Favorite Fast Screwmount Lens <$1000

[chris00nj]

While a poll on your favorite fast lens was posted back in January, it leaned towards the uber-expensive, rare, and M-mount.

So, here's another poll, but based on lenses <$1000 and Leica screwmount.


So this is what I intentionally left off:

1. The Canon 50/0.95 only fits the Canon 7 so I disqualified it.
2. I've read that Carl Zeiss made some pre-war 50/1.5 in LTM. They seem to be not very common, except for Russian fakes.
3. 50/1.4 Leica Summilux - too expensive and rare
4. 60/1.2 Konica Hexanon - also rare and expensive
5. (Update) - Russian lenses - because of hit-or-miss QC on mechanics
6. (Update) - Lenses slower than 1.5. Only 12 slots are allowed on polls and there are a bunch from 1.7-1.9

 

[raid]

As you see, the Canon 50mm/1.2 has most votes so far! It is a winner! 100% of all votes came in support of this lens. What more can I say?

 

[like2fiddle]

The Canon 50/1.4 is a great lens, and so that got my vote. But then again, it's the only lens faster than f2 that I've ever owned/used

 

[ferider]

These days it's the Nikkor for me and if only because among all lenses above, it's the only one that focuses to .7m.

Roland.

 

[brachal]

The so called "Russian fake", also known by its proper name, the Jupiter-3 is worthy of being on this list. A good example can hold its own with any of its LTM contemporaries from the 50's or 60's.

 

[oftheherd]

Easily the Fujinon 50mm f/1.4. Oh ... Leica screw mount. Sorry.

brachal - Interesting to hear your opinion on the Jupiter 3. I have been considering the Contax mount version, but wondered if all I would get was 2/3 stop speed. Sounds like they are worth exploring. Thanks.

 

[jolefler]

I'm no optics expert, but,

I'm no optics expert, but,

I've got a J3 "Russian fake" (it's not fake, it's really Russian) that delights me. I followed Brian's instructions to tweak the close focus and think it's as sharp as any of my fancy Leitz lenses. Guess ya' gotta spend the big bucks to run with these big Zeiss/Canon/etc. dogs.

 

[ampguy]

Roland

Roland

You need a Hexar AF which close focuses to .6m and has a very nice lens ...

Seriously, since I have 2 now, if you need one again, you can have first dibs.

The attached photo was actually taken with a Nikon F3 and 28/2.8 (not the .2m close focus, but the earlier .3m one), but you get the idea.

These days it's the Nikkor for me and if only because among all lenses above, it's the only one that focuses to .7m.

Roland.

 

[brachal]

brachal - Interesting to hear your opinion on the Jupiter 3. I have been considering the Contax mount version, but wondered if all I would get was 2/3 stop speed. Sounds like they are worth exploring. Thanks.

There's always a chance you'll get a bum lens when shopping for FSU, but Contax versions of the Jupiter-3 are generally considered to be more reliable than LTM versions. When it's good, it's definitely a lens worth looking into ... beautiful Sonnar character. If you're shopping for Contax mount, look into the Helios-103. It's a more modern, f/1.8 planar-type design. Very nice images and ridiculously cheap.

 

[venchka]

I voted for the Nikkor. It's the only one I own. I've never used the others.

If I could, and I might when I win the lottery, I would give the Konica 50/1.2 a serious test with Bigfoot & Bubba.

OOPS! Engage brain before typing. The Konica isn't LTM.

Does 35/2.0 count as fast? If so, the wee Konica UC-Hexanon 35/2.0 is soooooooooooooooooo sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet.

 

[chris00nj]

The so called "Russian fake", also known by its proper name, the Jupiter-3 is worthy of being on this list. A good example can hold its own with any of its LTM contemporaries from the 50's or 60's.

The Russian fakes I was talking about were specifically aimed at fake Carl Zeiss Sonnar lenses, not all Russian lenses. The optics of other Russian lenses are usually held in high regard, though the reputation of the mechanics is questionable.

 

[Bingley]

I've got the Canon 50/1.5 and the Nokton 50/1.5, and I voted for the Canon. I like the sonnar look, the way this lens renders color (and I shoot mainly color film), and its smaller size compared to the Nokton. I have to say I'm not using the Nokton much these days.

I'd love to try the Canon 35/1.5 and the Nikkor 50/1.4, though.

 

[brachal]

The Russian fakes I was talking about were specifically aimed at fake Carl Zeiss Sonnar lenses, not all Russian lenses. The optics of other Russian lenses are usually held in high regard, though the reputation of the mechanics is questionable.

