Ms-optics SONNETAR 73mm

Review and photo examples of Sonnetal 73mm F1.5 (MS-Optics / Miyazaki Optical)

Table of contents

Gallery
SONNETAR 73mm F1.5 photo example (with LEICA M-P / LEICA M10)

Review
SONNETAR 73mm is the first bright medium telephoto lens from MS-Optics (Miyazaki Optical) with a focal length of 73mm.
One of the features of this lens is that we have devised a way to attach the front lens, which has the largest diameter, and the filter diameter of this lens is 49mm, compared to the 60mm filter diameter of the LEICA SUMMILUX 75mm, making it incredibly compact for a 75mm class lens.

Among Mr. Miyazaki’s lenses, this lens and the APORIS 135mm are the only lenses with a focal length exceeding 60mm.
Mr. Miyazaki said that he chose the 73mm focal length because, “Leica Hector was conscious of the 73mm,” and I would like him to take on the 75mm focal length Summilux M head-on. I think this choice is typical of Mr. Miyazaki, who loves old lenses.
It’s probably not that difficult to increase the focal length by 2mm, and if it exceeds 74mm, some lenses will be called 75mm in marketing, so not doing so shows the designer’s seriousness. I guess there are. If the aperture value was extended to F1.4, the lens diameter would have to increase to meet the specifications, so it is possible that he did not want to do that and kept it at F1.5.
In any case, I think it’s a lens with a unique presence that sets it apart from other 75mm class lenses.

This lens is very compact, with a barrel size similar to that of a large 50mm standard lens, and it fits better in your camera bag than Voigtlander and Leica’s 75mm class lenses, making it useful to have on hand.
When I went on a trip to Thailand, having one of these lenses came in handy for capturing subjects that were a little far away.

Like this generation of Miyazaki lenses, the exterior finish is good and the design is sophisticated, but it is strange that the aperture rotates in the opposite direction to ELNOMAXIM.
Focusing with the M-type Leica’s rangefinder is a little difficult when the aperture is wide open, so considering focus accuracy, it would be safer to use the EVF.
When used with HASSELBLAD X2D, it covers about 40.5 x 27mm (when cropped at 3:2) out of 44 x 33mm.

Specification

Item	Value	note
focal length(mm)	73
Maximum aperture	1.5
Minimum aperture	16
Lens configuration	4groups 5elements	Sonnar type
Minimum distance(m)	1.0
Lens length(mm)	57
Lens max diameter(mm)	50
Filter diameter(mm)	49	Reverse mounting
Weight(g)	197