I have too many 50mm lenses. Do you too?

Well, you just needed another 50, Raid! In regard to RF cameras, I never was into 50's much until recent years, and I now surprisingly find myself with several, mostly gotten used. And there's another on the way -- a 50mm f1.4 Nikkor attached to an S3-2000 that I'm really looking forward to trying. There's also an Opton Sonnar f1.5 I got from India for a Contax body, and it has a very smooth look. Otherwise, CV 50 Skopar & Heliar Classic, and Zeiss ZM C-Sonnar and Planar. I had the Skopar first, and it really opened my eyes to the possibilities of a 50 on my M2 (remembering Juice Bar Lady in gallery 😀

So, which M-mount 50 do I take next month to Malta?
 
Doug said:
Well, you just needed another 50, Raid! In regard to RF cameras, I never was into 50's much until recent years, and I now surprisingly find myself with several, mostly gotten used. And there's another on the way -- a 50mm f1.4 Nikkor attached to an S3-2000 that I'm really looking forward to trying. There's also an Opton Sonnar f1.5 I got from India for a Contax body, and it has a very smooth look. Otherwise, CV 50 Skopar & Heliar Classic, and Zeiss ZM C-Sonnar and Planar. I had the Skopar first, and it really opened my eyes to the possibilities of a 50 on my M2 (remembering Juice Bar Lady in gallery 😀

So, which M-mount 50 do I take next month to Malta?
Click to expand...


Doug,

Brian Sweeney sold me a few weeks ago his Sonnar Opton 1.5 in Contax mount.

example of a recent image:
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?topic_id=1481&msg_id=00Ox6p&photo_id=7105737&photo_sel_index=0

Now I have a 50/2 Sonnar and a 50/1.5 Sonnar Opton, both in Contax mount. I have a Nikon 5cm/2 LTM which like a lot.

As for Malta, take the Opton 50/1.5 if you want to use a Contax body. Else, the Zeiss ZM-C sounds good.
 
Last edited:
LeicaTom said:
No you can NEVER have enough 50mm`s - I`m still looking for a clean uncoated Leitz Summar and Xenon, a wartime Zeiss Sonnar f1.5, a Nikkor f1.5, a Nokton f1.5 and a Canon f1.2 ~ anyone have anything please let me know 😉

Tom
Click to expand...


Tom,

If a trade had been available, which of your 50mm lenses would you trade and for which 50mm lens (plus/minus cash)?
 
Last edited:
raid said:
The jump to a Summilux-ASPH is a big one from the cost side.The other lenses you have mentioned are freasonably priced. I also have the SMC 50/1.4, and I love using it. I have never used the CZJ 50/4 on a SLR body, but it is an awesome lens on a Mamiya 645, as a wide angle lens. Some claim that this is the best lens made by CZJ for Pentacon 6, in addition to the 180/2.8 Sonnar [which I have used on a SLR body]. The tilt/shift option is useful, but I don't own such an adapter.
Click to expand...

Well, I initially set out to save up enough money for an MP with a 35 Summicron-ASPH and a 50 Summilux-ASPH. It took me almost 3 years and along the way, I often got side-tracked and bought a lot of other things. 🙂 I just got the lens two weeks ago and only took a few test rolls but I'm completely amazed by it. Perhaps my heart is fooling my eyes but I'm finding that the images I'm getting with Summilux-ASPH wide-open seem as sharp (or more sharp) than images I'm getting with many of my other lenses at f8! I don't think I need to buy another 50mm unless it gives a unique rendering like a Summar. If Leica would make a modern collapsible Summicron, I'd probably go for it as I really like collapsible lenses. I would use the Summicron during the day and leave the Summilux for night time or low-light. I know there is the Voigtlander 50f2 Heliar but I'm not too keen about its bokeh wide-open.

I also have the CZJ 180 Sonnar. The 50 and 180 are spectacular. I also have the CZJ 80 Biometar. It's a step down from the 50 and 180. I don't think that there is much of a difference between the CJZ 80 and the Arax 80 that also have. However, the lens is still pretty good. It is much better made than my Arax 80 and is very compact for an MF lens.
 
Nando said:
Well, I initially set out to save up enough money for an MP with a 35 Summicron-ASPH and a 50 Summilux-ASPH. It took me almost 3 years and along the way, I often got side-tracked and bought a lot of other things. 🙂 I just got the lens two weeks ago and only took a few test rolls but I'm completely amazed by it. Perhaps my heart is fooling my eyes but I'm finding that the images I'm getting with Summilux-ASPH wide-open seem as sharp (or more sharp) than images I'm getting with many of my other lenses at f8! I don't think I need to buy another 50mm unless it gives a unique rendering like a Summar. If Leica would make a modern collapsible Summicron, I'd probably go for it as I really like collapsible lenses. I would use the Summicron during the day and leave the Summilux for night time or low-light. I know there is the Voigtlander 50f2 Heliar but I'm not too keen about its bokeh wide-open.

