Modern lenses that work well close up but not at distance?

[Dante_Stella]

Has anyone run into modern lenses like this that seem to be designed to be really, really good closeup (seeing into the pores, anyone?) but relatively soft at about a km distance? I know that is the story with older Nikkors in LTM mount, but I also seem to be observing this in more modern M-mount lenses that follow the Ernostar and Sonnar patterns.

Dante

 

[peterm1]

Not sure about RF lenses but this is said to be a feature of the Micro Nikkor 60mm f2.8. (Whereas its predecessor is equally sharp as a macro and normal lens.) The later version of the Nikkor 105mm f2.5 is also said to be optimised for potrait work. I believe its of double Gauss design whereas its predecessor which was very good at distance was Sonnar. (I think.)

 

[mfogiel]

Don't know of a lens like that for a RF, but the Hasselblad Makro Planar 120/4 is definitely razor sharp up close, and unless you stop it down to f8.0 and beyond, it is a bit soft at infinity.

 

[Krosya]

Hexanon 90/2.8 is the Ernostar design as far as I know and it is sharp close-up and at distance in my experience. But I never tested it specifically. Yet never noticed any sharpness problems at any distance when used both on M6 and Hexar RF.

 

[Vincenzo Maielli]

The modern Leica M lenses (as the Aspherical and/or Apo and the new Summarit M) are very razor sharp but show an inferior bokeh, in respect to the older Leica M lenses.
Ciao.
Vincenzo

 

[former member]

I suspect that it's the focus shift inherent in the Sonnar forumula lenses. Two factors at work: effective focal length is longer at close distances, the lens is optimized for close-up and wide-open. It's shimmed to "agree with the RF" only when wide-open and close-up. Focus at infinity, the effective focal length is reduced and now the "shim trick" works against you. A Sonnar that is shimmed for close-up and wide-open will not quite make it to infinity when used wide-open. Stop down to F2.8 or F4, the shift puts it at infinity and it is well-focussed. I make this stuff up as I type.

 

[PaulDalex]

Ponentino,
I am quite pleased by this thread.
In fact I bought the ZF planar 1,4 after Zeiss told us that it proved to be the finest srl lens they have ever tested.
Although so far I have only shot hand held (on Reala with an F and an F4), and I only speak by impression, it seems to me a real killer close up and a tad softer from medium distance on.
So much so that It reminds me the CY macroplanar, that I own and use on the beloved RTSIII.
I was shy to outspeak this doubt, but ubi mayor (I mean you) a minor (me humble dilettante) takes courage.
BTW, I am roman and 61. Ponentino comes from a romantic memory or from a passion for sailing? (I am a windsurfer).
Cheers
Paul

 

[PaulDalex]

Edit: I am 63 (clearly freudian typo)