Looking for a fast 50 for my M8

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sixb

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Initially I was going to get the Nokton 1.1 having had great film results from my long sold Nokton 1.5- but after reading about focus problems, double image and stop sign bokeh issues I'm not so sure. I'll check it out at my dealer none the less... the Summilux was my first choice as my walk around lens is a 35 lux asph, but only being one stop faster than my Summicron I've taken it out of the running along with all other 1.4 and 1.5 lenses. Noct is nice but for the price...

I've always been interested in the the canon 1.2 and .95. I had a busted 1.2 briefly and really liked the size. Both seem pretty scarce these days in good shape -which leads me to believe people who have them like them...

So, how do the Canon's stack up against the Nokton in terms of Image quality and usability? Are they even comparable- old vs. new? Is the 1.2 smaller than the Nokton? Do the Canon's have a longer focus throw (I prefer longer with fast lenses)?

Anyone out there with both a Canon and a Nokton? I'd love some feedback

let me know

thanks in advance, ccm
 
DN,
Yeah, I missed one on here a week ago for $400. Great price- sad to have missed it..
The more I think about it the more I'm leaning toward the Canon. I use to shoot a lot with old 6x6 folders that used uncoated and single coated lenses- it would be fun to get back into some older lens character. Not to say it'd be the same but you get my drift
 
I have the Canon 0.95 and the Hex 1.2...

The 0.95 is a very special lens - the speed is fantastic, reasonable falloff, just not extremely sharp wide open. Its character, when pushed into boke shots, is a matter of taste. The 1.2 has a similar character and looks like the best value of any.

The Hex is as good as I have seen in a super fast lens (I haven't used the Nokton 1.1, but I have seen a lot of samples). Though it seems the new Noctilux is about as sharp and shots look great. From my view the extra $500-600 over the Nokton 1.1 is well worth it.
 
I have the Canon 50/1.2. Wide in diameter (55mm filter) but relatively short. Long focus throw. Infinity lock. Good lens with real vintage character to the pictures. I've taken some nice pix with it, but it lies idle these days, a victim of my rampant to-many-fifties affliction.

I also have the Nokton 50/1.5. This is probably the best all-around modern 50 I've used. (I have not used a Summicron newer than the Rigid, not have I used the Summilux Aspherical, so that's not definitive, but it's still a great fast lens.)

I had the M-Hex 50/1.2. It's a really great lens - well built, medium focus throw, sharp, contrasty, very natural color rendition. I sold it because I just couldn't get used to the size. It's even bigger than the Nokton 35/1.2 (which I love, despite its size); longer than the Canon f/1.2, and wider (62mm filter).

If you have $2000+ to spend, and size doesn't matter to you, try to grab the M-Hex. If you want the vintage look and/or a smaller lens, there are definitely a few Canons around at dealers like Kevin, Igor, et al.

Ari
 
Do you realize the difference in 1.2 & 1.4 is only 1/3 of a stop. Hardly earth shattering plus how much image quality and image quality are you willing to part with. I've owned the asph summilux 50 and nokton 50 for several years and feel the summilux asph is the best overall 50 ( optically) on the market with the 1.5 nokton a very close second.
 
if i were in your shoes, i'd give some thought to the nokton 50/1.5 or the canon ltm 50/1.4. either lens and your M8 at iso 640 (eff. iso 800) should give you plenty of lowlight capability and character wide open. inexpensively too.
 
F1.2 is 1/2 stop faster than F1.4, so it's the difference between 1/60th and 1/90th. If it's really dark, and you are at the limits of being able to hold the camera, it's nice. But again- my most expensive superspeed "faster than F1.4" lens only set me back $200. And that got me more than a full stop.

Canon 50/1.2 on the M8, ISO 640, wide-open and hand-held.

Glasses in a window-shop.

picture.php


At 1/6th second:
picture.php


ISO 2500:

picture.php


The Canon is a low-contrast lens. It is soft. It is 55 years old. Amazing accomplishment. Mines not for sale...
 
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i bought a canon 1.2 a little over a year ago and really dig it. paid $400, from kevin. i got it more for the visual characteristics it produces rather than the speed itself. very warm and painterly. it's definitely not tack sharp wide open, and stopped down it's still not sharp in a modern way, but it has a unique look that really works in the right circumstances. it's probably my second most used lens after my 35/2, and first for portraits. i love being able to shoot it wide open in daylight on the m8, too, don't think i'd use it nearly as much on a film body with slower top speed.
as for comparisons to the nokton, i don't know- i actually came on the site just now to see what people were saying about it thus far...
anyhow, i definitely like the canon, and it's a bargain if you can find one.
 
back alley said:
i'm curious as to why you took 1.4/1.5 out of the equation...
if speed were not a factor the elmar 50/2.8 sounds like it would suit your want list.
Click to expand...

Back Alley,

The elmar is a nice lens. I have one. I'm looking for something more than one stop faster than my cron 50 - something longer, faster and a bit different than my 35 lux asph which is my standard lens.

Thanks,

ccm
 
I have the Nokton 1.1, Canon 1.2 and the Noct 1.0.
The Nokton produces wild bokeh and the bokeh does not have a nice "circle" shape. However, the Nokton is very sharp wide open and the finish on the lens itself is really similar to the 50mm black paint from Leica. At the same time, the Nokton is the best bang for the buck.

The Canon 1.2 has a "glow" effect on the focus point. It produces very dreamy picture, but it has low contrast and bad flare control. It is also very difficult to locate a used lens hood online as well. However, the Canon 1.2 when stop down to about f2 is amazing sharp.

Feel free to see my flickr, cause i have images taken with all these lenses.

I brought my Canon 1.2 for $350USD about three months ago, and the Nokton about $700USD.

Oh, and the Canon 1.2 is a lot smaller in size.
 
x-ray said:
Do you realize the difference in 1.2 & 1.4 is only 1/3 of a stop. Hardly earth shattering plus how much image quality and image quality are you willing to part with. I've owned the asph summilux 50 and nokton 50 for several years and feel the summilux asph is the best overall 50 ( optically) on the market with the 1.5 nokton a very close second.
Click to expand...

Thanks.

ccm
 
Brian Sweeney said:
F1.2 is 1/2 stop faster than F1.4, so it's the difference between 1/60th and 1/90th. If it's really dark, and you are at the limits of being able to hold the camera, it's nice. But again- my most expensive superspeed "faster than F1.4" lens only set me back $200. And that got me more than a full stop.

Canon 50/1.2 on the M8, ISO 640, wide-open and hand-held.

Glasses in a window-shop.

picture.php


At 1/6th second:
picture.php


ISO 2500:

picture.php


The Canon is a low-contrast lens. It is soft. It is 55 years old. Amazing accomplishment. Mines not for sale...
Click to expand...

Ah, but I see your $50 1.2 didn't come with an IR Cut filter! Not such a great deal after all! 😀
 
I used an IR cut filter with these shots. They are by table candlelight. The colors are accurate. Just what Nikki was wearing.

I use a 55->52 stepdown ring, which I can get away with becauise of the crop factor.

And I spent $90 for the Canon 50/1.2. My Nikkor 5cm F1.4 was $30, and there was a Nikon M on it for a rear cap.

Mental Note: Remove IR filter when taking pictures of street lamps at night.

50/1.2, wide-open WITH IR BLOCKING filter.

picture.php
 
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