Mitakon Speedmaster 50mm f/0.95 'Pro' (Mark II) lens review with samples (Full-frame & APS-C)

[@MrJAM-np7go]

Why I admire this guy? Besides his devotion to the cameras and lenses, he's so impartial and objective about them. Somebody could prejudge Zhong-yi or Samyang lenses for their name value, but he's not.

[@leomiles8658]

"Stop down to 1.4"...That's not something you hear often

[@TheGirlSkateBoardCo]

Leo Miles lol

[@sium1212]

Leo Miles hahah 😂😂

[@roybuckley8530]

Leo Miles u K

[@andresalejandrogarciahurta5856]

😂😂😂

[@MrCGangsta]

yeah but your f1.4 lens will be brighter then this thing at f1

[@Alamini96]

"On my A7RII" bet you waited a long time to say that. Amazing camera, love your reviews.

[@jaredlucow]

Congrats Christopher. This lens is what sold me on my A7s 2 years ago also. Absolutely my favourite lens and the most fun I've had with photography my whole life. Took me a year to even start using anything other than 0.95 but eventually have come to love it for all apertures. Thanks again for all the informative reviews and content you're putting out.

[@buildingsheriff]

"My mum would kill me" - I love it!

[@bird271828]

Chris, I love your reviews. Back when the Canon 50mm F1.0 was in production, I didn't have the money to but one. But if I had one today, I would have gladly sent it to you for review.

[@oudjunk]

I really like the Mitakon. I just bought a Mitakon 35mm f0.95 ( for canon eos m ) a few month. Happy with that.

[@ruhri0411]

Thanks for your videos. Your voice is so clear and sympathetic, there are hardly any other videos in english that are so easy to understand for non-native speakers. Thumbs up!

[@JeremyGalloway]

Quite confusing how the edges are so soft on APS-C, despite the center being decently sharp. The light circle is more than sufficiently covering the sensor, so I can’t figure out what would be causing that corner softness!

[@MrXucurro]

thats because the glass resolution is made for full frame, so when you put it to aps-c sensor your only using a portion of the glass wich is full of pixels and those arent that sharp , its hard to explain for me sorry for my english, but is kind the same with the sensor size and pixel size related to the noise.. !

[@alexandersh3609]

Great review as usual. It's interesting how it would show itself against Canon FL 50 0.95. As a manual lens user being gaining experience with mirrorless cameras, I'm leaning toward more compact and lightweight lens. 700g is quite heavy.

[@alexandersh3609]

Thanks. Still cheaper then Leica though.

[@stefan_becker]

After owning the Mitakon 50mm MkII f0.95 for quite a while I traded it in for a Voigtlander 50mm f1.2 Nokton. I can recommend this exchange since the Nokton is very sharp in the image center at f1.2 and very sharp across the frame on 60mp of the Sony A7rIV. The bokeh of the Nokton is imho just as nice or even nicer. The Nokton is much smaller compared to the Mitakon and it also provides exif information and therefore also automatic focus peeking. The difference between f0.95 and f1.2 is actually very small.

[@sorek__]

I love it. Flare and lost of contrast can be used for advantage to make intresting picture, but nevertheless I think it's one of the best lenses ever invented. I would swap it only for 35mm f0.95! Landscape isn't that good with this lens as contrast under birght light is hard to manage (also flare stop being that nice stopped down). Great lens though and I think it's one of it's kind.

[@MrOxidator]

I drooled over this lens for about a year now and finally ordered mine a few moments ago. Can't wait to get my hands on it.

[@iyzyz]

So how was it?

[@dopamining7621]

Intersting. I recently bought the Mitakon Speedmaster 85 1.2 and LOVE it.

[@Babsdoproductions]

“Even a whisker wider...” Love it! Lol! Big fan of your reviews and nice choice with the A7RII!

[@PecosHank]

Thanks dude. Very helpful.

[@TheErchowhian]

I just got one for me by buying from Taobao of China. It is really imexpensive and can be said a excellent and valuable lens to our money...中一 really has done a great job..

