help choosing 1st 50mm for M6 & M5:

[danielsterno]

help choosing 1st 50mm + only 2nd M lens for M6/M5:

Thanks in advance for your help, assume I know nothing regarding lens options. I am a newer RF user (about a year) with M6 and very recent M5 (can not use collapsable lens), have been a one lens/1 camera shooter for last year: 35mm Cron/ASPH which I like the results and the 35mm FOV but I want to try to add a 50mm to my experience. My only other camera experience is a x100 which is also a 35mm.
Shoot mostly street, enjoy lower light-contrast/shadows, mostly B&W with some color, eclectic images, people, store front window, restaurant, My Flickr:http://www.flickr.com/photos/30137376@N05/with/8538926749/
I only carry one camera with me at a time, Budget approx. +/- $1500. in which I think is very realistic.

I have learned so much from all of you in my year of visiting RFF and would like your insight on the personality of the lens for my description of its usage and budget.
I have researched but do not want to limit your suggestions to the following:
Lux 50 I assume out of my budget,
Cron 50mm assume 6 bit?
Summarit 2.0
Voight Nokton 50mm 1.5 (Nokton 1.1 too heavy?)
Thank you in advance… Daniel.

 

[maitani]

the new VM nokton 50 1.5 is hard to beat imo, good value, summilux performance

 

[Monochrom]

Hi, if you want fast glass get yourself a C-sonnar 50mm f1.5 ZM line.

Simply superb, fast and small.

My personal option are collapsible lenses being the elmar 5cm f3.5 just the best, but´s tahts too personal iguess and using such a lens on the m5 would be troublesome.

🙂

 

[kxl]

Either the ZM Sonnar 50/1.5 or the ZM Planar 2.0

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

An alternative is to buy the correct contemporary lens for the body, meaning a 1973 lens on a 1973 body and so on. I enjoy building up outfits as though they had been purchased all at once and kept and used.

Regards, David

 

[filmtwit]

Nikkor-sc 50mm f1.4 or f2 in ltm

Otherwise the 50mm f2 Planar

 

[Ansel]

Cron 50 mm. Any version is good.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

I love that every response is both a good recommendation and different from the others!
With 50mm lenses, you really can't go wrong since the double gauss, planar, sonnar and tessar designs have been perfected and have such a rich history of R&D by so many manufacturers.

My personal preference is for a Version 1 or 2 Summicron. The V.2 is the "rigid" which also has the same formulation as the Dual Range. They are just incredible performers and you can find a rigid for not much money.

If you want portable, the Elmar f/2.8 is awesome and one of my favorites.

The Canon 50mm f/1.4 is outstanding for the price and the fact that it is every bit as good as all but the Summilux ASPH. I prefer the smoother rendering of the older formulations but that's my preference again.

I've wanted to try the new Leica 50mm f/2.5 Summarit but more because of its very compact build and excellent reputation so far.

Really, you can't go wrong whichever you choose!

Phil Forrest

 

[Vics]

Plus one for any Summicron from v. 2 (rigid) on up. V.4 is the same as the current one, but without the built-in hood. I also think that v.4 is tabbed.

 

[kosta_g]

i enjoyed the c-sonnar but it does have a modern look (which can be a plus or minus depending on what you want).
I'm keen to try the nikkor 50/1.4 as well as the new vm 50/1.5.

 

[segedi]

I have owned the 50mm summilux ASPH, Summarit 50mm f2.5 and the Zeiss Planar f2.
I won't speak to the summilux as it is out of your budget. I sold the Planar because I didn't like it's weight. It just seems heavy. Images are wonderful, but I didn't like to use it. And I didn't like the focus knob.

Selling the Summarit because I own the summilux, that's the only reason. It's a great lens. It's small, light and compact and takes 39mm filters which I own a lot of. And I think your 35mm summicron takes. Shameless promotion I know, but I'm recommending it on it's merits.

