Best of the cheapest 50s

[RichSnaps]

Thanks everyone!

There seems to be a large number of Jupiter 8s on ebay (mainly from russia) but not much in the way of Canons and Noktons?

I would imagine ebay will be the main source for these lenses?

 

[venchka]

Canon (Serenar) f1.8 is a great lens too.

Leitz Elmar 2,8/50mm
Voigtländer Color-Skopar 2,5/50mm + M-adapter
Canon 1,8/50mm LTM + M-adapter

J-8 or J-3 or Canon 50/1.8 or CZJ 5cm/1.5 of 5cm/2 are great 50mm lenses that do not cost much.

What Raid said. My personal fave is the Canon 50mm/1.8.

See a pattern here? The all chrome Canon Serenar 50/1.8 is a very very good lens. More expensive than the FSU lenses and rightfully so. It is better. Less expensive than modern lenses which seem overpriced next to the Canon.

Wayne

 

[Lss]

I can also vote for the Canon 50/1.8. Some of the eBay prices are unreasonably high, but a good deal can be found with a little patience. I have no experience with the Jupiters, but I do have a Summicron. The Canon is a good lens.

 

[kermaier]

Take the Canon 50/1.8 over the Jupiter -- you're far more likely to have focus issues with the Jupiter, and there's no contest in build quality. As an all-around lens, I'd say the Canon is in the same league as a Summicron of similar vintage. In the under-$300 group, the Canon f/1.8 is the clear price-performer.

If you can go up to $500, you have far more choices, and can start making trade-offs between size, weight, minumum focus distance, optical signature, etc. In the $300-$500 group, good choices include: CV Nokton f/1.5, M-Hexanon f/2, CV Skopar f/2.5, Summicron collapsible, Canon f/1.5, Canon f/1.4, Nikkor-H.C f/2, Nikkor-S.C f/1.4, Elmar f/2.8.

::Ari

 

[kermaier]

BTW, I think the RFF classifieds currently have on offer multiple examples of the Canon f/1.8, CV Nokton f/1.5, CV Skopar f/2.5, Canon f/1.4, M-Hex f/2. In fact, I see one seller offering 3 of the above lenses. Even if you don't see what you want on offer, I'd bet a want-to-buy ad with a couple of choices would bear fruit in short order.
Cheers,
Ari

 

[PatrickT]

I guess I'll be the only one so far to say the Canon 50/1.4 LTM. I LOVE that lens.

 

[umcelinho]

classic look: chrome Canon LTM 50/1.8
modern look: Voigtlander Nokton 50/1.5

 

[venchka]

I guess I'll be the only one so far to say the Canon 50/1.4 LTM. I LOVE that lens.

No doubt. But it is a notch or two up the price scale.

OP: Bear in mind that "cheap" is often just that. Cheap.
Economical is what you are after. Quality and premium performance at a reduced price relative to "high priced brands." Buy quality once should be your motto.

Wayne

 

[kermaier]

I guess I'll be the only one so far to say the Canon 50/1.4 LTM. I LOVE that lens.

It's one of the few Canon LTM lenses I've never tried. 🙂 However, since I've tried and enjoyed the 50/1.2, 50/1.8, 50/1.5 sonnar and 50/2 collapsible -- I would expect the 50/1.4 to be excellent as well.

I will say though, that since the OP is shooting film, it may be worth noting that the Canon 50/1.4 uses easy-to-find 48mm filters, whereas the 50/1.8 uses PITA-to-find 40mm filters.

::Ari

 

[PatrickT]

No doubt. But it is a notch or two up the price scale.

Wayne

Good point, I had forgotten about that part of it 🙂

 

[kermaier]

I will say though, that since the OP is shooting film, it may be worth noting that the Canon 50/1.4 uses easy-to-find 48mm filters, whereas the 50/1.8 uses PITA-to-find 40mm filters.

On the other hand, the Canon hoods for the 40mm-filter lenses typically include Series VI adapters for drop-in filters, so that's not an insurmountable problem.

 

[Pioneer]

Obviously, since it has not yet been mentioned, the Leitz Elmar 50 f3.5 is not a favorite, but I personally have found it to be very, very nice. I use this lens a lot on my Leica IIIc and M6. It also tends to be relatively inexpensive on the bay as well as other sources, like KEH.

 

[Brian Legge]

40mm-40.5mm filter adapters are also cheaply and common on Ebay.

Personally I'd decide between a Canon 50mm/1.8 (safest option) and a Jupiter 8 (cheaper, but less less consistent). The collapsible FSU lenses can be great but may not be good fit for an R3A. A rigid Industar may be a good option as well though I haven't used one personally.

Those options would get you set up for $100-200 (for the adapter plus lens). Don't cheap out on an LTM->adapter - go with a Leica or Voigtlander one. I've tried a few others and had focusing issues with all of them where lenses wouldn't go to infinity, went way beyond it and failed to close focus correctly, etc.

 

[raid]

It's one of the few Canon LTM lenses I've never tried. 🙂 However, since I've tried and enjoyed the 50/1.2, 50/1.8, 50/1.5 sonnar and 50/2 collapsible -- I would expect the 50/1.4 to be excellent as well.

I will say though, that since the OP is shooting film, it may be worth noting that the Canon 50/1.4 uses easy-to-find 48mm filters, whereas the 50/1.8 uses PITA-to-find 40mm filters.

::Ari

The Canon 50/1.4 is superb, Ari.

 

[grapejohnson]

This is by far the best bang for the buck.

For times when this lens is too sharp, then a J8 with its Sonnar rendering is called for.

+1 for Industar 61 and J8. My I61 is the 10 blade version. It's my favorite lens. Jupiter 8 is also amazing.
Both can be had together for like $60

 

[venchka]

Look here...........

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost-classifieds/showproduct.php?product=36784

A nice selection and price range.

Wayne

 

[kermaier]

The Canon 50/1.4 is superb, Ari.

So, I've heard (and seen), Raid - I must not buy any more 50s, though! 🙂

 

[raid]

I am tempted to buy a Hexanon 50/2.4. It looks beautiful, and it is claimed to be very sharp.

 

[stratcat]

I own the Jupiter 8, Nokton f/1.5, Canon f/1.4 and f/1.8.

Out of those I'd have to vote for the Canon f/1.8 as the best combination of build quality, image quality, size and weight.

 

[paradoxbox]

IMO if you want the best built 50 at the lowest price without focus issues, get yourself an Amedeo adapter for Contax mount, and buy yourself a Jupiter-8 meant for Kiev-4's.

Jupiter 8's for Kiev's are made out of steel and have no focus helicoid inside the lens so they won't backfocus, and they are made of very durable, well built steel. The Kiev Jupiter-8's are also cheaper on ebay. The expensive part is the Amedeo adapter but you may be able to find a cheaper one on ebay.

By the way, I think the Jupiter backfocus issue is overrated, Jupiter lenses can be collimated very simply by opening them up (Simply unscrew the two pieces apart), sticking in a piece of paper or aluminum foil, then shutting it closed again and locking it with a bit of low strength loc-tite to keep it together. The sonnar lens already has the focus shift problem anyway, you can't get accurate coverage at all distances at F1.5 with the sonnar. With the Jupiter-8 at f2 I don't even think focus shift is an issue.