[@caprasviktor]

♥♥♥♥♥ I was really curious about this lens and i have a really big suprise this morning because you tested it! :-) Thanks for your secondary mission with the optics! ;-) God bless you! ♥

[@JodyBruchon]

In the future, could you put a few time index numbers in the description for specific tests, especially the sharpness tests? It seems that most "alternative" lenses with wide apertures have softness issues fully open and I'd like to see those tests without seeking like a nut.

[@S3l3ct1ve]

Indeed most of them have the issue. And what I noticed after using Nikkor 55mm 1,2f is that 1,2f was not engineered to be used in a normal light conditions. That is why there are so much glow and overall contrast drop at 1,2f apertures. The issue disappears when you use the lens in soft low light conditions then it really shines and that 1,2f effect can be visible, in low light you simply cant compare them with something that is slower but is used with higher ISO.. The looks is just not there.. And I think that is why most of the reviews complain that 1,2f aperture lenses show lack of contrast and sharpness wide open, it is because people test them on normal conditions and they were not made for those conditions. In soft light they really shine. They might not be the sharpest lenses available, but the sharpness is just enough in most of the cases. And also there is no way to actually achieve 100proc. sharpness when the lens is adapted to the different system, there will always be some extent of engineering flaws because the lens is made for a different system and even for a different photography type - film vs sensor, sensor has lot of different thickness filters in front of them, different cameras vary in the construction and this also effect sharpness contrast and other things related to quality of an image.

[@steven2809]

There is more to life than increasing its speed......

[@JodyBruchon]

He says on a f/0.95 lens video ;-)

[@jacobnoori]

Thanks, Chris. Top notch review, as always.

[@LucisPictor]

Another great review. Thanks. And congratulations on your new A7RII.

[@oguzbenice7423]

Thank you Chris! Excellent review. If I am not totally convinced about this lens, I hope to purchase such a fast lens one day.

[@vincentkeller5559]

Really looking forward for the Cannon ef 85mm f1.4 IS USM review.

[@TheGirlSkateBoardCo]

What's your thought on this combination for video? I was thinking of switching to the A7R III with this lens only, since all lenses are expensive.

[@MrPranamit]

The samples at the end are SUCH a treat for the eyes. .. looove the images .. especially the ones with the girl. Btw . Were those shot wide open or around 1.4-1.8

[@MacM545]

Can you compare this to the Voigtlander 85mm f/1.2. I know they're different, but the reason I mentioned it is because it has an enormous exit pupil so is able to transmit even more light to the sensor! I plan on getting one w/ a Sony A7 II for landscapes and astro.

[@jre617]

Interesting. But why would this FF lens be worse on crop sensor? APS-C would only see the sweet spot, the center of the lens, and eliminate the soft corners. It should be better...

[@maheshg212]

This mitakon is magical... the only reason I did not keep was its weight compared with the ZM sonnar 50. I found zeiss was much easier to carry and has fantastic rendering - different to mitakon.

[@MadPotoo]

Congrats on the A7R II purchase! Can you test some VM-mount Voigtlander Nokton lenses on the A7R II?

[@NaviRetlav]

You should do the test of Sony 85mm F1.8. It's cheap and everyone is saying that is super sharp, the same as zeis batis. If it's true, then it's a must have lens ;)

[@GaryBox]

Navi Retlav Agreed I'm getting one. It is also great on aps c Sony bodies. I like the idea of really fast lenses like the Mitakon but I really can't imagine using manual focus at such fast apertures. The Sony 85mm af is great and the lens performs great optically at 1.8 which is enough for me.

[@victorstennis]

Gary Box on the fujifilm xt2 using the superior focus peaking it is easy peasy...I use the voigtlander 58mm and the Mitakon 35 mark II .95....the Mit is amazing but it broke after a light drop.

[@ScrapYardDog64]

Great honest review as usual..

[@rizkyp]

Man i really want Sony A7R III.

