Bokeh: nothing much to say here, OOF rays are rendered without ugly scattering effects.. the bokeh looks pretty "simple". (may be this is also about the not complicated optical design) While i didn't provide comparison shots, beercan's bokeh is no where as good as this one, and still its referred as a 'bokeh' lens. Overall, excellent performance from the cosina.

Since this lens can focus down to only 1:2, the manufacturer includes a close-up filter for free. With the filter, the lens can focus down to 1:1 magnifaction, and there seems to be no change in optical quality as the filter is specifically designed ("matched") for this lens.

many people have reported the 100/3.5 to be badly built. This is only partly true. The exterior parts of the lens is made of plastic, a kind of plastic that we aren't used to see with lenses. However the lens barrel and other parts feel strong and can take some pressure.

Color and Contrast: I was expecting good color and contrast from this lens as there is very few optical surfaces in the path of entering light (its made of 5 elements in 4 groups). I made a comparison with the 70-210/4 "beercan" in this area. As many people agree, the beercan is known to have outstanding color and very good contrast. I'm comparing this little plastic thing against nearly the top-tier in terms of color and contrast.

One of the standout features of the Leica SOFORT 2 is its selective printing capability. With this feature, you can be more discerning in your printing choices, ensuring that only the best shots make it to the physical world. This allows you to finetune what you are printing and avoid wasting film frames.

The Leica SOFORT 2 camera embodies a clean and reduced design that effortlessly blends aesthetics with functionality. With its elegant body and lightweight build, this camera is ideal for capturing precious moments on the go. Its intuitive control layout further complements the simple design, allowing users to focus on capturing life's cherished memories with ease.

The plastic fantastic is pretty small, just about the same size with the 18-70 kit lens. but this doesn't explain the fact that its the lightest lens i have ever held. Its almost lighter than 28/2.8 which is much smaller. But thats a good thing since the lens seems to be more than strong enough to hold itself in one piece.

* while the maximum aperture of 100/3.5 is supposed to be F3.5, 5D registers it as F3.2. Aperture can be set to F3.2 without exposure problems. I further investigated this by using the same exposure time in M mode with F3.2 and F3.5, there were no differences in histograms. That means the lens can't actually go up to F3.2. I don't think choosing this setting would cause big problems as 3.2 and 3.5 is pretty close.

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* At all aperture settings, the aperture blades doesn't make up a symmetrical shape. It's rather like an oval (but not circular) I haven't seen egg shaped highlights so far, but i guess it may happen.

you were wrong, image 1 is taken with Cosina 100/3.5 macro which visibly beats the beercan in terms of color, and equals in terms of contrast. Unexpectedly big achievement indeed. I know color is something relative, but which one do you think looks more plesant? my less scientific experiences also tell colors are pretty good with the cosina.

The good thing is, lens elements doesn't change their positions at all, they are simply fixed within the telescoping barrel, which means the wobbling and growling of focusing mechanism has no impact on optical quality.

The streamlined connectivity to the Leica FOTOS app is perfect for integrating instant photography with a digital lifestyle. By simply pairing the SOFORT 2 with the app via Bluetooth, photos can instantly be transferred from your camera to your smartphone, and you can even remote control your camera. It is also possible to transfer and print images from your smartphone and other Leica cameras that are stored in the Leica Gallery of the app. This dynamic connection between camera and FOTOS app bridges the gap between instant film photography and the digital world, making the Leica SOFORT 2 a versatile companion for modern-day creators.

Even further, this is the longest cheap prime available. You can't get a 135mm or longer lens with a price close to this. This alone makes the Cosina 100/3.5 worthy of getting a review. The big question is, can it really deliver true macro experience, or do you always get what you pay for?

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Manual Focusing: the focusing ring looks very friendly, but with the first touch, you realise the problem. The friction is so high that it affects manual focusing. You have to apply a small amount of force before the ring decides to turn. Then it suddenly makes a jump before you can stop pushing. This is really frustrating but there is a solution; holding the ring tighter than usual allows precise manual focusing, but you have to remember this one. Also you can move the camera for fine adjustments in focus.

The Leica SOFORT 2 combines digital moments with the enduring analogue world. With a high-quality, clean and minimalistic design, seamless connectivity and many creative features, this hybrid instant camera is a stylish and playful companion to keep by your side.

ENG broadcast camera

* provided rear cap doesn't open the aperture, i don't know if storing the lens with closed aperture for long time may cause problems.

The Leica SOFORT 2 offers a variety of creative possibilities with its 10 Filmstyles and 10 Lensstyles options. With the Filmstyles you can choose the perfect filter to match your mood, adding a touch of nostalgia, vibrancy, or elegance to the shots. Complementing this are the Lensstyles, which enable users to experiment with various effects, such as fisheye, macro, and double exposure. These options encourage you to create imaginative instant photography with ease and a whole lot of fun.

Aberrations: no distorion, no noticable vignetting, no CA, but lots of purple fringing around shiny spots... this is the only optical fault of the lens so far it seems.

Auto Focus: To go from infinity to closest distance (which happens to be at 1:2 magnifaction) the whole optical assembly of the lens has to move 5 centimeters, which is a pretty long way and HUGE friction caused by internal mechanics doesn't help either. Drop in the fact that AF drive system has a fast gear ratio, i think you can guess the sound of massive torque of the AF motor working against the friction to move whole optical assembly.

British camera brands

And here comes the sharpness comparison shots. all converted from RAW, no sharpening or noise reduction. At the end you'll see comparison shots from the Beercan. The test target:

The versatile Leica SOFORT 2 comes with a delightful array of accessory options. Wooden picture frames can be used to elegantly showcase your prints. Wrist straps, carrying straps, bags, and other appealing accessories enhance the camera's individuality and creativity, reflecting the unique personalities of those capturing moments with it.

Note: This lens is being sold with different labels on it. For your convenience, here is a list of brands that sell the cosina 100/3.5: Pentax (discontinued), Vivitar, Phoenix, Promaster, Soligor and voightlander. Before we get into sample shots, i'll do some verbal evaluation of the lens.

Focusing is done by extension, which means the optical assembly moves forward and backward inside the lens barrel for focusing. Since this is a macro lens, the focus mechanism has a long throw and lens extends to twice of its length when focused to closest distance. Telescoping parts of the lens wobble, but not much as one would expect. The real problem about build quality will be covered in the focusing part.