50mm lens with lower contrast?

[HMFriedman]

Gentlemen/ladies -

I've been lurking about for a couple of weeks after making the mistake of accepting a friend's offer of the use of an M6 + 35mm Summicron for a day of shooting in Baltimore. I fell in love with the M6's handling and discreetness, but found the 35mm a bit wide and too sharp/contrasty for my vision. I prefer the look of my 1950's vintage Rolleiflex with its f/3.5 Xenar; somehow sharp enough but gentle at the same time.

Any suggestions for a compact 50mm lens that will give me that look that I like? Hopefully, nothing too esoteric (ie hard to find), please.

BTW, I shoot B/W only and still print in the darkroom.

Thanks,
Henry

 

[former member]

You could get a collapsible Summicron 5cm F2. Speed and relatively small size. Lower contrast, but sharp enough.

 

[johnastovall]

Try an Uncoated 50/3.5 Elmar or even an early '50's model.

 

[marke]

There's a lot of Summitars floating around on ebay right now. Look for a clean one and you should have youself a fine low-contrast 50.

 

[Benjamin Marks]

50/1.5 Summarit, Canon 50/1.5, an older 50 Elmar. - Ben Marks

 

[bmk1960]

How about a Voightlander 50 1.5? I'm shooting with a 40mm 1.4 on my M6 at the present but am about to add a 50mm.

 

[kmerenkov]

I find noktons to be contrasty (own 35 and 50, sold 40).
I know that my Jupiter-8 (1961, chrome) gives me low contrast (and I love this lens). But you have to shoot with the sun behind your shoulder.