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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

SLR Magic APO HyperPrime mini review

Tom Hernquist said:
I mostly shoot them adapted to EF, but I haven't noticed any issues with them on PL. The photos on the B&H listing show them without that piece, even the 50mm. I wonder if SLRM realized it wasn't necessary at some point and stopped including it.

EDIT
Now that I think about it, it's probably there to protect the rear element, which protrudes from the lens otherwise. Did anyone here get that rear screw on piece with their 25 or 85?
Click to expand...

I spoke with SLR Magic last year over e-mail about that very thing. Apparently the 50mm was the only lens that actually shipped with the shroud (although not any longer - newer production runs of the 50 no longer include it). They told me that it interfered with mounting to some ARRI cameras, and since it wasn't necessary for use with other cameras, they just stopped including it.

I'd bet you are correct in that it was likely originally there to protect the rear element.
 
That is good to know, thank you for sharing. It is interesting that the lenses still have the screw in threads for the shroud (despite them not coming with them, or even requiring them). I was looking at the back of the 50mm in this video as well - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTXorHGTlIE&t=127s and it seems like the back of the 50 has changed since earlier iterations (mine protrudes out more, where as that one looks almost flush when the shroud is removed). I wonder what other revisions they've been making under the hood? Is there a way to tell, for example, if the 25mm I have has the revised helicoid ?
 
Ericsson San Pablo Chu said:
That is good to know, thank you for sharing. It is interesting that the lenses still have the screw in threads for the shroud (despite them not coming with them, or even requiring them). I was looking at the back of the 50mm in this video as well - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTXorHGTlIE&t=127s and it seems like the back of the 50 has changed since earlier iterations (mine protrudes out more, where as that one looks almost flush when the shroud is removed). I wonder what other revisions they've been making under the hood? Is there a way to tell, for example, if the 25mm I have has the revised helicoid ?
Click to expand...

I believe the lenses in the above clip are actually pre-production lenses, so I wouldn't worry about too much about the difference there.

My guess (and it is a guess) is that the reason the threads are still there on current production lenses is because they may have already manufactured a large number of titanium mounts with the threads for these lenses, so they might as well use them. Titanium ain't cheap.

With regards to to recognizing the 25mm with the revised helicoid, that's a tough one. John Brawley might have an answer to that one. That said, since that's a pretty recent change, I'd assume that you have the older version unless you purchased your lens directly from SLR Magic very recently. It's definitely an issue I'm going to keep an eye out for on my 25mm APO.
 
From what I understand re the 25mm focus action, it’s possibly something that might not ever a show up, but I was using the lens set daily over 6 months of shooting on focus motors which tends to accelerate wear.

I didn’t even notice it during “work” on set it was only in the more controlled test that I did. The way I noticed it was on a simple focus rack from infinity to an object at minimum focus. Just before it hit minimum focus there was a kind of wobble in the image. It would be easy enough to test for. Make sure you have a locked of head and look for image shift. It’s there in the first image of my tests a few pages ago.

I got the impression it won’t necessarily show up in all lenses, probably only highly used ones like mine :-)

JB
 
So I messaged slr magic, and they replied that the early version of the lens do not have it. Unless I misunderstood, I guess that means newer versions will have it? Thats from the facebook page, I also messaged them by email, and they said I could purchase the part.... when I asked what its function was, they told me that it makes the lens look aesthetically more like a PL mount.... so I guess it is just for looks?
 
Update- they said 32mm apo hyperprime PL will be avail at b&h end of May
 
Hi,
Any info on the lens coverage on the 8K FF Monstro will be of great help. I can't test these lenses in Chennai, India since no one has these lenses here.
Thank you.
 
John Brawley said:
From what I understand re the 25mm focus action, it’s possibly something that might not ever a show up, but I was using the lens set daily over 6 months of shooting on focus motors which tends to accelerate wear.

I didn’t even notice it during “work” on set it was only in the more controlled test that I did. The way I noticed it was on a simple focus rack from infinity to an object at minimum focus. Just before it hit minimum focus there was a kind of wobble in the image. It would be easy enough to test for. Make sure you have a locked of head and look for image shift. It’s there in the first image of my tests a few pages ago.