I also have the CZJ 180 Sonnar. The 50 and 180 are spectacular. I also have the CZJ 80 Biometar. It's a step down from the 50 and 180. I don't think that there is much of a difference between the CJZ 80 and the Arax 80 that also have. However, the lens is still pretty good. It is much better made than my Arax 80 and is very compact for an MF lens.
Click to expand...


If you saved for three years to buy such a lens, then you certainly should enjoy the ASPH and not feel "guilty". I don't think that I have ever used a 50mm Summilux (ASPH or regular), but I tried out a Noctilux.

I have a Mamiya 80mm/2.8and have not bothered to replac this lens by the Biometar. The Mamiya lens is sharp and not expensive.
 
M-Mount:
Elmar f/2.8
Collapsible Summicron
DR Summicron
Black Summicron 11817
Summilux (Black 2nd version)

LTM with stuck-on adapter: Summarit f/1.5

LTM- Mount:
Collapsible Summicron
Black Scale coated Elmar
Uncoated early Elmar
Summar

Nikon AI/AIs:
50mm f/1.8 pancake
50mm f/1.4 (early)

Leica R: Summicron, late version

Pentax: f/1.7 SMC Pentax

Miranda: f/1.8 Auto-Miranda
 
Rob-F said:
M-Mount:
Elmar f/2.8
Collapsible Summicron
DR Summicron
Black Summicron 11817
Summilux (Black 2nd version)

LTM with stuck-on adapter: Summarit f/1.5

LTM- Mount:
Collapsible Summicron
Black Scale coated Elmar
Uncoated early Elmar
Summar

Nikon AI/AIs:
50mm f/1.8 pancake
50mm f/1.4 (early)

Leica R: Summicron, late version

Pentax: f/1.7 SMC Pentax

Miranda: f/1.8 Auto-Miranda
Click to expand...


Rob,

Is your Nikon pancake lens a 40mm or 50mm lens?
 
raid said:
Joachim,
The 50mm lens is the one lens that I view as the most important a photographer can have.
Click to expand...

Hi Raid,

No insult intended. I figured different people have different preferences. The RF community is predominantly split into the 35mm people and the 50mm people. I clearly belong to the former lot and you seem to belong to the latter. I, personally find the perspective of the 50mm difficult to use. A lens in the 35 to 43mm range gives my images the "breathing space" they require.
 
Bingley said:
Interesting thought. Although I'm not looking to sell my Nokton (at least, not at the present time), I'd be interested in exchanging it for awhile for a Canon 50/1.4.
Click to expand...

Steve,
I have never used a Nokton, so maybe after trying out my newly acquited Canon 50/1.4, we can have a temporary loaner exchange.
 
joachim said:
Hi Raid,

No insult intended. I figured different people have different preferences. The RF community is predominantly split into the 35mm people and the 50mm people. I clearly belong to the former lot and you seem to belong to the latter. I, personally find the perspective of the 50mm difficult to use. A lens in the 35 to 43mm range gives my images the "breathing space" they require.
Click to expand...

Hi Joachim,
Your comment was not sen as an insult. I am fully aware that many RFF members favor a wider perspective.

I have once tested a 43mm Pentax Limited Edition, and it was a joy to use.
 
raid said:
I have once tested a 43mm Pentax Limited Edition, and it was a joy to use.
Click to expand...

Hi Raid,

I have this one in PKA. I also have the 45mm for the Contax G (actually a 47mm according to Zeiss). The weird thing to me, is that I got on with the Pentax but so far not so well with the Planar. Don't know the exact focal length of the Pentax. I am puzzled that a few mm in this range matter so much to me. Might be that the different cameras contribute (SLR vs Ranger).
 
Too many 50s? No, I only have one: The collapsible 50/3.5 Elmar in LTM.

Well, and of course the Ultron 50/2 on my Vitomatic IIa
and then the Color Skopar 50/2,8 on the Vito BL and the Color Skopar 50/2,8 on the other Vitomatic IIa

And then those, that do not count: Nikkor AI 50/1.4, 50/2, 55/2.8 and the EL-Nikkor 50/2.8 on my enlarger.

And than the one, that does not count at all: Bronica Zenzanon MC 50/2.8

So, I clearly need some more 50s. Any suggestions?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom