Mitakon Creator 35 mm f/2
3. Build quality
In the photo below the tested lens is positioned next to the Canon EF 35 mm f/2.0 IS USM.
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The tested Mitakon starts with a metal mount without any contacts. The mount surrounds a rear element, 26 mm in diameter. The element moves along the whole optical system; when the focus is set at the minimum distance it hides about 0.5 cm inside the casing. It is important that no interior parts can be visible during that process and the tube on the inside is properly darkened and threaded. It is clear the producer took care of all the details.
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An aperture ring is the first part of the proper casing of the lens. It is 12 mm wide and on both sides you can find ribs which make it easier to hold and to turn. The ring moves every 1 EV step and is properly damped down. There are markings at all apertures from f/2.0 to f/22 apart from f/16 on it; even though there was not enough of place for the f/16 marking the aperture is easy to set at that place. Still it’s a pity the producer didn’t guarantee at least the 0.5 EV step.
The next part of the casing is an immobile metal ring on which you see depth of field markings at f/22, f/11, f/5.6 and f/2.0.
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The biggest part of the casing is a focus ring which is as wide as 28 mm. One part of it is occupied by metal ribbing under which you can find a distance scale expressed in feet and meters. The ring action is smooth and well-damped, the whole mechanism moving exactly as it is expected in a good quality manual lens. Running through the whole distance scale needs a turn through an angle of 180 degrees – a value allowing you a comfortable ring control.
The front element of the lens is 4 cm in diameter and surrounded by an inscription with its name and the parameters along with a non-rotating filter thread, 55 mm in diameter.
To be honest we are very positively impressed by the build quality and the solidity of the tested Mitakon. The lens is made of metal and glass. Although it costs just 199 $ you don’t get a feeling that you handle something worse than more expensive manual devices produced by Zeiss or Voigtlander. The Creator 2/35 made a better impression when it comes to its performance, build quality and ring action than the Nikkor AF-S 35 mm f/1.8G ED, two times as expensive and distinctively plastic. It shows clearly that where’s the will there’s the way. What’s more the Mitakon seem to be more solidly build than the Samyang lenses which still contain a lot of plastic parts in the casing. As the Samyang seems to be the direct rival of the Mitakon, after comparing those two we have to admit that the latter makes a better impression. Of course a more incisive opinion can be expressed only after a longer period of wear and tear of both lenses; some mechanical flaws cannot be revealed after just two-three week test. That’s why we encourage our Readers to share their opinions concerning the work of such type of instruments after longer periods of time.
When it comes to the optical construction you deal here with 7 elements positioned in 5 groups. There is no information concerning any special or untypical glass elements included. Inside you also find an aperture with nine blades which can be closed down maximally to f/22.
The buyers get both caps and a soft pouch in the box along with the lens.
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