First 50mm lens decision, help!

[Cabledog]

So I'm waiting on my M4 to arrive and need to buy my first lens. I'm new to the leica world of lenses and perhaps people could help me decide. I have the option to get a summicron m 50 for the same price as a zeiss planar. I just sold my hasselblad 501cm and I miss the creamy tones and pop from my cf lenses. Do zeiss lenses for the leica give similar tones? Should I go summicron? I've been researching for hours and my head is going to pop from information overload.

For $1,000 or less which would you guys choose?

 

[Cabledog]

I've also been researching the 50mm c biogon because it's slightly more compact but I'm seeing things like focus shift and CA coming up frequently but overall people like it. Thoughts?

 

[michaelwj]

Thoughts?
They're all good and it really comes down to other things. Leica and Voigtlander lenses have 1/2 stop aperture rings, while Zeiss have 1/3 stops. Zeiss have a little focus nub, while the others either have a full tab (v4 summicron) or nothing (v5 summicron). Other things like filter size and the like could sway you if you're going to build a system.
Also you should take a serious look at the Voigtlander lenses, they are excellent, especially at their price.
Above all else, if you get the Zeiss, will you still wonder about the Leica?

 

[Rayt]

Do you have a budget for the lens? It is a personal choice but for creamy tone I would go a lower contrast vintage Summicron preferably a DR.

 

[bayernfan]

post a link to some of your favorite images shot in the past with a 50mm equiv and i'll give you the best insight i can on the lens to purchase.

 

[WJJ3]

Tough dilemma! For a thousand bucks you could get a 5cm Elmar and a 50mm Nokton and explore classic and modern lenses.

 

[Cabledog]

All my images are too large to post haha. My instagram is @thevegasrealtor. I normally shoot medium format, the leica will be my discrete travel camera when i don't want to carry a huge mamiya with me. I was thinking maybe a 35mm lens might fit my style too but I'm trying to limit myself to one lens to cut down on my travel weight. I shoot probably 50/50 bw to color. I was mainly hoping I could achieve that 3d zeiss look I got on my hassy.

Stops aren't a priority nor are filter sizes. And yes I'll probably end up buying a summicron anyways later because I'm very bad about buying gear then selling it after a short time because I get grass is greener syndrome.

 

[Cabledog]

Budget wise I'd like to stay at or below $1,000 but if there is some amazing lens that allows me to stick to that just one I would pay up to 1500ish

 

[teddy]

A Summicron 50 Type 3 is a good choice between modern and vintage. Great for colour, but a nice balance for black and white.

Summicron 50 DR is a very fine lens, specially for black and white - higher resolution.

Otherwise, Planar seems more punchy for colour - why not? I don't like the filter size however.

Don't let the Leica lenses from the 50's stop you in using colour.

 

[Cabledog]

Also since this is my travel system compactness would be ideal too. Are those collapsible lenses any good?

 

[bayernfan]

based on the images in your IG feed, i think the 50/1.4 Summilux Pre-Asph v2 would make you a happy photographer.

also suggested was the v3 summicron. that would also work nicely.

 

[Cabledog]

Thanks for the info so far everyone! This is great stuff. Does anyone have previous experience with the zeiss c biogon 50?

 

[maddoc]

If I am not completely mistaken, the Zeiss C-Biogon is a 35mm 1:2.8 lens. The Zeiss options in 50 mm are the Planar (50/2.0) and C-Sonnar (?) 50/1.5.

I had the Planar, C-Sonnar and various Summicron lenses (50 mm), a Summilux 50mm pre-ASPH, and the M-Hexanon 50/2.0 myself. Regarding Hasselblad, the difference in negative size makes some big impact on resolution and tones when comparing to 135 film.

About the lenses, I ended up keeping the 50mm Summicron vs4 (with tab) not necessarily because it is the "best" lens but I like the handling best (focus tab, small size, E39 filter). Additionally, it compares quite well to my 35mm Summicron lens (vs 3) so changing between 35 and 50 mm focal length on the same roll doesn`t change contrast to much.

You can`t go really wrong with either of the mentioned lenses, some testing might be in order.

Thanks for the info so far everyone! This is great stuff. Does anyone have previous experience with the zeiss c biogon 50?

 

[aizan]

i don't like the bokeh close-up and wide open from the summicrons after the collapsible (and maybe the rigid), so i'd look at the planar and c-sonnar.

 

[Chris101]

I don't know much about the biogon, but what do you want to photograph? The nature of the lens depends a lot on the subject, especially its distance and topology. What are some of your favorite photographs taken with a 50?

 

[Ranchu]

Look at the lens diagrams and lean toward the ones with the most curved/least flat surfaces. They'll be 5 group/6 element or 4 group/6 element types, I like the 5g/6e ones. You might find a biometar type, which would be pretty cool.

:angel:

http://www.klassik-cameras.de/Biotar_en.html

 

[teddy]

Also since this is my travel system compactness would be ideal too. Are those collapsible lenses any good?

I highly recommend the Summicron Collapsible. It is high resolution, low contrast wide open, but at f5.6-f11 is great in contrast. It is a special lens, and a treat for black and white, but don't expect the modern look of any Planar, Summicron or any modern Japanese 50mm. Possibly, if I had to live with one lens, it may have to be this one.

It has a peculiar smoothness to the depth of field, probably because of curvature of field. It's look is probably not what your after.

Leica Summicron Collapsible and Velvia 50, 81a Warming Filter

Leica Summicron Collapsible and Tri-X, Leitz Orange Filter

Smoothness example closeup with Tri-X

 

[astro8]

Knowing what I know now, I would get the summicron. No doubt in my mind.

I'm afraid that after a while of using other lenses with your M4 (if you are anything like most here, myself included) you will get a severe case of GAS for the summicron. It will never subside until you get your hands on one.

You may decide to move on from the summicron after using it for a while...that's ok. But... if you never aquire one there will always be that nagging feeling that you "should have got the summicron!"

 

[rodt16s]

Check out the Elmar - M 50/2.8 (the later type), it's collapsible for travel and apart from being 2.8 an all around great lens. It should also be below budget

 

[twhittle]

Check out the Elmar - M 50/2.8 (the later type), it's collapsible for travel and apart from being 2.8 an all around great lens. It should also be below budget

I can vouch for the Elmar, even my beaten up '56 version is a good 'un.
Depends if you want those extra stops to open up...

The Elmars are so cheap that you could get one and a voigtlander and see what you prefer.

I find the summicron really contrasty and slightly too sharp.