SLR Magic APO HyperPrime mini review

[Ericsson San Pablo Chu]

I might have pressed for that, but the difference in color between my 25 and 50 was really drastic.... I just decided to return it. I figured its safer to get a brand new one that I don't have to jump through hoops to get fixed, or to return again. On top that I forgot to mention that my 25 also didn't hit infinite.

 

[paulcurtis]

I might have pressed for that, but the difference in color between my 25 and 50 was really drastic.... I just decided to return it. I figured its safer to get a brand new one that I don't have to jump through hoops to get fixed, or to return again. On top that I forgot to mention that my 25 also didn't hit infinite.

Whatever has happened to that lens it sounds like it's been seriously mishandled. For the colour to be off as well who knows what's happened inside. I assume you can return it, if not would SLR Magic repair it? Someone is responsible somewhere for the condition and i doubt it left SLR Magic like that.

In fact i also feel that the 85 is perhaps the best of the three, and you've not seen that yet. Compared to the others i have and have used - Leica R, Contax, Sigma, Cooke - it's better than all of them.

The mechanics of Leica R are prone to failure just like all lenses, i've had dodgy copies of various. The SLR Magics appear to be more robust, especially if they're being used with wireless FF. Something i wouldn't put the Rs on.

I think you've had some bad luck with that 25. And if you like the look of the 50 it would be worth considering the others. I don't know if you can rent where you are just to see what they're like?

cheers
Paul

 

[Billy Jim]

 

[John Brawley]

I might have pressed for that, but the difference in color between my 25 and 50 was really drastic.... I just decided to return it. I figured its safer to get a brand new one that I don't have to jump through hoops to get fixed, or to return again. On top that I forgot to mention that my 25 also didn't hit infinite.

I have multiple sets of APO lenses now and they’ve all been very well made, they are colour match well to each other and all hit infinity.

I really think there is something else going on with this particular copy. If you’re buying it second hand then you don’t know what’s happened to it before you got it. I would encourage you, if you like the 50mm APO, to source another 25mm copy.

JB

 

[Ericsson San Pablo Chu]

Yes, maybe I was just unlucky enough to get a really bad copy. I can't complain at all about SLR Magic's position on the issue, or customer service. I looked at my tests more closely, and I do prefer the 50mm APO to my 50mm Summilux R now I think. Seems like highlights are preserved a bit more, and the bokeh racks looks smoother... don't know how to explain, but contrast looks more muted (not in a bad way), and image looks a little fuller simultaneously. The 50 Lux is still really nice though, and good when I need to go lighter weight.

Maybe I will try again with the 85mm and the 32mm when it comes out.

 

[paulcurtis]

Yes, maybe I was just unlucky enough to get a really bad copy. I can't complain at all about SLR Magic's position on the issue, or customer service. I looked at my tests more closely, and I do prefer the 50mm APO to my 50mm Summilux R now I think. Seems like highlights are preserved a bit more, and the bokeh racks looks smoother... don't know how to explain, but contrast looks more muted (not in a bad way), and image looks a little fuller simultaneously. The 50 Lux is still really nice though, and good when I need to go lighter weight.

Maybe I will try again with the 85mm and the 32mm when it comes out.

I know i sound like a bit of a repeating record, but the APO is so superior to the 50 lux and has a consistent look through the range. All the lenses render sharp without being oversharp, have great DOF fall off and the CA is about as minimal as you can get (the APO side of things). I have been through pretty much all the reasonably priced alternatives, from R, Contax, Lomo, Leica M, Voightlander, Xeen, Cooke S2, Zeiss and so on. I'm still super happy with these.

Also that 25 doesn't sound like a bad copy, it sounds like something awful has happened to it from the previous owner. There's no way a lens would leave any manufacturer like that, let alone a smaller company (i suspect they're hand built too?).

cheers
Paul

 

[Jake Wilganowski]

The 50 APO is beautiful. As is the 85. I bought a DEMO version of the 25mm which had the focus shift issue. I set it to them and they fixed/updated it for free very quickly.

 

[Tom Hernquist]

I had issues with my pre-ordered 25mm when I got it. On my first shoot with it, I put a wireless FF on it, and the focus ring sheared off of the internals entirely. I sent it back to SLRM and this was their response:

"we have investigated the issue with the lens maker that made your lens and it turns out the torque wrench we used was defective and the incorrect torque strength was applied to the focus ring screws.

Due to this incident, we now decided to put each lens under motor follow focus test before shipment. We did not do this in the past to avoid the lens looking like it had been used by someone before hand, but it seems to be a necessary step now."

I wonder if this is part of the reason behind the focus issues that Ericsson and JB described. For the record, I haven't had any issues with it since the repair.

 

[Jeroen Alexander Damen]

I would like to add something about the adapter difference. As i had problems with focus on inf. that was soft in the very far field with the C7 adapter. It turns out the the mount on some ef mount cams vary. Therefore some people, like me who owns a camera with a slightly thicker mount, had problems. The Slr Magic adapter is a tiny fraction thinner from what i understand. I was given one, when i was in HK in februari visiting SLR magic, and have had no more problems.

 

[Ericsson San Pablo Chu]

Thanks for the info guys!

So, I've order the 85mm to compare against my 80 lux (and to see if it matches the 50 apo color). Fingers crossed that it all goes well, I will report back here. I think I will avoid the 25 for now, and wait on the 32.

