lighting conditions.

 

[Sorekara]

Any filters on the lens? That might cause an issue in some lighting conditions.

Actually no - I was shooting it with no filters, just the built-in hood.

 

[Krosya]

can you post examples here?

 

[Sorekara]

can you post examples here?

I really wish I could, but the shots are all on film and I don't have my scanner back in Japan yet. It's supposed to be on its way from California...if it arrives soon I'll be sure to post some shots. For now, the best I can say is that it's there in some places and not others - most high-contrast edges are completely fine but a few have noticeable purple halos.

 

[luchoh]

Example of color fringing

Example of color fringing

can you post examples here?

Not my photo, but was looking for examples of this lens since I am considering it too:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brettdavis/2269102011/

Look at the upper left corner, where it is most pronounced...

 

[amateriat]

Your link is faulty; I had to cut-and-paste to get to the photo in question.

It's a little tricky to pinpoint just where the "problem" is originating, since, for one thing, we don't know how the image was scanned (and that's just for starters). In the six years I've been using a 90 M-Hex, I've noticed no problem of the sort, and this includes quite high-resolution scans and decent-sized enlargements therefrom. Of course, you can get most any lens, regardless of pedigree, to optically misbehave under extreme conditions if you try hard enough.

I'm not so sure there's a real issue here.


- Barrett

 

[retnull]

I have not experienced fringing with my Hexanon-M 90.

 

[Sorekara]

Thanks for the replies.

Of course, you can get most any lens, regardless of pedigree, to optically misbehave under extreme conditions if you try hard enough.

This is kind of what I'm thinking/hoping. There were a couple of borderline cases, but the only really noticeable instance of fringing that was bugging me was (black) powerlines against a bright white overcast sky. I figure that many, if not most, lenses could show fringing in those circumstances. Does that sound reasonable? Basically, I don't want to waste time worrying about something that is unavoidable or a non-issue.

 

[amateriat]

I can understand having a bit of trepidation when thinking about investing in a new lens: before the age of MTF charts, I drove myself nuts poring over reviews and spec sheets, not totally understanding just what I needed/wanted reassurance about. But I can say that this particular lens has a solid reputation, and no short-tele lens I've owned can top it.

And, then, there's this.


- Barrett

 

[Sorekara]

And, then, there's this.

Yeah, that looks pretty damn good! There's quite a lot of praise for the lens out on the net, and seeing things like that is what made me want to get it in the first place.

Okay then, I don't mean to annoy, but one last thing: is it in any way possible that sample variation could affect this? I searched around and read up about how chromatic aberration/color fringing happens, but I guess I don't fully understand whether the design elements that control this might vary significantly within manufacturing tolerances.

Anyway, I'll just go back to enjoying the lens...

 

[awilder]

If you're noticing any CA with the 90 Hex on film and you can live with it don't worry since it only occurs under extreme contrast situations. The only time it might be of greater concern is if you switch to digital like an M8 where CA is more evident.

 

[Dante_Stella]

No problem with CA on an M8.