Cheapest 50mm "Character" Lens for M8.2?

[jsrockit]

I'm looking for a 50mm lens for my M8.2 that has some character i.e. something cool about the way it draws, but not necessarily sharp or contrasty etc. Basically something different than the lenses I have in my sig... and cheap! Photos from suggested lenses would be appreciated. 😀

 

[venchka]

Nikkor-S-C 5.0cm/1.4 LTM.
A sweet, fast, swirley (wide open) Sonnar derivative.
Team it with it's big brother the Nikkor 8.5cm/2.0 for a unique Dynamic Duo.

 

[mathomas]

I don't know what is "cheap" to you, but Leitz Summarits from the 50s-60s can be pretty reasonable (though the hoods/caps aren't). Prices vary a lot. Tons of character, esp wide-open. The cheaper the Summarit, the more glass/coating damage, the more character 🙂.

For example there's one on eBay right now with BIN price of $375:

http://tinyurl.com/258hyyn

They go up to (and over) $1000.

 

[kdemas]

You could ultra cheap and get a Jupiter 3 (Sonnar). If you get a good copy (a big if) you will enjoy the Sonnar look on the cheap 🙂

 

[wlewisiii]

In order of cost and desirability, to me at least;

Leica Summitar 50/2
Jupiter 3 50/1.5
Jupiter 8 50/2
Industar (10, 22, 26, 50) 50/3.5 (I prefer the collapsible ones but I don't know about your 8.2 and those)
Industar 61L/D 50/2.8

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

You must be careful buying a J-3, although it is the cheapest.

Summitar would be the most viable. Or a canon serenar 5cm 1.9, the same character...

Is collapsing those not dangerous for M8?

 

[Brian Legge]

I've got an Industar 22 that 'glows' a bit that I was just about to sell. Probably be hard to get cheaper than it. 😉

http://www.flickr.com/search/?ss=2&w=59657594@N00&q=industar+22&m=text

 

[jsrockit]

Thanks all... keep em coming. The Jupiters concern me because you have to do some mods to make them work on M cameras (is this true?)... Summitar might be more than I'm willing to spend on a lens of this sort. Collapsable lenses on the M8 are an accident waiting to happen... and when I have a collapsable, I want to be able to collapse it.

 

[ampguy]

A properly adjusted J3 (for Leica focus) can take some quite normal or "character-less" images. Gives the Summilux 50 pre-asph a run for the money.

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

then rigid industars would be the best bet? but I dont know much about their character.

how much you want to spend?

 

[venchka]

Canon 50mm f/1.2 LTM

Another special look 50.

The nice thing about the Canons and Nikkors is that they firm up nicely from around 2.8 to 5.6. Making them "character lenses" wide open and "normal" lenses stopped down a bit. The Nikkor in particular is killer sharp at 2.8.

The Nikkor 5.0cm wide open at about 5' or less. You can't tell from these examples, but it's possible to count threads in the welder's shirt in the part that's in focus.

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

I think Jsrockit is looking for a cheap option. Canon 50mm f1.2 is at least 350$.

 

[ferider]

Try a Summar or Summitar, depending on how much character you want 🙂

 

[umcelinho]

Canon LTM 50/1.8, around $200 or less and delivers beautiful images

 

[dee]

Fed collapsible 50 f 3.5 - my fave ' sparkling ' lens with that vintage colour look .
My late jupiters focus before infinity , they are Zeiss register , not Leica so need adjusting - that this lens works is just luck .

Some collapsible lenses foul my adapter , this one does not .

 

[dee]

I also have a clean Summitar which I love .

 

[RichC]

Thanks all... keep em coming. The Jupiters concern me because you have to do some mods to make them work on M cameras (is this true?)...

You have to do some mods to make Soviet lenses work on ANY camera, even their "parent" Soviet ones! 😛

Soviet quality control is, well, there wasn't any, so a large number of lenses misfocus because of poor calibration - applies to all Soviet lenses, whether Jupiters or Industars. When I got my Jupiter 8 , not only did it misfocus but one half of the photos from it was sharper than the other!

On the plus side, the misfocusing is easy to fix: take apart the lens and grind down or add padding to the shim (plenty of info on the web, e.g. http://www.pentax-manuals.com/repairs.htm).

The Jupiter 8 and Industar 61 are surprisingly good lenses (when the focus correctly!). The Jupiter 3 and other industars (see wlewisiii's post) give a more "old fashioned" look - I'd plump for an older Industar because Jupiter 3s are quite pricey. As the Industars are so cheap, you can sandpaper the lens if you want more character".

If such a thing as a used-camera shop still exists in your neighbourhood, ask if they have any unwanted Soviet lenses - mine gave me some for free (a bit tatty, all misfocused [not that the shop had ever checked], but all working). Can't get cheaper than that!

 

[ruslan]

Jupiter-3 best for the money and much better than Summitar.

 

[Rafael]

Try a Summar. I think they are wonderful. If you look about, you should be able to find one for around $100.

 

[venchka]

There is cheap. There is economical. Not often the same thing.