It there a 50mm lens like the M-Rokkor 40/2?

[lukaz85]

Hi there, I'm looking for a fast 50mm lens (between f1.4 and f2.0), which has a similar picture quality like the M-Rokkor 40/2. I absolutely love the M-Rokkor, especially how it draws the bokeh areas and that it is sharp (without being too sharp).

A quote from The Online Photographer:
"A few years later, looking for a "Leica with AE," I became aware of the Minolta CLE. It, too, had a 40mm normal lens—the Minolta 40mm ƒ/2 M-Rokkor. This turned out to be one of the best lenses I've ever used, fantastically sharp and smooth. My friend John Kennerdell, a photographer who lived in Bangkok at the time, told me that one Japanese connoisseur had dubbed it "the Water Lens." Curiously, it was one of the only lenses I've ever used that consistently drew positive comments about sharpness and clarity from non-photographers looking at my prints."

 

[rover]

I found the Tabbed 50/2 Summicron to be very simmilar. I have a couple shots comparing the two, I don't think I have access to them right now. I will try to remember to post them tonight.

 

[rover]

let's see if this works

40/2 Rokkor

 

[rover]

Edit, this is the Rokkor too

 

[ferider]

Definitely a Summicron 50/2. I think v3 might be even closer than v4.

 

[maddoc]

I am also a fan of the 40mm M-Rokkor and what comes most close in 50mm is the M-Hexanon (50/2.0). That's of course only my two cents .... 🙂

Cheers,

Gabor

 

[rover]

50/2 tabbed Summicron

 

[rover]

No clue what lens this was, but since I am posting photos of Molly... 😉

Correction, this is the Summicron 50 too

 

[snausages]

I'd think a 50 Cron of the same vintage as the 40 would be the logical match since the Rokkor is, as far as I know, a 40 Cron.

Here's a comparison of the 40 Cron and a ZM Planar 50 2.0 in the same light environment:

40mm Summicron-c at f2:

50mm ZM Planar at f2:

The Zeiss is more clinically sharp and contrasty at f2, but I still think they pair well and have had both in my bag lately. But if you want an exact match with the 40, then, yeah, maybe a 50 cron?

 

[rover]

Now nobody is going to want to see any more pictures of my doggie.

 

[snausages]

Now nobody is going to want to see any more pictures of my doggie.

Molly looks awesome, bring em on!

 

[maddoc]

Keep 'em coming !! The photos of Molly, I mean. 🙂

 

[Trius]

Who's Molly? Oh yeah, I forgot ...

 

[lukaz85]

Ok, at first thanks for the quick answers.

@maddoc: I had a M-Hexanon 50/2, and as far as I liked that lens, it wasn't what I'm looking for. Sure, it is sharp, even wide open, but the quality of bokeh can't match with the M-Rokkor. It's not bad, just too subtle - could be fine for many users, of course.

@snausages2000: You made some really nice captures. I saw some Zeiss ZM pictures before (usually by the Biogon 35/2), and I also often think they have some clinical characterics. Very clean and sharp. But I have to admit that I like the picture quality of your 2nd capture.

@ferider & rover: I don't know much about the Summicrons, especially the 50mm lenses. Can you suggest one of them? As far as I know I don't need the new apherical ones. As the M-Rokkor is probably the same lens as the Summicron 40/2, this would be a logical step.

Don't hesitate to show more of your dog captures, rover 😉

 

[ferider]

Have a look here, Lukaz:

http://www.antiquecameras.net/50summicronmlenses.html

I was referring to the 3rd version, Ralph to the fourth. They are very similar.

Best,

Roland.

 

[rover]

Have a look here, Lukaz:

http://www.antiquecameras.net/50summicronmlenses.html

I was referring to the 3rd version, Ralph to the fourth. They are very similar.

Best,

Roland.

Roland is the man when it comes to these lenses. I corrected the photos above, two are from the Rokkor and two from the Summicron. My first impression when I saw my images from both of these lenses was that they looked very similar in characteristics. There are a number of great 50mm lenses, including the Hex and ZM, but if you are looking for a match for your 40, I think the Summicron is the one.

 

[nksyoon]

50 Summicron, tabbed, separate hood, 4th version according to antiquecameras.net, 5th version according to Cameraquest.

 

[MP/CLE]

I may be oversimplifying but why not just use the rokkor 40? That is almost the only lens I use anyway, but I use it for a reason...

 

[raid]

I once compared the 40/2 Summicron-C to the 43mm 1.9 Pentax Limited. Both lenses are spectacular.

I sold my CL but I kept the 40/2. Just get a 40/2 and be done.

 

[awilder]

Definitely the 3rd version 50 Summicron (69'-79'). It's reputation is sharp but slightly less so than the 4th and current versions. I use to have both and found this to be true. Also if you look at the MTF plots of the 40/2 Summicron (similar design to the 40/2 Rokkor), it's fingerprint the most like the 3rd version of the 50 Summicron.