The Risespray 35mm f1.6 Fifth Gen. for MFT Review

This review has not been influenced or sponsored in any way. These are my personal observations, reservations and opinions about a lens that I purchased with my own money.

This is the third and last Risespray lens I am reviewing in the “Tiny lens Project”. Will this red 35mm f1.6 Risespray form a perfect trio with the two other lenses I earlier reviewd, the Risespray 8mm f3.5 and 25mm f1.8 ? let’s find out !

Unboxing :

The Risespray 35mm f1.6, in this vibrant red edition, comes packed in the same cool mint-colored box as its 8mm f3.5 counterpart. Inside, you’ll find a stylish vinyl lens pouch, a lens cloth for those picture-perfect moments, and a lens back cap. What sets this lens apart is its metal front cap, which securely screws onto the filter thread. Priced a few cents higher then €49, this red version adds a touch of flair to your photography gear. If red isn’t your style, there is also sleek silver, bold blue, and luxurious gold, as options, as well as a few euros cheaper black version.

Specifications :

Max. dia.: Φ60 – L 37.35mm – Weight : 140g – Mount MFT

Lens Handling & Performance :

This lens is the fifth generation, evident from its appearance. Unlike the fragile, thin, long tubes with a focusing lever characteristic of earlier CCTV lenses, the Risespray 35mm f1.6 Gen. V is a departure from that design. It’s now a fully metal-made, larger lens compared to its predecessor, the 25mm f1.8, indicating a significant advancement in generation. However, does its enhanced build translate to better performance? One notable improvement is the absence of the need for a separate adapter, as this lens, like the Risespray 8mm f3.8, comes with a fixed mount.

The aperture operates smoothly without distinct clicks, albeit a bit soft. The focus ring also moves seamlessly, covering the entire focus range from the shortest distance to infinity in a quarter turn.

Initial impressions were positive during test shots, with no noticeable issues while capturing photos. Focusing was smooth, although a minor inconvenience was the clickless aperture.

Upon reviewing the results at home, disappointment set in. Wide-open shots exhibited softness and blur from edge to center. While this might be acceptable wide open, the issue persisted at f2, f2.8 and f4, and even at f5.6. Improvement was noticeable at f8 and general sharpness was ok at f11, but by f16, there was a sense of regression rather than enhancement.

Compared to the other Risespray lenses, I had the highest expectations of this lens, unfortunately the experience left a feeling of disappointment. Was this a flaw specific to my lens copy ? It’s a possibility. Despite hoping to add a third outstanding lens to the previously reviewed 8mm and 25mm, this lens did not meet my expectations. While it’s acknowledged that inexpensive lenses may not be perfect, they often possess artistic possibilities. However, the pervasive blurriness across the aperture range from f1.6 up to f5.6, raises questions about its artistic or creative potential. While there are some limited capabilities, like for macro, the overall quality of this lens is not convincing enough. Therefore, I cannot recommend it.

In conclusion :

It’s worth noting that there have been positive experiences reported by some users on online sales sites – However, I also understand that these kind of positive “experiences” are not always real, and sometimes even paid for – although, it could raise questions of whether the issues I encountered were specific to my lens copy or not. If there are readers who have had positive experiences with this lens, I would appreciate hearing about them.

Sample Images (click picture to go to gallery):

Clicking on the collage photo below will take you to my website “La Gallerie” where you can find these sample images. 

La Gallerie

The photo gallery of Open Source Photography, Olympus micro 4/3 system, Vintage Lens Photograpy, Film Simulation, PictureFX, HDR – Photographer : Marc R.