[Leica] Zeiss Sonnar 50/1.5

[Dante Stella]

The focus shift is real, but the adjustment is the slightest movement of the ring, usually a hair toward infinity at wide apertures. I routinely use this with an M 240, which is the highest resolution thing it fits, and it is not disappointing. The behavior is no worse than a 75 Summilux.

Chris is right that it is not a Summicron, but it is not designed to be.

Dante

> On Apr 12, 2015, at 11:00 PM, Leo Wesson <leowesson at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Thanks Chris.  Seems to be your experience was not uncommon.
> 
> Leo Wesson
> Photographer/Videographer
> 817.733.9157
> www.leowesson.com <http://www.leowesson.com/>
> 
> On Sun, Apr 12, 2015 at 9:55 PM, Chris Crawford <
> chris at chriscrawfordphoto.com <mailto:chris at chriscrawfordphoto.com>> wrote:
> 
>> I used to have one. It has neat bokeh, but it has several issues that made
>> me leave it at home in favor of a 50 Summicron most of the time.
>> 
>> The Sonnar has serious focus shift. That means if you focus so that your
>> camera¹s rangefinder shows proper focus, the actual focus point may not
>> match the RF at some apertures. Some of them were calibrated to be
>> accurate at f2.8, as was mine. Used wide open, it front focuses several
>> inches. Others were calibrated for f1.5, and used at smaller apertures it
>> back focuses. Stop down a lot, and this isn¹t an issue because of depth of
>> field.
>> 
>> I like a lens that Œjust works¹ at al apertures. The Summicron does that,
>> the Sonnar does not.
>> 
>> The other issue is even stopped down, the Sonnar is not sharp at the
>> edges. In the center it is very sharp. The Summicron I had was uniformly
>> sharp across the whole image. It was just a better lens for my work.
>> 
>> The Sonnar is cool for some things, like portraits, as long as you¹re
>> aware of the focus issues. The focus shift is NOT an internet rumor, it is
>> real. I tested mine and it is VERY real. If you can deal with that and can
>> afford to buy a lens you will not use for most things, then get one.
>> 
>> I sold mine after I realized that in three years, I had used it just four
>> times aside from testing it for focus accuracy. I couldn¹t afford to keep
>> a lens that I never use.
>> 
>> --
>> Chris Crawford
>> Fine Art Photography
>> Fort Wayne, Indiana
>> 260-437-8990
>> 
>> http://www.chriscrawfordphoto.com  My portfolio
>> 
>> http://www.facebook.com/pages/Christopher-Crawford/48229272798
>> Become a fan on Facebook
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On 4/12/15, 10:41 PM, "Leo Wesson" <leowesson at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> Anyone using this lens?  Thoughts?
>>> 
>>> Leo Wesson
>>> Photographer/Videographer
>>> 817.733.9157
>>> www.leowesson.com
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Leica Users Group.
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>> 
>> 
>> 
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> 
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