Intro

The Zhongyi Mitakon Speedmaster 50mm f0.95 III was the first standard prime lens with the unique f0.95 focal ratio specifically designed for full-frame mirrorless cameras. A popular focal length for street photography and general-purpose use, it’s available in Sony E, Canon RF and Nikon Z-Mounts. Its f0.95 focal ratio gathers around two times the light of lenses with an f1.4 focal ratio. On a cropped sensor body it’s equivalent in angle-of-view and depth-of-field to a 75mm f1.4 lens. This is quite attractive for portrait photography and gives decent background isolation even on the smaller format sensor.

This lens was already at its third iteration at the time I tested it, with a slightly changed optical formula over its predecessors. But its biggest drawbacks remain: the lens is manual focus only which should limit its use with moving subjects and it does not have any electric contacts so the aperture has to be closed manually to the desired value and there are no EXIF-data nor lens-profiles being transmitted to the camera. But if you can live with these limitations the Mitakon Speedmaster 50mm f0.95 III at 1000 EUR / 800 USD is the cheapest option to get a lens with sub f1.0 focal ratio for your full-frame mirrorless camera.

I tested the Zhongyi Mitakon Speedmaster 50mm f0.95 III on a 45MP Nikon Z7 body against The Nikon Z 58mm f0.95 S Noct and AF-S 58mm f1.4G lens, as well as the Zeiss Otus 55mm f1.4. So if you want to know how the Mitakon Speedmaster performs, you’ve come to the right place!

Facts from the catalog

As usual I’ll have a look at the technical data of the Zhongyi Mitakon Speedmaster 50mm f0.95 III (“Mitakon” for short) first. I’ve rated the features with a [+] (or [++]), when it’s better than average or even state of the art, a [0] if it’s standard or just average, and [-] if there’s a disadvantage. For this comparison I use the Nikon Z 58mm f0.95 S Noct (“Noct”), Nikon AF-S 58mm f1.4G, and Zeiss Otus 55mm f1.4 (“Otus”).

Size (diameter x length): The Mitakon is moderately sized at 74 x 85mm (2.9 x 3.3in.) the lens hood adding 32mm to its length. The Nikon AF-S 58mm f1.4G is 85 x 70mm + 44mm lens hood, the Otus 92 x 117mm + 32mm. For an apples-to-apples comparison one has to allow for the differences of flange distance between the Z-mount (16mm) and the F-mount (46.5mm). So these 30.5mm (1.2in.) have to be added when using the Nikon AF-S 58mm f1.4G or the Otus via FTZ adapter on a Nikon Z camera. The Nikon Z Noct is a largest lens in this comparison at 102 x 153mm (4.0 x 6.0in.) and the lens hood adds another 29mm to its length. [0]

Weight: 793g (28 oz.) plus 52g for the metal lens hood. This is a very acceptable weight for a solid all metal construction. The Nikon AF-S 58mm f1.4G is made of plastic and weighs only 383g + 32g, the full-metal Otus is 948g + 64g. Both need the FTZ adapter adding another 133g (4.7 oz.) for use on a Nikon Z camera. The Nikon Z Noct is monstrously heavy at 1997g + 58g. [0]

Optics: 10 elements in 7 groups. The Otus has 12 elements in 10 groups, the Nikon AF-S 58mm f1.4G 9 lenses in 6 groups and the Noct 17/10. [+]

Closest focus distance is 0.54m (21in.) with a magnification of 1:8.1 and a working distance of 0.43m. A magnification of 1:10 is achieved at 0.64m. The Nikon AF-S 58mm f1.4G goes to 0.54m, the Otus 0.5m, the Noct 0.5m with magnifications of 1:7.2, 1:6.8, and 1:4.9 respectively. [0]

Filter-thread: The Mitakon has a 67mm filter-thread. The Nikon AF-S 58mm f1.4G has 72mm, the Otus 77mm, the Noct 82mm. [+]

Image stabilization: The lens offers no optical stabilization – like most prime lenses for Sony or Nikon mirrorless bodies. Nikon Z bodies provide built-in sensor-shift stabilization for Z-mount lenses over 5 axis – plus an optional electronic stabilization in video mode. F-mount lenses without optical image stabilization like the Nikon AF-S 58mm f1.4G and the Otus profit from the body-based image stabilization of a Nikon Z body when used via FTZ adapter, but only over 3 axis (roll, pitch, yaw). [0]

