Need 50mm Recommendations For My New M3

[Tom A]

This is with the DR Summicron and the goggles - probably in the 65-70 cm range. Neopan Presto 400 in Td 201. There was a time when radiator caps were high art. So, pedestrians could be "speared" - but you drove a Packard and they were walking!!!!

 

[Tom A]

The tailfin on a 1948 Tatra. This is with the DR Summicron without the goggles but at 1 meter. Fuji Neopan Presto 400 in Td 201 developer.

 

[wgerrard]

Tom, is that what all those Rapidwinders bought?

 

[Tom A]

I wish! The Packard would be my choice as it was a reasonably simple car to work on. The Tatra is fiercely complex and Gary, a friend and the owner actually had one of his shipped back to the factory and they called in the retired guys who had built it originally to restore it.
Looks like something out of "Star Wars". The rear end design was copied by Volkswagen and they evidently had to pay restitution - though it took them to the mid 90's to cough up the dough!

 

[Melvin]

What's the best way to detect haze? Will I see it when I hold the lens up to a light? Am I looking for distortion on the surface or for fogging inside the glass? I've purchased a few used lenses and seen dust and the few odd spots, but nothing I'd call haze.

The seller described the glass as "excellent", so I'll see. Worse comes to worse, I'll ship it back.

The way to see haze: use a penlight, turn the room lights out so you're in the dark. Shining the light from the back, look into the front, moving the light a little and focusing on the different elements. Chances are you'll find a little haze this way in an older Leica lens, but it's not supposed to affect image quality.

 

[Rico]

... Based on your budget, I would recommend a faster f1,4/5 lens for greater low light versatility. The two lenses I'd choose between would be the ZM C Sonnar 50/1,5 or a type 2 Summilux 50/1,4 pre-ASPH. The v3, which has a slip hood and close focuses to .7m, is not within your budget, but it is optically identical to the v2 which has an external hood and a close focus of 1m. Bear in mind the ZM 50/1,5 close focuses to ,9m.

Buying older vintage lenses is a bit of a dice roll. You need to be ultra-cautious and wait. ...

Agreed. I simply waited my turn on eBay for about two years. Recently won a Wetzlar chrome 50 'lux v2 in nice condition with its matching hood for $650. 🙂 Its optical performance will be revealed by Raid's 50mm lens test underway. Ergonomically, it's a delight (if slightly heavy).

 

[wgerrard]

Agreed. I simply waited my turn on eBay for about two years. .

Rico, you are considerably more patient than I am. 🙂

I agree about the usefulness of a 1.4/1.5 for low-light work. I've always got my Nokton 50/1.5, which, as has been said, isn't a shabby lens.

 

[wgerrard]

The Summicron 50mm collapsible arrived this morning. It's a cutey. Looks and feels in fine shape. Very clean chrome with no nicks. Don't see anything I'd call haze, but I do see a couple hairline scratches and some spots. Might be accumulated dust. I'll see if it affects the photos.

I noticed that if I set the aperture at f16, and move the ring beyond that, the lens visibly shuts down a little bit more. Ditto at f2, where it opens up a nudge. By design? Or the flexibility of age?

Came with both Leica caps. The front cap really didn't want to let go.

Do I have this collapsing bit right? To collapse the lens, move the aperture ring to infinity, press the button on the focus lever, turn the lens and push it in. Extending the lens is the same: Aperture at infinity, press button, extend lens, turn to lock in place.

And there's an Elmar 90mm f/4 collapsible on the way.🙂

Ferider: Ordered that Heavystar hood. Thanks.

EDIT: Serial # 1125998.

 

[gilpen123]

Hi Gilpen123, Happy to read the recommendation turned out so well!🙂

To the OP I can only repeat what I told you, get the M-Hex 50mm f2.0!

Brilliant lens for sure, and it won't set you back a grand either. Only Leica latest version pre-ASPH matches upto it. Love the intermittent click stops and the resitance to flare, the build quality, short focus throw, built-in hood!

I think Krosya's 50mm f2.0 is still in the classifieds, he sold it to finance the M-Hex 50mm f1.2

Hi Johan, yes I got it and the 90 hex as well.

 

[gilpen123]

Some pics taken with the 50 Hex