New 50mm f1.1

[Ko.Fe.]

How was your trip?

I put new bindings on ski, but daughter decided to skip for this time. Too cold.
I haven't seen Yeti, yet, but I'm in the progress of searching through the house for snowshoes my wife gave me for NY couple of years ago.

Also, I put 50 1.1 in my watch list. I'm watching for both now, Yeti and seven partisans lens! 😀

 

[pippy]

I use a 55-58mm step up ring, then a generic 58mm lens hood. Works perfectly with no vignetting.

Hi, Huss.

Thanks very much for the speedy reply.
A 55-58mm ring and hood sounds like the way to go!

Thanks again,
Pip.

 

[v0sh]

I have to stop visiting this thread, I'm tempted to get this lens.

 

[raid]

Now that several people here have established somehow that the 7artisans is "verygood", I am really interested in finding out exactly which characteristics of this lens are superior to the corresponding characteristics of the CV 50/1.1.

Is it minimum focus distance, say?

Is it the coating?

Is it the weight and solidity?

Does it work better with film than with digital, and is this the same situation with the CV lens?

Price is better for sure!

 

[Huss]

Now that several people here have established somehow that the 7artisans is "verygood", I am really interested in finding out exactly which characteristics of this lens are superior to the corresponding characteristics of the CV 50/1.1.

Is it minimum focus distance, say?

Is it the coating?

Is it the weight and solidity?

Does it work better with film than with digital, and is this the same situation with the CV lens?

Price is better for sure!

It has much much better bokeh than the CV 1.1 I have both and on the CV it is very jittery.
It focuses much closer, so is better for portraits.
It is much more compact.
You can tune the focus if needed. I did not. My CV front focuses a bit.
It is less than half the price.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Nothing scares me for bokeh after Zeiss 50 1.4 in ZE mount! It was doing some totally crazy things in bokeh @1.4 🙂

Here is only one question on my tongue for two f1.1 comparison. But I wouldn't dare...

 

[Huss]

Here is only one question on my tongue for two f1.1 comparison. But I wouldn't dare...

Dare! Do it. Do eeeeeeet!

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I'm afraid if favorite to non Voigtlander lens answer will be provided, not only me is going to be in jeopardy.

 

[pippy]

I have to stop visiting this thread, I'm tempted to get this lens.

If you accept right from the outset that it WILL have some absolute, fundamental 'characteristics' when shot wide-open - and if you delight in these characteristics - you will NOT be disappointed. I guarantee that.

In fact so happy was I with mine that I bought a second example in satin-chrome finish. 🙂

Pip.

 

[Huss]

If you accept right from the outset that it WILL have some absolute, fundamental 'characteristics' when shot wide-open - and if you delight in these characteristics - you will NOT be disappointed. I guarantee that.

In fact so happy was I with mine that I bought a second example in satin-chrome finish. 🙂

Pip.

I have done the same!

 

[pippy]

I have done the same!

Pip.

 

[raid]

I have a silver lens. I need a black one.

 

[peterm1]

Now that several people here have established somehow that the 7artisans is "verygood", I am really interested in finding out exactly which characteristics of this lens are superior to the corresponding characteristics of the CV 50/1.1.

Is it minimum focus distance, say?

Is it the coating?

Is it the weight and solidity?

Does it work better with film than with digital, and is this the same situation with the CV lens?

Price is better for sure!

I have the same questions. I own the Voigtlander 50mm f1.1 and I like it, though I could not say I love it as some might say of, perhaps, of a Noctilux. But then again no one in their right mind pretends the Voigtlander is a Noctilux.

If the 7 Artisans offering gets closer to that ultimate objective then perhaps it is "better". But I am not sure it is. The Voigtlander is sharp wide open but its bokeh can be a little "squirrelly" and nervous in some (perhaps too many) situations. Is the 7Artisans lens both sharp wide open while also having great bokeh? That is the big question for me. From what I have read the new lens is pretty sharp wide open but only in the centre - it has pretty ordinary edges. Though I should add that this is not a particular issue for me as these kinds of lenses are designed for that kind of application (e.g. portraits). And I will often introduce edge softness to my images in post processing if it is not already there as a result of the lens characteristics - when street shooting for example I like images that draw the viewer's attention to the main subject though the use of blur, vignette etc.

