clicker
Well-known
Any suggestions for a 50 mm lens ( new or old ) to use on my IIIF for all around general black and white shooting.
Thanks
Thanks
mdarnton
Well-known
1/ collapsible Summicron--compatible look and convenient size
2/ collapsible Summicron--old-style smooth look in photos, especially nice for B&W
3/ 50/1.4 Canon--if you like modern look feel and optics
2/ collapsible Summicron--old-style smooth look in photos, especially nice for B&W
3/ 50/1.4 Canon--if you like modern look feel and optics
Jerevan
Recycled User
A 50/3.5 Elmar - excellent performer in a small package. Or the newer Voigtlander Color Skopar 50/2.5 just to name two good ones.
KyleCharles
Vagabond
Some other suggestions:
Leica 50/2.8 Elmar. It is not as small as the 50/3.5 Elmar, but the aperture ring is much easier to operate and it takes 39mm filters. A small hood can be made easily by finding two 39mm scratched up filters and just popping the glass out. Collapses smaller than the Summicron and a good example will be less expensive. This lens (and the Summicron) are not easy to find without internal haze.
Canon or Serenar 50/1.8. Easy to find, plenty fast, and much smaller than the Canon 50/1.4. Hard to find filters/hoods for the oddball 40mm filter size, but a 40-43mm step up ring solves that.
Voigtlander 50/2.5 Skopar. This is the one to get if you prefer the modern look with plenty of contrast and flare resistance. Nice compact lens. Not too easy to find, only about one of these comes up on "the bay" per month.
Leica 50/2.8 Elmar. It is not as small as the 50/3.5 Elmar, but the aperture ring is much easier to operate and it takes 39mm filters. A small hood can be made easily by finding two 39mm scratched up filters and just popping the glass out. Collapses smaller than the Summicron and a good example will be less expensive. This lens (and the Summicron) are not easy to find without internal haze.
Canon or Serenar 50/1.8. Easy to find, plenty fast, and much smaller than the Canon 50/1.4. Hard to find filters/hoods for the oddball 40mm filter size, but a 40-43mm step up ring solves that.
Voigtlander 50/2.5 Skopar. This is the one to get if you prefer the modern look with plenty of contrast and flare resistance. Nice compact lens. Not too easy to find, only about one of these comes up on "the bay" per month.
furcafe
Veteran
The Canon 50/1.4 is an excellent lens, & still a great value, but it's a little big for comfortable use on the "Barnack"-sized LTM bodies, IMHO. Although it tends to be expensive & is usually touted as a portrait-type lens when used wide-open, the 5cm/1.4 Nikkor-S in LTM is a classic 1950s 50mm, smaller (but just as heavy) as the Canon, & also works for general use when stopped down (though it doesn't have the flatness of field & corner performance of the Summicron, Canon 50/1.8, & Planar-type 50s).
KoNickon
Nick Merritt
Don't forget the Summitar. You should be able to find one of these for a fair amount less than the Summicron.
NeeZee
Well-known
I've been using a IIIf as my main camera for a few years now and tried some 50mm lenses along the way. If you go vintage Leitz, care more about the condition than the name. I used to own a collapsible Summicron with 'cleaning marks' i.e. scratches and now a perfectly clean Summar with coated front element and it's a MUCH better lens. I also like the Industar-22 (Elmar-style collapsible with Tessar formula). I tried an Elmar once and couldn't see a diefference in the results except that the Industar is likely to have better contrast due to more durable coatings. The Elmar is better built of course but I wouldn't spend 150$ or something when you can get an I-22 almost for free.
ChrisLivsey
Veteran
Another vote for the Color Skopar 50mm f2.5, Sharp compact and a good focussing tab.
Lots of fun with a Summar to be had for little money.
Lots of fun with a Summar to be had for little money.
Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
Another vote for the 50mm f/2.8 Elmar.
For a much faster option, try the Canon 50mm f/1.4
Phil Forrest
For a much faster option, try the Canon 50mm f/1.4
Phil Forrest
pete hogan
Well-known
A clean Jupiter-8 f/2 will do very well.
Pioneer
Veteran
Elmar 50/3.5
or
Color Heliar 50/3.5
--------
Very compact and great image. The perfect match for the small Barnack.
Canon 50/1.4
--------
A bit large but it make a great low light addition.
APO Lanthar 90/3.5 w/Voigtlander 90mm viewfinder
-------------
Gives a bit of reach and focuses very quick. Excellent for sports applications.
or
Color Heliar 50/3.5
--------
Very compact and great image. The perfect match for the small Barnack.
Canon 50/1.4
--------
A bit large but it make a great low light addition.
APO Lanthar 90/3.5 w/Voigtlander 90mm viewfinder
-------------
Gives a bit of reach and focuses very quick. Excellent for sports applications.
HuubL
hunter-gatherer
Summitar, the contemporary classic, cheaper than the Summicron!
