Yashica ML 50mm 1:1.4 – review
Yashica Lens ML 50mm 1:1.4 lens review, aka Yashica ML 50mm 1:1.4. Made by Yashica.
Mount – Contax/Yashica (C/Y)
Another one fast and standard Japanese lens – which seems to be quite famous.
The lens for the test was provided by Egor Nikolaev (Егор Николаев) – many thanks and greetings.
Yashica ML 50mm 1:1.4 specifications
| Name engraved on the lens | Yashica Lens ML |
| f[mm] | 50 |
| A max [1/f] | 1.4 |
| A min[1/f] | 16 |
| Lens design [el.] | 7 |
| Lens design [gr.] | 6 |
| Filter thread Ø front(rear)[mm] | 52 |
| Lens Shade | |
| closefocus[m] | 0.5 |
| Length [mm] | 53.5 |
| Weight[g] | 298 |
| Style | Yashica ML |
| Notes |
More data
| Floating elements | NO |
| Aperture blades number | 8 |
| Confidence in the test results of reviewed copies | Enough high |
| Reviewed Lens SN: | A1013988 |
Historical note
I myself know very little about these lenses, so there are no historical and tech notes in the review (maybe later). Only specs, tests, and conclusions.
Yashica ML 50mm 1:1.4 lens exterior
Yashica ML 50mm 1:1.4 sharpness
Сlose-distance resolution test, minimal distance
Testing methods description
- Target: 10-15 cm picture, printed on glossy photo paper
- Distance: 1.7m
- Camera: Sony A7II (24mpx, full-frame, tripod, remote control). M-mode, ISO fixed, WB fixed, SteadyShot – OFF.
- The test was repeated for every F-stop on every focus position with manual focus adjustment for each shot. That is to avoid the effect of field curvature.
- RAW processing: Capture One, default settings. All quality settings – 100%. Crops – 300×200 px
Original target image (printed in horizontal orientation on 10cm X 15cm glossy photo paper)
Scene preview
Test results
Long-distance resolution test
Testing methods description
- Target: cityscape
- Distance: > 200 meters to center focus point
- Camera: Sony A7II (24mpx, full-frame, tripod, remote control). M-mode, ISO fixed, WB fixed, SteadyShot – OFF. The focus point is on the center only.
- RAW processing: Capture One, default settings. All quality settings – 100%. Crops – 300×200 px
Scene preview
Test results
Yashica ML 50mm 1:1.4 aberrations
Vignetting
Geometric distortion
Coma aberrations
Chromatic aberrations
Long-distance bokeh
Test #1
Test conditions: the lens was focused on minimal distance on the scale (0.5m), buildings are on “infinity”-distance.
Test#2:
Test conditions: lens was focused on 1.0m
Light bubbles bokeh – long distance
Test #1
The lens is on the minimal focusing distance of 0.5m, lights are on infinity (cityscape)
Test #2
Test conditions: lens was focused on 1.0m
Yashica ML 50mm 1:1.4 – final conclusion
This lens has everything you can find on a standard fast fifty – Fairly weak sharpness in the corners and sides – even if the aperture is F2.8. Severe vignetting at open aperture. There are also geometric distortions. There is also a noticeable coma, with a butterfly even at F2.0. And of course – a chromatic aberration.
Do not think that I am scolding this lens. Nothing like this. It’s just better to know about the shortcomings in advance. This helps when photographing.
So, it is not hard to find a super-fast (1:1.4) 50mm lens that will shoot better than this one – I think that some fifties that have been tested on this site may be better, but the difference can be called insignificant. I’m going to publish a few comparisons soon, check the search if you are interested in them.
The main: it looks great, it is made of steel and glass, it fits nicely in the hand. Just listen to how its name sounds: YAAAAA!-SHIIIII!!-CAAAAA!!!
Verdict: it is not a champion, but if you got it, then use it without a doubt.
1 Comment
Thomas · 2022-08-14 at 05:30
Having used this 50mm lens briefly for photojournalism, I fully concur with this review. The alternative in the C/Y mount is the superb Carl Zeiss 50mm F1.4 Planar — albeit a higher cost.