High speed 50's

[Avotius]

Yeah yeah another 50 topic...whats our obsession with these things anyway?

So then, to acompany my vintage 50 rigid I am looking for a good modern high speed lens. I cant afford the lux asph so I am looking at the pre asph version which is a little more in my price range. Can anyone show me a few samples of what you would call this lens's character? I can read as many MTF's as I want but it tells me nothing. Also looking at that new c-sonnar but not sure which to add to my debt.

 

[jlw]

Don't overlook the Cosina-Voigtlander 50/1.5 Nokton, which is an excellent, nicely made lens with very pleasant characteristics and a very reasonable price.

 

[quattro98]

The Canon LTM 50/1.2 is another option. I'd like to get one as a reasonably priced fast lens to complement an f/2 50.

 

[terrafirmanada]

I recently picked up another members lux 43mm for a decent price. I have always liked this lense for out of focus and colour. There is also a shot with this lense wide open in my gallery under photos. These were both stopped down.
The lense I have is no longer than my dr and only marginally wider. I am thinking about selling my cron.

 

[Avotius]

I recently picked up another members lux 43mm for a decent price. I have always liked this lense for out of focus and colour. There is also a shot with this lense wide open in my gallery under photos. These were both stopped down.
The lense I have is no longer than my dr and only marginally wider. I am thinking about selling my cron.

I really like the colors you got there, im not up on my versions much, is the lens you have the same as this one?: http://www.popflash.com/item.cfm?id=$$^FE^ and does this have the focus tab thing?

 

[terrafirmanada]

I really like the colors you got there, im not up on my versions much, is the lens you have the same as this one?: http://www.popflash.com/item.cfm?id=$$^FE^ and does this have the focus tab thing?

No, this is the last version before the asph version. It is 46mm. It is the same optical formula, but probably much different coatings, and maybe better glass. That is a great price, and the one you are looking at has a built-in hood, which I like. The Popflash lense also focuses much closer (i think .7 meters).

 

[peter_n]

I think that is a definite difference between the versions. The 43mm focuses to 0.9M and the 46mm to 0.7M. Not so crucial I think with a 50mm lens but as you go wider things can get difficult. I was very frustrated with a 0.9M 35mm lens.

 

[Trius]

43mm? 46mm? I thought we were discussing 50s? 😕 Seriously ... are these designations referring to filter sizes? I'm a Leica know-nothing except for the stuff I bought used in the mid-80s ...

 

[terrafirmanada]

Yes filter size.

 

[mr roberts]

Don't forget the new Sonnar 50/1.5. I have a Canon 50/1.2 that I love color output from, but in use I think that the newer Sonnar would be better. You lose almost a stop, but the 1.2 on the Canon is something I find that I have to use cautiously.

The output that I've seen from the Sonnar is very attractive (to me).

 

[Simon Larbalestier]

As far as i recall the 43 and 46mm versions were optically the same with their coatings and design.

Avotius i've PM'ed you as I am currently thinking of trading in my 43mm version against the ASPH version but may look to sell it instead.

 

[Ronald M]

The best values are New Sonar, CV Nokton, and new Leica 1.4.

I never found a 1.4 `Lux I liked and tried a whole bunch of them. Since this is a polite forum, I will comment no further.

 

[raid]

I am happy with 50/2 lenses as "fast"lenses, but occasionally I use the Canon 50/1.2 at 1.2 and the J-3 at 1.5. The Summicron 50/2 is hard to beat for its overall qualities.

Raid

 

[drewbarb]

I will second a vote for the Canon 1.2. I've used this lens for a while, and like it so much, I sold my (last pre-asph) 'lux, and banked the difference in price. Wide open, it can be tricky to focus- I would suggest a high viewfinder magnification for fast lenses like this- but the Canon's a real winner. It's quite sharp, even wide open, esp. in the center; great stopped down; very nice bokeh at all apertures (though it goes to f22, I've never shot it stopped down past f8), and it gives great contrast control for beautiful prints. It's a perfect compliment to my DR 'cron.

 

[ampguy]

Summarit 1.5, retains the "glow", is nice and warm wide open.

 

[vrgard]

Summarit 1.5, retains the "glow", is nice and warm wide open.

Well, if we're gonna throw in other older fast lenses, I would offer the Canon 50/1.5 which, due to being a Sonnar design, has a great look. And I believe others think very highly of the Canon 50/1.4 which I understand has an even more modern look.

-Randy