[@HoLeeChit11]

Rizki Pratama Don't do it. Seriously.

[@ViliPertti]

Care to explain why not?

[@christopherfrost]

Yeah, why not?

[@OceanicNASA]

Yea, I wouldn't waste money on the mark III. Just wait... a new camera will come out. Cameras on the current line up will get cheaper and something better will come out.

[@MCSpiritStudios]

I have been shooting the A7R3 since March. Phenomenal upgrade over my Canon 5D MarkIII! There is not a single thing I like better about the Canon vs the Sony. The A7R3 can do it all :o

[@eddyvaishist231]

@Christopher Frost Photography When are you going to review the tamron 90mm f2.8 F017??

[@S3l3ct1ve]

Bought this lens. It is fun to use, but I dont really like the rendering of the background, I feel like it lacks character it is too smooth for my taste. Some old vintage 1.2f lenses have more interesting bokeh. But the cost for that is far less image quality wide open compared to mitakon. It is sharp if you can focus good. I think this lens will hold its value far better compared to the modern canon 50mm 1.0f or 1.2f because mitakon features mechanical aperture and focus control, while the canon fully automatic and that means it is too dependent on the canon mount and body system.

[@FuriouslyFurious]

Can I ask a quick question? Why do some people say mm singular when it's plural most times? You didn't take a shot at 50 millimeter... You took it at 50 millimeters.

[@jan-martinulvag1962]

I paint and I try to figure out what camera to buy to photograph them for prints. After consuming hundreds of videos on youtube about cameras I came across your channel and it completely changed my perception of shooting pictures. I have 14 cameras I bought used and cheap so that I can learn about cameras and image quality and because they were used and cheap I will not lose a lot of money if I sell them. Can you recommend a camera and a lens or two for photographing paintings?

[@TheSMOKEGUN]

Hi, I own the same camera as you. Do you think this buy of the Speedmaster 50mm f/0.95 'Pro' Mark II or newer could be a good idea for photographing of stars and night sky?

[@billzidis2656]

Why they don't make a fuji version of this lens? I found the existing 35mm 0.95 is not long enough for portraits...

[@TheLuNaMaStEr]

Very happy for you that you got a A7r2 now!

[@izarscharf7845]

love your vids keep up the great work

[@peteryates308]

Are the corners so bad because the depth of field is so razor-thin that the corners being further from the lens makes a difference?

[@AstroHBF]

Laughed out loud quite a few times in this one! Great vid

[@ericgauthier2665]

Thanks for the review...i Will keep my Magic Slr 50mm 1.1 📸😉🤘

[@ianterada6821]

One of my favorite lenses

[@jancovanderwesthuizen8070]

Why can some mirror less lenses not be adapted onto DSLR?

[@christopherfrost]

None of them can. It's because of the flange distance - you'd have to bury the lens physically inside the camera to get the image required

[@RageStudios]

do you think it's worth it? by the way what happened to your A6300?

[@christopherfrost]

Rage Studios I downgraded to raise money for the a7R II. As for whether this lens is "worth it"...watch the review, and see what you think!

[@serag6308]

Hey there, thanks for your awesome reviews, new sub here.... One dumb question (new to Sony's too): even if this lens is fully mechanic, would I be able to use the focus peaking assist feature of the camera? I just can't trust my eye enough 😅

[@christopherfrost]

It should still work :-)

[@JSarmat86]

Hi, Chris! Great review as always! Please, could You do an review of Mitakon Creator 35 mm f/2? That lens looks nice, has an affordable price tag, but i'm not sure about it's image quality. It would be awesome if You could do an review of that lens. Is that posible? Thank You in advance!

[@KuronoXD]

Congrats on fulfilling that 50mm f/1.0 L lens dream.

[@robertlee6529]

The sharpness of this lens at wide open is at least ok or maybe more accurately, desirable. Btw, at least a fair part of the 'softness' some guys experienced is actually caused by their own movement along the axial direction of the lens - the depth of field at 0.95 is incredibly shallow at close distance.

