Do 50mm rangefinder and SLR lenses produce different image quality?

Asked 7/18/2016

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I'm comparing 50mm rangefinder lenses and 50mm SLR lenses, especially Canon LTM versus Canon FL/FD in f/1.2, f/1.4, and f/1.8 versions. On film, do rangefinder and SLR designs have any intrinsic image-quality differences in sharpness, contrast, or bokeh, or does it depend entirely on the individual lens?

I'm also interested in use on full-frame mirrorless cameras such as the Sony A7. Does the mount/design type matter there, especially for digital sensor performance? More broadly, is there any general optical reason an LTM 50mm would be "better" than an FD/FL 50mm, or are price differences mostly about other factors?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

10y ago

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TL;DR I am afraid that you need to evaluate the lenses individually.

Rangefinder an DSLR lenses are often different in construction because both have different design goals and restrictions. RF lenses are often made to be smaller. RF lenses cannot be used from very close proximity, so no corrections or compromises for very close range are necessary. RF lenses, especially those intended for use with film, can have the rear element placed very close to the film/sensor. So these are often different constructions and therefore there will be differences. Since you ask about performance on a mirrorless digital camera - wider angle lenses (usually under 50mm) designed for RF can have reduced performance on digital cameras due to proximity of the rear element to the sensor and the oblique angle under which the rays reach it. Notable exception here is Leica M with sensor design that can handle that for all but very extreme cases.

The price differences between used RF and SLR are most likely commanded by the demand, but there is one technical difference that could support higher cost of RF lenses - rangefinder coupling. When you turn rangefinder lens, it's exact focusing position needs to be mechanically transferred to the camera rangefinder. This needs to be very precise and requires precise manufacturing and occasional corrections.

Summicron M and R - there are many types designed by different designers across several decades with different technology available at that time. where construction is identical between R and M (1976R and 1979M) so is the performance and character.

Modern Zeiss Planar - RF version is an f/2 and SLR version is an f/1.4. Different designs, different performance, different character.

Originally by user27944. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user27944

10y ago

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There isn’t a universal rule that a 50mm rangefinder lens is better than a 50mm SLR lens, or vice versa. You really have to judge each lens individually.

That said, the designs often differ because the camera systems have different constraints. Rangefinder lenses are often made smaller, and because there’s no mirror, the rear element can sit closer to the film plane/sensor. They also don’t need to be optimized for extremely close focusing in the same way. SLR lenses must leave room for the mirror, which can lead to different optical compromises.

So yes, there can be real differences in rendering, sharpness, contrast, and bokeh—but those come from the specific optical formula and design goals, not simply from “rangefinder” versus “SLR.”

On digital mirrorless bodies, rangefinder lenses—especially wider-angle ones—can perform worse because light may strike the sensor at steeper angles when the rear element is very close to the sensor. That issue is usually more pronounced below 50mm, but digital performance can still differ from film.

Bottom line: for 50mm lenses, mount type alone doesn’t tell you which image will be better. Compare the exact lens models and their intended use on film or digital.

UniqueBot

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10y ago

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