MS-MODE-S Reissue SONNETAR 50 F1.3

A review and photo examples of the Ms-Optics Sonnethal 50mm F1.3.

Table of Contents

• Gallery
• Review
  1. About
  2. Usage
  3. Summary
     • Old model: MS-MODE-S
     • Big Brother: SONNETAR 50mm F1.1
• Specification
• Reference links
• Update history
• Affiliate link

Gallery

• The sample photos were taken using a LEICA M-P typ240.

Cherry blossom・桜

Ms-optics Sonnetar f1.3 50mm LEICA M-P Typ240-Iso: 200

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Review

1．Overview

The Sonnethal 50mm F1.3 is a large-aperture standard lens released in 2022.

It is a renewed version of the MS-MODE-S 50mm F1.3, which was first released by Ms-optics in 2009.

The main specifications are as follows, and details are listed in the table.

• Aperture value 1.3
• Lens configuration 4 groups, 6 elements
• Aperture blades 10 elements
• Minimum shooting distance 0.7m
• Leica M rangefinder camera rangefinder linkage 0.8m
• Hood Dedicated reverse thread screw-in hood
• Lens color variations Silver, black, black paint
• Lens length 35.5mm
• Maximum lens diameter 49mm
• Weight 123g
• Lens filter 49mm, attached in the opposite direction to normal.

2．Usability

Compared to the previous MS-MODE-S model, the Sonnethal 50mm F1.3 has a more compact exterior with a dedicated lens barrel, and the image quality is improved with higher resolution and sharper images both at full aperture and when stopped down.
Since the lens configuration is the same as the previous model, this is not an improvement due to a design change, but rather due to the latest lens coating in 2022, improvements in manufacturing precision including the lens barrel and lens, and other factors that are thought to have contributed to the improved performance.

The aperture is a clickless specification common to Ms-Optics lenses, and I am not dissatisfied with the position of the aperture ring, but since the aperture ring is slightly loose, unintended changes may occur, so it would be better if the aperture ring had a little more weight to rotate.

The rear lens has a function to correct coma aberration, and is located at 3m by default, and at this position it is possible to link the rangefinder of a Leica rangefinder. The coma aberration correction function has indexes at 0.75, 1, 1.5, 3, and infinity, and with mirrorless cameras, you can enjoy the difference in depiction due to differences in aberration.

3．Summary

In conclusion, the SONNETAR 50mm F1.3 is characterized by its compact lens barrel and light weight, which are common to Ms-Optics lenses.

As of 2025, Ms-Optics lenses are rarely seen on the second-hand market, so there is a problem that there are few opportunities to purchase them, so it would be appropriate to take the stance of buying them if you can afford them when you see them.

In the mid-2010s, Ms-Optics lenses were characterized by their low price compared to the lens specifications, and there was motivation to purchase them compared to other manufacturers.
In the 2020s, prices have risen due to various reasons, and it is necessary to recognize that the price is equivalent to lenses from manufacturers other than Leica and is more expensive than Chinese lenses.

Ms-Optics’ Sonnar-type 50mm lens also includes the MS-SONNETAR 50mm F1.1, and if you were to choose between the two lenses, you would choose the MS-SONNETAR 50mm F1.1. This is because when the MS-SONNETAR 50mm F1.1 is stopped down to around F1.4, it produces better images than the SONNETAR 50mm F1.3 when fully open.

・Old model: MS-MODE-S

As mentioned in the overview, the MS-MODE-S released in 2009 is the base lens for the SONNETAR 50mm F1.3.

The major difference between the two lenses is the minimum shooting distance, which is reduced from 1m for the MS-MODE-S to 0.7m for the SONNETAR 50mm F1.3 (0.8m when rangefinder-coupled).

The MS-MODE-S’s depiction becomes high-resolution when stopped down, but when the aperture is open, there are scenes where the screen becomes noticeably fluffy and blurry.

In addition, the MS-MODE-S uses the MS-50 helicoid in the lens barrel for modifying existing lenses. Therefore, the lens section and the helicoid + mount section can be separated, and the mount section is provided in two mounts: L39 screw mount and Nikon S and Contax C mount.

I will introduce this older 50mm / F1.3 in a separate article.

・Big Brother: SONNETAR 50mm F1.1

Miyazaki of Ms-Optics designed a larger aperture than the Sonnar type, and released the MS-SONNETAR 50mm F1.1 four years after the MS-MODE-S in 2009. To improve brightness, the lens diameter of this lens has increased by 5mm, but the overall length is almost the same, making it exceptionally compact for an F1.1 lens. You can see that they are almost the same size by looking at the lens configuration diagram below.

• The lens construction diagrams are quoted from each company’s materials, and the sizes have been adjusted by us, so they are not exact.

Specifications and Competitor

Reference link

• Wikipedia’s description of the Sonnar-type lens
• MS-MODE-S・Shige’s hobby
• SONNETAR 50mm F1.1・Shige’s hobby

Update history

• 2025.4.10
• 2024.07.09:Update article
• 2024.02.16:Update article
• 2022.03.08:First draft

Affiliate Link

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