50mm of choice?

There are so many choices and so many personal views...but since you asked, for "vintage" Leica look in B&W, it'd be hard to beat a clean dual range or equivalent version ridgid Summicron. Actually, given the issues that some M6s have with the DR, I'd look at the rigid (which should be a little less expensive and has IMO better ergonomics anyway).
 
I have the Summitar but haven't used it much. How does it rate? IYO The only thing I find frustrating with it is focusing going all the way to 100 ft before infinity.
 
If you want proper vintage then go for a uncoated summitar or even a summar. However, the Summicron's JNewell recommends are easier to live with (flare).
 
Are we talking strictly Leica lenses here or are you thinking of 50mm lenses generally? I can highly recommend the f1.2 Canon that I bought through the classifieds a while ago ... or maybe the f1.4 if one comes up. I really like the classic look of the 1.2 Canon, it's softish wide open for portraits and sharpens up considerably when stopped down slightly but always retains the character that makes it so appealing. It can be a little prone to flare in some conditions and is rather large and heavy but that said, it is by far my favourite lens in this focal length. I have a couple of classic Leica 50's (DR Summicron and f3.5 Elmar ... Summitar and collapsable Summicron) but always find myself choosing the Canon when I don't want the clinical precision of my 50mm Hex. Mine cost me around $400.00 with the rather hard to find genuine hood!

You'll find some very nice pics taken with this lens if you do a search. 🙂
 
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Dante Stella who is on this site frequently has a presentation of a range of Canon rangefinder lenses both 35's and 50's. I like the Canon 1.4 personally as well as the Voightlander 50 1.5 and also have a Canon 1.9 that I wouldn't recommend. There are members here with many 50's (many to me means more than 3 😀) I have three. :angel:
 
For black and white, the older lenses with less contrast offer many advantages. I like the Summitar and collapsible Summicron.

Another lens to consider is the Summarit. Wide-open it is soft, but makes for a fine portrait lens. Stopped down to F4 it is hard to tell from the Summicron. It offers the speed advantage of F1.5, but cost about the same as a collapsible Summicron. It is about 1/2 the price of the Summilux. It is prone to internal haze, and cleaning marks. Look for one that has been cleaned recently, and sold by someone that actually has used it.
 
Cosmo, maybe you already have what you want in the Summitar. You could blast off a couple of rolls at medium and wide apertures before looking for another lens.
 
payasam said:
Cosmo, maybe you already have what you want in the Summitar. You could blast off a couple of rolls at medium and wide apertures before looking for another lens.
Click to expand...

My thoughts exactly. I certainly don't see the point in looking at a Summar if you already own a Summitar (they're really similar once you get past f2.8 or so).

The only thing more I'd add is that there are a few modern lenses available that have a distinctly vintage character optically, but with all of the advantages of modern build and flare resistance. Depending on your budget you could look to either the ZM C-Sonnar 1.5, the Voigtländer Heliar-Classic or the Voigtländer Heliar 3.5 (the latter is discontinued and getting harder to find though).
 
I don't know which type of look you prefer from a 50mm lens. It is the most versatile lens, in my humble opinion. I have many 50mm lenses, and the list only gets longer each year.

Elmar 5cm/3.5 5cm/2.8
Summar
Summarit
Summitar
collapsible Summicron
rigid Summicron
Nikkor 5cm/2
Zeiss Jena 5cm/2
Luxon 50mm/2
Canon 50/1.2 50/1.4 50/1.8
J-3 5cm/1.5
I-50 rigid 50/3.5
I61-L 50/2.8


The 50mm lenses above are either in M mount or in LTM. Take your pick. Each of the lenses is special to me.
 
consider the Canon 50/1.5 sonnar design is awesome for B&W... cheaper than most of the vintage Leica lenses or the Nikon equivalent, sharp throughout the speed range and it's beautilfully built...

of course, all of this depends on what YOU are looking for in a 50mm...

good luck.. you've got plenty of options..

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