Auto focus: No, the Mitakon is manual focus only, just like the Otus and the Nikon Z Noct except that it turns the Canon/Sony way. There’s a large mechanically coupled dedicated focus ring which turns 320 degrees for very precise manual focus. The focus ring has a linear gearing which makes smooth focus pulling for videographers easy. The same is true for the Noct. The Otus has a slightly shorter throw of 250 degrees and turns like Nikon users are used to in its ZF.2 version. Of the lenses compared here, only the Nikon AF-S 58mm f1.4G offers autofocus. [-]

Lens profile: The Mitakon does not come with a lens profile but Lightroom and Photoshop provide one with vignette and distortion control. It’s listed under the manufacturer “ZY Optics”. [0]

Covers full frame/FX or smaller. Same with the alternatives. [+]

Price: The lens costs 1000 EUR (incl. 19% VAT) / 800 USD. That is definitely cheap compared to the Otus (3200 EUR / 4000 USD) or the Nikon Z Noct at 9000 EUR / 8000 USD. The Leica Noctilux-M 50mm 0.95 ASPH is even selling north of 10,000 EUR. The Nikon AF-S 58mm f1.4G goes for 1600 EUR / 1450 USD. [+]

Comes with a padded lens case (without strap) and the lens hood is included and reversible for transport. [+]

Aperture ring: The Mitakon’s aperture can only be controlled from the ring at the front of the lens as it has no electrical or mechanical coupling between the lens and the camera. The ring has no clicks and can easily be moved accidentally especially as it is very close to the focus ring. The Mitakon does not transfer EXIF data about the aperture (or focus distance) to the camera which means that you have to set aperture manually and its value is not recorded in the image-file. Nailing the correct exposure is best supported with a live histogram in the view-finder. On the Nikon Z Noct there is a multi-function control ring which can be assigned to operate the aperture (this is the default) or exposure compensation – or you do this from the camera-body. The aperture is actuated electromagnetically. The Nikon AF-S 58mm f1.4G and most other alternatives don’t have an aperture ring. The Zeiss Otus offers one (Nikon ZF.2 version only) but that is of no use as the Nikon Z cameras (unlike the D850) do not allow to control the aperture from there. [-]

Sealing: no, just like the Otus. The Noct has a rubber grommet at the lens-mount plus further special weather-sealing throughout the construction. The Nikon AF-S 58mm f1.4G only has the sealing at the lens-mount. [-]

Adding another [++] for the unique focal ratio of f0.95 the score in the “features-department” of the Mitakon is 3[-]/5[0]/7[+]. The downsides to this lens: It has no autofocus and you need to set aperture manually too with no communication between lens and camera (incl. no EXIF data). But it’s moderately sized and the cheapest lens designed for full-frame sensors with an f0.95 focal ratio.

Three standard prime lenses for Nikon

Above from left to right: Nikon 58mm f1.4G on Nikon FTZ adapter, Mitakon Speedmaster 50mm f0.95 III, Nikon Z 58mm f0.95 S Noct

Alternatives

The market for standard prime lenses with focal rations of at least f1.4 is pretty crowded. But if you’re looking for f0.95 lenses overing a full-frame sensor there are really only two alternatives left after Meyer Optik Görlitz stopped manufacturing their Nocturnus 50mm 0.95 II: It’s the Nikon Z 58mm f0.95 S Noct (for Z-mount, around 9000 EUR) and the Leica Noctilux-M 50mm 0.95 ASPH (for M-mount, around 10,000 EUR) – both of which are manual focus only. Let’s have a closer look at the Nikon Z Noct:

• The Nikon Z 58mm f0.95 S Noct has been teased since the launch of Nikon’s Z system. It is a huge lens and brutally heavy at 2kg (70 oz.) with an eye-watering price-tag of of 8999 EUR / 7999 USD. But it’s also a unique lens with the best available performance and you can produce images that are hard to duplicate with any other model. For that it earned a Highly Recommended in my Nikon Z 58mm f0.95 S Noct review.

