50mm f/1.4 options for the M mount.

[ferider]

Dammit, you guys are making a very good case for the Sonnar, really liking the photos you're posting.

Weren't you looking for a lens that's better built than your Nokton ? Just wondering.

 

[Richard G]

Weren't you looking for a lens that's better built than your Nokton ? Just wondering.

And if you look at my focus shift tests on the photo.net link you'll read that my C Sonnar has been dropped a number of times and still functions perfectly.

 

[Lax Jought]

The ZM c-sonnar is the best 50 for portraits, imho.

That's the part that was concerning me because I'm looking for a more general workhorse that I can use in a wide range of circumstances.

 

[Lax Jought]

It's not that easy.

Thanks very much for the two links. I note that mfogiel advised to have another lens for more general shooting. That was my concern, I am looking for a workhorse that can get me through all kinds of circumstances.

I liked your own tests though, I couldn't really see a huge negative in the wide open shots. I'm working with the Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 ZE which has its own faults when wide open but they are faults that I can work with.

 

[Lax Jought]

The f/1.5+ Sonnars work like this: they all have focus shift. People bitch about the ZM because they've apparently never used the others.

Dante, really appreciate the summary on the lenses in your list, haha, very helpful. 😀 I like the straightforward approach you've got there.

From your experience I would have to disregard the Sonnetar, Nikkor, and Jupiter because of the bokeh. My experience with the Voigt 35mm and 50mm - the bokeh is sometimes amazing, and sometimes not so good. I've never had a problem with the boken on my Zeiss 50mm though (ZE, EF mount) so that was what I was hoping to upgrade to.

I am getting the impression from many of the Sonnar users here that the focus shift is workable though.

 

[Lax Jought]

Weren't you looking for a lens that's better built than your Nokton ? Just wondering.

Yes I am. Why do you ask? I assume that the Zeiss lenses are better built than the Voigts. I know my Zeiss is very well built.

But I must also state that I've never had any issues with the build of my Voigt 35mm even though I've had it longer than the Voigt 50mm.

 

[Vincent.G]

Hm.. I'll have a look at the Nikkor, I was thinking about newer lenses that are still available for a brand new purchase, I haven't been so familiar with older lenses that require adapters but I'm game if they're reliable workhorses.

Re the 50/1.0, I recall reading a while ago that there were some minor issues with the older Noctis, can't remember what they are. But for that kind of price, I'd much rather go for a newer Summilux 50mm f/1.4.

The millennium nikkor 50/1.4 is a reissue lens together with the Nikon S3 2000 kit. It's not the same as the older 5cm f1.4 nikkor lenses. Read about it in the Nikon RF forum.

Amedeo is also an awesome guy to get your S-M adapter. He's a sponsor here in RFF.

 

[jazzwave]

raid,
Beautiful shot from Sonnar...

my 50mm for M wish list:
1. Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH ( Sorry Noctilux f0.95, I don't include u in my list 😀 )
2. Summicron 50/2 APO
3. Zeiss Sonnar 50/1.5
4. Zeiss Planar 50/2

In reality:
I have only Summicron 50/2 rigid..😉

~ron~

 

[sebastel]

my recommendation would be the summilux v.3 pre-asph. honestly, i only got the asph because it was cheaper(*)! but that one (the asph) is not bad, either.

(*) - that day, that shop -

 

[Lax Jought]

( Sorry Noctilux f0.95, I don't include u in my list 😀 )

Out of curiosity, why not the Noctilux?

I have only Summicron 50/2 rigid..😉

That's a very,very capable lens in itself!

 

[Lax Jought]

It's not the same as the older 5cm f1.4 nikkor lenses. Read about it in the Nikon RF forum.

I've never looked at the Nikon lenses, I don't know enough about them to be honest. I've mainly looked at Canon lenses and M mount lenses.

 

[Lax Jought]

(*) - that day, that shop -

I am familiar with post-traumatic stress syndrome when it comes to GAS......

 

[Charlie Lemay]

Some will find this blasphemous, but a few years ago I finally bought a pristine demo copy of the latest 50 Summilux ASPH. I was expecting it to be my dream 50. When I shot the same subjects side by side with my C Sonnar, I was shocked at I preferred the look of the ZM images every time. Even the tonality was a bit different without any filtration other than a UV. After a while, I could not justify keeping it. I have a lot of 50's (DR, Summitar, Summar, Canon 1.2, Canon 1.5, CV 2, CV 2.5, and a fake CZJ). They differ in pictorial qualities in ways that I find interesting. A test for me is not scientific, but whether or not I can use one of these lenses to make an image without regretting not choosing another. For me the Summilux ASPH did not pass this test. Maybe I got a bad sample, but in general, I don't much care for the modern, clinically perfect rendering Leica lens designs. I much prefer the Mandler era glass with flaws that I value as character. The 90 Macro is the only modern Leica lens I own.

 

[sebastel]

I am familiar with post-traumatic stress syndrome when it comes to GAS......

sorry?
don't know what you're talking about. i only reported plain facts.

 

[raid]

raid,
Beautiful shot from Sonnar...

my 50mm for M wish list:
1. Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH ( Sorry Noctilux f0.95, I don't include u in my list 😀 )
2. Summicron 50/2 ASPH
3. Zeiss Sonnar 50/1.5
4. Zeiss Planar 50/2

In reality:
I have only Summicron 50/2 rigid..😉

~ron~

Hi Ron,
I somehow bought a 35mm Summilux but I did not get the 50mm Summilux.

 

[Dante_Stella]

Where does the "Carl Zeiss" Contax-mount fit in? Similar to the Opton?

The "Carl Zeiss" is the later name of the Opton. No other differences. The only thing that changed as far as I know is the optical cement.

Dante

 

[splitimageview]

Yes I am. Why do you ask? I assume that the Zeiss lenses are better built than the Voigts. I know my Zeiss is very well built.

"Zeiss wobble."

It's not a dance...

 

[MCTuomey]

That's the part that was concerning me because I'm looking for a more general workhorse that I can use in a wide range of circumstances.

Yep. When I was running a ZM-based kit, I had the 50 C-Sonnar and the 50 Planar for that reason. I'm probably in the minority here but didn't like the C-Sonnar stopped down all that much (although I did initially). So, it was the Sonnar for people & low light and the Planar for everything else. I actually wore the Sonnar out and had to have it rebuilt (early build, probably wrong lube).

I think if you want a workhorse 50, either the Summilux or the Nokton would be my recommendation. Nokton is great value, images wonderfully, but actually kinda big if that matters to you (impinges fingers a bit if you use a grip). The E43 v2 pre-asph lux is a good value (in Leica-world), well-built too. E46 pre-asph lux is more money, gives you closer min focus (nice!) and a non-locking sliding hood that will drive you nutty. Asph lux is my idea of a near-perfect 50, but I think now USD 2500-2800.

 

[raid]

The "Carl Zeiss" is the later name of the Opton. No other differences. The only thing that changed as far as I know is the optical cement.

Dante

The Opton name was used after Carl Zeiss in West Germany got the patent rights to use the name Zeiss. The East German branch had to use the name Zeiss Jena. Opton glass was coated. Right?

 

[MCTuomey]

"Zeiss wobble."

It's not a dance...

Minority experience I'm sure, but when I ran an all-ZM kit for a few years I had 3 lenses serviced for the wobble a/or focus ring play, also a C-Sonnar that needed a full rebuild just after its warranty expired. I am not hard on my gear. Most of my ZMs were bought early in their product cycles, so may have suffered from initial production blues.