Ms-optics HIPOLION 8/19

Review and Photo example of the HIPOLION 19mm / F8 (F4 – F8 is soft focus).

Gallery

Sample photos taken with the LEICA M-P Typ240.

Review

The HIPOLION 19mm is part of the Miyazaki History series, and has a lens thickness of 2.6mm, which is due in part to its lens format, making it the lens with the thinnest lens barrel in Ms-optics.
The aperture can be opened up to F4 when wide open, but the rendering will be soft, and you will need to stop it down to F8 to get a typical depiction.
The name “HIPOLION” of this lens is an homage to Goertz’s Hypergon, which is a famous symmetrical lens composed of two pieces of glass, and this lens has a structure similar to that. ing.

It’s thinner than the body cap, so you can barely feel the thickness of the lens part when you wear it.
Because of its thinness, it is a little difficult to perform basic operations such as changing the aperture value and adjusting focus, which are necessary when using the lens. However, if you set the aperture value to F8, you can use it with almost pan focus, so I think that’s enough for casual snapping.

With the LEICA M Typ240, which is an older model among 35mm full-frame sensors, I’m concerned about color cast and image distortion in the periphery of captured images. I think it’s best to use a camera with a sensor that doesn’t have a noticeable color cast, or use a Micro Four Thirds sensor or APS-C size sensor that doesn’t use the peripheral areas.
As shown in the second and fifth example images, even in F4’s soft mode, the center area is well-delineated, and it is best to avoid using this mode continuously as it will result in a one-sided pattern, but it is good for occasional shots. I think.

The Orion 15, which I have used as a symmetrical lens for a rangefinder camera, has a focal length of 28mm F6, and when you look into the lens, it is obvious that the aperture is at its maximum aperture. This appears to be a restriction placed on what the designer considers to be an appropriate depiction.
The CONTAX G Hologon has a focal length of 16mm and a fixed aperture of F8, and it also has a disc-shaped aperture inside the lens, so if you want to open it up, you can probably make it brighter.
The 25mm, which is said to be a copy of Nikon’s Topogon lens, can also be opened up to F4, providing practical depiction even at maximum aperture.
From these examples, it seems that it is up to the designer to decide how much scope of use is given to the user.
Although HIPOLION is not used in practical use at F8, it allows users to use the characteristic soft rendering that can be obtained when the aperture is opened to the maximum, opening up this function to the user. It seems that the idea of Mr. Miyazaki, a designer who prefers freedom over restrictions, is expressed here.

Specification

Item	Value	note
focal length(mm)	19
Maximum aperture	4	The lens can be opened up to F4, but the image will be soft, and practical from F8.
Minimum aperture	16
Lens configuration	2groups2elements
Leaf blade	10
Minimum distance(m)	0.5	Distance meter not linked
Lens length(mm)	1	Distance from mount frange
Lens max diameter(mm)	50
Filter diameter(mm)	–
Weight(g)	70
Release date	2020.12
Official price	60,000 Yen