Those are merely rebadged Jupiter lenses. The Jupiter-3 (50mm f/1.5), Jupiter-8 (50mm f/2), Jupiter-9 (85mm f/2), and Jupiter-11 (135mm f/4) are Soviet copies of the Zeiss originals. Pretty much the entire Zeiss camera operation was rewarded to the USSR as war reparations in the late 40s.
In my experience, the mechanical construction of Soviet lenses isn't usually as good as comparable German or Japanese lenses, although the glass is capable of excellence.

 

[LeicaTom]

I voted for the 1950`s "Japanese Sonnar" Canon 50mm f1.5 - goes down with me as one of the GREATEST lenses of all time, black and white film or color, it doesn`t matter



I LOVE the Canon 50mm f1.5 - it`s got that "Dreamy/Creamy" look and all my models love when I shoot with it - everyone should have one!

After that, I`m very fond of the 1930`s Leitz Xenon 50mm f1.5 and it`s 1950`s counterpart the Summarit, especially when I`m using crossprocessed slide films

I have a Minty LTM Nikkor SC 50mm f1.4, complete with hood/caps etc. etc. she`s just been sitting around for the past 6 months, I really do need to put it though it`s paces and shoot it head on with the Canon sometime soon, I hate to have really great glass just laying around doing nothing......

Ohh and BTW, I think that people should know that the postwar Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar`s (at least the 50mm f1.5 versions) are not really fakes but just CKD lenses (completely knocked down) and assembled from wartime spares

Many of the modern offered lenses that have prewar numbers or have numbers assigned to different lenses other than a Sonnar, these lenses can be suspect to being built from Jupiter parts, these are the ones that can be called fakes.....or to be better put, Russian built Zeiss lenses

The original "wartime" issued Sonnar`s in LTM are just about non existent today and can only be checked against a handful of supposed correct numbers listed in very vague CZJ achieves - best bet is to always go with the Canon f1.5 50mm, it`s built way better than the original Zeiss`s were and performs just the same

Tom

 

[WoolenMammoth]

I havent used any of the others on the list to compare but I would never ever part with my summarit, its a superb and unique lens. There are lots of leica lens that tend to look somewhat similar, but the summarit to me is one of the few that really stands out.

 

[oftheherd]

There's always a chance you'll get a bum lens when shopping for FSU, but Contax versions of the Jupiter-3 are generally considered to be more reliable than LTM versions. When it's good, it's definitely a lens worth looking into ... beautiful Sonnar character. If you're shopping for Contax mount, look into the Helios-103. It's a more modern, f/1.8 planar-type design. Very nice images and ridiculously cheap.

Yes, I do have that as my 50mm for my Kiev. I do like it. I was just thinking perhaps that 1/3 stop (I think I incorrectly said 2/3 stop before) might come in handy, and I have heard the Jupiter 3 gives a nice look to photos.

 

[venchka]

Fwiw...

Fwiw...

...my current favorite Half Fast Trio...fast within the limits of a reasonable budget, or plenty fast given the cost and all in LTM mount... is

(Drum Roll Please!)

35mm 1:2.0 Konica UC-Hexanon

50mm 1:1.4 SC Nikkor

8.5cm 1:2.0 Nikkor

It took far too many decades, but I finally put together the 3 lens set that the very first (and only one I've ever met) kindly old Leica rep. suggested the day I bought my first Canon RF body. Naturally, what he really said was "You will need the 35-50-90 lenses." Leica didn't offer an 85mm lens. He wouldn't even take the new Leica M hardware out of the case for fear that I would slobber all over the pristine offerings from Wetzlar.

I have to say, he was right. For me anyway. 35-50-85 (or 90) works very well.

 

[brachal]

Yes, I do have that as my 50mm for my Kiev. I do like it. I was just thinking perhaps that 1/3 stop (I think I incorrectly said 2/3 stop before) might come in handy, and I have heard the Jupiter 3 gives a nice look to photos.

True. If there's one common thread emerging from this thread, it's that people love a Sonnar.

 

[vieri]

I voted for the Canon 1.4 not only because is the only fast screw-mount lens I own, but because it's a great little lens! I liked it so much that I decided to keep it beside my Noctilux and sell the Leica 50 Lux ASPH... I much prefer the rendition of the Canon, for my photography. Now, maybe a 50 Lux pre-ASPH would suit my style even better... :bang:

 

[peterm1]

I currently own the Canon 50mm f1.4 and the Summarit 50mm f1.5. Of the two I prefer the Canon. I used to own a fairly rough version of the Canon 50mm f1.5 and can confirm it was the best of the bunch. Very "creamy dreamy " as someone else put it.