Ok guys and gals! I received my Fed Ex tracking# from Noktor and this lens will be in my hands on TUESDAY! I will be doing a full review of this Noktor 50 f/0.95 on the Olympus E-P2. The company is launching this lens “officially” on March 1st and I am truly excited to try this out on the E-P2. This is a 50mm f/0.95 lens for m4/3. No adapter needed. So be sure to check back next week for some 1st look samples. Hopefully ON Tuesday! Until then you can keep an eye on their website at NOKTOR.COM. I am guessing it will be updated on March 1st.
UPDATE MARCH 1st: The lens has been launched and you can see the details, price and even order HERE.
Hey, Steve, please test it too in bright daytime … I didn’t like my 25mm TV lens in daylight, very high contrast …
Hey, Steve, please test it too in bright daytime … I didn’t like my 25
@David Chu: From the pictures on the website and elsewhere, the green ring is where the Senko/Navitar/etc. version would have the lens name, focal length and speed engraved.
@petavoxel: Indeed, it is probably just re-branded and fitted with an MFT mount. But from what I could gather from forums and flicker albums, with 50mm TV lenses the image circle is large enough for the MFT format – there are even some good 25’s that won’t vignette.
February 28, 2010 at 10:00 am
As has been mentioned repeatedly elsewhere, this is not a newly-designed lens. It is an adaptation to µ4/3 mount of a Japanese CCTV/machine vision lens, sold under the names Senko, Navitron, etc.
For example, google “senko vfa5095h.”
These lenses are designed to cover a 1″ format video sensor, which is 9.6 x 12.8 mm
That format means a 16mm image circle, while µ4/3 requires 21.65 mm. Sharpness and vignetting in the corners of the frame are likely to be a problem–I’ll be curious to see the results.
[this comment seems to have been blocked originally for including relevant URLs; but a bit of googling will turn them up for yourselves.]
@ Per, yes I know. If it is decent I will be buying one. Let’s wait and see! Fast wides would be sweet.
@ Ole – I thought the same! Who knows, maybe an empty box will show up?!? Ha ha…
@ ifranz – Thanks! I thought I heard under $800 but I think they will announce this tomorrow on their site.
@ Ranger 9 – You always show up in forums complaining about my site, now you ask how I got one? They wanted to send me one so I accepted of course. All i did was ask and they were happy to oblige. Still, let’s see what shows up on Tuesday.
@ Tate – I believe it will be 100mm. It’s a 50mm lens so sadly, it will be 100mm but it will be like a 100mm with light gathering abilities of a 0.95 lens. Pretty nice.
@ Logic – See above 🙂
I will post here as soon as it arrives so check back Tuesday for the scoop.
Is this lens 50mm equivalent or will it’s FOV be 100mm on the Olympus?
I am excited. Is this going to be 50mm or 100mm on m43?
Just out of curiosity, what did you do to get a review unit?
I´m really excited for your test. I waited for such a lens for years. Is there a price announcement so far?
Wow. I can’t believe. I thought of this lens as a photoshop work and joke and now you gonna get it at Tuesday!! I’m really excited about this. Thank you Steve.
…. and I hope they will be launching fast wides as well.
It’s just seems too good to be true… I want one 🙂
I would guess photoshop 🙂
I wonder if that green ring around the lens is the coating, or if it’s an actual ring around the lens. Or if it’s just there through the magic of lighting and/or Photoshop.
Hey Efix, yes it appears to be real 🙂 I’ll report on it ASAP. Thx…
Wow … so this thing is for real. I’m quite jealous that you will actually hold one in your hands 🙂 Can’t wait for your review!!!