Sonnar 50mm test (any ?)

[SyPat]

The 50mm Sonnar is a famous optical formula, but I have never seen any serious laboratory test (I mean: MFT for each stop, flare measure, transmitance, etc.) about any old genuine Sonnar or recent Cosina-Zeiss C-Sonnar.
The most detailled test I know is a report in Pop photo about the old Nikon 1.4/50mm which is not exactly a replica of the original formula by Zeiss but an adaptation.
Does anybody have information ?
(I'm looking for a serious test, with quantified results, not a comparaison of flowers pictures taken by X and Y).

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2014/06/comparing-rangefinder-and-slr-50mm-lenses-version-0-7

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

I think the lesson here is, if you're going by the numbers, a sonnar probably isn't going to be your cup of tea? I feel as though the flower pictures almost tell you more, here.

 

[Jan Pedersen]

I agree with Mabelsound here, the Sonnar's wheter the new J3+ or older lenses does not have clinical sharpness that more modern designs have.

 

[ferider]

The 50mm Sonnar is a famous optical formula, but I have never seen any serious laboratory test (I mean: MFT for each stop, flare measure, transmitance, etc.) about any old genuine Sonnar or recent Cosina-Zeiss C-Sonnar.

From the Zeiss website:

 

[SyPat]

I already know these data: they are computed from f1.5 to f4 (or for f1.5 and f4), they don't inform about the behaviour of a lens across the entire range of stops. Th'at's the information I'm looking for.
I have four Sonnars (old Zeiss, Jupiter, Nikon and new Cosina), I'm not searching sharpness but to understand how they behave.

 

[fad gadget]

I would head over to Leica Place and post the question to Brian Sweeney.
There's probably no better person to ask.

cheers/ken.

 

[raid]

I made sure I had several (different) 50mm lenses so that I get different flavors, whether it is a Summicron 50 or a CV 50/1.1 or a Sonnar 5cm/1.5 or an Elmar 50/2.8 or a Heliar 50/2 or 50/3.5 or a CV 50/1.5 or a J-3 ... etc. I love my Sonnar 50mm lenses, and I also like the 50mm lenses with other design. I take photos, and lens designs are not that important to me.

 

[MCTuomey]

I already know these data: they are computed from f1.5 to f4 (or for f1.5 and f4), they don't inform about the behaviour of a lens across the entire range of stops. Th'at's the information I'm looking for.
I have four Sonnars (old Zeiss, Jupiter, Nikon and new Cosina), I'm not searching sharpness but to understand how they behave.

No disrespect intended, but with that set of sonnars you could surely test and judge comparatively quite well for yourself, no?

 

[SyPat]

No disrespect intended, but with that set of sonnars you could surely test and judge comparatively quite well for yourself, no?

subjectively, I know what I can expect from them, but I would like to understand objectively how they behave.
Curiously enough there are hundreds of tests for Planar, Double-Gauss, Tessar, marketed over the years by Nikon, Pentax, Leica, Canon (...), but nothing about Sonnar. I believe it's because the Sonnar formula is typically a rangefinder formula and that tests became popular in the '60 with reflex cameras.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

I would head over to Leica Place and post the question to Brian Sweeney.
There's probably no better person to ask.

cheers/ken.

agreed, he's your man.

 

[Timmyjoe]

I'm in agreement with Raid on this. I'm fortunate to have three different 50mm lenses that work on my Leica M cameras. And they all render completely differently. If I want tack-sharp clinical, I reach for the Summicron. If I want a bit more glow and a creamy Mandler look, I reach for my pre-asph Summilux. And if I want a flare monster/low contrast/full of character look, I reach for my Nikkor 5cm f1.4 (Sonnar). Horses for courses.

 

[raid]

agreed, he's your man.

Most of my 50mm lenses were bought after consulting with Brian about the potential purchases. My Zeiss lenses were modified by Brian. He is the best in such applications.

 

[DoxLeica]

Modern Photography tested the Sonnar along with a Contax III in the April 1974 issue, page 73.

 

[SyPat]

Modern Photography tested the Sonnar along with a Contax III in the April 1974 issue, page 73.

Thanks ! That's the kind of information I was looking for.
Unfortunately, this issue of Modern Photography seems impossible to find, at least on the internet (there are some other old lenses tests in it).