Best Corner Sharpness at f/2 for around $500

[Moriturii]

Konica Hexar AF? It's not an M-Mount per se but it's identical to Leica 35mm f2 V4 (or something one of them)

 

[NLewis]

If you definitely don't want f/1.4 due to DOF issues, then go with an f/2 lens. It will be better at all apertures, and probably smaller, lighter and cheaper.

I would suggest the ZM Planar 50, the ZM Biogon 35/2, Summicron 40/2, the Canon 50/1.8 LTM and the CV heliar 50/2 rigid. The Rigid and DR summicrons are great lenses, but anything sub-$1000 or so will have haze/fungus/"cleaning marks" issues. The mint ones go for $1200+. Then it comes down to whether you like 50mm or 35mm best.

 

[Beta Photography]

My vote goes to "Summicron-c 40/2 or Rokkor 40/2". I personally think these 2 lens are the best for both price and performance. I use collapsible summicron (since it's in the same price range now) also, but wide open F2 those first two are excellent.

Rgrds,

Beta
http://www.fluidr.com/photos/daily-photography

 

[Roger Hicks]

Purely as a matter of interest, what are you planning on shooting? Except with flat subjects such as test charts, d-o-f will render corner sharpness irrelevant at f/2.

Cheers,

R.

 

[ChrisP]

Not for sharpness across the scene

Not for sharpness across the scene

Not looking for it for sharpness across a whole scene at f2, just for the freedom to place the subject wherever I want in the scene and still have it as sharp as I can get.

Really i don't need anything stupidly sharp, but i figure if I'm going to get a lens than the freedom to place subjects anywhere (and experimenting with "breaking rules" and pushing things to the very edge of images) is the one thing that I would probably want most, I can deal with most other things.

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

With some patience, you might be able to get a type 2 Rigid Summicron, the 1970s lens.

The corner sharpness was best in its class. Summicrons tend to have very good edge-to-edge sharpness.

The DOT in the plot is the performance of the individual lens shown versus the lenses from the other manufacturers in that class.

(also, as the OP wants the lens for a Leica- moved to Leica M forum.)

This chart is interesting. It tells me that elmar has better line per mm at far edge at f4 than the same for summicron. Is that true? By the way why do we have minimum and maximum bars for the resolution? When does the resolution change at specific f? Depending on the distance to the subject? Elmar has shorter bars (most of the time) than summicron, is that something good?

 

[wlewisiii]

You've sort of defined the 50mm F2 Summicron. A collapsible is in your price range - possibly a DR without the eyes if you are patient.

This.

The collapsible can be a great, inexpensive lens. Otherwise, the rigid type 2 Brian mentioned. Last, the Summicron 40 which is a good lens if the focal length works for you (it's neither fish nor fowl for me, so I sold it quick both times I had one. Good lens though). Of them, I've liked the collapsible best although my tastes are probably suspect since I prefer my Summitar to any Summicron 😉

 

[sparrow6224]

You can only rarely now find a 40 Summicron C for less than $550 or so. Forget the Rigid or DR Summicrons, as someone said, the only ones even close to that price range will have issues.

I have a Rigid Summicron, have had and desperately want back my stolen 40 Summicron, and I have the once-mentioned-above Canon 50mm f/1.8 LTM. The Canon is astoundingly sharp across the field, with the adapter on my M2 or without it on my screwmount cameras. Absolutely as sharp and rich and beautiful as the Summicrons.

The CV 50/1.5 is not even close to those three, at least mine isn't.

You can get the Canon for under $200. It's amazing. I can't recommend it highly enough. That will leave you enough for a CV 35mm f/2.5 Color Skopar, which is also a stunningly sharp lens. BEcause sometimes you need a 35mm. And sometimes you need 50mm.

Good luck and enjoy!

Vince P

 

[minhthuy]

i've bought a Zeiss 50mm f2 ZM. it's very shape even at f2. the color is very beautiful. i buy it $500 in vietnam.
Here is Zeiss's pic

 

[Krosya]

I think Canon 50/1.8 is a good choice, but it only goes down to 1m, yet can be had much cheaper than most lenses. If not - go with either M-Hexanon 50 or CV 40/1.4 - both are superb IMO.

 

[rxmd]

Not looking for it for sharpness across a whole scene at f2, just for the freedom to place the subject wherever I want in the scene and still have it as sharp as I can get.

There you'll run into all sorts of focusing accuracy issues due to focusing and recomposing afterwards. In practical terms, all the lenses on your list will be sharp enough in the corners, at least sharper than you can reliably focus in the corner with a rangefinder (until you get a very good feel for subject distance and necessary focus adjustments for recomposition).

Don't worry about it, just choose the lens whose ergonomics and general look you like best.

 

[zhengpeng]

Brian, is this from pop photography? Which year and month? Thanks!

With some patience, you might be able to get a type 2 Rigid Summicron, the 1970s lens.

The corner sharpness was best in its class. Summicrons tend to have very good edge-to-edge sharpness.

The DOT in the plot is the performance of the individual lens shown versus the lenses from the other manufacturers in that class.

(also, as the OP wants the lens for a Leica- moved to Leica M forum.)

 

[former member]

The article is from May 1976, test of 50 normal lenses.