50mm 'Cron or Nokton decision

OK. I have to make a call now, as Carolina needs to get the lens delivered before she flies home!

I'm going summicron. Try as I might, I just can't get past the magic of that name. And its rendition is just too nice.

If I get the 'cron, I still have my I-61L/D for when I need the contrast and I can get another J-3 for when I need the speed. And if it all goes wrong (as Kim points out) I can sell for what I paid.

If I got the Nokton, then sure I'd get the contrast and speed, but the only way to get smooth 'cron rendition would be to, well, buy a 'cron.

Just before we lay this incredibly useful thread to rest, can someone confirm that the black 'cron in KEH is the 4th version that the Bartender recommends against?

Thanks to everyone for their help. I'll post pics soon...
 
Jamie,

You might want to check out matsuiyastore on evilbay. They have a Hexanon 50 F2 for sale at just over £200. This is a fantastic lens - I sold my current version 'cron in favour of it - and at this price its a steal. Hexanon lenses are easily the equal of Leica and the build quality is second to none.

Just to confuse you :)
 
My Nokton 50/1.5 shots are here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsuominen/tags/nokton50mm15/ or slideshow mode:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsuominen/tags/nokton50mm15/show/

I bought a demo version of it from Adorama about a year ago.

I have also Summicron-M 50/2 (bought it new in 1981) and those photos are here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsuominen/tags/summicron50mm2/ or
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsuominen/tags/summicron50mm2/show/

You can't go wrong either of those lenses, I like them both.
 
Older Leica glass has a nice look if you can find something decent, a big if.

Mine was all purchased decades ago and it was hard to find good stuff then. Now mostly everything I pick up has something wrong, hazy, needs lub, scratsches.

Glow is a mith. It is flare from the poorer quality of the coatings at the time and a dirty hazy lens with glow even more.

So unless you can see what you are buying, go for the Nocton.

A good rigid or DR is nice on an M3, the operative word is good here.
 
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