[@mikaelwardhana2839]

Hi Chris, please also review the new Voigtlander 50mm f1.2 an M mount lens. I have a copy and have been very pleased with its performance.

[@christopherfrost]

Hmm, maybe one day :-)

[@colinedwards7250]

I did own a Canon 50mm f1.0 and got rid of it very quickly. Mostly because the auto focus was so slow. If you feel the need to spend a lot of money buy the wonderful 200mm f1.8L

[@melvinch]

Hope you get to review the elusive Mitakon 135mm F/1.4 soon.

[@christopherfrost]

Hehe! Who knows.

[@cesar5390]

Great review. Will you consider reviewing the Mitakon 35 f0.95 for Sony aps-c?

[@christopherfrost]

I've reviewed that already (on Fuji Mount)

[@mrbassett4388]

Hi Chris, your reviews are the best :)

[@LetsMakeRN]

yes your voice is very soothing. #nohomo. You should be an audible narrator. Seriously well done!

[@kyawminhtut9666]

Hi Chris, you moved to Sony world?

[@kyawminhtut9666]

Hi Chris, Thanks for your review. Can you give any thought of Sony? Especially, your sony A7 r2.

[@christopherfrost]

Kyaw Min Htut Take a look at my recent video about different camera systems I've been using

[@kyawminhtut9666]

Christopher Frost Photography Thanks a lot

[@EmoEmu]

Wait up. Where do I get that hood? Got mine with the old hood (I've had it 1½ years) so could use an improved hood. :)

[@i_am_a_real_cat1443]

you have a great calm voice

[@SupraWes]

It's odd the performance is so poor on APS-C, the pixel pitch is very similar between the two.

[@WedlakeProductions]

Another great video as always. Now you have the Sony A7RII, would you be able to test the performance of adapted lenses? For example how a Canon lens performs on a Canon full frame to how it performs on a Sony full frame? I'm looking to switch to Sony but have some lenses I don't want to replace. I'd like to know what the performance difference is. Thank you.

[@christopherfrost]

I might do :-)

[@andyc4240]

i have this lens and love it. 100% agree with everything in your review, some decent strengths & lots of weaknesses. But this lens is more about the character of the images you can achieve.

[@Lordbaccus]

I LOVE those Lens Flares :)

[@alexbormanbou]

Great analysis

[@cgshen7183]

This lens sells at only 490GBP in China! What a steal

[@IanWilkinson]

Are you sure? Their website quotes $749 + shipping. And don't forget to add VAT and excise duty! www.zyoptics.net/product/mitakon-speedmaster-50mm-f0-95/?attribute_mount=Sony+E Or you could risk a grey market purchase on fleaBay for £578 [International items may be subject to customs processing and additional charges].

[@AnthonyJRobotics]

duty makes a huge part I guess.

[@cgshen7183]

maybe that's their international website, check these detail.tmall.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.14.6.422cf07fNHaMZL&id=44535531489&cm_id=140105335569ed55e27b&abbucket=19&sku_properties=29029:129119254;5919063:6536025

[@cgshen7183]

4690RMB so around 480GBP

[@parsat1245]

Can you please please please do a review on the Mitakon Creator 35mm f2. It’s so hard to find a cheap 35mm on a canon and this a cheap option. Please please please review it

[@christopherfrost]

I might do one day. In the meantime if you have a mirrorless Canon camera then check out the Meike 35mm f/1.7

[@REZrblde]

I love living in 2017 too Chris😉

[@daveandrews6384]

Great video! Can I ask you how you worked out the T-Stop Value?

[@christopherfrost]

Non-scientifically! Just by comparing it to other fast 50mm lenses (also, other reviewers have tested this out and got the same results.

[@anulearntech]

TTArtisan also makes one 50mm f0.95. Do you have a review of it? I'd like to know how it compares with it. thanks.

[@christopherfrost]

Not yet!

