3 differnt 50mm f1.5 Sonnar lenses

[FrankS]

Okay, there's the new Zeiss lens for $1000 (f1.4 is so very close to f1.5), an original Contax lens (say $175) with adaptor ($300) for a total of say $500 in round numbers, and the J3 ($100) with ltm to M-mount adaptor ($50) for a total of $150.

Quite a range in price, eh? I've got the J3 and am considering the Contax to M adaptor. Just wonder if it's worth it.

 

[jano]

I'm sort of in the same boat here, except I'm 50-less. Trying to figure it out!

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

Frank,

May I suggest the Canon 50/1.5, also sonnar-design 🙂 About $250 to $350 depending on condition.

 

[Wayne R. Scott]

Frank,

May I suggest the Canon 50/1.5, also sonnar-design 🙂 About $250 to $350 depending on condition.

This would take a LTM to M adapter which are much less expensive than the Contax to M adapters. Right?

Wayne

 

[wlewisiii]

I'd like to get the ZM 50/1.5 just because (and do plan to try to save for it, however having a small child & a tight budget...) So since I live in this world & not the next I'll probably end up with a Canon/Serenar 50/1.5 instead. (There's a nice one that's actually decently priced over at Kevincameras right now, for example. 🙂 ) Sonnar design? Check. Fast version? Check. Good enough for me...

Besides, in the meantime I've got a collapsible Summicron. I can't b***h too loudly if I already own another one of the real classics.

William

 

[FrankS]

This would take a LTM to M adapter which are much less expensive than the Contax to M adapters. Right?
Wayne

To answer for Tom, yes that's right.

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

This would take a LTM to M adapter which are much less expensive than the Contax to M adapters. Right?

Wayne

Wayne,

Yes, the Canon 50/1.5 is a LTM lens and can be used with any Leica or Voigtlander screwmount to m-adapter ($60 new, ~$40 used) 🙂

 

[back alley]

but new is nice too...🙂

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

and am considering the Contax to M adaptor. Just wonder if it's worth it.

I have one, and couldn't be happier. Got it for $230; sure, sometimes, rarely, they go for just under $200, but BIN is $30 worth of stress-free shopping.

I couldn't be happier. Brings up the 50mm framelines; there are some out there that will bring up the 28/90mm framelines (for those that can get really confused: just the 90mm framelines)

JoeFriday got one (remember?) and he said that the focusing was off, and that it was slightly stiff. Mine is dead-on, and turns nicely and freely. Both came from Hong Kong.

I've even used it with the 85mm f/2 Sonnar (look at my RFF gallery); it's spot-on. I have to manually switch the 90mm framelines to frame; minor inconvenience; better than using the viewfinder on the Contax to focus, then use an external finder to frame.

Then again, there's always the J-3 crapshoot. Mine works fine (from B. Sweeney), but we all know that's not always the case. You already have some Sonnars.

$230 for the adapter vs. $950+ for the new ZM lens... that's (counting fingers) a lot of change left. Besides, we all know you don't like that darn "clinical look" that your Sonnar stable doesn't give you already. 🙂

 

[Rich Silfver]

This would take a LTM to M adapter which are much less expensive than the Contax to M adapters. Right?

Wayne

I'm another one considering a Contax -> M adapter so that I can use the Sonnar 50/1.5 (old version) on my Leica M3. I would then also probably be tempted to try to get a Sonnar 85/2 as well.

How much are these adapters these days and shy of eBay where are people buying them?

Edit: Gabriel's post answered a lot of the above. Thanks.

 

[rover]

Yes, if you really wanted a Sonnar 50 and wish to save some $ compared to the new ZM lens then my vote would be for the Canon 50/1.5 or Nikkor 50/2. Both are LTM lenses so you would have to add an adaptor, but both are excellent and closer to the original Sonnar design than the new lens. (I have know idea if that matters at all when it comes to final image qualities)

Why the Canon or Nikkor over a J3? Well if you have a good J3 the argument is not as strong, but the Canon and Nikkor lenses are significantly better built than the J3. No comparison at all, but again, it is the results that count.

 

[Pherdinand]

a good jupiter is just as good as a good (old) sonnar.

 

[peter_n]

How about at f1.5 Pherdi? 😉

 

[Pherdinand]

well, at f/1.5 even my sonnar is not that brilliant with regard to sharpness.
Produces a nice halo effect around the subject, though🙂

 

[raid]

The Contax-Leica adapter sounds very good to me,but so does the Canon 50/1.5. Since I already have a Nikkor 50/2, and it is a Sonnar design, maybe I should just move on?

Raid

 

[matt fury]

What bout the Zeiss Sonnars for LTM?

 

[rover]

What bout the Zeiss Sonnars for LTM?

Very difficult to find, my opinion is that there are more FSU fake LTM Sonnars than the real things. These were made during WWII so the quality of the lens barrel materials (Similar to the J3) is of lower quality than the Canon and Nikkor lenses of the 1950s. They are also at least as expensive if not more than the Japanese lenses.

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

I can vouch that the original zeiss sonnars are, as Ralph says, of lesser build quality in terms of the body. Looser tolerances and not the hefty quality brass feel of the Canon 50/1.5 or Nikon 50/1.4.

In terms of optics, I didn't see any differences to justify keeping the zeiss 🙂

 

[raid]

I have one of those hard to find Sonnars in LTM. The built quality is below that of most ofmy 50mm lenses, but the glass is excellent. DAG did twice a CLA and shimming job on my lens, and he had the same comments. The glass is amazingly clean and clear of wipe marks. In my test of twelve LTM 50mm lenses this lens did quite well, having warm colors. I should try a B&W film with it.

Raid

 

[furcafe]

IMHO, I would only go w/the Contax RF-to-M adapter if you have, or plan to have, multiple lenses in Contax RF mount that you want to use on an M Leica. Otherwise, the new CZ 50/1.5 Sonnar will have the advantages of modern optics (multicoating, re-computation, etc.) & the Canon or other Sonnar-type LTM lenses (5cm/1.4 Nikkor-S, etc.) will have the advantage of lower cost. Also, unless you get a rare Cook & Perkins adapter, the focusing direction using the new HK/Macao Contax RF-to-M adapters will be the opposite of the "normal" Leica direction, just like on a Contax or Kiev.

Okay, there's the new Zeiss lens for $1000 (f1.4 is so very close to f1.5), an original Contax lens (say $175) with adaptor ($300) for a total of say $500 in round numbers, and the J3 ($100) with ltm to M-mount adaptor ($50) for a total of $150.

Quite a range in price, eh? I've got the J3 and am considering the Contax to M adaptor. Just wonder if it's worth it.