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

[Ko.Fe.]

When I think of a lens with "modern" rendering, I have in mind some of the following:

• Higher contrast
• Better color saturation
• Decent resolution wide open
• Lower tendency to flare/glow
• Low chromatic aberration
• More "density" in OOF areas

....
Now I'll put my foot in my mouth by trying to guess what sort of lens you used for your picture, going from a small JPEG of what looks like a film scan: l'd say it was made with an extremely clean vintage lens. It's not very modern in rendering, but nothing that screams "vintage" either.

Exactly this! And wider aperture goes and more "difficult" light it is the more obvious it gets.
Yet, f11 and sunny day isn't something special for many lenses. Or taken with flash.

Rigid I have tried was showing its age on M-E, but it was almost as good as modern lens. Even wide open.

 

[flagellum]

Might be worth looking at the Voigtlander 50 1.5 in LTM, can be had for reasonably cheap compared to other lenses and is quite modern in rendering.

(Full disclosure, I have one for sale w/ the adapter in the classifieds).

 

[Brian Legge]

So interpreting this as needing very modern coating, I'd suggest either the VC 50/1.5 or the ZM 50/2.

The 50/1.5 has been cheap in ltm ever since the M version came out. If you can deal with its focus distance limits, its a great deal. The 50/2 is simple a safe, solid option and is a can be found for very competitive prices on the used market. I'd throw the Konica 50 in there as well but I haven't personally used it.

I know this disregards a lot of great, older glass but you can easily spend more chasing clean copies in good condition before finding a good lens. The Canon 50/1.8 is probably one of the safest close-to-modern options but I'm not sure it would be what you want given your description. And you have to watch for fogging with them, etc.

 

[kermaier]

^-- Yes, forgot about that -- the Konica 50/2 M-Hexanon is a superb lens, and can sometimes be found for under $400.

 

[f16sunshine]

Just get the ZM Planar.... worth the money.
Ming Thein puts it near the Apo-Summicron.
From everything I've seen captured with it, it belongs there.


https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=98280&page=15

 

[zuikologist]

Not coupled though...

Yes of course, I am too busy playing with Sony NEX these days!

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I searched for some informal test pictures I took with two Industar lenses on M-E.
All of the images were taken at f8.

Industar-26M

This lens went to RFF member in Ontario. It was very adequate on bw film. On M-E I disliked it for swirl in bokeh and it was kind of not pleasing swirl.

Industar-61 with nine or so aperture blades. Not L/D. Also at f8.

It has aperture clicks (rough) and odd focusing ring. Not as "aggressive" as on later L/D, but slippery. I'm finding this lens difficult to focus due to this together with long focus throw.

I edited all four images to have more contrast and adjusted colors as well.

 

[retinax]

There's also the possibility to hack rangefinder coupling to SLR 50s and adapt them to M mount, as Brian Sweeney has shown on leicaplace. Not too difficult apparently. They are huge of course in comparison (which I think I wouldn't mind from an ergonomic point of view). But modern fast lenses for little money.

 

[David Hughes]

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

Hmmm, but would anyone notice? In real life, I mean; not on forums...

Regards, David

 

[David Hughes]

...Now I'll put my foot in my mouth by trying to guess what sort of lens you used for your picture, going from a small JPEG of what looks like a film scan: l'd say it was made with an extremely clean vintage lens. It's not very modern in rendering, but nothing that screams "vintage" either.

Interesting, thanks.

I picked what was almost monochromatic because (I hoped) there would be less clues at the edges and the colour contrast/interchange would be lower. Also because I thought it worked, or rather did what I wanted.

Would you like another shot from the same roll?

Regards, David

 

[David Hughes]

I searched for some informal test pictures I took with two Industar lenses on M-E.
All of the images were taken at f8.

Industar-26M

...This lens went to RFF member in Ontario. It was very adequate on bw film. On M-E I disliked it for swirl in bokeh and it was kind of not pleasing swirl.