[@RCflyer729]

Did you get rid of your a6300 :(. Congrats on getting the a7rii. I just got an a6300 as an upgrade to my nex5t. Really loving it as I am sure you are loving your a7.

[@lazerman121]

I have the 6300 Myself and LOVE it. So powerful yet so tiny.

[@RCflyer729]

yes amazing camera!

[@mhsvz6735]

Interesting lens. Thank you.

[@albertnordman5831]

Hi, Chris, did you jump ship from Canon? or do you still have your 6D and EOS M?

[@MahsinurRahmanLava]

Albert Northman No this lens doesnt support canon mounts

[@christopherfrost]

Albert Northman I now review both Canon and Sony mount lenses

[@nikons]

and Fuji?

[@christopherfrost]

Watch my recent video about different camera systems I've worked with

[@AgnostosGnostos]

The only reason to buy this lens is for shooting only at f/0.95 and maybe at f/1.2. For smaller apertures there are bog standard lenses. At f/1.2 even the very expensive autofocus canon full frame lenses aren't sharp at the corners. You can never except really good sharpness at f/0.95 at a reasonable price. The full frame Leica Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 costs twelve thousands dollars and the bargain-basement Nikon Nikkor Z 58mm f/0.95 S Noct only eight thousands dollars. During my salad days in amateur photography I didn't appreciate lenses with very large apertures. I like that Chinese lenses manufacturers offer affordable very bright lenses for APS-C cameras like the Kamlan 50mm f/1.1 mark II or the impressive and unique Kipon ibelux 40mm f/0.85 which is on my radar.

[@hzubovi1]

I hope You will get the new version for testing soon :)

[@christopherfrost]

I will - a review is coming soon. It's really not much different from this version.

[@hzubovi1]

@@christopherfrost shame I was hoping for some ground-breaking stuff 😀

[@Jakerski]

This lens has a good price, but I see a lot of chromatic aberration even when you stop at f8 (?) or maybe my screen has a technican issue

[@djuydoiu2627]

i really wondered how many lenses with faster then F1.0 exits and then the hard holding myth that F1.0 is the widest open aperture for any lens Carl Zeiss Super-Q-Gigantar 40mm f/0.33 GOI CV 20mm f0.5 Mirror lens Iconic NASA f/0.7 Lens

[@karanchaudhary5194]

Next review canon 85mm f1.4 IS?🙏

[@nightcoder5k]

Great video. Nice lens. I want one. :)

[@stephenspiteri_zunkus]

Nice review but honestly I'm not sure why and for what reason you'd want that much limited depth of field. In a real world you would have been more pleased with a Sigma art lens which is wide enough at 1.4, extremely sharp and well behaved. Such beautiful bokeh too.

[@lazerman121]

Its weird how it is worse on the a5100. Wile the sensor is smaller the detectors should be larger A 1.5 crop of that 42 megapixel sensor would be 28 Mp. I would think seeing as your taking a crop out of the center of that lens at a lower resolution it should be better than if you shot in crop mode on the 7r2.

[@christopherfrost]

lazerman121 Your calculation is incorrect - APS-C mode on the a7R ii is 18mp

[@ThirdHillFromTheLeft]

You got a new subscriber!

[@ProbeRoket]

i see you got that sony now.

[@YevgenSh]

Forgive me but It is not clear why the lens is better than for example Porst 55mm F1.2 Color Reflex MC?

[@christopherfrost]

Yevgen Shramko It's not clear to me, either (!)

[@hzubovi1]

Mark III is coming out this April. I hope You will be one of the first to receive one 😀

[@christopherfrost]

I might ask them for a review copy, yes

[@karafuru7666]

I kind of like the psychedelic lens flaring, adds a bit of flavor.

[@heartcore1972]

Sorry, but why is Manuel Focus a shame?

[@NovoFurryhatted]

Hey, if you up you 0.95 50mm, try new Zenitar 0.95/50 from Zenit. It costs bout 700 pounds and comes in E-mount also... and it's way faster with better bokeh

[@christopherfrost]

What do you mean 'way faster'?

