Bill58
Native Texan
DON'T economize on any lens. The Canon 50/1.4 is awesome.
Best of the cheapest 50s
- Thread starter RichSnaps
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RichSnaps
Newbie
Thank you to everyone for all the great feedback, I have learnt alot from this thread!
Everything seems so rare apart from the Jupiter 8 (which hasn't been ruled out btw)!
Anything good for around about the £400 pound mark?
Everything seems so rare apart from the Jupiter 8 (which hasn't been ruled out btw)!
Anything good for around about the £400 pound mark?
zuikologist
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denizg7
Well-known
Voigtlander 2.5 50mm is great
CaptZoom
Established
The CV 50mn f/1.5 is a fantastic lens. I use it as much as the Ziess 50mm f/2 Planar. And I use these two lenses more than any others! For the money, the CV is hard to argue against; a few vendors still have a few new ones in stock.
I own both the Jupiter 3 and 8. They don't see much use because my copies do not focus well on the M9. One of these days I'll figure out how to calibrate them. From my limited use, I like what I've seen. The bokeh from the 8 can be quite harsh (not a criticism), and the rendering from the 3 can be quite dreamlike. Once calibrated, I'm sure I'll be using them.
You may also want to consider the CV 35mm f/2.5. It really is quite good, good price, and a few vendors have them in stock. Like the CV 1.5 this lens has been discontinued. The general consensus is that the 35mm has low contrast. But thus is great for bw conversions, or if you're shooting in high contrast situations (mid day, the beach, etc).
I own both the Jupiter 3 and 8. They don't see much use because my copies do not focus well on the M9. One of these days I'll figure out how to calibrate them. From my limited use, I like what I've seen. The bokeh from the 8 can be quite harsh (not a criticism), and the rendering from the 3 can be quite dreamlike. Once calibrated, I'm sure I'll be using them.
You may also want to consider the CV 35mm f/2.5. It really is quite good, good price, and a few vendors have them in stock. Like the CV 1.5 this lens has been discontinued. The general consensus is that the 35mm has low contrast. But thus is great for bw conversions, or if you're shooting in high contrast situations (mid day, the beach, etc).
tbarker13
shooter of stuff
The one lens I'd never trade/sell is my Jupiter-3 from 1953. But I got lucky with a very nice copy and had some work done on it by Brian Sweeney, who used to hang out on here.
If I were starting over with the need for an inexpensive 50, I'd definitely go the Canon route - either the 50/1.8 or 50/1.4. Solid performers.
If I were starting over with the need for an inexpensive 50, I'd definitely go the Canon route - either the 50/1.8 or 50/1.4. Solid performers.
janrzm
Established
I'm going to reiterate that the Jupiter 3 would be my recommendation and you can see images and learn more about it here - http://aperturepriority.co.nz/2012/10/20/50mm-jupiter-3-f1-5/
I have pretty much all the soviet lenses and to be honest they can be surprisingly good.
Cheers
Jason
I have pretty much all the soviet lenses and to be honest they can be surprisingly good.
Cheers
Jason
mfogiel
Veteran
"Anything good for around about the £400 pound mark?"
- At this price level, you should be able to get a clean Collapsible Summicron 50/2.
If it was good enough to be the main lens of HCB over 50 years, then perhaps it will be sufficient for you.
- At this price level, you should be able to get a clean Collapsible Summicron 50/2.
If it was good enough to be the main lens of HCB over 50 years, then perhaps it will be sufficient for you.
wolves3012
Veteran
Sorry to disagree but they're not steel, they're alloy. That's all of them, Kiev-mount or LTM. Try sticking a magnet to one if you don't believe me.
It can be, with the LTM ones. If the lens is a bit out of whack from spec, it's enough to throw a Leica-calibrated RF off. Less of a problem on FSU bodies, which the lens was made for.
