Images from Alpa Kern Macro Switar 50mm f1.8 or f1.9 adapted to Leica M?

[shermanmagazine]

The Alpa Kern Macro Switar 50mm f1.8 and f1.9 both get high praise in print, just as often for their build quality as their optics. But it is, supposedly, the optics that are the real seller.

There seem to be an awful lot of images circulating of these lenses mounted on Leica M bodies (by means of the readily available adapters or permanent conversions), but not a lot of images from the film plane perspective. Does anyone actively shoot these on Leica M-mount bodies?

I've seen some galleries of images from Alpa Kern Macro Switars mounted on cropped-frame digital bodies, but you can't see how the full image circle looks.

Anyone have shots they want to share? I'm particularly wondering if the f1.8 is prone to swirly boca at open apertures, if the f1.9 is really as stellar a performer (on the Leica) as people claim, and if anyone can report on whether or not the adapters provide reliable focusing at maximum aperture.

I would also love to see any samples of the sharpness that these lenses are purportedly capable of. I certainly don't mind being directed to outside image galleries -- I've searched long and hard without much luck!

Best yet would be black and white images.

Might be a tall order, but I figured this was the gang to ask.

[Note: this seemed like an appropriate forum for this inquiry, since my interest in this lens is on Leica M mount bodies, but please excuse me if it's misplaced!]

 

[awslee]

I have three of these lens (2 1.9 and 1 1.8) with the Metabone Alpa to M adapter. They are very well made and very sharp. However, the strength in these lens is the Macro where on a M9, you have to estimate distance. Here are several links with photos from the Alpa Kern Macro Switar 50/1.9 and some are shot with M8s and M9s.

http://forum.hklfc.com/?o=topic&act=show&id=78183

http://forum.hklfc.com/?o=topic&act=show&id=64340

http://forum.hklfc.com/?o=topic&act=show&id=58048

http://forum.hklfc.com/?o=topic&act=show&id=66962

http://forum.hklfc.com/?o=topic&act=show&id=94816

http://forum.hklfc.com/?o=topic&act=show&id=95309

 

[shermanmagazine]

Thanks Andrew. Sorry to be responding so late, but those links helped. I've been looking at them a bit too repetitiously! Would still love to see more film shots from the lens on the Leica M bodies, but this is an aid in figuring out more about the lens signature. I'm really curious to learn more about how the lens draws on film though.

 

[Tom A]

I had the 50f1.8 Macro Kern Switar with a Japanese adapter for several years. This shot is on a Hexar Rf and the Macro Switar, Kodak XX in PCK developer.
It is a very sharp lens - but a bit "clumsy" to use - so in the end I sold it.

 

[shermanmagazine]

Hi Tom,

Thank you for posting that image...

I remember seeing on the CameraQuest site (under the uncollectibles heading) that you had (or have?) a 50/1.9 too. Was that any less clumsy? The 50/1.9 is supposed to be optically improved as well -- did you find that noticeable? I feel like I have seen images with (somewhat) swirly bokeh credited to the 50/1.8, while I have not seen this in images tagged with the 50/1.9, but I have had a hard time confirming that this is in fact the case.

 

[ChrisLivsey]

It you can be patient I have an adapter on the way, this has pushed me over the edge but I have meaning to do it for a while. I have two Switar f1.8 lenses but no f1.9 and given the prices they are going for I am unlikely to get one.
I will be using on M8 but will also be using on film M2s. The film will be monochrome 🙂

I have a pile of images from both lenses on Kodachrome which I have not, and don't intend to spend time, scanning as they are just beautiful as they are. I could not reliably identify aperture etc. they were shot on the Alp 6 and 7 bodies I still have but I only exercise them occasionally.
Out of interest the 7 body was purchased in 1971 for £59-50 with lens and filters for free.🙄

 

[shermanmagazine]

Thanks -- would love to see. I'm more interested in the uncropped image circle on the M2, but happy to see whatever.

Which adapter did you opt for?

If you feel like sneaking a few of those ALPA shots up here when you post your M images, it might be an interesting point of comparison.
I'm really mostly curious about signature and about how well the adapters focus on the M bodies (as in: do they focus as well as they should). This is supposed to be such a sharp lens, but I am not seeing a lot of that represented in the images tagged as being taken with adapted lenses (I spend too much time looking at flickr).

I would be extremely interested to hear how you find the lens to perform on the Leica bodies as opposed to on your ALPAs.

Looking forward to it...!

 

[ChrisLivsey]

I ended up ordering the kipon. Although the build of the meatbones appears to be "better" I found more reports of poor focus with it. These are all anecdotal though.Both say they will adjust to order so we will see. I can always sell on the kipon if I find it not to my liking.
The build of the Switar is excellent well up to leica and was always very sharp on the Alpa. It will only give me three 50s so will match my 3 35s😉
I think I need more bodies now 🙄
The M8 is critical of focus and of course gives instant feedback so no notes or memory involved. I have had perfect correlation to my M2s with other lenses behaviour. The focus shift with the Zeiss 1.5 C for example is much more pronounced than on the M2s, where the rendering is much nicer on film. My flickr has some recent 50 1.5 C shots on the M8 and I will be posting some on the M2s as soon as I scan. I have been neglecting my B/W recently.

