Recommend a 50 for my R3A

jodaka

jodaka

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Hello

I've read "Recommend a 50 for my R4M", but still has questions. Let me try to describe what I need from 50mm lens:
i want a lens with character, which doesn't need to be super-sharp, but it got to have smooth color rendition. Mostly I use color negatives so for me color rendition is important.
Size of lens is also important. The smaller the lens is -- the more chances that it will be with me. Speed is important but I believe that this is the parameter that I would have to sacrifice in order to have small size and weight (and stay on the budget).
I tend to shoot wide open and didn't care much about sharpness. Low light photography would be nice, but I guess I could use fast film instead of buying something like voigtlander f/1.1 (btw I find it's bokeh a little bit busy)

Right now I'm choosing between Konica Hexanon 50/2 and Voigtlander 50/3.5. Actually I almost decided to go with Hexanon, until read some Tom's post here about 3D look of 50/3.5 pictures (and that's right what I need). Now I'm not really sure.

Any advices would be highly appreciated. Advices with images would be appreciated even more :)

Budget is around 700$. And most probably I would order lens from ebay, cause RF market is Russia is very small.
 
Welcome jodaka, I'd recommend a Leica Summicron 50/f2 Rigid or Dual Range, but for color a newer version. You'll get a good one for about 700,- bucks.

I use a Dual Range, even for color and love it much.

3973610053_cb06f80469_o.jpg
 
If you want to pocket your camera, the real options are the Leica and Voigtländer 3.5 collapsibles... If you want non collapsible lenses, this could be an almost infinite list of advices... :)

Cheers,

Juan
 
Juan, collapsible or non collapsible isn't the main factor. I want lens to give me distinctive special picture... this is hard to explain (especially with my English). Regarding lens size let me said it this way: I find voigtlander 50/1.1 too big and heavy for me, and hexanon 50/2 is also big but acceptable.
 
Of the 2 you mentioned, I'd go for the M-Hexanon. If you need low light capabilities and superb microcontrast, consider the Summilux E43 v2 50/1.4.
 
jodaka said:
Juan, collapsible or non collapsible isn't the main factor. I want lens to give me distinctive special picture... this is hard to explain (especially with my English). Regarding lens size let me said it this way: I find voigtlander 50/1.1 too big and heavy for me, and hexanon 50/2 is also big but acceptable.
Click to expand...

:eek:

Cheers,

Juan
 
Jodaka, If you're interested I'm about to put my M-Hexanon up for sale. Bought new and boxed only 10 months ago but only used a handful of times simply because I use the Epson RD1 and this becomes a 75mm which is longer than I use.
Have to say though that it doesn't disappoint in performance. You can see my few shots here http://www.flickr.com/photos/kuvvy/tags/hexanon502/
 
+1 for the 50/2 Summicron, version 4 or 5 which you can get for $700. This is, IMO, an underrated all-round performer. If I could only have one lens for under $700, this would be it. It has medium-high sharpness (though you say this is not too important), and medium-high contrast. Its small-medium sized, and relatively light. This is the first 50mm I bought 7 years ago, and I still have it in my collection, along with 4 other 50mms.
CV 50mms have some good choices, but many are Modern glass, and maybe too contrasty and too sharp for what you are looking for.
 
Planar, Hex, cron 3, 4 or 5 are excellent all around lenses for your buget.
The CV heliar 3.5 is small but supposed to be a super-sharp lens.
Special? maybe the heliar f/2?
Or maybe a Sonnar copy (Nikkor f/2, f/1.4 or canon 1.5) can give you the special look that you are after?
 
i'd be happy with any of these used lenses that are in your budget, even when in mint condition:

50mm f2 summicron rigid/dr
50mm f2.5 summarit-m
50mm f2.8 elmar-m (latest)
50mm f2 planar zm
50mm f2 m-hexanon
50mm f1.1 nokton
50mm f1.5 nokton
50mm f2 heliar
50mm f2.5 color-skopar
50mm f3.5 heliar
 
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