GH3 Rokkor 50mm f1.4

[stefanocps]

Finally i get my first prime and vintage lens, a Minolta Rokko3 MC PG 50 f1.4.. What to say, the objiect itself is really fascinating to manage, that's the vintage part of the hardware. Once mounted for me that i have 14 45 and 45 175 settinf f at 1.4 wooow! Fantastic.What a big light comin in. And i must say it is really exciting to change the aperture from the litlle thing on the lens. now the perfromace. At first sight i am not really impressed. I have just done soomes pics and few movie at home, with no interesting subject. It look soft compared to the other.I add some contrast and in comparition with 45 175(with different iso as aperture for the latter is not that wide) and i am much more happy. It loos natural, clean, still to understand about softenessIs it normal to think that a lens normally is softer at 1.4 and perhaps this lens give the best at 2(example). A couple of questions. In the aperture wheel i have signed some measurement but not all, there are some aperture i can set which are not indicated. The progression of aperture is the same for all lens so i can know from any list of "stops"?. Second thing..i am already lookijg forward fo next rokkor. 24, 28 or 35..what of this would be a better copmplement to 50?

 

[Bruce Foreman]

Most lenses tend to be softer at wider apertures. Pretty much all of the vintage 50mm lenses at F1.4 will be noticeably softer at F1.4 and will generally "sharpen up" at F4. F1.4 lenses generally have a sharpness "sweet spot" at the range of apertures from about F5.6 to F11, but do begin to get sharper at F2.8 to F4.

This softness wide open is one of the appealing factors in portraiture of women, but one problem is that depth of field is so thin you don't want to mistake slight out of focus as soft rendition of the lens.

Two exceptions to lenses being noticeably softer wide open are the Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 25mm F1.4 and the Olympus Zuiko 45mm F1.8, the Olympus Zuiko 75mm F1.8 may also fall in this category but I have no first hand experience with it.