[@mujahidabegaz7434]

Hey Chris does this lens work on a Sony a6300??

[@christopherfrost]

As I explained in the video, it's for Sony E-Mount cameras, so, yes. As you can see in the video, it doesn't work so well on APS-C cameras

[@petrub27]

and how many portraits will be in focus?

[@christopherfrost]

Petru B. The majority of mine were. With manual focus, practice makes (almost) perfect

[@sjokolademonsteret]

How do you calculate the differense in appeture from full frame to aps-c?

[@AcidTripwire]

Sjokolade Monsteret Just multiply the aperture by 1.5 or 1.6, same as the focal length. So a Canon 50mm f/1.8 would become 80mm f/2.9 on APS-C.

[@sjokolademonsteret]

Ok, Thank you :)

[@highgroundproductions8590]

Why haven't you bought the new A7R Mark III that's been out for a month now?

[@highgroundproductions8590]

It's 3200 but you're right neither can I. 2400 for the Mark II is still a lot though... I got my 6D2 WITH LENS for only 2100.

[@christopherfrost]

It cost £1,000 more and I didn't need its new features (although they are cool)

[@tedtedsen269]

Hai Christopher is there a sony adapter to my Fuji gfx 50r

[@christopherfrost]

No idea, sorry

[@ThomasPhamKESAT]

I think the samsung f1.2 50mm manual lens is a better.

[@yeet1991]

I would have bought one, If there was a canon ef version.

[@MahsinurRahmanLava]

Insanity the 35mm is available for canon mounts

[@H4KUN4M3N03D3L]

I have a Canon 50mm f/1.0L I’d be willing to lend to you. However I live in the Netherlands, near Amsterdam. And I can’t exactly say I visit the UK often.

[@christopherfrost]

Urgh, that's a shame. If ever you come to the UK I would /love/ to take a look :-) Merry Christmas and a happy new year!

[@christopherfrost]

I'm tempted to come to Amsterdam with my test chart actually :-)

[@H4KUN4M3N03D3L]

I’m sure your wife wouldn’t mind a weekend in Amsterdam! Let me know. And if I’m ever in Wales I’ll be sure to hit you up.

[@MovingThePicture]

T1.3 was the moment when I was not interested anymore.

[@TheMetalButcher]

It's nice, but I would much prefer the Samyang Xp F1.2. A little slower, but much better Image quality.

[@constantinosschinas4503]

now throw this thing on a Metabones SpeedBooster to get that extra 1 1/3 stop. In total f/0.7, or less?

[@christopherfrost]

The Speedbooster needs a DSLR lens, I think

[@S3l3ct1ve]

It would work on APSC. Then again it would be 0.7f apsc standart results.

[@MohondhaY]

Did u switch to Mirrorless Cameras?

[@christopherfrost]

I now review lenses on both digital SLRs and mirrorless. Merry Christmas and a happy new year!

[@AustrisPhoto]

How U test T-stop?

[@TheMetalButcher]

Probably shutter speed comparison with lenses of known T-stop.

[@wtfiswiththosehandles]

I'd buy that for my canon 5d. I don't get why a fully manual 3rd party lens with no electronics whatsoever should be released with only Sony mount.

[@christopherfrost]

Because it's easier to design a lens like this for mirrorless mounts. Those pesky laws of physics

[@wtfiswiththosehandles]

This lens is out only for Sony system, and there are many mirrorless mounts with identical or similar flange distance to Sony-E. So that doesn't really answer my question.

[@christopherfrost]

Well, you were talking about your Canon 5D, that kind of threw me! You are correct, it would be nice to see this on other mirrorless systems, but then again, currently, there are no other full-frame mirrorless systems than Sony, which is probably why Mitakon stuck with E-mount

[@wtfiswiththosehandles]

Yeah, I kind of jumped between topics. I also have Canon M6 which could theoretically use this lens.

[@pztiger_214]

Wish I can get it for canon :(