Poll: sharpest CV lens?

[f16sunshine]

The 90 is amazingly sharp.

 

[agreenspan]

The Heliar 50mm 3.5 is considered one of the sharpest lenses ever made by anyone.

 

[Artorius]

I think the question should be based on rhe camera used. Digital or film. I have had only one problen lens with digital, the 40 1.4 on the M8. I have adjusted my use to nullify the problem.

I am in a dilemma. I have the following CV lenses;
15 4.5
21 4
28 1.9
40 1.4 MC & SC
50 Collapisable 2 Classic Heliar
75 2.5

I used to own;
25 4
25 4 P

I have never owned a CV lens that wasn't sharp. That said, I just am not using most of these FLs. I recently purchased a re-issue 50 3,5, but the verdict is not in yet.(random around the house shots look good though)

My vote should be the 50 classic Heliar coll.

 

[jarski]

cant vote as I only own 75/f2.5.

but would like to hear comments how discontinued Ultron 35/f1.7 stands against current Nokton 35/f1.4 ? I can see many Ultron fans has posted a veto in this thread why their lens is not in the list.
Nokton ofcourse is smaller and little faster, so are there any reasons besides price to go for Ultron ?

 

[jsrockit]

My old CV 35 f2.5 PII was an awesome lens however, I'm very sorry to have sold it truth be told - It was very very sharp with excellent bokeh, and the transition from in focus to out of focus (I know - note often talked about) was beautiful. Not only this, it was very small. Beautifully built as well... I'll get another sometime.

Yes, yes, and yes. I sold mine to buy the 35mm f/1.4 nokton and then relaized I made a mistake...so I bought it back. Truly a great bargain for the M user... and yes, the bokeh is great (even though it is only a f/2.5 lens).

 

[TWoK]

I personally didn't really like the 28mm ultron. It was just very... flat. No particular character or fingerprint.

You've just described nearly every CV lens out there.

 

[lawrence]

You've just described nearly every CV lens out there.

I couldn't disagree more. Many of the CV lenses, such as the 50mm f2 Heliar Classic f2 and the 35mm f1.2 Nokon, have their own signature. And some, such as the 28mm Color-Skopar, are anything but 'flat'.

 

[TWoK]

I couldn't disagree more. Many of the CV lenses, such as the 50mm f2 Heliar Classic f2 and the 35mm f1.2 Nokon, have their own signature. And some, such as the 28mm Color-Skopar, are anything but 'flat'.

I certainly agree that the 35/1.2 is an exception to my theory; it certainly has character to spare, but that 3 lenses doesn't change the fact that the other 45 lenses they make all feel sterile. Look at the 50/1.1, that lens is good in every technical way, but it has NO character, none at all. It's the マグロ女 of the CV line-up.

 

[lawrence]

I haven't tried the more recent lenses because I'm very happy with the ones I have. And, to tell the truth, I think I may prefer the older CV lenses to the newer ones anyway (the bokeh of the 35mm f1.4 is just plain horrible compared to my 35mm Ultron).

 

[semilog]

If you can REALLY trust Pop Photo. lol

I've heard many complaints about PopPhoto over the years. Complaints about the trustworthiness of their lens tests are not among them. They are pretty much the only ones left who actually test the properties of lenses directly (on an optical bench), rather than shooting test targets with a digital body, and thereby testing lens-body systems.