Best Bang for the Buck 50 Cron?

[B-9]

After all these years shooting lenses from 21-135 I can honestly say I am surely a 50 shooter 99% of the time.

Actually I prefer the 50 on a M8 (66 or so) as my go to.

So whats the best deal (I am a budget shopper) in the summicron world?

V3/V4? What would you pay for an average/well used lens?

(No DR or Collapsible Recommendations please!)

 

[madNbad]

What about a V5? A lot are already coded and the prices are close to a good copy of a V4. But you do get the worthless built in hood. Good luck with your search.

 

[ferider]

Funny, I've tried them all (except the APO), but ever since I shoot digital, the only ones I've kept are the rigid and the collapsible, since they offer unique contrast/resolution/size trade-offs.

The rigid is still my all time favorite 50.

For higher contrast, speed, modern, the CV offerings are just better (50/2.5, 1.5 and 1.1). If you wait patiently, you shouldn't pay more than US 700 for a clean v3. Coding for 50s is not necessary.

Roland.

 

[raid]

I am still using my Rigid Summicron as my favorite 50mm lens, and I own many superb 50mm lenses. It is a very high resolution lens with medium contrast, preserving information in the shadows better than other comparable 50mm lenses. [just saw Roland's post]

 

[Robert Lai]

Since the new ASPH lens came out, the used prices of the still current nonASPH lens has drifted down. So, you may as well just get one of those.

The hood is small, but it is the correct length to not vignette.
I learned this the hard way when I tried to find a hood for my collapsible Cron. I had been using the large Leica barn door hood, but it's huge.
Heliopan makes two hoods in the 39mm mounting diameter size:
a "short" one about 10mm long,
and a "long" one about 15mm long.

I bought both. The 15mm hood definitely vignettes a 50mm lens. Even with no filter on - which I would never do with the soft front glass of the collapsible.

The 10mm hood is the one I use now on the collapsible. So, Leica did the calculations and gave you the correct size pull out hood.

I'm saving the 15mm long hood for a 75mm or 90mm lens.

 

[mdarnton]

I don't really think there are any bad choices here. 50mm is an easy size to make, and just about every one I have ever had from any maker has been fine. I have a 50mm V3, a collapsible, a Canon 50/1.4, and the 1.1 Nokton and they all work fine and get about equal time on my cameras. My fave, which you have already redlined, is the collapsible. The V3 wins in the category of closest focus distance. The Nokton wins speed, and the Canon is a fast but small enough package for when I'm not sure if I will need speed or not.

You will find quite a few people, me included, who do not like the higher contrast of modern lenses, finding it an impediment to getting what they want rather than an advantage. Sometimes more is not better, it's just more. Don't get seduced by the idea of "more"!

Micro-contrast is overrated in my opinion. My collapsible is plenty sharp wide open, but you don't get unnecessary detail with it.

 

[raid]

The "not more" contrast is great for portraits and also for landscapes.

Rigid Summicron

 

[f16sunshine]

Seriously. Get a Zeiss Planar 50mm f2 in silver finish.
It's the best bang for the buck at 50mm.
I think it was Ming Thein that has a test review of the APO summicron and Planar together.
It was very close in many ways.

I feel the silver finish ZM lenses are of a higher build quality.

 

[x-ray]

Seriously. Get a Zeiss Planar 50mm f2 in silver finish.
It's the best bang for the buck at 50mm.
I think it was Ming Thein that has a test review of the APO summicron and Planar together.
It was very close in many ways.

I feel the silver finish ZM lenses are of a higher build quality.

I agree the Planar is the way to go. The Planar is razor sharp even wide open with much better contrast and flare control vs the Summicron.

I currently own a rigid Summicron and Planar but have owned the collapsible, rigid, DR, v3 and V4. The Summicrons that Ive owned lacked the flare control of the Planar.

I previously owned two samples of the 50 asph Summilux. The first was defective but the Planar is right up there with the Summilux asph. I sold the Summilux and went back to the Planar and am extremely happy with the decision.

 

[raid]

Do you mean the ZM 50/2 Planar? Sometimes, a lens "is too good" but is in fact "sterile", so to speak. I bought a Biogon 35/2 M but I use the older Summilux pre-asph far more often. It has life.

 

[Erik van Straten]

The rigid Summicron is an excellent lens. I own mine since 1979. I really would like to have a screw mount version of this lens.

Leica M5, Summicron 50mm rigid, 400-2TMY.

Erik.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Planar was the fastest lens I sold due to lack of any character. To me it was sharp, but flat lens in rendering on digital M. Heavily used Rigid with slight focus shift at wide apertures was much more alive. But Planar 50 ZM is the safest bet for 50mm lens in M mount.

I didn't went forward after trying almost all Leitz made 50 before Rigid. Since I'm not 50mm shooter on Leica cameras, I'm chasing low bottom deals now. As low as Industar-22 for $19 🙂 It works on M-E.... Even fogged 99$ Canon 50 1.8 ltm works for 1% 50mm lens 🙂. I just can't justify Cron V3 and after current prices. Yes, Planar 50 ZM is better deal, IMO.

 

[Kent]

I just LOVE my Version IV Summicron-M 2/50.

 

[f16sunshine]

Do you mean the ZM 50/2 Planar? Sometimes, a lens "is too good" but is in fact "sterile", so to speak. I bought a Biogon 35/2 M but I use the older Summilux pre-asph far more often. It has life.

Maybe the OP is set on a Leica lens but if he is looking for the bbfb 50mm the Planar surely is it.
I would never consider the Planar or Biogon Sterile or flat.
They both have a great ability to give a strong "3D effect".
I think of Zeiss micro Contrast and strong colors. The T* coatings control flare and contribute to a lifelike, round and smooth look.

For best all around bbfb 50mm I would not consider the many lenses with "character" (less corrected optical scheme).

 

[Ruffmeister]

Lenses I've used are:

Planar 50mm f/2 [Sold]
Summicron 50mm DR f/2 [Sold]
Summicron 50mm V4 f/2
Sonnar 50mm f/1.5

I let the Planar go for a Summicron having found one pretty cheaply.
The Planar is very sharp and very "digital" if that makes sense. It's very well rated and vs a new Summicron; it's very good value for money IMO. The digital/high contrast feel of it doesn't obviously make it bad but I found the Cron edged it a little for me, especially on film. Many consider the DR/Rigid one of the best. I let the DR go mainly as you couldn't use it on digital.
The Sonnar 50mm is a recent purchase having found a nice mint one used and I love it. Very nice dreamy feel to it. Some love it however and others hate it.

 

[B-9]

Yep gotta have Leica no Zeiss.

I prefer the black exterior of the V3 forward. I like the black lens chrome body look on my M8 as superficial as that may sound.

 

[goamules]

I'd look for a Dual Range one.

 

[bayernfan]

wouldn't trade my collapsible for any modern summicron. well, maybe an APO.

 

[Steve Bellayr]

I use a V3 on my M6 and I am more than satisfied. Unless you want to sit down and make a study of images side by side and have the money to buy several lenses the V3 will suffice.

 

[aizan]

fyi, bokeh is not a strength of 50mm summicrons after the collapsible, and maybe the rigid, too.