50mm summilux vs. 50mm 1.5 zeiss

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felix5616

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I currently own a voigtlander nokton 50mm 1.5 lens. I want to step up in quality and want advice of which lens would be an improvement in terms of sharpness, contrast and overall general character; a 50mm summilux or a zeiss zm 50mm 1.5 lens.
 
The Nokton is a superb lens. I have the asph summilux, Nokton and Planar but have owned 4 versions of the summicron. My particular favorite with the best balance of all worlds is the Planar. The asph summilux is excellent in optical character but mechanically my lens is a disaster and have read a number of other people having the same mechanical issue. The summicrons were fine but not in the same class IMO as the three mentioned lenses. In all honesty you'll gain very little if anything by moving away from the Nokton. I like the Nokton very well and sold my original to get the asph summilux. I just purchased my second Nokton a couple of weeks ago to use while my summilux is in the shop for the next few months. I'm even considering selling the summilux asph and keeping the Nokton but in any case I will keep the Nokton.

If you're looking for the ultimate 50 and don't need 1.4 then buy the Planar.
 
I really like my pre-asph. summilux, not as well corrected as the asph. but I think it adds something to the image.
I've seen some outstanding shots from the Nokton, you may reconsider spending the money.
Todd
 
The Nokton is a great lens. I don'T believe in sample variation as much as in well adjusted Gear.

If your RF camera is well adjusted and if the focus is right on, the Nokton is great. It's one of the best 50mm lens I've ever tried.

Let's not forget the 50mm length is probably the easiest to make. If I was to spend some money on lenses I'd spend it on other focal lengths.
 
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The C Sonnar from Zeiss, has nothing to do with these other lenses at least up to f 5.6, it is a specialty lens with a very heavy overlay of spherical aberration in the f1.5-f4.0 range, and optimum sharpness (due to focus shift) optimized for f2.8. It has a in and out of focus passage, and a mix of contrast and softness which is truly unique, but it is not a general purpose fast 50mm lens. You can see this test to get the general impression:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59177039@N00/sets/72157600947495044/

while you will find some more portraits here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59177039@N00/sets/72157601234693316/

and some "sharp" f5.6-f8.0 shots here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59177039@N00/sets/72157600916687014/

I use this lens almost exclusively in portraiture, if I want to go out in the street, I use the 50/2 Planar. IMHO, if you want a lens which will give you head spinning shots at a wide aperture, consider the 35/1.2 Nokton, you can see an example at f1.2 here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59177039@N00/1140589233/in/set-72157601490684129/
 
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Yes the 50 ZM planar. Virtually no flare, deadly sharp even at f2 and classic rendition. Great blens of old and new with the best of both worlds.
 
awilder said:
X-ray, did DAG ever say what was wrong with the asph. Summilux or won't you know until returned?
Click to expand...


Don,

this lens of yours is so limited as far as adjustments go- There's a floating lens group in the rear that's connected to the focusing cam. Adjusting the front main element group will also shift the diaphram indexing system that is not adjustable so any adjustment of that will cause the diaphram system to no longer be set at 12:00 & there's no way to adjust the focusing dial. And to make matters worse, the mechanical focus that the focusing cam controls does not get to infinity & the optical focus goes beyond infinity so with the limited adjustments (actually, I see only one way to adjust the focus) I see no way to adjust the mechanical focus further to infinity & the optical focus to focus closer. Sorry to say that I think I'll have to send the lens back to you unrepaired. Right now the lens is back focusing. Let me know if you have any thoughts on this, otherwise I can send it out UPS today,

regards,

Don
DAG Camera repair
2128 Vintage Dr
Oregon, Wi 53575

and

Don,

I can't see anything that would have caused this to happen. My guess is that it was always like this. I'll send it back to you,

regards,

Don
DAG

Looks like it was made that way. I've been waiting for one of the folks at Leica NJ to get back from Germany to discuss this.

This is one of the reasons I get a little out of sorts when I hear this stuff about Leicas superior build quality. No free pass to leica just because they're Leica. Too many fine products on the market today and at a fraction of the price. Lower price and better image and build quality, guess what i will choose.
 
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Keep the Nokton and add the Sonnar - then you have (a) a very sharp fast lens and (b) and phantastic portrait 50, probably the best out there.

Roland.
 
got to love the nokton, for the most part it would be difficult for you to really upgrade on it. In the end I choose the zeiss planar just because of its closer focus and different signature but I eyed the nokton very closely all the way until I slapped my money down for the planar.
 
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