I got the impression it won’t necessarily show up in all lenses, probably only highly used ones like mine :-)

JB
Click to expand...

well it looks like my 25 has some serious focusing issues on it - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRE9tX-GQFE&feature=youtu.be

That said, I also noticed the 25mm and 50mm had noticeably different color (the 25mm was much warmer) while I was doing tests. My 80s Leica R's and late 90 Leica R's actually matched each other much better. I also actually slightly preferred my early 50 summilux R over the slr magic 50 apo (although the 50 apo had rounder bokeh,almost no breathing, better ca correction, and was really nice.,.. I guess just a subjective first look opinion YMMV; I'll have to look over the tests again more in the coming days, but I was surprised).

In any case, SLR Magic won't fix the focus issues on my 25mm under warranty since I am the second owner (the lens is probably 2-3 months old). So it looks like my exploration into thEse lenses is over, as when doing my tests I actually really loved the Leica R lens set I have (19/2.8 ii, 35/2, 50/1.4, 80/1.4, 100/2.8, 180/3.4).

Thanks everyone for your help though, I still think the SLR magic are really great lenses, but because of the difference in color between my copies (maybe I got a lemon?), and also because the 2 month old 25mm had more issues than my 30 year old Leica Rs, I think I'll stick with my Leicas (plus I think they're easier to service locally).
 
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Ericsson San Pablo Chu said:
well it looks like my 25 has some serious focusing issues on it - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRE9tX-GQFE&feature=youtu.be

That said, I also noticed the 25mm and 50mm had noticeably different color (the 25mm was much warmer) while I was doing tests. My 80s Leica R's and late 90 Leica R's actually matched each other much better. I also actually slightly preferred my early 50 summilux R over the slr magic 50 apo (although the 50 apo had rounder bokeh,almost no breathing, better ca correction, and was really nice.,.. I guess just a subjective first look opinion YMMV; I'll have to look over the tests again more in the coming days, but I was surprised).

In any case, SLR Magic won't fix the focus issues on my 25mm under warranty since I am the second owner (the lens is probably 2-3 months old). So it looks like my exploration into thEse lenses is over, as when doing my tests I actually really loved the Leica R lens set I have (19/2.8 ii, 35/2, 50/1.4, 80/1.4, 100/2.8, 180/3.4).

Thanks everyone for your help though, I still think the SLR magic are really great lenses, but because of the difference in color between my copies (maybe I got a lemon?), and also because the 2 month old 25mm had more issues than my 30 year old Leica Rs, I think I'll stick with my Leicas (plus I think they're easier to service locally).
Click to expand...

An early 50 LUX-R won't match a 19 V2...especially contrast wise...imho

Which sn has your 50 LUX-R? If these 2 match probably it's not that early...
 
Ericsson San Pablo Chu said:
Thanks everyone for your help though, I still think the SLR magic are really great lenses, but because of the difference in color between my copies (maybe I got a lemon?), and also because the 2 month old 25mm had more issues than my 30 year old Leica Rs, I think I'll stick with my Leicas (plus I think they're easier to service locally).
Click to expand...

Was that from a locked off camera? Is the lens mount okay because there's something seriously wrong there as you can see. And colour wise all mine match pretty well, so really does sound like there's something wrong with that 25, maybe something loose inside or perhaps it's been dropped.

Not wanting to divert onto a Leica R thread i also did do the whole leica R thing and it really didn't work for me. I found the rendering of the mandler designs very different wide open to stopped down (this is by design, great for stills). CA all over the place and a lot of inconsistency between the focal lengths, and dates. I tried to find the latest versions i could. I had a very late summicron 50 but the contax 1.4 i had was better in every way, even at f1.4 vs f2. I tried to find an E60 version but they're over £3k and from all the images i could find online, not worth that amount. The 28 MkII is a nice lens but draws quite differently to ALL the others and so on.

The APOs embodied what i like about Leica and more. IMHO.

If you got those lenses second hand i'd consider going back to where you got them from...

cheers
Paul
 
Tomasso, yes the 19mm vii was actually the most off in my Leica R set, but the difference between it and the other Leicas was less than the difference between my SLR magic apo 25 and 50. I'll try to post some cropped pics shortly... I would post the actual full lens tests, but I think my wife would kill me if I did! Anyway, that was just my perspective seeing them all side by side. It was interesting to see that my 90s 100/2.8 actually matched the early 80s lenses really well in terms of color... it was really close (I had thought it might match the 19 vii more). If the stills from my 19 vii is more representative of the difference between 80's and 90's R lenses, I think I might actually prefer the look of the 80s (the 19 seems to have more contrast, saturation, and a bit warmer).


