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

[rfaspen]

What year is your I-61 L/D from, do you know?
I have a I-61 L/D that came with a late 60's FED 3.
The build quality isn't as good as my J-8 from 1956, but it isn't necessarily bad. The focus is smooth from end to end, aperture click stops nicely.

My I-61LD is from 1985 (assuming the first two digits of serial are the year). Its sloppy and cheap feeling in ways none of my other FSU lenses feel. Aperture clicks are fine though.

I suspect its a matter of both sample variation, and era. The ealier I-61s and I-26s look like better built lenses (e.g., from the 1960s) and my other FSU lenses from 50s and 60s (even 70s) are definitely better built than my I-61LD, much better. I often hear that more shortcuts and production trims happened in later years. There might be some truth to that.

 

[pagpow]

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...

Whoa!! did I miss the memo? This is the first time I've read about needing to reshim Canon for Leica.

Can you say more? Thanks.

Giorgio

 

[filmtwit]

It's beatable, mainly by better production in the Nipon Kogaku Japan sonnars

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.

 

[raid]

... unbeatable for the cost of $40. I also have the Nikon 50/2 and 50/1.4 and ... etc.
There are many excellent options out there.

 

[rfaspen]

Yes. First I would dampen the worries. Apparently, the Canon 50/1.4 often does a little front focusing on digital Leicas (I'm pretty sure its front focusing and not back focusing). On film I don't think there's any worries. The shift is small, and really only an issue wide open and close up. But, I happen to shoot wide open and relatively close.

I learned that its a "known thing" here on RFF when I posted about my lens being "off target" on the M9; I guess its not unusual and a shimming may fix it. Well, actually, a de-shimming in my case. I plan to someday open the lens and locate its shim (likely to have one) and replace it with a thinner one. Currently I can use the lens on film just fine (I compensate a little when WO and close) and I guess I haven't used it on a digital for a while but there's no reason not to.

And I should mention that I use the lens nearly exclusively on M-mount cameras. I have LTM cameras, but it never occurs to me to pair them with the 50/1.4 (too many other options to play with). But, its not an adapter issue.

Somewhere among the vast knowledge of RFF there are some posts (threads?) about the Canon lens on digital Leicas. If you have one, I wouldn't worry about all that front/back focus stuff unless you notice it and it affects your enjoyment of the wonderful Canon 50/1.4

Whoa!! did I miss the memo? This is the first time I've read about needing to reshim Canon for Leica.

Can you say more? Thanks.

Giorgio

 

[Alex1416]

Yes. First I would dampen the worries. Apparently, the Canon 50/1.4 often does a little front focusing on digital Leicas (I'm pretty sure its front focusing and not back focusing). On film I don't think there's any worries. The shift is small, and really only an issue wide open and close up. But, I happen to shoot wide open and relatively close.

I learned that its a "known thing" here on RFF when I posted about my lens being "off target" on the M9; I guess its not unusual and a shimming may fix it. Well, actually, a de-shimming in my case. I plan to someday open the lens and locate its shim (likely to have one) and replace it with a thinner one. Currently I can use the lens on film just fine (I compensate a little when WO and close) and I guess I haven't used it on a digital for a while but there's no reason not to.

And I should mention that I use the lens nearly exclusively on M-mount cameras. I have LTM cameras, but it never occurs to me to pair them with the 50/1.4 (too many other options to play with). But, its not an adapter issue.

Somewhere among the vast knowledge of RFF there are some posts (threads?) about the Canon lens on digital Leicas. If you have one, I wouldn't worry about all that front/back focus stuff unless you notice it and it affects your enjoyment of the wonderful Canon 50/1.4

Im glad that was not the case with my copy. The moment it arrived i check on the M240. I focused on a fine point at closest focus wide open, and at the same time turned on the Live View with Focus peaking. To my joy and surprise, they were both exactly spot on!

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Well, the Lens from Helen Hill has arrived! I'll have no digital M for sometime.
50 1.8 LTM on film:

 

[helen.HH]

Lokks Great Kostya
Love in particular the first One !