paulfish4570
Veteran
I much like my I-61 and I-50 rigid, but I might like to mess with a collapsible I-50 or I-22 for increased pocketability of my FED-2d.
Preferences?
Preferences?
I've used the I-22 and it's good for the money if you can find one without defects. At least 50% of those I've encountered have factory defects or have been badly abused since manufacture. My advice would be to save yourself some grief and try and find a coated Elmar 3.5cm F3.5 with good glass, but user cosmetics (to keep the price down)
I went for the I-22 (Both are dirt cheap...) I've heard there is some more sample variation on I-50s... Someone having used both versions and lots FSU gear recommended the 22 because it seems like Russian lenses (and cameras) from those days became less quality controlled as years passed by... The I-22 is coated, has the same I-50's aperture ring, and several owners say it's sharper and of course more flare resistant than the original Leica one... That's more than enough for sure! I'll start using my I-22 this next week. Users say the previous I-10 (also collapsible 50 3.5) has inferior optics and design. Another advice I got, was buying a mint I-22 directly from eastern sellers, because in the US market there are lots of bad ones having been bought and sold lots of times, and those are most of the ones offered inside the USA... As those lenses were produced in hundreds of thousands, they're cheap: but they're amazing... I even saw a very very beautiful bokeh image focused close with the I-22 at 3.5! I'll post images in a few days...
Cheers,
Juan