One feature of this new lens I do definitely like is the ability for the owner to adjust its focus themselves for "zero", to optimize optical sharpness at the point of focus according to the camera's RF. That is worthy of kudos if not a prize from Leica M owners as their rangefinder mechanics can and do get out of alignment causing back focus or front focus problems that are difficult to fix yourself and inconvenient and reasonably expensive to get fixed by a technician (considering it may need to be done regularly). But for mirrorless owners it's not really an issue as they do not rely upon mechanical linkages. Bottom line I suppose is the answer to these questions about the new lens is "it depends".

 

[Huss]

Is the 7Artisans lens both sharp wide open while also having great bokeh? That is the big question for me. From what I have read the new lens is pretty sharp wide open but only in the centre - it has pretty ordinary edges.

Yes. And when you shoot a 1.1/1.2/0.95 lens wide open, who looks at the edges? Those would be OOF anyway in real usage (portraits, street photog etc).

I currently have the Summilux Asph 1.4, Summicron DR and V1, Zeiss ZM 50 1.5 and 2.0, CV 50 1.1, CV 50 2.5, J-8.

Out of all those, the 7A is my favourite lens. And by far the cheapest. The fact you can adjust the RF ramp on it is genius.

The Lux is technically the best lens, the ZMs have the best flare resistance, but the 7A has, for me, the best overall look.

 

[raid]

I have quite a few excellent 50mm lenses, which include the Summicron DR and Rigid. The Hexanon 50/2.4 is very sharp, and very beautiful.
The Canon RF lenses are fine too. I have the 50/1.2-1.4-1.5-1.8.
The Nikon 5cm 2.0 is a fine lens.
I have several J-3 and Zeiss 5cm/1.5 lenses in ltm mount. These are great lenses overall. This includes a ZK lens and a 1938 Sonnar Zeiss lens. The latter is one of my favorite 50m lenses.
Brian Sweeney also adapter several lenses for me. Thank you Brian. Some may be one of a kind. I have a Luxon 50/2 ltm (for the Paxette).

I bought from Paul a Pentax-M 50/1.4 converted by Roland to M mount with full RF. Awesome lens overall.

The Nikon Millenium 50/1.4. It is a very good lens too. Some compare it to the Summilux.

I also have the CV 5-/1.5 and 50/1.1. Both are wonderful lenses.

The 7artisans 50/1.1 is a very good lens.

There is so much love around me!
[I meant to say, there are so many 50mm lenses 🙂 ]

 

[raid]

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Huss, if 7a is the far cheapest you have, then J-8 you have must be really something. Like made from gold Zorki ZK 50 2!

 

[Huss]

Huss, if 7a is the far cheapest you have, then J-8 you have must be really something. Like made from gold Zorki ZK 50 2!

Oh yeah, forgot about that!

7A really shows the J-8 how to do a clickless aperture ring. On my J8 if I cough it moves.
J8 is a delightful size though and I like it a lot. Excellent deal at $40 NOS.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Another day, another question...

I like how short the focus though on this lens. On pair with current Leica lenses I can't afford and others current fast 50 lenses I have tried and sold due to lack of normal focus tab. But this one has it as separate item.

Does anyone put it on? Looking at images provided, I have feeling what lens is too wide for having focus tab installed. I mean, if M camera and lens are on the shelf, will focus tab touch the shelf?

 

[pippy]

Another day, another question...
...(the) focus tab...
Does anyone put it on? Looking at images provided, I have feeling what lens is too wide for having focus tab installed. I mean, if M camera and lens are on the shelf, will focus tab touch the shelf?

Good question! I dug out the tab to try it out.

It doesn't foul the surface when the lens is focused at infinity.

There is a gap between the lens and 'ground' and if the focus tab is positioned on the lens in a similar position as a regular Leitz lens the tab is well clear of the surface. If, however, the lens is focused shorter than around 3m the tab starts to foul the surface.

In practice I don't know if anyone here has bothered to put the tab on; the lens has such a nice focus ring which is similar in feel (but fatter!) to that of my Leitz Canada 90mm Tele-Elmar so I don't miss the focus tab at all.

Pip.

The quality of the tab is about the only thing which I don't like about the 7a. It's pretty rubbish IMO...