waltere
waltere
I have been thinking of getting a 50 F2 for my M4-I have a 35 f2 ZM. I see 50's, Summicron rigids, collaps, M's for 1300.00 and under...the Elmar is tempting too.
I can't seem to find a good comparison of the choices.
Help! Thanks.
I can't seem to find a good comparison of the choices.
Help! Thanks.
photo4ls
Well-known
Summicron DR !!!
kdemas
Enjoy Life.
You might enjoy these threads:
15 50MM Lenses Compared
Comparison of 6 50mm Lenses
It really all comes down to what you like to do with the lens and, in some cases, what you have to spend. Do you need a fast 50mm? A compact 50mm? A 50mm that's exceptionally sharp or one with more "character"? These are just a few of the questions you need to ask yourself to narrow the field.
The good news...there are lots of terrific 50's out there, one is waiting for you!
Kent
15 50MM Lenses Compared
Comparison of 6 50mm Lenses
It really all comes down to what you like to do with the lens and, in some cases, what you have to spend. Do you need a fast 50mm? A compact 50mm? A 50mm that's exceptionally sharp or one with more "character"? These are just a few of the questions you need to ask yourself to narrow the field.
The good news...there are lots of terrific 50's out there, one is waiting for you!
Kent
gshybrid
Well-known
I've been using a summicron vs III on my M4 and I like it. It is supposed to be higher contrast but it looks pretty much the same as the current version summicron at about half the price.
waltere
waltere
Thanks Kent, that's what I was hoping to find!
R
rpsawin
Guest
If you can find a CV 50/2.5 Color Skopar get it... great performer, affordable...lot's to love with this jewel.
Another thought is the Hexanon 50/2...great lens and a rival to the summicron.
Good luck,
Bob
Another thought is the Hexanon 50/2...great lens and a rival to the summicron.
Good luck,
Bob
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
How about a C Sonnar ... just use it at f2 and have the extra speed in reserve. It's a fantastic lens with a great focusing action and very good build quality. The look this lens can produce is hard to go past IMO.
andredossantos
Well-known
Totally agree, Double Negative. There are so many great 50's. Another direction you can go besides all the great suggestions already given are the LTM Nikkors.
Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
My suggestion is a modern f2 50mm lens. The ZM Planar is a good one, as is the Konica 50mm f2. From Leica, the 4th and 5th versions of the 50mm Summicron (the same optically, but the 4th has a focus tab, the 5th has a wide focusing ring).
I don't recommend the older Summicrons because very few that I have seen are in good enough condition to justify the insane prices they command. Most Collapsible, Dual Range and Rigid Summicrons have scratched up front elements and often have haze in the insides.
The Lenses I recommend, the modern 50 Summicrons and the ZM and Konica 50/2 lenses, are optically very similar, all very sharp, all well built, and all new enough that a used one will be in good condition. The ZM is cheap enough to buy new!
I have a ZM Sonnar. It is a cool lens, but not a good general purpose lens. Its not very sharp across the whole picture unless stopped down, but is very sharp in center. I've had pics of buildings I shot at f5.6 ruined by that. The Tabbed Summicron I also have is sharp everywhere, even wide open. The Sonnar also suffers focus shift issues. Mine was an older one made to focus at f2.8 and below. It is not sharp at f2 or 1.5 because the plane of focus is so far off what your rangefinder shows at those apertures. Newer ones are calibrated at f1.5 and are sharp at that setting, but unusable until about f5.6 because you cannot focus accurately at f2, 2,8, and 4 with one calibrated for f1.5. I know you'll now get a bunch of suggestions for techniques for 'making it work' at those apertures. I'd suggest that guessing focus, which is essentially what will be suggested, is not a good way to work, especially if you're new to shooting rangefinders. You need gear that "Just Works". Anything else will frustrate you.
I don't recommend the older Summicrons because very few that I have seen are in good enough condition to justify the insane prices they command. Most Collapsible, Dual Range and Rigid Summicrons have scratched up front elements and often have haze in the insides.
The Lenses I recommend, the modern 50 Summicrons and the ZM and Konica 50/2 lenses, are optically very similar, all very sharp, all well built, and all new enough that a used one will be in good condition. The ZM is cheap enough to buy new!
I have a ZM Sonnar. It is a cool lens, but not a good general purpose lens. Its not very sharp across the whole picture unless stopped down, but is very sharp in center. I've had pics of buildings I shot at f5.6 ruined by that. The Tabbed Summicron I also have is sharp everywhere, even wide open. The Sonnar also suffers focus shift issues. Mine was an older one made to focus at f2.8 and below. It is not sharp at f2 or 1.5 because the plane of focus is so far off what your rangefinder shows at those apertures. Newer ones are calibrated at f1.5 and are sharp at that setting, but unusable until about f5.6 because you cannot focus accurately at f2, 2,8, and 4 with one calibrated for f1.5. I know you'll now get a bunch of suggestions for techniques for 'making it work' at those apertures. I'd suggest that guessing focus, which is essentially what will be suggested, is not a good way to work, especially if you're new to shooting rangefinders. You need gear that "Just Works". Anything else will frustrate you.
kzphoto
Well-known
I'd offer one other consideration: Ergonomics. Consider focusing tabs, half stops v third stops, etc.
