MS-Optics

MS-Optics 50mm f/1.1

MS-Optics 50mm f/1.1 Sonnetar Review – Exploring Sonnars Pt.13

Once in a while I get the chance to borrow a bit of kit that’s intrigued me for a long time but that I’ve never found myself able to justify purchasing. With it being based on the Sonnar lens formula, the MS-Optics 50mm f/1.1 is one such bit of kit.

MS-Optics lenses are, to say the least, eccentric. This 50mm f/1.1 is no exception to that rule, in fact, it’s a perfect example of the rule. This lens makes no attempt to be optically perfect, it’s build quality feels handmade, its quirky to use, it’s tiny and it’s very fast. It’s also based – as I have already said – on a Sonnar formula. Which is why Sam its (now previous) owner thought I should try it. You can read some of my previous experiences with Sonnar lenses here – to say they are a favourite, would be an understatement!

MS-Optics Converted Yashica T4 35mm f/3.5 Tessar – The Hunt for the Commute Camera pt.1 – By Hern Tan

My very first barn-find Yashica T5 had proven itself to be a stinker. First it made a heck of a racket every time it took a picture, and the lag between pressing the shutter button and the lens actually extending to focus and snap was far too long for my liking. The autofocus was more miss than hit, the squinty viewfinder had no real useful information, and the novelty of the Superscope wore off soon after I’d realised it didn’t fit into my style of shooting.

MS-Optics 21mm Perar

MS-Optics 21mm f/4.5 Perar Review- a tiny, and very eccentric lens

The MS-Optics 21mm f/4.5 Perar is, without a doubt the smallest lens I’ve ever shot with on a Leica rangefinder. In fact, it’s probably one of the smallest full frame lenses ever made. Yet despite its size, it still focuses, it still has an aperture control and is even rangefinder coupled. On paper, this thing is a feat of genius. The question is, how well does it work in practice?

Scroll to Top