Best 50mm lens for the least €

[Askel]

Hello
I've just ordered 1 Voigtländer R4A. The first rangefinder for me. I have a 28mm lens but I feel that a 50mm lens is kind of the corner-stone in any photographic equipment.
I don't really have that much cash left to spend so I'm asking for tips for good 50mm lenses that are reasonably priced. I've looked a bit at the Nokton 50/1.5 but it's still over my pricerange as of now.

What's the best I can get for up to 150€?

//Askel

 

[Krosya]

Look into some LTM (you will need an adapter) lenses, like Canon 50/1.4, Canon 50/1.8.- good lenses, but I think nokton 50/1.5 is better (also LTM, btw), so I'd save for that.

 

[bidnez]

The Voigtlander 50/2,5 is a good one - out of production I think, but should be possible to get used within your limits? I agree on the Canons - I liked my 1,4 a lot.

 

[former member]

The Canon 50/1.8, but be sure to have an inspection period. Some are prone to haze on the surface behind the aperture. The Black lens uses newer glass and has "the edge", the chrome version is quite good.

 

[zozio32]

I started with a nice Jupiter 8. You can't get really wrong for £15 🙂
And I have to say that I am really convinced by the results. Sharp, nice transition, nice tones. I just miss a bit of contrast. I guess I have to save for the zeiss c-sonnar 🙄

 

[robklurfield]

J-8 quality is really nice for about $25-50. Get one now and save your money for something fancier and more expensive later. It's so cheap it won't ever leave you with any regrets.

 

[chris00nj]

I think you'll hear the Canon 50/1.8 as the most common answer. You also might be able to get the Nikkor 50/2 for that as well, but it is less common. The Leitz Summitar 50/2 is also in you price range.

 

[Uwe_Nds]

Canon and Nikkor RF-lenses are not very common in Euroland. 🙁
I therefore second the ideas about getting a Jupiter-8 or Summitar.
Cheapest option, however, would be an Industar 61 or Industar 50.

Cheers,
Uwe

 

[Kolame]

I’m quite fine with my Industar-61, but most people will tell you to take the Jupiter-8, which I personally don’t know.

 

[alexnotalex]

A Summar's a great choice, and will give you brilliant subject separation, sharpness and swirly bokeh... hard to get with digital kit. You can find them on ebay for around £100 so should fit in your price range, but remember you'll need a hood and a UV filter 🙂

I also love my Nikkor, and never use my Industar-61... (which is going up for sale soon)

best
Alex

 

[jbielikowski]

for 100-150euro you can find Summitar in great condition, helluva lens.

 

[Lss]

Voigtländer R4A. The first rangefinder for me. I have a 28mm lens but I feel that a 50mm lens is kind of the corner-stone in any photographic equipment.

I wonder if a 50 is really "corner-stone usable" on the R4A. I'm not a big fan of the the smallest framelines (90mm) on my R2A. They are certainly usable, so I guess the same must be the case on R4A with 50mm. Anyway, I would think the R4A is mostly for 28/35 and wider. If you don't have the camera yet, I think you should wait to see the framelines before buying a new lens.

 

[David Murphy]

The Russian Industar I-61 L/D is one of the best inexpensive lenses I've seen as far as optical quality is concerned. They only cost a few dollars US. You need a LTM-> adapter to use it on your camera. Some of these have mechanical problems with the focus or looseness, but they are cheap enough that you can buy two or three if you need to! I've heard they have a radioactive element inside them - I'm not sure if that's a health issue or not, perhaps someone else can speak to this question.

 

[David Murphy]

Great lens true, but I don't think it will collapse on his camera.

for 100-150euro you can find Summitar in great condition, helluva lens.

 

[David Murphy]

150 Euros should get you a Canon 50/1.8 in good shape as pointed out above. That's probably your best buy in terms of quality and performance. If you can find a Canon 50mm F2.8, that's another fine one - very sharp and lightweight (but a little hard to find).

 

[former member]

Do not worry about the glass used in the I-61L/D. Great optics. Mechanical quality is not as good as a nice J-8 or J-3.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

I second JSU's vote for the great CV 50 2.5: wonderful small lens, and really useful on an R4... More than your price, but it's a great lens for life and makes a lot of sense on your camera.

Cheers,

Juan

 

[Leigh Youdale]

I second JSU's vote for the great CV 50 2.5: wonderful small lens, and really useful on an R4... More than your price, but it's a great lens for life and makes a lot of sense on your camera.

Cheers,

Juan

I agree. Try Photo Village if Camera Quest don't have any left.

 

[helen.HH]

Well I was recently Lucky and purchased a 50 Nokton 1.5
here on RFF for $300.00... (heavy brassing on the Body but the glass was PURRfect)
Its a SUPERB Lens...beautiful creamy OOF , dead center sharpness,
and just Consistently Brilliant


it compliments my 50 pre asph Lux !!

 

[maggieo]

I started with a nice Jupiter 8. You can't get really wrong for £15 🙂
And I have to say that I am really convinced by the results. Sharp, nice transition, nice tones. I just miss a bit of contrast. I guess I have to save for the zeiss c-sonnar 🙄

J-8 quality is really nice for about $25-50. Get one now and save your money for something fancier and more expensive later. It's so cheap it won't ever leave you with any regrets.

I use a Jupiter-8 all the time and it really is a fantastic lens! It performs well on both my M4-P and my M8.

Here's my Flickr photoset of photos from it:
Jupiter-8 50/2.0