 

[krzysztof jankowski]

I would like to add something about the adapter difference. As i had problems with focus on inf. that was soft in the very far field with the C7 adapter. It turns out the the mount on some ef mount cams vary. Therefore some people, like me who owns a camera with a slightly thicker mount, had problems. The Slr Magic adapter is a tiny fraction thinner from what i understand. I was given one, when i was in HK in februari visiting SLR magic, and have had no more problems.

What do you mean by "thicker mount" ? The EF mount flange distance is 44mm and can't be less or more. Thinner adapter will not work properly if the camera flange distance is correct.

 

[John Brawley]

What do you mean by "thicker mount" ? The EF mount flange distance is 44mm and can't be less or more. Thinner adapter will not work properly if the camera flange distance is correct.

While the FFD should be 44mm, it’s well known that for many EF mount cameras made by Canon, especially their stills cameras tend to be short. This seems to be done as a strategy to overcome poor collomation consistency in many stills lenses.

When BMD made their first EF Mount camera at exactly 44mm FFD many users of lenses like the Tomina 11-22 suddenly found their lenses couldn’t get to infinity.

After about 6 mounts of anger from BMD users they matched the “slightly short” unofficial standard that Canon themselves have on their DSLRs. Confusingly they don’t seem to do this on the C series cameras with locking mounts.

JB

 

[Jacek Zakowicz]

I don't think that's correct. We have sold thousands of EF adapters for Sony, RED, ARRI. All set to 44mm. I can't recall more than 4-5 issues with the back focus. As I recall most of them had to do with the camera or lens collimation.
I'm pretty sure BMD missed something there. BTW setting FFD incorrectly on cameras for some unspecified sub standard is a slippery slope....

 

[Randall Brown]

Just got my set today from BH Photo, first impressions are that they remind me of mini red primes in their density and barrel design. All of mine came with the little black ring attached. Mounted each of them quickly and they looked pretty nice, and I loved the lack of CA. They do something pretty interesting in how they render specular highlights. I can’t put my finger on it just yet. I briefly had the Xeens here as well and these are in a totally different league image quality wise. I also like that they are sharp wide open. I can clearly see when the image “snaps” in focus without needing to zoom in to confirm. More to come as I have time to shoot and test.

 

[sreenivasa reddy s]

Just got my set today from BH Photo, first impressions are that they remind me of mini red primes in their density and barrel design. All of mine came with the little black ring attached. Mounted each of them quickly and they looked pretty nice, and I loved the lack of CA. They do something pretty interesting in how they render specular highlights. I can’t put my finger on it just yet. I briefly had the Xeens here as well and these are in a totally different league image quality wise. I also like that they are sharp wide open. I can clearly see when the image “snaps” in focus without needing to zoom in to confirm. More to come as I have time to shoot and test.

Congratulations Randall.

 

[John Brawley]

I don't think that's correct. We have sold thousands of EF adapters for Sony, RED, ARRI. All set to 44mm. I can't recall more than 4-5 issues with the back focus. As I recall most of them had to do with the camera or lens collimation.
I'm pretty sure BMD missed something there. BTW setting FFD incorrectly on cameras for some unspecified sub standard is a slippery slope....

Can you point to where Canon themselves actually specify the FFD ?

https://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewtopic.php?p=34191&sid=ac39d41b25f31cde23e6641ff895c169#p34191

JB

 

[Jacek Zakowicz]

Can you point to where Canon themselves actually specify the FFD ?

https://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewtopic.php?p=34191&sid=ac39d41b25f31cde23e6641ff895c169#p34191

JB

Why would Canon specify the FFD anywhere?

 

[John David Pope]

A question:

Why is it that the front element of the 50mm SLR Magic APO Hyperprime is significantly smaller than the front element of the Sigma Cine 50mm? Or does it only appear to be smaller? Both lenses have a 95mm lens cap size, but in photos that front element of the Sigma appears to me to be larger than that of the SLR APO.

If the front element of the Sigma 50mm is indeed larger than that of the SLR APO 50mm, is that a result of the Sigma being a T1.5 and the SLR APO being a T2.1? Generally speaking, the faster the glass the larger the front element.

 

[Rich Miro]

IMO since the Sigma DX inception of the 50mm 1.4 their frontal element has been one of the largest in comparison to any 50mm photo lens. You should look it up. before the art series came out. The sigma 50mm 1.4 was my favorite lens and looked BEAST incomparison to my Canon L counterpart. It didn't always hit focus, but the buttery boceh was something to write home about.

 

[paulcurtis]

A question:

Why is it that the front element of the 50mm SLR Magic APO Hyperprime is significantly smaller than the front element of the Sigma Cine 50mm? Or does it only appear to be smaller? Both lenses have a 95mm lens cap size, but in photos that front element of the Sigma appears to me to be larger than that of the SLR APO.

I think there's an element of truth to that (a faster lens) but i assume it's totally down to the design of the lens itself and the position of the rear element (how close to the sensor it is). I have a 1.5 Leica M full frame lens which obviously is half the size of the APO element, but i presume because the rear element is closer then that's how the front can be closer. Sigma designs perhaps originate from the SLR world which has a mirror in the way to the sensor. A PL designed lens can sit much closer too.

cheers
Paul