Hi Konstantin,

I would have kept the lens and sold the M-E, but there you are ;-)

As for the new lens, I'll suggest the Zeiss 50mm f/2, too, but it's not exactly cheap. OTOH, it's great value for money and one of those lenses you keep despite the stupid lens hood.

The first thing I did with mine was put the lens cap in the safe and replace it with a dirt cheap bright red plastic one. You'll have to search for the price of a lens cap to understand that.

Regards, David

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Hello, David.
M-E is my mother gift for my fiftieth BD. Lens was regular lens purchased on ebay and CLA'd, re-shimmed by me. Not only I sold this lens, but lens you have mentioned and another Cosina made 50 1.5 ASPH lens. Sold them all only to be able to purchase Cron V4 and realize what I don't need 50mm lenses this expensive.
I'm planning to sell it, get couple of another focal length, non-Leica, not too expensive lenses and buy some film.

I'm using clean MC filters and hoods instead of cheap caps. Cheap cap doesn't protect lens front element during exposure. Filter and hood does and it is also works as the cap.
The original cap usually goes in original box, in my case. 🙂

 

[splitimageview]

Could always modify a 50/1.4 SMC-M Pentax with RF coupling. Ferider posted this mod here a few years ago.

 

[raid]

Could always modify a 50/1.4 SMC-M Pentax with RF coupling. Ferider posted this mod here a few years ago.

I have one of Roland's modified Pentax-M lenses. A great lens overall.

 

[jsrockit]

Really...

Modern with modern focus throws? ... hard to beat a Planar 50mm ZM and the Voightlander 50mm 1.5 LTM or M. They are just great for the cash.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Could always...

This part needs to be custom made.
https://ferider.smugmug.com/Technical/Lenses/Pentax-M-SMC-5014/i-6H93RZS/A

Not something available to me.

 

[f16sunshine]

It's been winter... It's still winter.
Being mostly indoors for months makes a 50mm seem too long.
Wait until spring and summer and you may remember why you got that V4 50mm Summicron in the first place.
Sounds silly but it's legit advice 😉

 

[Gregm61]

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

Oh, but I bet someone has tried, LOL...

There's always that person, looking for the least expensive way to do anything, whether it makes sense or not.

 

[Alex1416]

I agree with several here that the best option for something modern is the Planar 50/2. You can find them for about 600 on eBay. I am going to post sell mine soon since i finally saved up to get a fairly modern summicron.

But if you really want something on a budget, you can't go wrong with the Canon 50/1.4 LTM. Its an incredible lens ahead of its time!!! Wide open at F1.4, its razor sharp, and none of that vintage glow/softness you get with other lenses prior to the 70's.
The only drawback, is that with most vintage lenses, you are limited to focusing at a minimum of 1m, compared to 0.7m on most modern lenses. If that is not a deal breaker for you, go with a Canon. A friend of mine also has the Canon 50/1.8 LTM and its the same story.
I got my Canon 50/1.4vlens for about $150 in excellent like new condition, and you can get a 50/1.8 for much less.
Here are only a pair of shots on my M240.
I have this lens permanently mounted on my M cameras. Its always on the 240 or my M3 (as seen on my profile picture). The quality of the images of this lens on digital and film never disappoint.

Leica M240 by Alex Aguilera, on Flickr

Leica M240 by Alex Aguilera, on Flickr

 

[Ko.Fe.]

It's been winter... It's still winter.
Being mostly indoors for months makes a 50mm seem too long.
Wait until spring and summer and you may remember why you got that V4 50mm Summicron in the first place.
Sounds silly but it's legit advice 😉

🙂 Winter is the only time I would voluntary consider 50mm outside. Can't get close and fast enough with 35mm. Snow banks.

And I'm as outdoors in winter as in summer. Well... I'd rather go out at -28C then it is dry and calm, but will stay indoors at +28C, because it is often too stinky here (Lake Ontario humidity).