Yashica ML 50mm f/1.4 Lens Review

Yashica ML 50mm f/1.4 Performance

A 50MP image can take advantage of high-resolution lenses, so it is really pleasing to see that in fact, the Yashica performs to a very high standard. Sharpness centrally is good at f/1.4, very good at f/2 and f/2.8 and excellent from f/4 through to f/8. Diffraction then starts to bite but results are still very good at f/11 and f/16.

The edges are soft at f/1.4 and f/2, but sharpen up and reach a very good level from f/2.8 to f/8. Sharpness is still good at f/11 but results are soft at f/16.

This is really a very creditable performance from a lens not really designed for digital and results look sharp and crisp.

In terms of CA, this is something that was never a problem when most people used black and white film and did not seem to be much of an issue even with colour. Digital is more demanding, but here the control of CA is very impressive centrally. There is visible fringing at the edges of the image so it may be that some work in software will be needed for some subjects.

Distortion measures -1.19% barrel, pretty much what we would expect for a fast 50mm and relatively modest. Correction can be undertaken in software.

Bokeh is something else that was never mentioned in the days of this lens, but it is pleasant enough even without special rounded diaphragm blades.

There is also an advantage to having only 7 elements in a lens, in that there is far less glass to flare in extreme conditions. Flare is virtually absent from this lens.

Yashica enthusiasts can look upon this lens with the satisfaction of knowing that some 35 or so years on it can still make the grade.

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