Other alternatives include lenses with a 1/2 to 1 stop slower focal ratio of f1.2 or f1.4. Many of those can be used via adapter on a modern mirrorless camera from Canon, Nikon or Sony:

• Canon has a pretty long history manufacturing f1.2 lenses. Currently there’s the Canon EF 50mm 1.2 L USM on offer, a design from 2006 selling for around 1250 EUR / 1270 USD. Plus the more recently introduced Canon RF 50mm 1.2 L USM (2300 EUR / 2100 USD) for Canon’s mirrorless full-frame bodies. Both lenses offer autofocus.
• Nikon has the 50mm f1.2 Ai-S from 1981. This lens is not to be confused with the famed Noct-Nikkor 58mm f1.2 which is no longer in production. The 50mm f1.2 is manual focus only and goes for 700 EUR / 600 USD.
• Nikon also offers two autofocus alternatives with a focal ratio of f1.4: the AF-S 50mm f1.4G from 2008 (410 EUR/USD) and the AF-S 58mm f1.4G from 2013 (1600 EUR / 1450 USD).
• Sony offers the FE 50mm 1.4 ZA SSM from 2016 for their E-mount mirrorless cameras. It sells for 1450 EUR / 1400 USD and earned a Highly Recommended in my Sony FE 50mm f1.4 ZA review.
• Sigma has the AF 50mm f1.4 DG HSM Art for 700 EUR / 830 USD. It’s a typical DSLR design from 2014 for Canon EF- and Nikon F-mount but in the meantime also available for Sony E- and Leica L-mount. Sigma offers the unique service (paid) to switch mounts should you swap camera systems in the future. And it’s performance is still pretty convincing. See my Sigma 50mm f1.4 Art review where it came Highly Recommended.
• The Zeiss Otus 55mm f1.4 from 2015 comes in Canon EF- and Nikon F-mount. It costs a whopping 3200 EUR / 3400 USD – and it’s manual focus only. But its build quality is as yet unsurpassed and the optical performance is top notch. It earned a Highly Recommended in my Zeiss Otus 55mm f1.4 review.
• There is also the Planar 50mm f1.4 and the Milvus 50mm f1.4 from Zeiss. Both are manual focus only costing around 650 EUR / 1100 EUR respectively.
• Samyang has the manual focus 50mm f1.4 AS UMC from 2015 which costs 430 EUR / 400 USD.

How big are the differences between 50mm and 58mm focal length? Here is the angle of view that the Nikon Z 58mm f0.95 S Noct covers on a full-frame body compared to the Mitakon 50mm f0.95 III:

Above: Nikon Z 58mm f0.95 S Noct (left), Mitakon 50mm f0.95 III (right)

Focus

As with all manual focus lenses I can only say: if you can’t manage to properly focus manually you better forget about this lens – and at f0.95 that is an even more daunting task. But modern mirrorless cameras offer focus peaking and a magnified viewfinder which makes it easy to focus precisely. It just takes more time and your target shouldn’t move. Compared to manual focusing the Nikon Z 58mm f0.95 S Noct I had more problems to nail focus with the Mitakon wide open: The bluish/purple halos around high contrast edges produced by the Mitakon (see next page) make it hard to see whether critical focus is reached, even in magnified live-view. Especially problematic is focusing outside the center – think the eye of a model – where the Mitakon is even less sharp. Focusing the Nikon Z Noct at f0.95 was far easier.

The focus ring is 19mm wide and has no slack/play between its movement and the focus-action and a throw of 320 degrees, which is ideal for accurate focus wide open. At the minimum object distance of 0.54m the barrel of the lens extends 7mm over the retracted status at infinity. The focus ring  moves relatively smooth but is still hard to operate with one finger. The benchmark here is the Zeiss Otus which has an excellent silky smooth operation. All those manual focus lenses have hard stops on both sides of the distance scale so you know exactly when you’ve reached one or the other end of the focus range. But the hard stop on the far end is a bit beyond infinity so you star-gazing photographers still need to find exact focus manually if you want to capture the Milky Way in all its sparkling glory.

As you pull focus, you’ll notice quite some focus breathing: the image of the Mitakon 50mm f0.95 III becomes 11% more magnified when I adjusted the focus from infinity to 0.64m. This is very visible and a disappointment for videographers. The Nikon 58mm f1.4G breathes 10%, Zeiss Otus 5%, Nikon Z Noct 16%.

Next check out my quality results!