Scrambler
Well-known
I have a nearly contemporary IIIc and use a Summitar just for keeping it in the family. Before that I used a Jupiter-8 and IMHO the J-8 photos look nicer than the Summitar - but then I'm a fan of smooth backgrounds ("bokeh") which the Summitar rather famously doesn't do.
With modern fast film you don't need the extra stop of the Canon 1.4 (and I have one as my general use 50mm on a Hexar RF). Plus finder obstruction does occur on the IIIc/ IIIf.
If I could get any lens for a IIIf I would get a Nikkor 50/f2, a Nikkor 50/f1.4 or a Canon 50/f1.5. I think the Sonnars of the era give the best balance between sharpness when stopped down and speed with the added (or annoying, depending on the use) characteristic of being rather soft with very smooth "bokeh" when wide open.
With modern fast film you don't need the extra stop of the Canon 1.4 (and I have one as my general use 50mm on a Hexar RF). Plus finder obstruction does occur on the IIIc/ IIIf.
If I could get any lens for a IIIf I would get a Nikkor 50/f2, a Nikkor 50/f1.4 or a Canon 50/f1.5. I think the Sonnars of the era give the best balance between sharpness when stopped down and speed with the added (or annoying, depending on the use) characteristic of being rather soft with very smooth "bokeh" when wide open.
Tom A
RFF Sponsor
All good suggestions, but the problem is that many of theses lenses are old - and condition of the glass is paramount.
One that has not been mentioned is the Heliar 50mm f2.0. Great lens, modern coatings and look to the image - without being too contrasty.
The Canon 50f1.4 is good - but they can be tricky. Often you have an almost "gravelly" feel to the aperture ring (very irritating)
The Nikkor f2 or Nikkor 1.4 are really good - but are getting expensive - and again, glass has to be perfect or you loose contrast or get flare.
The best performer in the f1.5/1.4 range is probably the Nokton 50f1.5 Ltm. Rivals any Summilux and with very good sharpness. Big though - blocks a bit of the lower right hand corner of the finder.
One that has not been mentioned is the Heliar 50mm f2.0. Great lens, modern coatings and look to the image - without being too contrasty.
The Canon 50f1.4 is good - but they can be tricky. Often you have an almost "gravelly" feel to the aperture ring (very irritating)
The Nikkor f2 or Nikkor 1.4 are really good - but are getting expensive - and again, glass has to be perfect or you loose contrast or get flare.
The best performer in the f1.5/1.4 range is probably the Nokton 50f1.5 Ltm. Rivals any Summilux and with very good sharpness. Big though - blocks a bit of the lower right hand corner of the finder.
Tom A
RFF Sponsor
Voigtlander Heliar 50mm f2.0, Technical Pan 1:100, rated at 80 sio.
gb hill
Veteran
+1 for an elmar 50/3.5. Makes the IIIf very pocketable.
ssmc
Well-known
The Canon 50/1.8 is probably physically as large as I'd want to go on a Barnack body due to finder blockage; the 1.4 takes 48mm filters, is slightly longer (41.6mm vs. 38.5mm, measured off my own black/chrome "Mk II" versions), and quite a bit fatter across the focuing ring (55mm vs. 47.8mm). However, I guess it depends what you're shooting, and you can always keep your left eye open and guesstimate what's hidden in the bottom of the frame.
IMO the 1.8 version is better value at 1/2 to 1/3 the price of the 1.4 (going off ebay) but if you use filters for B&W then some of that goes out the window. I could not find a 40-43mm ring (note it's not the relatively common 40.5mm size) and ended up getting one custom-made by S.K. Grimes. It was a bit pricey but the workmaship is outstanding and means I can use common, high-quality 43mm filters and the new 43mm Canon center-pinch cap (P/N 6317B001, about 5 bucks - not very original but cheap and easily replaced).
As others have said, it's vastly easier (and cheaper) to find a "period" Japanese LTM 50 with unmarked glass than a matching Leitz 50mm. I haven't tried them but the CV lenses also have a good rep (especially the Nokton - how I wish the new Nokton came in M39!)
IMO the 1.8 version is better value at 1/2 to 1/3 the price of the 1.4 (going off ebay) but if you use filters for B&W then some of that goes out the window. I could not find a 40-43mm ring (note it's not the relatively common 40.5mm size) and ended up getting one custom-made by S.K. Grimes. It was a bit pricey but the workmaship is outstanding and means I can use common, high-quality 43mm filters and the new 43mm Canon center-pinch cap (P/N 6317B001, about 5 bucks - not very original but cheap and easily replaced).
As others have said, it's vastly easier (and cheaper) to find a "period" Japanese LTM 50 with unmarked glass than a matching Leitz 50mm. I haven't tried them but the CV lenses also have a good rep (especially the Nokton - how I wish the new Nokton came in M39!)
KyleCharles
Vagabond
These 40-43mm rings can always be found on ebay for less than $10 shipped. I have a few different ones and they work just fine.
Shac
Well-known
Another recommendation for the Canon 1.8 (black version) - Nice lens with good IQ - nice size for a Barnack (works very well on my IIIc) - and the coatings are probably more robust than older Leica coatings