50/1.4 camera/lens combo

My first camera was a Pentax Spotmatic F with a SMC 1.4 lens. Superb. Bright clean viewfinder and one of the best 1.4 lenses ever. They go for peanuts nowadays. Gotta be one of the best bargains in photography right now.
 
A cheap Yashica & a 50 1.4.
I quite like the Yashica ML 50.1.4.
First pic is Zeiss Planar.
2nd Yashica.

When I took these comparison pics the other day i had lots of M42 lenses I was just about to sell.
135 2.8 Meyer Bokeh monster, Meyer Primotar 135, Pancolar, Tessar etc etc etc.
The nicest, well my favourite anyway.
The last Pic
Meyer Optic Oreston 50 1.8.........
Pancolar not far behind.
In this particular test anyway.
Interesting.....
 

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How about an old school Miranda G with the old Miranda 50mm 1.4?
Gs are fully mechanical, have interchangeable screens and the lens is superb.
Cheers,
Jan
 
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The Sigma 50/1.4 EX has nice bokeh color and sharpness. But the manual focus handling might not be for everyone, this because of the not so great smoothness of focus ring action (when compared to Sigma 35/1.4 Art).
 
Some people need to read the OP:

jett said:
The lens should have good bokeh, decent sharpness, and no focus shift (not sure if this is a big deal for SLR's) at f1.4.
Click to expand...

if your answer to that is the old 70/80s 50/1.4s I think you've got a perspective issue.
 
When you ask open-ended questions like this you'll get as many different answers as there are camera manufacturers.
Since you already own Nikon equipment, I'd suggest that if you really can't live with your F equipped with a Nikkor 50, then grab an FM-2 which accepts different screens, and a fast Nikkor 50 and you'll be good to go.
 
just one body and one lens? not thinking of adding anything later on?

one of my favourite cameras was the canon t90…that would be my recommendation.
 
Nikon F2 would be like an F, but not clunky, and they've moved the shutter release up front where it belongs. That and a newer 50/1.4 Ais should be just the ticket. I have an FM and an FM2n, but I find the layout a bit cramped, and the shutter release lock on the FM2 and later is a bit irksome. Good luck.
 
As I recall there were six generations of the Nikkor 50mm AiS with the last being the best. I have used Nikkor and found in very good, no problems. If you choose this model look for a late model lens. I am not sure of exactly where the 5th generation turned to the 6th. You may need to do research there but I think it is around the 500000+ serial number. As for the Pentax lenses there are different generations, too. They are exceptional lenses but after each shot on the Spotmatic you need to reset the meter. Going back to the F3hp though it does not have autofocus motor drive can be added inexpensively. Many models come with it. The Nikon will take Zeiss lenses. Unlike some earlier models batteries for the Nikon F3hp are readily available. And, IMHO I have used the OM system but was not impressed with the lenses. The OM-1 will need a battery adapter. The Rokkor lenses have a different look. Years ago we referred to them as Japanese pastel look. All said and done IMHO I always recommend the Nikon F3hp as it takes Zeiss and the 105mm f2.5 can not be beat.
 
Steve Bellayr said:
As I recall there were six generations of the Nikkor 50mm AiS with the last being the best.
Click to expand...

Of the 50/1.4 AiS? If we want to believe Nikon, it remained optically unchanged throughout its history, if we exclude coating updates. The 50/1.4 only made it through some five or six (one switch was backward, to the previous design) optical design changes from the very beginning to the latest AF-D.

The later AiS has a shorter focus throw than the earlier one - people can be pretty fanatic in their preference of one or the other, but it really is a matter of taste and habit. Mostly owning older Nikon lenses, I personally prefer the long throw ones, but people used to AF lenses will find that the short throw ones feel more familiar for them.
 
Lots of changes; most, but not every one is a step forward. Most were slight revisions to the curvatures, but there was one major redesign around the time AI came out (can't recall, but don't think it was simultaneous with that). There were some of the redesign AI lenses (early?) that were sharp but had oddly low contrast.

