50mm with character?

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hamish_gill

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Jul 27, 2008
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Firstly, I hope this is the right forum ...
I havent posted here for years and dont want to get in trouble ;)

I shoot with a sony compact and nikon slrs day to day for work (and for personal work to be fair) but use my rangefinders as a bit of an escape from them ... I dont shoot the RF's for out and out perfection of "quality"
I use them for the magic of using them and the results based on the lenses (lens) I have chosen.

That said I bought my main lens way before I had an idea of my own tastes in this sort of glass but have since fallen in love with the look of said lens ... that lens in the Voigtlander 35mm 1.4 nokton classic ... I have a 15/4.5 21/4 28/1.9 75/2.5 ... dont use any of them, just the 35 for the results it gives me (for some reason I cant bring my self to part with the others ... ... no idea why ...)

Anyway
here are a couple of shots of my daughter (my main choice of subject matter these days)


Connie in Boston Tea Party by Hamish_Gill, on Flickr


Connie 1st Bday by Hamish_Gill, on Flickr

Im looking for a 50mm with similar character ... or if not similar character ... just character!
I like the "hard" bokeh of the 35, dont worry my self with such things as edge to edge sharpness, dont pay much attention to the barrel distortion (I never even noticed it)
... ... dont know ... just want a 50 with character.
f2 or faster as I shoot a lot indoors

I have a r2a and rd1s but am not fussed if its ltm or m

£300 max spend ...
Ive been looking at old leica's ... the ltm summitar seems to divide opinion which probably means its one to consider??

Any others? New or old? your thoughts please :)
 
While there are many, many options, I will start with the obvious. It seems like when "character" is mentioned, the Sonnar is inevitably suggested, so I will start with that.

Look for a 50mm Sonnar that meets your budget. The Jupiter-3 comes to mind, although anecdotally, there are many caveats to finding a good Jupiter-3.

If you can stretch your budget, the ZM 50mm Sonnar would be my first choice. I sold mine a while back in a moment of utter lunacy and I regret it to this day.
 
The discontinued Voigtlander 50mm f/1.5 is a superb lens. It may be slightly outside of your budget. I also quite like the rendering of the Jupiter 3, but it's definitely an acquired taste. About half the time, the bokeh is nauseatingly swirly and harsh, and the contrast is odd! None the less, when it hits, it hits hard:). I'm using these lenses on an M9, so I'm not sure how they'll render on film. If you can find the Voigtlander 1.5, go for it. The Ziess 50mm f/2 Planar is very nice, but is probably way outside if you budget.
 
Do you mean M mount? If so. you couls try the Carl Zeiss 50mm Sonnar 1.5, and use an Amadeo adaptor for the M mount. I'm talking about the old version from the '50s for the Contax camera. It's my main 50. All that might really run into some money, though. Also for the M, the Leica Collapsible summicron, or you could adapt an Elmar 50/3.5. Now THAT's character!
 
kxl ... there seem to be a lot of sonnar's. I have looked at them but get confused ... seems the jena sonnar is the one in my budget???

Captzoom ... Ive mulled over the cv 50 many many times, it looks good, but I worry it might be too good!?

It sounds daft, but I have and (as I mentioned) dont use the 28mm 1.9 ... it just doesnt do much for me ... Its a brilliant lens, but if i want brilliant ill use the nikon dx00 and 24-70 ...

re. jupiter ... yeah ... I have an 8 ... never been overly taken with it ... not sure why really ...
 
I like those cris!
Hmmm ... I knew I might get more expensive and attractive options suggested ... what might I expect to pay for a used 50 1.1 do you think?
 
The Nikkor 50mm 1.4 gives you all sorts of shots depending on the aperture and distance:

8073033895_5e13e176c8_b.jpg

https://www.flickr.com/photos/cannelbrae/8073033895

7984754090_f09f9112db_b.jpg

https://www.flickr.com/photos/cannelbrae/7984754090

7984753710_974b7dee1b_b.jpg

https://www.flickr.com/photos/cannelbrae/7984753710

That said, my favorite general all around lens is the Yashinon 5cm 1.8. Its much less of a character lens but I love the look it produces. It hits a sweet spot for sharpness, bokeh and price (if you can find one):

7569423176_6c06a4f781_b.jpg

https://www.flickr.com/photos/cannelbrae/7569423176

7163084836_4cfc895963_b.jpg

https://www.flickr.com/photos/cannelbrae/7163084836

7163080822_b2a7bfc3e7_b.jpg

https://www.flickr.com/photos/cannelbrae/7163080822/
 
I would recommend the the Schacht Travelon 1.8/50, it has the same "hard" boke' - but while Schacht made LTM lenses, finding any of their 50s in LTM is going to be next to impossibe for obvious reasons.
 
hamish_gill said:
They anret M or ltm though are they Brian?

No votes for an ageing Leica then?
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The nikkor is available in Leica screwmount , so use on m series with adapter .
The yashica lens is in Leica screwmount , standard on the decendants of the Nicca .

The yashica lens will be difficult to find unless you purchase one on a body .

