Mother of All 50mm Tests

[raid]

Pherdinand: I have included both the Zeiss Sonnar and the J-8 in the previous tests. I need to take a second look to see if there are any noticeable differences or not.

Raid

 

[Toby]

A lens I would like to see tested against this company is the canon EF 50/1.4 USM. It's the lens canon use as the benchmark for all their other lenses as per sharpness and colour rendition and so would be a good reference point for "modern" designs. I have one but use it for work...

 

[arbib]

I have a Collapable Sonnar..50/2

I have a Collapable Sonnar..50/2

Very Clean too. No scrach,bubbles,or rub marks. for Contax RF (I-III or Kiev 1-4). No Lens Flair Coating..Early lens model.
Interested...PM me. (the 50/2 listed in the Sig.is an FSU J8 not the Sonnar)

 

[raid]

A lens I would like to see tested against this company is the canon EF 50/1.4 USM. It's the lens canon use as the benchmark for all their other lenses as per sharpness and colour rendition and so would be a good reference point for "modern" designs. I have one but use it for work...

Toby: Someone else also suggested to include a 50mm SLR lens, but there is a feeling that it is better to keep the test limited to RF lenses.

Raid

 

[raid]

Very Clean too. No scrach,bubbles,or rub marks. for Contax RF (I-III or Kiev 1-4). No Lens Flair Coating..Early lens model.
Interested...PM me. (the 50/2 listed in the Sig.is an FSU J8 not the Sonnar)

arbib: I sent you a pm. I do not own any Contax mount cameras.

Raid

 

[raid]

Too bad that nobody is volunteering a modern 50mm lens. This will keep the test limited to vintage lenses then.


Raid

 

[raid]

Based on the last test of 50mm RF lenses, we had several "winners":

Nikkor 50mm/2
Canon 50mm/1.8 and 50mm/1.2
Summicron 50mm/2

followed by :
J-8 and J-3.

Now, we will also have longtime favorites such as the Nikkor 50mm/1.4 and the comparable Canon 50mm/1.4. The Sonnar design Canon 50mm/1.5 will also be included. Each of these three lenses is known for its excellent optical performance.


I will do the test once I receive the lenses, unless additional lenses will be comitted until then. I will not mention which image comes from which lens at first, but to make comparisons manageable, I will group lenses in groups of around 4 lenses maybe.



Raid

 

[Bosk]

Unfortunately I can't be of any help since A- I live in Australia and B- I don't own any 50's at present, but I'd like to wish you all the best with your lens test, I'm sure the results will make for excellent reading/viewing.

It would be really nice if you could obtain a Voigtlander 50 1.5 for testing though. 🙂

 

[raid]

Bosk: Yes, that would be great. I also would like a Heliar lens for the test.

Raid

 

[raid]

Today, I received Mark's two Canon lenses, which leaves only Kiu's Nikon Camera and Nikkor lens. Then I will start the tests. If anyone has a Heliar lens sitting on some shelf, this is the time to mail it to me! Now if I only could get someone like Stephen at Cameraquest help out here....


Raid

 

[raid]

There are two good offers with Heliars in the classifieds, Raid.

Roland: If I had not preferred to buy the M6, I would have bought one of these two offers. Now, I am more interested in the lens by itself but not another camera body.

Raid

 

[raid]

Roland; Your idea is great, and maybe I hesitated so much because I did not want to spend right now any sum at all on anything related to cameras or lenses. I will have to search again for the Heliar when I am ready.

As for the test, I need ideas from all of you. Ideas that can be readily implemented.

Raid

 

[raid]

I would start the test this weekend if Kiu's lens would arrive on time for the test.

Raid

 

[NIKON KIU]

Hi Raid,
I was going to send you my Millenium Nikkor as well but someone bought it!!!
I have been very busy lately, but now I am OK.
I will mail you a chrome Nikkor 5cm along with a Nikon S2 this week.

Kiu

 

[raid]

Hi Raid,
I was going to send you my Millenium Nikkor as well but someone bought it!!!
I have been very busy lately, but now I am OK.
I will mail you a chrome Nikkor 5cm along with a Nikon S2 this week.

Kiu

Thanks, Kiu. I will wait with the test until I have your Nikon equipment.

Raid

 

[raid]

It seems that I will be having the following 50mm lenses in the test:

Group 1:
Summar
Summitar
Summarit
Summicron rigid
Summicron collapsible
Elmar 50/3.5


Group 2:
Canon 50/1.8
Canon 50/1.5 (from Mark)
Canon 50/1.4 (from Mark)
Canon 50/1.2

Group 3:
Nikon 50/2.0
Nikon 50/1.4 (from Kiu)
Zeiss Sonnar 50/2


Group 4:
Industrar 50/3.5
I61-L
J-3
J-8

Is this a reasonable grouping? Suggestions are welcome.

Raid

 

[Bosk]

It'd be great if you could test one of the old Leica 3.5 Elmars or one of the FED/Industar copies somehow.

 

[raid]

It'd be great if you could test one of the old Leica 3.5 Elmars or one of the FED/Industar copies somehow.

Actually, I have both of the lenses you mentioned, and I have added them to my list of lenses to be compared.

Raid

 

[Bosk]

Actually, I have both of the lenses you mentioned, and I have added them to my list of lenses to be compared.

Raid

Excellent! 🙂

It'd be great to see how the really "old school" lenses compare with those "new-fangled" ones from the 50's. 😀

 

[raid]

I wish I had a really new lens from the past few years for this test. I may have to buy such a lens one day.

Raid