I liked the K model I had pretty well. It seemed noticeably better than the earlier lenses.

All had their virtues, just not necessarily the ones the OP wants. I don't believe bokeh got better over the years, but am not sure about that Bokeh was not the high point for these anyway, but the softer look of the early lenses seemed to help it.
 
I have used and loved the Fujica ST901 with the Fujinon 50mm f/1.4. I found it sharp and easy to use. The camera uses SBC cells for incredible accurate exposure.

I have also used the Contax 50mm f/1.4. I first got it on a Contax 139Q. Great combination. After the 139Q died, I put it on an FX103. Later I got a Contax 167mt. The 50mm f/1.4 is a wonderfully sharp lens. The 167mt is a little heavy with the motor wind, but fits my hands so well I can't believe it. It's the only camera I would be comfortable using with a wrist strap.

But your problem is finding a lens that is still working as any of us describe. The same for cameras. Good luck in your quest.
 
redisburning said:
if you're legitimately curious send me a pm if you're just being snarky Im not gonna waste my time.
Click to expand...
I did send the PM, got an answer and I agree: take a look at modern lenses like the Sigma A 50/1.4 and the Zeiss Otus. They're much sharper then those 70's and 80's lenses.

The question of course: how good is good enough and how much does one want to spend.
 
Another option is just about any Leicaflex (e.g. SL2, R3, R5) and a 50/2 'Cron for her.

While not quite a song that you might find, the prices have plummeted in the past four years.

A Spotmatic, Miranda G, Cannon FTb, Nikon F2, Minolta SRT-102, Cannon EF, the list goes on and on for great handling reasonable bargains goes on and on. Just about every maker had a great 50mm of some speed to hang their hat on.

If you want curvy, Leicaflex SL2, built to last forever.
 
Lots of suggestions.

I'm a little lost, but to be fair, my questions were open-ended.
The only SLR body/lens that I have right now is a Leicaflex with a 50mm f2.0
Summicron. I like it very much, but the 50/1.4 Summilux is too pricey, and so I'm looking for a faster, cheaper alternative to compliment this camera. I love everything about this camera. The size, the quality, the viewfinder, but the lens is sometimes too slow.

Lens:
I'm looking for a manual focus 50mm-58mm f1.2-f1.4 lens. I don't have a budget per se, but I would feel uncomfortable spending more than $500 on a lens. I'm not sure how I feel about f1.2 lenses... I've never owned one but I would expect the slower counterparts to perform better, all things equal. The lens doesn't have to be clinical sharp, so 70's-80's lenses are most probably fine. Auto-focus (sigma) is not an option.

Body:
I'm looking for a body that is great for manual focusing. To me, ths means a contrasty viewfinder and a plain matte screen. I don't like focusing aids. All-mechanical is a bonus. A bigger/heftier camera is also a bonus.

Questions
Pentax
1. Do the K, M, and A lenses work on every bayonet body? Like the KX and the MX.
2. Are plain matte screens easy to find? Are they available on the spotmatic.
3. Which models have the best viewfinder?

With that said, I'm leaning towards a Nikon F2 or F3 with a 50mm f1.4/f1.2 or a 58mm f1.4 lens, a Contax RTS I/II with a 50mm f1.4 lens, or a Pentax KX/MX with a 50mm f1.2 K mount or some 50mm f1.4 lens. Nothing wrong with Olympus or Minolta but I don't feel that their cameras fit me. Konica fascinates me, but not having an interchangeable focusing screens (for a plain matte) is a deal breaker (unless I'm mistaken and they do have models with interchangeable focusing screens) since there are many other camera options that do.
 
I have an F3hp with the 50AIS1.4 and a LeicaFlex with the Summicron. With a DK-17m and an F4 screen the viewfinders are equivalent. If you are looking for a Summilux but are concerned about price, I know a shop that not long ago had a 2-cam 50mm Summilux for 399.USD PM me and I can give you contact info if you are interested.
 
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