Rodenstock Apo-Rodagon-N 50/2.8

Reviews

1. 

   16:9 – May 26, 2022

   Early samples are identified by capitalised ‘Rodenstock’ and (without the second hypen) ‘Apo-Rodagon N’. Post-1990/91 production (serial 10,983,xxx) is marked with all-caps ‘RODENSTOCK’ and ‘Apo-Rodagon-N’.

   The pre-N 50/2.8 versions are superb; the N – which gained better multicoatings and a better-corrected optical formula – is state of the art: achieving Gold all the way in both near- and far-field performance, where corners wilt – dipping to 7.0 wide open. Naturally, this isn’t a lens you buy to shoot wide open, and although it wasn’t designed to shoot at distance, by f5.6 it turns in performance comparable to any 50mm prime, with very low aberrations across the board, and near-perfect geometry.

2. 

   Fred – June 29, 2022

   I have the older version I, the one designed around 1979. Funny upon cleaning, it’s not 2 groups in the front, but 3. I can’t enjoy it more and the challeng is critical focus. These lenses are very sharp. They are very small when used with an LM helicoid as a taking lens.