But here's another recommendation. I've really taken to the 75mm focal length. Paired with a 35mm and that's, in my opinion, the perfect 2 lens kit. And yes, I'm selling a 75mm Summarit too. Reluctantly though as I picked up 75mm summicron recently. The 75mm Summarit has been my favorite lens - even over summiluxs. I shoot a lot of street and like the smaller size if the Summarit line over the weight of the faster glass. And for street I'm not shooting wide open anyway. And at f2.5 you are still getting plenty of depth of field. I recommend you consider 75mm over 50mm.

Check my Flickr for Summarit shots.

 

[MISH]

as I can only speak from my personal experience if you want to invest that kind of money I would save a little more and get the lux. However my recommendation for best bang for your buck would be the rigid Summicron mentioned above.... such a sweet lens. I don't know if you are in the US but Tamarkin has a ex for $595.... lots of money left over for film

 

[arseniii]

Another vote for summicron v.4. It's modern glass, small and with practice you can prefocus the lens intuitively with the focusing tab. My second option would be a rigid cron - it has a lot of character!

 

[rolfe]

ZM C-Sonnar f1.5.

I have a number of 50mm lenses, including the Leica 50mm f1.4 ASPH, and the Sonnar is the one I use every day. You have to use it to experience its subtleties, but they are tangible, especially if you shoot B&W.

 

[judsonzhao]

ZM 50/2 would be the most cost effective one, $600 you can grab a nice pre-owned one. I'd say it's very close to current 50 cron in terms of IQ and build quality, if not better.

 

[ChrisN]

Another vote for summicron v.4. It's modern glass, small and with practice you can prefocus the lens intuitively with the focusing tab. My second option would be a rigid cron - it has a lot of character!

I'll recommend the V4 Summicron also. That's what I chose to pair with a 35 ASPH Summicron in my own kit. I like the fact that it has the focusing tab that I'm used to with the 35. It's very similar also in the control layout and the focus throw. All that helps me to quickly adapt when switching lenses. I also prefer to have all my lenses use the same filter size (39mm) so I don't need to carry more than one set of filters.

 

[Ronald M]

the new VM nokton 50 1.5 is hard to beat imo, good value, summilux performance

I read somewhere this week someone had two samples each of the screw mount and bayonet and he found the screw to be significantly better wide open.

Every CV lens I have tried is nowhere near leica quality.

You can use a collapsible on M5, just don`t collapse it.

Zeiss Planars are well thought of. So is any Summicron except the collapsible. The later versions are better.

Save your money and get one good lens instead of buy and sell.

The current `lux is a great lens, just out of your price. Do not fall for an older one. I have tried many and never bought one.

 

[raid]

I like the Nokton 50/1.5 first version (you save several hundred $) among modern lenses. If you want a special lens, find a clean Rigid Summicron. Ask DAG or Sherry if they have a good one for you. The Canon 50/1.4 is an excellent lens at a low cost, and so is the Nikkor 50/1.4 and the 50/2.

 

[danielsterno]

wild. Thank you and I was afraid that I would feel as I do. Meaning: when I decided to buy my M6 I knew I had to wait for I knew I needed to accommodate the M6 with the correct glass or else why buy it- SO I waited and bought the M6 with a 35mm Cron ASPH and not one regret.
My gut is leading to the same conclusion, which is bringing me to a question:
Will a V4 or Rigid 50 Cron give me a much different feel/personality to the images versus my 35 ASPH Cron? Thank you. Daniel

 

[Richard G]

I adore the C Sonnar 50, smaller than a Summilux but still a bigger lens and it is great on the M5: just looks and feels right and the 50 frame lines on the M5 are wonderful. An M6 and a 35 are made for each other. I do love the version IV tabbed Summicron in black: it's lighter than the Rigid Summicron recommended, and I love the Leica focussing tabs, especially the 'bear claw' tab on this 50. It is now virtually glued to my new Monochrom. Mine is Canadian and came with a Canadian M4-2 and it is a perfectly balanced combination, and seems very similar now on the black Monochrom. The other great thing about the 50 Summicron is the reversible hood with cap, which is a huge ergonomic and practical advantage if you use a camera bag or if you're in bad weather. I can never take a shot with the cap on the Summicron, but regularly do this with my Zeiss lenses, as the hood doesn't reverse and I might have both the hood and the cap on together.