Switching to 50, recommendations?

[exe163]

It's a bit ironic. 35mm field of view is the reason that got me into rangefinder in the first place. Now I find it a bit too wide to get good framing while shooting on the street.

I shoot mainly triX and speed must be no less than f2 preferably(very) with focus tab. My extended budget caps at 2k. I'll be selling my 35/2 biogon to fund it so the closer it is to its price the less guilt I will feel. 😛

 

[kokoshawnuff]

50 f/2 planar is a wonderful lens with a little ridge of a tab, as is the 50 f/2 summicron the version from 80s and 90s had a focus tab (same optical design as the built in hood version of today), also the new Summarit 50 f/2.5 has a tab...all wonderful lenses in your price range.

Perhaps if you wait for the May 10 announcement a new Leica summicron will be announced, probably decreasing the current used market prices on other Summicrons

 

[Moriturii]

How do you like your sharpness and contrast? High/Low?

Low to Medium contrast, low sharpness (wide open): Summitar, Summarit.
Low to Meidum contrast, medium to high sharpness: Collapsible Cron, Rigid/DR Cron.
Medium to high contrast, medium to high sharpness: All the 50 crons after DR/Rigid Cron
High contrast, High sharpness: Latest 50 cron, M-Hexanon 50mm, Planar 50mm (These, generally speaking, might be better reserved to negative/positive color images rather than B&W work)

etc, I'm sure people can add or fine-tune the list. This was very quick and general of the top of my head.

 

[BobYIL]

Were you pleased with the tones, contrast and sharpness of the 35/2 Biogon? Then there is no need for adventure: Planar 50/2. It's a great lens, plausible cost and you can use it also for color as well as digital with no concerns.

 

[elmer3.5]

Hi, i would recommend you the summicron 50 and the summarit, this one is very small shorter than any other 50mm alternative.

 

[segedi]

I think your 35mm is top notch and you may regret selling that on the future... but the Zeiss ZM 50mm Planar meets your f/2 requirement and is a gem. And it's price is so well within your budget you could keep the 35!

 

[mfogiel]

For Tri-X a lens like Rigid or DR Summicron are a perfect match. This will open your eyes on B&W photography.

 

[PrimeTime]

imho:

Keep the Zeiss 35mm f/2 while you have a 50mm

* The pairing of 35 & 50 = Win ! 😉

fwiw/.02 (Not in Order) Min f/2 50mm:
* Just a few, I know there are more out there from various manuf. & each has its own "character" so "To each their own"

50mm to replace the Zeiss 35mm f/2
- Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 [Older Version]
- Leica Summicron-M 50mm f/2 [Newer]
- Zeiss 50mm f/1.5 Sonnar T*
- Zeiss 50mm f/2 Planar T*
-

50mm so maybe you can keep the Zeiss 35mm f/2
- Voigtlander Nokton 50mm F1.5 ASPH
- Canon LTM 50mm F1.4
- Leica Summitar 50mm f/2
- Leica Summitar 50mm f/1.5
- Konica M-Hexanon 50mm f/2
- Leica Summicron-M 50mm f/2 [Older]

 

[yossarian123]

I'm going to highly recommend the Konica M-Hexanon 50/2. It's a great little lens, especially if you want modern performance (contrast, sharpness) at a bargain price. You could definitely keep the zeiss 35/2 and you wouldn't be giving up a thing IQ-wise with the hex. If you prefer a more vintage look the Canon 50/1.4 is a great lens, it pretty much straddles the line between the drawing of an old school and modern lens. It's pretty big for a 50mm lens though.

I'm currently selling a hexanon in the classifieds if you're interested.

 

[filmfan]

Sorry people but there is no such thing as the Zeiss Biogon 50mm f/2. Your options from Zeiss are the Planar 50mm f/2 and the Sonnar-C 50mm f/1.5

 

[RFH]

I have never tried the 50mm version, but I have a Nikkor 35/3.5 LTM, which is incredibly good. And I have a Summicron to compare with. If I were in the market for more 50s, I'd look into one of those. I believe Nikkor made a 50mm 1.4, which might be interesting.

