Compact 50mm like Sonnar?

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TobiasL

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I'm looking for a compact 50mm lens and the Zeiss Sonnar 50/1.5 seems to fit but I have my doubts because of the images I have seen they look a bit soft. Shift focus could be a problem too.

I intend to only use one 50mm lens and I currently have the Planar 50/2 but it usually stays home because I don't like the size. It's too big. Are there any other options than the Sonnar if you want a compact 50mm lens?

I'm very happy with the size of my Zeiss Biogon 35/2.8 and it's quite sharp so I'm looking for a similar lens. I rarely ever need anything faster than 2.8 so I'm only looking at the Sonnar for its size, if only the Planar was shorter wouldn't bother looking elsewhere.

I'm open for all suggestions, budget is about $1200 but less is preferable of course :)
 
The Sonnar isn't soft, but people so often get the focus wrong that it can appear that way wide open. Stopped down it is razor sharp too.

Getting the focusing right takes a little practice, but once you are used to it it's fine. Getting to know the lens is very rewarding, and it's very small.

I love mine
 
TobiasL said:
they look a bit soft.
Click to expand...

This is wide open, the leaf is in focus:

(you can see it HUGE here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/silasslack/11087384354/sizes/o/)

11087384354_0007309fc5_b.jpg
 
hi, i´m always searching for the smallest lens.

first i hold to the sonnar because of it, it´s quite smalle and the performance is awesome.

But i just hate focus shift and don´t need a ultra fast lens so i let it go in favor of the elmar 5cm f3.5, which i terms of size and sharpness can´t eb beaten easily.

But if you´re looking for a compact 50 i can say the older contax lenses are even smaller, you need the adapter thou...and a few days ago i looked for the nikkor 50 mm f1.4 which isextraordinary and i was surprised to know there are a lot for up to 500 bucks.

I´ve purchased a nokton 40mm f1.4 which costed me a real bargain i already had that lens and i´m going to give it a try once again!
 
If you want a really nice, compact modern 50mm you should check out the 50mm F2.5 Color-Skopar. It's about half the length of the Planar and only a half stop slower. Great brass build and focus tab too. They're getting harder to find these days, but I sometimes see them in the $300-400 range.
 
There's also the newer Elmar 2.8 collapsible. The only down side to this lens, other than speed, is the ergonomics. If you're used to a focus tab or a Zeiss bump, you have to retrain yourself to use the knurled focus ring. But it's very sharp and collapsed, quite small. I use mine with a rubber lens hood rather than the one that comes with it.
 
If you want really small, another vote for the 50mm f2.5 Color-skopar.

The f2.8 or older 3.5 Elmars, collapsible 50 f2 or 3.5 Heliars, collapsible Summicrons, all good.
 
I d look for a v3 summicron aka "tiger claw" those have near perfect ergonomics, are plenty sharp and very compact. should also fit your budget if you re looking in good user condition.
 
The 50/2.5 Summarit-M is pretty small as well and can be had for about $800 on ebay. I am more mentioning this for completeness as personally I would get the Zeiss Sonnar or one of the collapsibles (The 50/2 Heliar for example). Out of interest I'v looked around for the Color-Skopar 50/2.5 but it seems very difficult to find and while I think the Planar is a little long it doesnt really get in the way when I use mine
 
I have both the sonnar and planar, and bought the latter for the times I don't want to be concerned about focus-shift. I have a slew of fifties, and the planar is overall the best, especially in terms of sharpness. I use hoods on both, and don't find the planar feels appreciably bigger in use, but it's obviously a personal thing. The only 50mm I have that is appreciably smaller is the Jupiter-3, but it's nowhere near as sharp as the Planar. I have too many fifties, but I think if you are only going to have one, you are going to have to make some kind of compromise.
 
Can I also suggest the Canon 50 f1.5 lens ? it is compact, based on the sonnar formulae, and prices have come down quite a bit in the past few months. I have not come across focus shift with the past few canon f1.5. At f1.5, it is sharp in the centre, at f5.6 ~ f8, the images are biting sharp.

I am uploading an image with fuji superia @ iso 200. it was shot either at f1.5 or f2 on the canon f1.5
 

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+2 for the Canon 50/1.5 LTM. The CV Skopar 50/2.5 is smaller and you don't need a hood for it; it's very, very sharp, but not so easy to find these days (this lens tends to be a keeper). The Canon 50/1.5 is not much larger in size, however, and you get a faster lens. And I've always loved the Canon with color film as well as b&w.


Scooters, Alfas, and antipasti by bingley0522, on Flickr
 
I posted some recent sonnar pictures and a planar oicture at post 8 in this thread and discussed the sonnar characteristics I think are key to understand it, I think it's a great lens.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=137805

I don't find the sonnar soft, but it's not like the planar at wider apertures,

Almost every 50mm picture - most of them - in my gallery is sonnar.

Mike
 
THough it's anther sonnor design, don't forget the Nikkor-sc 50mm f1.4 (or f2).
Small, compact lens, but chromed brass does make it heavy.

5611421699_3566ca3bba_b.jpg
 
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