Paul, yes I was totally locked off; when I did the same thing on the apo 50, it was smooth as butter. The focus problem was easily repeatable and visible on the 25.

Yes, I was really surprised to see how different my copies of the SLR Magic 25 and 50 were in terms of color (25 was much, much warmer, the 50 APO actually looks to match my 80s Leica R's pretty well color wise... I wonder which one is the outlier, as I'd heard you mention that the APO's tend warm). It was in a controlled setting, and I touched nothing between shots. Maybe it was an exceptionally bad copy. Again, I'll post some stills later for you to see. I was actually thinking of getting another 25, but after seeing the results of my test, I've decided against it. The 50 is lovely though, and SLR magic was pretty good to talk to (I don't blame them for not fixing it under warranty, although of course I was hoping they would).

I'm not saying the SLR Magics are bad, but when I just did blind side by side test, I personally found the Leica R's more appealing. I also like that they've been mechanically dependable for forever, and will probably stay that way a long while without too much maintenance. I'm not sure how the SLR Magics will hold up based this one experience (of course I may be the exception, which is unfortunate for me!!!). Also, because of the color on my 25 I'm afraid of taking a risk on them again due to potential copy to copy variance. In any case, I'll look at the tests I did more closely when I get time, and try to post back... maybe I'll change my mind? I remember thinking the 50 lux and 50 apo were pretty close, and going back and forth.
 
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Ericsson San Pablo Chu said:
Tomasso, yes the 19mm vii was actually the most off in my Leica R set, but the difference between it and the other Leicas was less than the difference between my SLR magic apo 25 and 50. I'll try to post some cropped pics shortly... I would post the actual full lens tests, but I think my wife would kill me if I did! Anyway, that was just my perspective seeing them all side by side. It was interesting to see that my 90s 100/2.8 actually matched the early 80s lenses really well in terms of color... it was really close (I had thought it might match the 19 vii more). If the stills from my 19 vii is more representative of the difference between 80's and 90's R lenses, I think I might actually prefer the look of the 80s (the 19 seems to have more contrast, saturation, and a bit warmer).


Paul, yes I was totally locked off; when I did the same thing on the apo 50, it was smooth as butter. The focus problem was easily repeatable and visible on the 25.

Yes, I was really surprised to see how different my copies of the SLR Magic 25 and 50 were in terms of color (25 was much, much warmer, the 50 APO actually looks to match my 80s Leica R's pretty well color wise... I wonder which one is the outlier, as I'd heard you mention that the APO's tend warm). It was in a controlled setting, and I touched nothing between shots. Maybe it was an exceptionally bad copy. Again, I'll post some stills later for you to see. I was actually thinking of getting another 25, but after seeing the results of my test, I've decided against it. The 50 is lovely though, and SLR magic was pretty good to talk to (I don't blame them for not fixing it under warranty, although of course I was hoping they would).

I'm not saying the SLR Magics are bad, but when I just did blind side by side test, I personally found the Leica R's more appealing. I also like that they've been mechanically dependable for forever, and will probably stay that way a long while without too much maintenance. I'm not sure how the SLR Magics will hold up based this one experience (of course I may be the exception, which is unfortunate for me!!!). Also, because of the color on my 25 I'm afraid of taking a risk on them again due to potential copy to copy variance. In any case, I'll look at the tests I did more closely when I get time, and try to post back... maybe I'll change my mind? I remember thinking the 50 lux and 50 apo were pretty close, and going back and forth.
Click to expand...

So you aren't going to contact them to exchange that lens? Did you buy it new?
 
No I had bought it second hand, and they had bought it from b&h a couple months ago. I originally was just going to return the lens to the original owner, and buy a new one, but now I don't think I will. I'll likely sell the 50 in the near future too, but I'm not sure as I do like it; I want to look at the tests again and perhaps do a few more side by side tests.

Perhaps I'll bite the bullet on another apo 25 and maybe 80, but am hesitant. I think I'd want to try them in person, and it is harder for me to return to b&h etc. from Canada. Also, my tests showed me I'm actually happy with my Leica R's, so why spend more money?
 
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