If you like your biogon then the ZM 50 f/2 Planar is a no-brainer. Really great image quality, same filter size and you can find them used for $600 or more.
If you like your biogon then the ZM 50 f/2 Planar is a no-brainer. Really great image quality, same filter size and you can find them used for $600 or more.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Another very capable lens is the f2 Hexanon ... I personally found it a little bland but it has no real faults and is reasonably priced. Almost impossible to get it to flare,
kzphoto
Well-known
They seem to be harder to find lately. I've been wanting to track one down.
Lflex
Lflex
The Summicron v3 produced from 1969 to 1979 is a sleeper as no profilic writer to my knowledge has singled it out. The lens provide modern contrast with a generally pleasant OOF rendition. Modern hard coating is also a plus.
The only complaint I have, is the very long focus throw but it only bothers me when I haven't used it for a while.
M2 & Summicron 50mm by mandoflex, on Flickr
The only complaint I have, is the very long focus throw but it only bothers me when I haven't used it for a while.
M2 & Summicron 50mm by mandoflex, on Flickr
LeicaFan
Well-known
I've been having a very hard time finding a nice 50mm lens that doesn't cost an arm and a leg (i.e., Summilux ASPH). I guess the used market is very slow right now.
Tim Gray
Well-known
I'd go for a last model Elmar-M or a Zeiss Planar. Or a Summilux ASPH 
But really, for the price, I think the Zeiss is a great deal. I had a last version Summicron for a while, and while it was a nice lens, it never really did anything special for me.
The Hexanon sounds like a great lens too, but the it's price has gone up over the years and might not be as easy to find. The Nikkor 50/1.4 LTM is a cool little lens as well, but definitely not modern. I'm glad I picked mine up here a couple years ago before the prices reached their current levels. It's a cool lens for $250. I'm not sure if I'd choose it at $500 over the Zeiss.
But really, for the price, I think the Zeiss is a great deal. I had a last version Summicron for a while, and while it was a nice lens, it never really did anything special for me.The Hexanon sounds like a great lens too, but the it's price has gone up over the years and might not be as easy to find. The Nikkor 50/1.4 LTM is a cool little lens as well, but definitely not modern. I'm glad I picked mine up here a couple years ago before the prices reached their current levels. It's a cool lens for $250. I'm not sure if I'd choose it at $500 over the Zeiss.
Krosya
Konicaze
What about CV 50/1.5? Superb lens that rivals Summilux and it's much cheaper. I love mine. But than again I have many 50mm lenses. Canon 50/1.8 is a superb cheap lens. For either just add a LTM-M adapter and it's ready to go.
rogerzilla
Well-known
There are some to strike off the list: Summicron collapsible is so hard to find in good usable condition that you may as well not bother, Summicron v2 Rigid is amazingly rare and therefore highly priced, latest v4 is probably too expensive at the moment (not much discount on new).
The DR is good value because it doesn't work on the M9. The Elmar is always a good bet but not if you always use slow or medium-speed film, as you will sometimes find yourself stuck with 1/15 at f/2.8. As mentioned above, the v3 is less fashionable because the rendering is somewhere between "classic" and "ultrasharp new", so can be reasonable value. Only comes in black though, as far as I'm aware.
The DR is good value because it doesn't work on the M9. The Elmar is always a good bet but not if you always use slow or medium-speed film, as you will sometimes find yourself stuck with 1/15 at f/2.8. As mentioned above, the v3 is less fashionable because the rendering is somewhere between "classic" and "ultrasharp new", so can be reasonable value. Only comes in black though, as far as I'm aware.
The Summicron v3 produced from 1969 to 1979 is a sleeper as no profilic writer to my knowledge has singled it out. The lens provide modern contrast with a generally pleasant OOF rendition. Modern hard coating is also a plus.
The only complaint I have, is the very long focus throw but it only bothers me when I haven't used it for a while.
M2 & Summicron 50mm by mandoflex, on Flickr
I own one of these as well as the biogon... both are equally great. You cannot go wrong with the advice given.
waltere
waltere
Thanks everyone! I definitely want a Summicron, just to have a Leica lens for my M4. I really like the Biogon, but I think I "need" to have at least one that says Wetzlar on the front, lol! Mostly, I will be using it at 5.6 or smaller in full sun, so according to the poll, the Rigid, the DM, and the newer one's are the favorites, and there are lots on ebay right now & am hoping to get one for $1300 or less...
waltere
waltere
Oops, DR, I mean!