Speedmaster 50mm/.95 FE

[Samouraï]

http://www.sonyalpharumors.com/speedmaster-50mm-f0-95-now-shipping-here-is-your-delivery-date-info/

I'm surprised I haven't read anything about this lens on the forum yet (maybe I missed it). But apparently this is a pretty great f/.95 50mm lens for only 800usd. Chinese-made and shipped. Smooth, cinema-style aperture. Manual focus, all metal construction, native [F]E-mount. Sounds too good to be true for the price. I don't know the transmission value, but I read a comment that noted something like t/1.3. What is the transmission value of the current Noctilux?

I saw a quick Steve Huff review when I was browsing around. Pretty nice looking samples. Does anyone have any opinions? I hadn't heard of it until today.

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There's some more information here with a lens diagram: http://wimarys.com/mitakon-50mm-f0-95-speedmaster/ This is a double-gauss design without any aspherical elements, correct?

Here's a review. Looks pretty creamy. http://wimarys.com/mitakon-50-mm-f0-95-settings-on-the-sony-a7/

 

[erdnusscn]

the lens

http://yunfoto.tuchong.com/t/6417312/

photos taken with the lens

http://yunfoto.tuchong.com/t/6434878/

 

[YYV_146]

My tests show that the Noctilux ASPH has more than twice the light transmission of the Summilux ASPH wide open (on center). I tested by shooting at the same parameters and then boosting the Summilux shot by 1EVs. The Noctilux image is still brighter by a small margin. That said, I don't know the T-value of the Summilux...My guess is that the Noctilux is around T1.0, and the Summilux a tiny bit smaller than T1.4.

I have not seen the lens myself (I will in two weeks when I'm in Beijing), but as others have noted, the Mitakon's entrance pupil is smaller than the Noctilux's. The Noct's from element is exactly 52mm in diameter, corresponding to 50/0.95. The Speedmaster's from pupil is smaller than 50mm - which means that it cannot be faster than F1.0.

 

[YYV_146]

The lens is a rather traditional double gaussian design, not unlike the older Summilux. I wouldn't expect amazing center sharpness or aberration control, but the bokeh would as a result be excellent.

On a personal note, I do not trust Mitakon (a.k.a 中一光学). I remember the days when they were still making fisheye attachments and industrial optical equipment. The quality control was terrible, and the 85mm Mitakon lens I tested in 2012 wasn't much better. It's understandable - trying to outsource optics production in China must be a pain, just don't expect Canikon or Sony build quality.

 

[erdnusscn]

The lens is a rather traditional double gaussian design, not unlike the older Summilux. I wouldn't expect amazing center sharpness or aberration control, but the bokeh would as a result be excellent.

On a personal note, I do not trust Mitakon (a.k.a 中一光学). I remember the days when they were still making fisheye attachments and industrial optical equipment. The quality control was terrible, and the 85mm Mitakon lens I tested in 2012 wasn't much better. It's understandable - trying to outsource optics production in China must be a pain, just don't expect Canikon or Sony build quality.

please take a try before you make a jugement.

 

[YYV_146]

please take a try before you make a jugement.

I have tested multiple Mitakon lenses using E-mount cameras, although admittedly none of their very recent products. And I stand by my point. Optically the lenses are fine designs, perhaps a bit soft wide open but decent performers given the price. The QC is on the hand terrible, with severe sharpness variation across copies. I found dust in more than one "production" sample of those lens, which is totally unacceptable if we are talking about photography equipment.

Maybe they have stepped up their game recently, but if I were to buy any Mitakon lens, I would be buying in-store and testing it thoroughly before paying.