 

[ChrisLivsey]

This looks sharp enough on the 1.5C Zeiss at Portmeirion.

 

[shermanmagazine]

Yep, that certainly looks plenty sharp, but of course it's not an image from the Kern Macro Switar...

(I suppose that pic could be setting a comparative baseline for the Ms, but there's no question -- for me, at any rate -- that there are plenty of sharp lenses out there with native M mounts!)

Out of curiosity, do you remember where you came across reports of bad focus on the Metabones adapter?

I'll be looking forward to seeing how those Switar's perform when you get that Kipon adapter...

 

[ChrisLivsey]

Yep, that certainly looks plenty sharp, but of course it's not an image from the Kern Macro Switar...

I just thought the thread was a bit image light 😀

No can't remember, I will look through my "history" and see if it remembers for me.

 

[bolim]

Happened to stumble on this thread. I had a brief love affair with Alpa Kern 50/1.9. I used it on a calibrated Kipon adapter and i got razor sharp images and very pleasant bokeh. The downside is very long focus throw. I reckon you got to have some patience shooting with this lens and when you do you will be rewarded with fantastic results!

 

[shermanmagazine]

I played with a 50/1.8, and noticed the long throw. The downside of macro capabilities!

How did you go about calibrating the adapter?

 

[bolim]

The Alpa Kern 50/1.9 and kipon adapter was sent,by a friend, to a lens tech expert in HK. I was told its a simple job.
At the end It didn't suit my style of shooting on the streets as you really have to guess the distance to object and pre set the focus prior to bringing up the vf.

 

[shermanmagazine]

Yeah, that makes perfect sense. I wouldn't expect to like that lens for the street. Well, I'd love to know who the tech was if your friend can remember it...

Thanks for your posts!

 

[ChrisLivsey]

Firstly apologies for being away from the thread, other duties.
The Kipon adapter arrived (UK) three days after ordering from China by FedEx, very impressive delivery speed.
The build is high quality and the adapter comes with a small tool for adjustment but no instructions.
The lens to adapter fit is excellent with a very small amount of rotational play. The wear on the black finish after use shows the machining is to a very high standard giving an even fit. The major plus is the presence of milled recesses for the 6 bit coding. I have coded as a f1.4 50mm summilux ( which I use for the C Sonnar with good results) and the M8 has never failed to read. I filled in the "holes" with "tipex" typewriter correction fluid which can easily be removed.
The adapter to body fit is again excellent with no more play than a standard lens, very slight rotational movement. Fitted the combination has no issues at all in fit.
Initially the focus had a very good feel up to the last movement towards infinity when it became very stiff. With use this has reduced but is not yet as smooth as I would like, at that point only.
This was done on one lens then my second copy was checked and it matched exactly.
When mounted and checked the infinity was off, that is, at the lens infinity setting the viewfinder patch was not coincident using an infinity focus point. (Luckily we have a series of naval transmitter masts about 5 miles away which are an excellent detailed infinity target.) Using the tool provided I adjusted the rear barrel screw within the adapter progressively until I was satisfied they aligned perfectly, optically. Here the digital scores as I could then check with instant feedback and see the focus on an image was spot on. A near focus check also was accurate.
It becomes obvious when performing these checks that the Switar, both my examples are F1.8, is "set up / optimised" for highest quality working at close distances. The results from close work are much superior to infinity until the lens is really stopped down to say f8-11. Wide open close work is very good indeed with F2-2.8 improving even more (I must stop or will sound like Mr Putts). Both my examples perform identically.
I can understand the concerns over the focus throw from closest (not within the Leica rangefinder near reach) to infinity is very nearly 360 degrees movement. However, for "street" 90 degrees movement covers infinity to about 6 feet which is very usable. I have no idea why you would leave the lens any closer only to move it back but some people work differently. I always run from infinity so I know where I am going, focus wise.
My conclusion is that with the dubious benefit of pixel peeping the lens is not as "good" as my Summilux which is about 10 years younger. The Switar does though show its AR credentials in colour where it does not fringe like the 50mm F2 Planar for example. These on direct comparisons, I have both lenses.
I have run a roll of Rollei retro 100 through for the desired bokeh results on full frame film and will post some examples from that ASAP.

 

[ChrisLivsey]

Just while I sort out the film here is some bokeh from the cropped M8. Shot at f1.8 Buster with focus on RHS eye.

 

[ChrisLivsey]

Kipon and Switar on the M8 (in stealth mode 😉)

6 bit coding on the rear of the adapter.

Handles the spotlights fine.
Costa Preston St.George's Centre

A bit swirly here.

More swirl.


There are three more bokeh shots on my flickr.

Above are on Roleii Retro 100 Ilfotec DD all at f1.8