Second sharpest after Mamiya 7?

[hankchinaski]

In term of sharpness only, what system (or individual lens) comes after the Mamiya 7?
As far as personal experience goes, I will cite the Rollei Apo-Symmar 90mm Makro.

 

[Frank53]

Do you mean that Mamiya 7 is the sharpest?

 

[hankchinaski]

Do you mean that Mamiya 7 is the sharpest?

They do:

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The wide angle lenses, in particular the 43mm f4.5, are regarded as some of the sharpest lenses ever made. Anecdotally, we know many people who give up large format kits for a Mamiya 7 because it’s hard to tell the difference in sharpness except at the absolute largest print size.

 

[250swb]

Fuji rangefinders, GW690, GW670 etc. but probably a bit sharper than Mamiya 7.

 

[brian steinberger]

Mamiya 6 is as sharp as Mamiya 7. Also Bronica RF645 in my opinion is just as sharp as both of them. I was actually just staring at negatives from all three systems last evening under a loop. Can’t tell a difference.

 

[ic-racer]

In term of sharpness only, what system (or individual lens) comes after the Mamiya 7?
As far as personal experience goes, I will cite the Rollei Apo-Symmar 90mm Makro.

Where did you find the MTF or test results on the Mamiya 7 lens?

Sure the 90mm is very sharp in the center, but if one were to want the corners sharp, the 120 Makro Apogon might be better.

 

[OAPOli]

Here are some MTF:

plus more on photodo: e.g. http://www.photodo.com/lens/Mamiya-N-80mm-f4-L-677/images (the two sources don't match exactly)

 

[hankchinaski]

Here are some MTF:

plus more on photodo: e.g. http://www.photodo.com/lens/Mamiya-N-80mm-f4-L-677/images (the two sources don't match exactly)

Sorry guys I'm not very technical - so this means that the makro-apogon is sharper than mamiya's (and apo-symmar)?

 

[Philippe-Georges]

According to Henri Cartier-Bresson: "sharpness is a bourgeois concept..." (but he himself was a descendant of a very bourgeois family).

 

[OAPOli]

Sorry guys I'm not very technical - so this means that the makro-apogon is sharper than mamiya's (and apo-symmar)?

In practice all these lenses are excellent. Rollei lenses might have an advantage because of the reflex focusing.

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An MTF chart is a measurement used to evaluate the performance of a lens. This article teaches you how to read it.

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[Klaus_H]

In many cases the sharpness of a photo is influenced more by the use of a tripod than by the optical quality of the lens.

 

[brian steinberger]

In many cases the sharpness of a photo is influenced more by the use of a tripod than by the optical quality of the lens.

Bingo. And nailing focus

 

[hankchinaski]

According to Henri Cartier-Bresson: "sharpness is a bourgeois concept..." (but he himself was a descendant of a very bourgeois family).

Especially considering the price of the Mamiya 7!

 

[hankchinaski]

Bingo. And nailing focus

Also...I read somewhere that MF lenses have generally less resolving power than 135 lenses - is it also the case for large format lenses?

 

[Philippe-Georges]

In many cases the sharpness of a photo is influenced more by the use of a tripod than by the optical quality of the lens.

And a good focusing screen and dito loupe...

 

[Paul Howell]

Also...I read somewhere that MF lenses have generally less resolving power than 135 lenses - is it also the case for large format lenses?

I have not read that, but seems to me that a good design will have the same resolving power across formats. On the other hand the larger the format the less resolving power becomes an issue, size does matter.

 

[Steven Lee]

They do

You are citing a commercial published by a used camera seller. There is no useful information on that web page.

 

[hankchinaski]

You are citing a commercial published by a used camera seller. There is no useful information on that web page.

This is true -also, no mention of Rolleiflex 6000 system...

 

[Paul Ozzello]

Bingo. And nailing focus

Bingo what ? Any camera can be used with a tripod and properly focused.

 

[abruzzi]

I have not read that, but seems to me that a good design will have the same resolving power across formats.

I have seen it asserted here and elsewhere, but I haven't seen anything to back it up.

 

[brian steinberger]

Bingo what ? Any camera can be used with a tripod and properly focused.

I think we’re saying the same thing. Tripod and proper focus will result in sharp images with many lenses. There are certainly differences in lenses but alot of this is splitting hairs.

 

[Paul Howell]

As important as the is lens is which film. If you shoot Tmax 400 a lens needs to resolve 125LPMM, Tmax 100 then 200 LPMM, my Kowa and Mamiya lens will resolve 200 LPMM while my Kodak Tourist I doubt will resolve more than 125 or so. TriX, Foma Action HP5 and other traditionally grain films will resolve less.

 

[ic-racer]

In many cases the sharpness of a photo is influenced more by the use of a tripod than by the optical quality of the lens.

Exactly and confounding factor is the Mamiya is billed as a hand-held camera. Of course it does have a tripod socket, and flash photography is an area where hand-held cameras can excel in sharpness.

Looking at the MTF posted above in #7 (thank you!) the 80mm looks good. But of course, they are all going to work fine.

I have eight lenses of the Rolleiflex 6008 system (not the 90, however) but I had my Rolleicord with it's Xenar and a tripod the other day to take this:

 

[btaylor]

I have had my Rolleicord Va for over 40 years- the results I get from the Xenar impress me every time I use it. Of course this does not address the OP’s subject directly, but I must say none of the MF optics I have used (Hasselblad, Rollei, Kowa, Bronica, Mamiya) have felt wanting for sharpness.

 

[warden]

I have had my Rolleicord Va for over 40 years- the results I get from the Xenar impress me every time I use it. Of course this does not address the OP’s subject directly, but I must say none of the MF optics I have used (Hasselblad, Rollei, Kowa, Bronica, Mamiya) have felt wanting for sharpness.

Ditto. Unless you print large there are many MF lenses that are plenty sharp enough.