A Tale of Four 50's

[Jungle Jim]

A Tale of four 50's, shot under controlled conditions to determine sharpness, contrast, color saturation, and background blur between older LTM and M-mount lenses.

WARNING: Big JPGS ahead!

Procedure: Two test dolls placed on a table outside with a contrast of colors in the far background. The Japanese doll is in front, German doll is 1 feet behind and to the side. Distance from Japanese doll to the film plane is four feet. Focus is on the eyes of the Japanese doll. After each camera lens is put on the camera, an incident meter reading is taken to verify correct exposure.

Equipment: Camera is a 1959 Leica M3, CLA by DAG. Mounted with an RRS Plate to an Arca Swiss ballhead, Gitzo 1548 tripod. All lenses with appropriate lens hood, no filters. (Note: Canon f/1.2 lens has a generic Sonia hood screwed in place.) Incident meter is a Sekonic L-358.

Lenses: Four 50 mm lenses, in no particular order.
Lens A- LTM Canon f/1.2, year 1958(?), CLA by Focal Point
Lens B- LTM Summarit f/1.5, Year 1953, Slight haze internally
Lens C- LTM Summitar f/2, Year 1949, CLA by DAG
Lens D- M-mount tabbed Summicron f/2, Year 1985, CLA by Focal Point
All lenses are coated and have their coating intact.

Film: Fuji Reala, EI-100. Developed by a commercial pro lab, Ace Photo Imaging. Requested NO CORRECTIONS when negative was scanned to CD.

Weather condition: Overcast.

HINT: Look on top of the Jam Jar to see which lens is used for that particular picture.

Comments: Pinpoint light source from a knothole just above the card on the jam jar. Another light source is a foil reflector on the left shoe of the Japanese doll. Red swirlies behind Japanese doll supplied from a red Japanese maple. Top left corner is a red bird feeder. This area of the picture is usually the weakest for lenses.

 

[Jungle Jim]

The two fastest lenses, the Canon f/1.2 and Summarit f/1.5, wide open...

 

[Jungle Jim]

Next, all four lenses at f/2.0

 

[Jungle Jim]

Now all four lenses at f/2.8

 

[Jungle Jim]

Next all four lenses at f/4.0

 

[doubs43]

Next, all four lenses at f/2.0

Jim, the Canon and Summitar seem to be the sharpest at f/2..... in that order. The Summicron has the most pleasing bokeh to my eye and all of them seem to render the colors pretty nicely. The Canon and Summarit have the least pleasing bokeh to my eye. The Summitar falls between in that regard.

That's my opinion.

That's a nicely designed test with excellent repeatability.

Walker

 

[Jungle Jim]

And finally....all four lenses at f/5.6

 

[doubs43]

And finally....all four lenses at f/5.6

Jim, I honestly don't see a whole lot to choose between at f/5.6. The Summitar records the least amount of fine detail in the OOF areas but isn't that far off of the other three that all are just about even....... again, IMO. All four have done just fine.

Walker

 

[raid]

The most interesting shots are at f2.0 for me. Nice test.
I will include bokeh shots in my next test of 50mm lenses.

 

[jmilkins]

A very informative post Jim thank you! I'm astounded by the 3D snap of 1950's Canon and the Cron, especially round f2. I also like the Summitar and Summarit, but on first take its the Canon and the Cron for me in these examples...

 

[Ken F.]

Hi Jim,

Thanks for the post! As John just stated, the Canon's pop is quite amazing.

Regards,
kf

 

[raid]

The Canon rangefinder lenses are excellent lenses indeed. I have the 50/1.2 and I love it. The above test results show its performance. Very sharp photos and excellent set-up in the test.

 

[sychan]

The interesting thing I noticed between the Canon and the Summicron is the different way that colors come across. The colors on the Summicron seem to be more saturated, and more contrasty.

But the Canon 50/1.2 doesn't seem to lose out against the Summicron when it comes to sharpness.

 

[jan normandale]

I find the Canon lens to be the sharp performer here. Bokeh is not a factor for me so ....

What is interesting is the same Canon lens was used in a test by GabrielMa on another RFF thread recently, it showed remarkable staying power and sharpness when weighed in against the German heavy artillery.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21800&page=1&pp=20

 

[Honus]

My comments:

First of all, I love lens tests. This may be the best lens test I have seen to date.

All of the lenses perform admirably, but IMO, the Canon and the Summicron have the better oof rendering. The f2.0 test seems to be the most revealing. I put the Canon and Summicron clearly ahead. The major difference between the two is the Summicron having higher contrast. By f4.0, the difference between all four lenses becomes much smaller.

The Canon 50/1.2 is now on my lust list.

Robert

 

[photorat]

Yes, great test, Jungle Jim. I would have been intrigued, however, to see how the Sonnar 1.5 (LTM) would perform in a similar situation. I am looking for a fast(er) 50 to complement my 50/2 Summicron (version I) and am tossing up between the Canon 1.2 (this test probably tips me towards that lens), the Nikkor 1.4, Summitar 1.5 and Sonnar 1.5 (LTM). I'm looking for something with a bit of character, bordering on idiosyncracy but still with the capacity to delivery sharpness from f2 up.

How would you all describe the M39 Sonnar from experience relative to this thread?

 

[enochRoot]

is it just me, or does the summicron seem to be focussed slightly behind the main doll's face? it doesn't appear as sharp as the canon at f2, but it also appears that the focus plain is slightly behind the doll.

 

[Jungle Jim]

Boy, does this post bring back some memories! Looks like some of the photos at f4 did not survive the archives.

Enochroot, I pulled out the original negatives and examined them under a loop. You are correct, the focus appears to be slightly behind the main doll's eyes, where her ponytail loops around behind her shoulder. Good eyes!

I was going to do a test with some long lenses some time ago but Raid beat me to it. Raid is the expert when it comes to lens tests!

I still think I may try to do a new test under the same circumstances if I can get my four cousins to loan them out to me for a month. Between the four of us we have a Hexanon 90/2.8, Summicron 90/2, Elmarit 90/2.8. Nikkor 105/2.5, Canon 100/2, Summilux 75/1.4, and a Nikkor 85/2 (black lens). Will have to talk to them at the family get together this New Years.

Best Wishes for a safe Holiday Season!

 

[enochRoot]

oops...i didn't realize how old the thread was jim!

seems like the next test would be great as well. i have been using my 90mm hexanon more and more and i'm very impressed with the results!

 

[raid]

Welcome back ... thread.

This is good stuff, so thanks for bringing it back to life for us.