I have always liked the nikkor and it may be in your budget , lb 300 is about $450 if I remember .

The summitar is an early summicron type , some people love this lens . It is a good performer ,
Being older it will have different color character , as with most of the 40's 50's lenses .
 
The older Voigtländer Nokton 50mm f/1.5 ASPH (LTM) produces similar beautiful bokeh. How alike to the 35/1.4 I can't say.

I have the 35/2.5, 40/1.4, and 50/1.5, and like them all.
 
Before my daughter, I used a 35mm f1.4 as my normal lens. Now with a daughter I find a 50 more useful. I have a number of 50's to choose from but my favorite all around 50 is the Nikkor f2.0. It makes lovely images altho I also have a Jupiter 8 that is almost as good and a lot less expensive. Jupiter 8 is much lighter too.

Enjoy your daughter. They grow up much too quickly. Joe
 
This is my experience for what it is worth.

I love the Nikkor 50mm, and the Zeiss 50mm Planar, (I am lucky to own both lenses) but both lenses have an out of focus blur, or bokeh, that is much smoother.

I also own, and love, the Nokton 50mm 1.1 and it provides much sharper out of focus highlights and, IMO, will be much closer in character to your 35. I realize that it will likely be a little out of your stated budget constraints but if you keep you eyes open you may be fortunate. It will also provide you with outstanding low light capabilities, though the DOF at 1.1 is paper thin and it is very tough to get a well focused image at that aperture. Particularly if you are going to be chasing a young child!!

Good luck and enjoy.
 
hamish_gill said:
Captzoom ... Ive mulled over the cv 50 many many times, it looks good, but I worry it might be too good!?
Click to expand...

You know what, you're probably right!?! The CV 50 1.5 is gives very clean and smooth results.

Check out the CV limited edition collapsible nickel plated 50mm heliars; one is f/3.5 the other f/2. They're right around your budget, and are designed not to emulate modern lenses. I haven't used them, but they maybe exactly what you're looking for!
 
I vote for the Summitar. The lens produces gorgeous and dreamy looking photos. Tons of character.

I recently sold my M camera, but I'm hoping I can get an adapter to use this lens with other cameras rather than selling it. I like it that much.
 
Richard G said:
The shortfall in your budget could be funded by selling one of the ones you don't use.
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Yes... that has occurred to me ...

Livesteamer said:
Before my daughter, I used a 35mm f1.4 as my normal lens. Now with a daughter I find a 50 more useful. I have a number of 50's to choose from but my favorite all around 50 is the Nikkor f2.0. It makes lovely images altho I also have a Jupiter 8 that is almost as good and a lot less expensive. Jupiter 8 is much lighter too.

Enjoy your daughter. They grow up much too quickly. Joe
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Im not sure how she got to be 15 months ... I only blinked, I swear!

Pioneer said:
This is my experience for what it is worth.

I love the Nikkor 50mm, and the Zeiss 50mm Planar, (I am lucky to own both lenses) but both lenses have an out of focus blur, or bokeh, that is much smoother.

I also own, and love, the Nokton 50mm 1.1 and it provides much sharper out of focus highlights and, IMO, will be much closer in character to your 35. I realize that it will likely be a little out of your stated budget constraints but if you keep you eyes open you may be fortunate. It will also provide you with outstanding low light capabilities, though the DOF at 1.1 is paper thin and it is very tough to get a well focused image at that aperture. Particularly if you are going to be chasing a young child!!

Good luck and enjoy.
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Very tempted to keep the purse sealed until a 1.1 comes along now ... or at least get something else cheaper for the time being and save toward a 1.1

CaptZoom said:
You know what, you're probably right!?! The CV 50 1.5 is gives very clean and smooth results.

Check out the CV limited edition collapsible nickel plated 50mm heliars; one is f/3.5 the other f/2. They're right around your budget, and are designed not to emulate modern lenses. I haven't used them, but they maybe exactly what you're looking for!
Click to expand...

yes, they have the "classic" moniker, but the f2 samples ive seen dont look that characterful imo

jordanatkins said:
I vote for the Summitar. The lens produces gorgeous and dreamy looking photos. Tons of character.

I recently sold my M camera, but I'm hoping I can get an adapter to use this lens with other cameras rather than selling it. I like it that much.
Click to expand...

FrankS said:
Character = Summar 50f2
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Summar, summitar, summarit, summaron, summacron ...until a week ago I was only aware of the summicron (I used to own one as it goes - but sold it with the m6 ... still scratching my head on the decision) ...

Anyway ... whats with all these sumasomthings ... Ive looked at samples and the summarit looks the most characterful (as i said earlier on) but no recommendations for it yet??

I have to admit, im a little attracted to the speed ... I love my nikon 50mm 1.2 ais ... and use that purely and solely for its character ... it makes the otherwise pretty decent 50mm 1.4 afs look dull

this is one taken with the 50mm 1.2 nikon (on d3)

not a smidge of focus in sight ... ;)

_DSC5112-1.jpg


Maybe I can make things easier by saying id like the lens to be 1.5 or faster :)
 
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