 

[seakayaker1]

I can recommend the Voightlander Nokton 50/1.5 ASPH, it is a LTM lens that requires the M adaptor but it is a wonderful lens that does not disappoint. New runs about $800.00 but they are available quite often on the used market for less. Available at Cameraquest.

The Zeiss 50/2 Planar for $ 781 and 50/1.5 Sonnar for $ 1117.00 are both wonderful 50's as well. Both available at Popflash.

Good luck with your decision.

Both Cameraquest and Popflash are vendor sponsors of RFF and links can be found on the home page.

 

[exe163]

Thanks for all the enthusiastic replies!

I take most of my pictures during backpacking trips. I find one body and one lens already heavy enough, hard to justify bringing more. With this in mind, I find it hard to balance size(not so much weight), speed (sorry I probably didnt make it clear enough, it must be at least f2), having a focus tab. It seems that 35mm is just a better focal length in this regard. However, I find it very hard to frame because it includes a bit too much that makes most shots look like snapshots with no clear indication of the subject. For street shots, I have to get really close to the subject which often "destroys" the shot and not a really good idea when traveling to new places.

Right now I find the C Sonnar, summilux, and the summicron to be most attractive for 50mm. The Zeiss has focus shift problem (focus not spot on?) and Leica has too many versions to keep track of. Any input on these would be greatly appreciated (with street used price).

 

[Moriturii]

Get a Summicron Rigid then =) It's brilliant for B&W and it has a focus tap, which I agree, I can't live without a focus tab and rarely use lenses that doesn't have em'

 

[SimonSawSunlight]

try a 1.5/50 nokton. you may find that you do not need something more expensive. although I have to admit that I have no clue what they sell for these days...

 

[f16sunshine]

try a 1.5/50 nokton. you may find that you do not need something more expensive. although I have to admit that I have no clue what they sell for these days...

It is a lovely lens and well within your budget. Usually around or under $500 second hand.
It would allow you to keep the Biogon which as another recommended is a very good idea.
It's hard for me to imagine a 35mm that performs better than that ZM Biogon 35 (either of the two models).

 

[santela]

If size is no concern and speed is your thing, by all means try the 1.1 Nokton, it's pretty sharp wide open, to me it is an under appreciated lens. However I sold it due to the size.

the Summicron is also very good, but for the price you could just get the ZM Planar, which to me is equally as good or maybe even better. Since you are used to the 35mm Biogon, then the Planar will not disappoint you. I think it has slightly better bokeh than the Summicron, but more distortion. I ended up selling both since I wanted faster speed.

The pre-ASPH Summilux may also fit your budget if u r lucky enough to find one in good condition. I had the E46 version briefly but sold it to fund my other purchases. I'd sure like to have it back, only the price rose about 50% since then...

For compactness and character, I'd highly recommend the C-Sonnar. The focus shift is most noticeable at f2.8, but this lens screams to be shot wide open! I usually shoot it either wide open or stop down to f4, not a big problem for me. This is my only 50mm right now and I love it dearly, probably will be my last, since the Summilux ASPH does not tempt me in terms of price or character.

 

[kosta_g]

you could always try the voigtlander 50/2 as another option.
but a nice rigid cron is a brilliant lens.

I loved the c-sonnar and wish I hadn't sold mine.

 

[splitimageview]

 

[Tom A]

I have a lot of 50's - ranging from f3.5's (Elmars/Heliars etc) to the Nokton 50mm f1.1. They are all good but two that do stand out are the C Sonnar 50mm f1.5 (for some reason it works great with bl/w and in particular TriX/Arista 400). It has now become my most used 50mm, fast enough in most situations and a great rendering and tonality. The other favorite is the Voigtlander Heliar 50mm f2.0. Again a distinct "look" to it and and, if you can find a black one (from the Bessa 250th Anniversary model - it collapses a bit). The Nickel version looks like it will collapse - but doesn't. Very compact too.