Ms-Optics ELNOMAXIM 55mm F1.2
Review and Photo example of the ELNOMAXIM 55mm F1.2 (MS-Optics / Miyazaki Kogaku) .
Table of contents
Gallery
- The sample photos were taken using a Leica M-P and a HASSELBLAD X1D-50c.
Review
1．Overview
The MS ELNOMAXIM 55mm F1.2 is a large-aperture standard lens released by Ms-optics (Miyazaki Optical) that uses the Ernostar lens format.
The lens features very high resolution in the center, but the peripheral area does not improve much even when the aperture is closed.
The focal length is 55mm, as the manufacturer wanted to create a large-aperture standard lens in the Ernostar format, and 55mm was adopted as a compromise to reduce the negative effects of the Ernostar format, which tends to deteriorate in the peripheral areas.
As stated in the lens’s instruction manual, this is a lens for portraits with a very good central area. Color variations include black, silver, and gold.
This lens is thought to be part of the historical series, but there is no mention of this in the instruction manual.
2．Usability
The MS ELNOMAXIM 55mm F1.2 has a structure where the front element and the lens barrel are almost thin in order to make the lens compact. It may be a little exaggerated, but when viewed from the front, it looks as if the front element is directly attached to the lens barrel.
The image is unique, with a clear image obtained from the simple lens configuration of four elements in four groups, and a blur at the periphery.
The image circle is wide, covering a medium-format digital sensor (44x33mm). However, due to the deterioration of image quality at the periphery, it is not practical to use except in scenes where the subject is in the center.
The lens I own has a moderate amount of stickiness in the aperture ring, so I do not encounter the trouble of the focus ring moving unintentionally, which is a problem with some Ms-optics lenses.
3．Summary
In conclusion, to sum up the MS ELNOMAXIM 55mm F1.2, although it has a wide image circle and no peripheral light falloff, it is not suitable for record-taking because of the distortion of the edges. It is a lens for portraits that makes the most of its brightness.
Specification and Competitor
Although the lens type and focal length of the MS ELNOMAXIM 55mm F1.2 are different, compared to the KONICA HEXANON 50mm F1.2, the maximum diameter is 14mm thinner and the overall length is 9mm shorter.
| Item | ELNOMAXIM | HEXANON 50 |
| focal length(mm) | 55.6 | 50 |
| Maximum aperture | 1.2 | 1.2 |
| Minimum aperture | 16 | 16 |
| Leaf blade | 4 elements in 4 groups | 7 elements in 6 groups |
| Lens configuration | 10 | 10 |
| Minimum distance(m) | 0.8 | 0.9 |
| Lens length(mm) | 43 | 52(from M) |
| Lens max diameter(mm) | 50 | 68 |
| Filter type | 49 | 62 |
| Weight(g) | 180 | 390 |
| Hood | Special cylindrical 49mm reverse thread | Cylindrical slit type/screw-in |
| Lens mount | M | M mount |
| Release date | 2020 | 2001 |
| Production numbers | 400 | 2001 |
| Price | ¥90,000 | Sold as a set with the body |
Reference links
Update
- 2024.04.24
- 2023.09.29:Update
- 2022.01.15:First release
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