freaklikeme
Member
I sold my 645D to move to a Cambo Actus with my a7 as a back (roughly the same pixel density per area). I kept a couple of my Hassy lenses to use with the camera, the CF 40 FLE and CF 100, and while both are exactly what I was expecting performance-wise, both are... well, exactly what I expected. Not very high resolution but perfectly acceptable for the relatively low pixel density, good micro-contrast, lousy edges, some color issues that make for better mono conversions than corrected color prints, and image circles that don't completely fill either the 64x63mm or 76x51mm area the Actus can cover. For some things, I'm perfectly happy with them both, even though the 40 is huge and the FLE is fussy. But for some things I've got in mind for the summer, I want better options.
So, like I'm guessing everyone does when they purchase one of these, I started looking at the Schneider and Rodenstock digital lenses. I fell in love with the images I found from the Rodenstock APO-Sironar 55/4.5. Great focal length, usable wide open, nearly perfect by f/11, handles higher pixel densities well if I ever decide to upgrade, and enough recommended-usage area (96x72) to cover anything I want to shoot now and make a transition to the DB if I ever decided to go that route. My target was to acquire one a month or so in advance of my Montana trip in August, so I put it on my used search list and started re-engineering my budget to cover a new one in July if I didn't find one used.
Finding a used copy looked like it was going to be a challenge. Then I came across a used Sinar Sinaron Digital 55/4.5 at Adorama. I had nothing more than a passing familiarity with the brand, so I looked them up. The lenses on the English version of their site looked shockingly familiar after having stared at the photos of Rodenstocks. Some further research provided the common internet knowledge that Sinar rebrands Rodenstock lenses, and the only comparable "digital" model from Rodenstock is the APO-Sironar.
Assuming the lens arrives in shooting condition, did I really just get the lens I wanted for $400? Is that a good price for a user copy? Please feel free to burst my bubble. This dopey grin feels unnatural on my face.
So, like I'm guessing everyone does when they purchase one of these, I started looking at the Schneider and Rodenstock digital lenses. I fell in love with the images I found from the Rodenstock APO-Sironar 55/4.5. Great focal length, usable wide open, nearly perfect by f/11, handles higher pixel densities well if I ever decide to upgrade, and enough recommended-usage area (96x72) to cover anything I want to shoot now and make a transition to the DB if I ever decided to go that route. My target was to acquire one a month or so in advance of my Montana trip in August, so I put it on my used search list and started re-engineering my budget to cover a new one in July if I didn't find one used.
Finding a used copy looked like it was going to be a challenge. Then I came across a used Sinar Sinaron Digital 55/4.5 at Adorama. I had nothing more than a passing familiarity with the brand, so I looked them up. The lenses on the English version of their site looked shockingly familiar after having stared at the photos of Rodenstocks. Some further research provided the common internet knowledge that Sinar rebrands Rodenstock lenses, and the only comparable "digital" model from Rodenstock is the APO-Sironar.
Assuming the lens arrives in shooting condition, did I really just get the lens I wanted for $400? Is that a good price for a user copy? Please feel free to burst my bubble. This dopey grin feels unnatural on my face.