Lowest distortion medium format lens?

[NoBob]

I'm thinking about getting a Pentax-67 43mm f/4, but does anyone know of any other medium format lenses at a similar focal length (40-50mm) by Contax, Mamiya or other manufacturer that show less distortion than the Pentax-67 43mm (and which are also sharp)?

I'll be using the lens on an a7rii with an adapter.

Thanks.

 

[torger]

Schneider-Kreuznach Apo-Digitar 43 XL, almost distortion-free. Same with the 47XL, buth the 43 is a bit sharper. Mounting on the A7r-II is typically done with a view camera like Cambo Actus though... not sure there are other mount options. It's the lowest distortion lenses you can find though.

 

[NoBob]

Thanks. Am not planning to get the Actus any time soon. I bought the Mirex adapter, so would like to find a sharp, low distortion 40-50mm lens that I can use with the a7rii.

 

[epforever]

The Hasselblad / Zeiss 50mm lenses are very good in this regard (the ones made for the V system). If the A7Rii has a focal-plane shutter as an option, I believe the 50mm 2.8 F / FE has the least distortion. If you need a leaf shutter, the 50mm CF / CFi is also excellent. I have them both, and both are very sharp as well.

 

[Stuart Richardson]

The Hasselblad / Zeiss 50mm lenses are very good in this regard (the ones made for the V system). If the A7Rii has a focal-plane shutter as an option, I believe the 50mm 2.8 F / FE has the least distortion. If you need a leaf shutter, the 50mm CF / CFi is also excellent. I have them both, and both are very sharp as well.

As far as I remember, the 50mm f2.8 is not particularly distortion free....the MTF backs me up at around 2% distortion. https://www.zeiss.com/content/dam/P...enter/hasselblad_f/distagon_t_2-8_50mm_en.pdf
The lowest distortion MF lenses are lenses like the 38mm biogon and 43mm Mamiya, but they are not going to help you, nor would the Leica S 35mm or 45mm, both of which are very good in this regard. The view camera lenses are the ones you are looking for...
Is there a reason you are looking for these as opposed to a 35mm lens? There are plenty of fairly sharp, low distortion 35mm lenses that would fit on the A7Rii...

 

[NoBob]

I have the Sigma 35mm and 50mm Art lenses.

Am looking for a low distortion 40-50mm medium format lens that will allow for move movements.

Thanks.

 

[tsjanik]

The Pentax 43mm is 35mm lens, so no shifts. The 3rd version of the 67 55mm is very highly regarded and may be what you need.

 

[NoBob]

Using the Mirex, the Pentax-67 43mm should have a fair bit of movement, but I read it's got a little moustache distortion. I can correct it with Photoshop's Adaptive Wide Angle filter, but I'd prefer not to have to...

55mm is a bit short. I have the Pentax 645 55mm. Am looking for something a bit wider.

 

[Stuart Richardson]

My advice is probably not what you want to hear, but I would suggest you sell the adapter you bought and just buy a Canon TS lens. Most of the old medium format SLR lenses were not really the greatest when it came to distortion. I think you will have an easier time of things and better results with a dedicated modern TS lens designed for 35mm digital cameras.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/12132-USA/Canon_2536A004_TS_E_45mm_f_2_8_Normal.html
It is easy to find fully functional EOS to FE mount adapters, and you get a sharp modern lens with no angle of incidence problems, full aperture and metering control and built in movements.

 

[NoBob]

Yes, I'd prefer to do that, but the Canon TS 45mm is awful.

And it's not clear if the Nikon PC-E 45mm can be used on the a7rii using the Commlite adapter at the moment.

 

[Annna T]

Yes, I'd prefer to do that, but the Canon TS 45mm is awful.

And it's not clear if the Nikon PC-E 45mm can be used on the a7rii using the Commlite adapter at the moment.

Why do you find that the 45mm TSE is awful ? I just got one and I'm not too unhappy. What is bothering you ? Sharpness ? Distorsion ? flare ? Chromatic aberration ?

I do also own the 24mm TSE but only the first version and that one, yes, is only so so, but I find the 45mm better.

Here is one sample picture posted in the "fun with A7 series" thread :

http://www.getdpi.com/forum/sony/50257-fun-sony-a7-series-cameras-all-them-post692130.html#post692130

Other ones can be found in my Flickr stream.

 

[NoBob]

Hi Anna,

You got lucky.

It was a while ago, but I remember the excessive CA and difficulty getting a sharp image across the frame were the main problems.

 

[MrSmith]

The 45 tse isn't great, especially compared to the 24mkII. And if you go the next step up to digitars/rodagons then it's not in the same ballpark.
I sold mine as I wasn't happy handing over files shot with it to clients.

 

[Annna T]

Hi Anna,

You got lucky.

It was a while ago, but I remember the excessive CA and difficulty getting a sharp image across the frame were the main problems.

Yes, I have noted the CA but with LR it isn't too difficult to take away. And I find my images reasonnably sharp, although I don't get as much microcontrast as with the native FE glass. And when my pictures aren't sharp enough I tend to think it's my fault because I didn't nail focus..

 

[chrismuc]

My recommendation for 50mm focal length: HB CF 50f4 FLE + Mirex TS adapter. The lens is sharp corner-to-corner over (the shifted) frame, not very expensive, the Mirex allows 16mm shift in all directions, plus tilt. The lens has (only) 1.3% distortion.