Dream Rig Acquired...need lens help

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chathaway

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ok...I've sold my track bike, ZM and two lenses. I've purchased a gorgeous, slightly brassed BP MP. I am now in search of a classic 50 to complete the dream. This is where you come in...thoughts relative to that lens??? I'm not worried about corner sharpness. I do like a lens w/ a bit of contrast...all that aside...what would you purchase and why? Canon, Nikon, Leica, etc...
Thanks!
 
budget?

I am a big fan of the e46 summilux, the 5cm f2 hc and the 5cm f1.4 sc nikkors, and the v4 summicron. there is the 50 planar, but I suppose you arent looking for a zeiss?
 
redisburning said:
budget?

I am a big fan of the e46 summilux, the 5cm f2 hc and the 5cm f1.4 sc nikkors, and the v4 summicron. there is the 50 planar, but I suppose you arent looking for a zeiss?
Click to expand...

Thanks...have the planar and love it, but it just doesn't seem right on the MP...of the lenses that you suggest...what would be your fav? ...and why?
 
Well if you like contrast I think the choice is clear, a modern summicron has plenty of it.

If you don't like the summicron then a voigtlander 50mm lens will have lots of contrast as well.

Besides that, my favorite lens to use on my Leica is the Sonnar F1.5 by any one of the makers - soviet, nikon, canon, or zeiss.
 
I'd suggest, firstly, that you can't have just one 50. I have a bunch (and like them all!) but the two I alternate between on my M3 are the (modern) Elmar-M and the CZ C-Sonnar. I've always hankered after a pre-ASPH Summilux but that will have to wait a (probably long) while.

...Mike
 
I got a Summicron v4 for my M4 and like the contrast, it's there but not over the top. The v4's started in 1980 and today's v5 is the same except it has a built-in hood. I have been back and forth with this little lens - 50 isn't my favorite focal length - but will probably keep it. As has been said, you can have more than one 50, and a v4/v5 Summicron would look good on your BP MP.
 
Like many others on this forum, I have too many 50's :).

Having said that, if I had to pick one to stay on my camera and if I shot both B&W and color, I would go with the ZM 50mm f1.5 Sonnar. If I were exclusively B&W, I might find a DR Summicron or the equivalent rigid of the same vintage. The Sonnar has a unique signature wide open -- stopped down a few stops it is just as contrasty as any of the modern ASPH lenses. In short, you get the best of both worlds.
 
The build quality of the latest CV lenses looks much improved over those of only a few years ago. How does the new Nokton stack up? I recently bought a CV 35mm f1.4 SC and the build quality and ergonomics are excellent.

How is the focus throw on the new 50mm Nokton?
 
rolfe said:
The build quality of the latest CV lenses looks much improved over those of only a few years ago. How does the new Nokton stack up? I recently bought a CV 35mm f1.4 SC and the build quality and ergonomics are excellent.

How is the focus throw on the new 50mm Nokton?
Click to expand...

That's been my experience with the CV lenses too. Build quality is really good on the new lenses, and this new Nokton is no exception. The focus action on the pictured lens was very smooth and dampening was nice, not too heavy.
 
If you only want one lens, and are not a corner sharpness freak, then as mentioned above the pre asph Summilux is very nice: it is compact, versatile and has medium contrast, so it serves well for B&W as well as colour. It is closest to Sonnar rendering of all Leica lenses I have tried.
Here's a shot wide open ( and with some subject blur)


20124424 by mfogiel, on Flickr

Here at f 2.8


20123724 by mfogiel, on Flickr

and here at f8


20112001 by mfogiel, on Flickr
 
I would wait a week or two on evaluations of the new M-Nokton 50/1.5.

I received mine last week, and it's very well built. Might be the nicest Leica 50 I've ever used. No photos back yet.
 
You asked for a classic 50mm but most of those are lower in contrast; my favourite being the Elmar ƒ2,8 the v2 of this lens has contrast, the earlier one less so until its stopped down.
This is the 1950's version.
62526081.jpg

M4P,Elmar 50mm ƒ2,8 Fuji Neopan 400
If you need a faster lens I'd go for an early 1980's Summicron which is a very good lens also.
I did a test of quite a few 50's and went for this one:
71210647.jpg
 
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