Beginner's dilemma. 50 mm

[Carey M]

You can't really go wrong with the Planar. Sharper than the Hexanon (at least compared to the one I've tested), handles well, excellent flare resistance and I like the colors. Definitely not a low contrast lens though.

Collapsible Summicron is nice if you like a low contrast look. Many of these are in bad shape nowadays, really soft glass that scratches easily. Not very resistant to flare. I did not like the handling with the infinity lock.

 

[Papercut]

Another "reasonable price with good performance" option would be the CV Nokton 50/1.5. My copy had some wonky focus shift so it was returned, but lots of people compare it favorably to the non-ASPH Summilux.

 

[raid]

options?

options?

There are many amazingly good 50mm RF lenses available. Among the lenses that I have used quite a lot and that I really like :

Rigid Summicron 50/2 M
Jupiter-3 50/1.5 ltm
Zeiss Sonnar 50/1.5 50/2 ltm
Konica 50/2.2 ltm
CV Heliar 50/3.5 50/2 ltm, M
Voigtlaender 50/1.5 Nokton, (new to me) 50/2 Ultron (for the Prominent) with M adapter
Canon 50/1.5 50/1.4 ltm
CV 50/1.1 50/1.5 ltm
Zeiss 45/2 for G1/G2 adapted to M
Pentax-M 50/1.4 adapted to M

These come to mind right now. There exist others such as the Nikon 50/1.4 Millenium, say.

Do not box your choices in. There are many options available.

 

[Deleted member 65559]

for which camera body??

 

[sady]

for which camera body??

M6 +35 mm Color Scopar

 

[Deleted member 65559]

summicron 50 rigid, color skopar 50 2.5 is a real gem. 50 elmar

 

[Phil_F_NM]

+1 for the Hexanon. The Planar can be too perfect. I'm a Konishiroku apologist though and love just about everything they have done. Once you get your hands on a UC Hexanon, you will never go back. Selling mine was one of the worst photo decisions I ever made.

Phil Forrest

 

[sady]

At the moment on tle local market the cheapest is Nocton 50mm f/1.5. uff

 

[BLKRCAT]

the nokton is a great lens. It's my everyday 50. It beat out my rigid summicron and I find it a better lens than the planar.

 

[Richard G]

We rarely play ball and stick with your particular question. And not should we. Print size was a good question as that should affect the decision.

To me light and compact would matter a lot. I’d go with Erik’s suggestion of the Color Skopar 2.5. And for compactness I’d also look at a second-hand Summarit 2.5.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Is it for color or bw prints?
On bw prints Nokton was nice. Above Planar and Rigid to now Crons.

 

[gb hill]

Is it for color or bw prints?
On bw prints Nokton was nice. Above Planar and Rigid to now Crons.

I was wondering when someone would ask.😀 Being a b&w shooter would make my decision a bit easier.

 

[sady]

Is it for color or bw prints?
On bw prints Nokton was nice. Above Planar and Rigid to now Crons.

Only for bw prints from darkroom🙂

 

[BLKRCAT]

it's only a matter of time before people start posting samples. But before that I would seriously recommend you to take a look at the Nokton 50 F1.5 thread.

The lens has great build, size isn't too bad. Sharpness and contrast are just right for someone looking for a classic look with a modern edge. Plus it has a speed advantage over the planar and hexanon.

https://rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2850651#post2850651

 

[sady]

This is the end. I just bought Nokton 50 F1.5 ($ 476). Thanks

 

[jsrockit]

All were great choices but it’s aiways good to just buy and go out to photograph.

 

[Ccoppola82]

Nice lens! I have a chrome one but at the moment it’s been displaced by my Sonnar 1.5. Really wouldn’t have gone wrong with any of them. I haven’t really used a “bad” 50 so far for the Leica. They are just different. I bet you get more though! Have fun and shoot away!

 

[BLKRCAT]

I'd say it's a good choice. And a great price as well.

 

[Godfrey]

Is there some reason besides cost that you don't include a Summicron-M 50mm in your list?

I have had a Color Skopar 50mm for some time, had a Nokton 50/1.5, sold the latter, tried the Planar 50, and sold that to go back to the Summicron-M 50 like I had twenty years ago (but in the current six-bit coded mount). It's the best performer of the bunch and I got it second hand for $1300. Worth every penny.

The Color Skopar is my second favorite. 🙂

 

[sady]

The Color Skopar is my second favorite. 🙂[/quote]


No problem. I bought to have 50 mm, I will buy Skopar in the summer. (Skopar was at the same price but in France)