CV 40/1.4 Vs. CV 50/1.5 on an M3

kshapero

South Florida Man
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Putting the lens size aside for a minute, has anyone compared the features of these 2 lenses for resolution, image quality, etc.?
 
Putting the lens size aside for a minute, has anyone compared the features of these 2 lenses for resolution, image quality, etc.?

I have both lenses, but I've never compared them directly with 1 on 1 image tests. The focal length is too different, IMO, for me to consider a direct comparison.

The Nokton 40/1.4 MC is small, light, and very sharp even wide open. Wide-open bokeh can be a little hard-edged sometimes, depending on the scene, but stopped down to f/2-2.8 it is extremely sweet. I especially like the 40mm focal length, and how it splits the FoV choice between 35 and 50mm lenses so that I often just carry it and neither of the other two. I've shaved the frameline cam a mm or two on my lens so that it brings up the 35mm framelines, which are more accurate to its focal length than the 50mm it otherwise presents. I use this lens on the GXR-M (where it is a long normal) and on the M4-2 most of the time.

The Nokton 50/1.5 ASPH (ltm) is larger and heavier, presents a soft and very pleasing wide open bokeh (as one would expect from the longer focal length) very similar to the Summilux-M 50mm I once owned. Like the Summilux as well, it become razor sharp a stop or two down from wide open. Since I bought it, this lens has only rarely left it's place on my M9. On the three week trip to the UK I made in March-April, it accounted for about 70% of all the photos I made (the other 30% were shared between a 35mm and a 90mm lens).

G
 
Well I am sticking with both for now, but primarily using the 50. BTW is the new CV 50/1.5 better than my LTM version? Does anyone know?
 
Own both, but have not used them on an M3.

My choice between the two lenses on my film cameras or the M9 would be the CV 50/1.5 Nokton.

Reasons include, image quality, ease of focus, the feel of the lens when in use, and it is a great looking lens.
 
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