Least expensive but "normal" 50mm for digital M.

[Ko.Fe.]

What would be most affordable 50mm lens capable of modern rendering on digital Leica? Without so called vintage "character" and odd colors.
I have J-12 been very close to it, but it is flaring badly and it is not 50mm lens.
J-3 of same vintage didn't impressed me at all. Weak colors.

 

[css9450]

J-8 perhaps?

 

[santino]

ZM Planar?

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Hmm... maybe black one from nineties. Easy to re-shim.

Planar is more expensive than 7a, even Color Skopar is more expensive than 7a now.

 

[Swift1]

CV Color-Skopar 50/2.5?

 

[Swift1]

CV Color-Skopar 50/2.5?

Actually... they seem a lot more expensive than I thought they were.

 

[raid]

The J-8 is unbeatable. It is a clone of the wonderful Zeiss 5cm/2. You can find a good one for $40. If your budget allows it, go for a clean J-3. A clone of the amazing Zeiss 5cm/1.5 Sonnar.

 

[ForestCap]

Industar-61 gives more saturated colours than J-8 and J-3. It is probably the sharpest Tessar among all interchangeable lens RFs. It just looks ugly. There are prototype I61 occasionally listed on ebay that does not look ugly, but looks weird.

From sovietcams:

 

[kermaier]

Another Sonnar, with superior build to a J-8 (and close focus for live-view cameras): Nikkor-H.C. 5cm f/2 LTM

 

[kermaier]

The Canon LTM 50/1.8 is a very well-behaved lens, and not expensive.

 

[f16sunshine]

The J-8 is unbeatable. It is a clone of the wonderful Zeiss 5cm/2. You can find a good one for $40. If your budget allows it, go for a clean J-3. A clone of the amazing Zeiss 5cm/1.5 Sonnar.

agree... as inexpensive and good as one could ask for.
The J8 is just simply good and cheap.
It takes some patience to find/shim a good one. Once you do... keep it.
Best choice under $100 (maybe only)
There was an LTM nikkor f2/50mm for $200 in the classified the other day... another good inexpensive normal.

My choice is the Color Skopar. Still under $400.
A digital M "deserves" a $400 lens ... no?

OTOH..... Go New under $400!!
The 7Artisans lens is pretty sweet and modern by f2.
For it's price and size, one can just "ignore "the larger apertures and buy it as an f2/50mm sonnar... would still be a good value.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Where is 61 and 61 L/D. I only get chance to try 61 and it was just at the edge to be as good modern lens on colors and contrast.

 

[kermaier]

My choice is the Color Skopar. Still under $400.
A digital M "deserves" a $400 lens ... no?

+1 Can't buy a $5,000 amp and stick $100 speakers on it....

 

[ForestCap]

Canon 50/2.2 can be found cheaper than any Nikkor 50s or faster Canon 50s:

It has more modern gold-tinted coatings, instead of magenta/blue on earlier lenses.

On Agfa 400:

Fujicour C200:

(Note: These photos are less saturated then they "should" be)

 

[Kent]

For the cheapest price: J8 and Industar-22 or 61.

For the best value: 7artisans 1.1/50

 

[Swift1]

Where is 61 and 61 L/D. I only get chance to try 61 and it was just at the edge to be as good modern lens on colors and contrast.

From what I have read, technically the I-61 and I-61 L/D are basically the identical optical formula. Both are essentially the same Tessar formula, and both have one (?) Lanthanum element.
You likely find more difference from sample variations than from the 2 different models.

 

[back alley]

what's the canon 50/1.5 sonnar going for these days...lovely rendering...

 

[raid]

My guess: approximately $350

 

[helen.HH]

Dear Ko

I have a 50 1.8 canon
nice lens ...
You pay for the shipping
NY to Canada ( not sure what that is via USPS)
and it's Yours ~ Enjoy !

 

[rfaspen]

I have two J-8s -- one is OK, the other a little better than that. The better one can give "modern" results, but it remains a sonnar design which I always think of as a "vintage" type lens. Maybe not? I have the Contax/Kiev version (J-8M) and its definitely a better performer on film than my other J-8s (I have no way to try it on digital). For the price, and with some careful shopping, could fit the requirements.

I have only one I-61LD now. The lens is capapble of sharp-ish modern look, but its the cheapest build RF lens I own, hands down. Barely usable. I simply don't use it.

I have a few I-22/I-10/Fed-50 lenses. I consider them quite good for what they are, but they're slow and seem to be "vintage" in my eyes. Perhaps its the low contrast?

Canon 50/1.8 and 1.4 are good for me. I have both and rather like the 1.4, but I need to shim it for the Leicas. When I have time...

The Nikon LTM lenses are very good and fit the requirements in OP. Either the f/2 or the f/1.4 will work (though I don't have the f/1.4). I think these are also sonnars. But, contrary to my earlier statement above, somehow the images don't look that vintage to me, but rather modern.

I don't have the 7A or a color skopar (in 50mm). Can't comment on those, but I'm awful tempted by the 7A.

You have a very good J-3 Kostya. So I know you have the sonnar look covered.