New lens: 1.4/50mm

[Sonnar2]

Hi folks,

Finally I found a 1.4/50mm, and it looks cool and works well.
Probably this is my ultimative street lens for the Canon P.
Fortunatly I already had the 50mm plastic cap for it

See here: http://www.taunusreiter.de/Cameras/Canon_Standards.html

First pictures taken with it: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/rfcanon1450/

Any comments about need of a hood? From my first impression it don't need one.

cheers Frank

 

[thafred]

The lens looks very good!

I think the need for a hood might be more evident in harsher lightning situations than those posted in your Flickr shots (looks like a overcast day) but the samples look very good nevertheless!
Could you post some Wide open shots too? I would like to see some bokeh from this glass!

How much did you pay for it if I may ask?
I passed on a deal on a Canon 50/1.2 yesterday on E*ay, I´d love to own this lens but it´s price was over the top for me....the 50/1.4 looks mighty fine too!

Friedrich

P.s. so when does the second part of the Heliar/Sonnar test follow!?!? I´m almost checking every day!! 😀

 

[rover]

Frank, glad to see you found a 1.4. Yes, it is a very very good lens. It has kept me away from the Summilux so far. Mine is also on my P, a great combo meant for each other I think.

Hood? Funny, we are so paranoid around there I don't think I have ever used mine without one. S-50, they sell relatively cheaply compared to some of the others.

 

[raid]

For whatever reason I never tried to buy this lens. I usually have a 50/2 lens on hand,and sometimes the 50/1.2 is used with slower film or for very dark scenes. My J-3 is a 50/1.5 and it comes close to the Canon 50/1.4. Congratulations on the purchase.

Raid

 

[ghost]

you should definitely try to buy this lens.

 

[Bill58]

I'm most happy w/ mine but I wonder how much better, if any, the Nikon 50 / 1.4 is than this lens? I notice one of the former is on sale here.

 

[vrgard]

I'm most happy w/ mine but I wonder how much better, if any, the Nikon 50 / 1.4 is than this lens? I notice one of the former is on sale here.

Thanks, Bill, for asking this question. I, too, am curious to hear the answer.

Roland, you out there? I know we've talked about doing a shootout on these two lenses but I thought you might already have some personal experience to bring to bear on this question.

-Randy

 

[Bill58]

No I don't have any experience at all w/ the Nikon. I can't imagine it's THAT much sharper, but maybe it is.

 

[jlw]

I'm most happy w/ mine but I wonder how much better, if any, the Nikon 50 / 1.4 is than this lens? I notice one of the former is on sale here.

By most modern measures, the Canon is a better lens all around than the 50/1.4 Nikkor, with better contrast and more even performance from center to corners. Of all the "vintage" lenses I own, it comes closest to performing like a good modern lens. It is a later design than the Nikkor (introduced 1959, vs. 1954 or earlier for the Nikkor) and takes advantage of newer glass types. It's a symmetrical double-Gauss design, while the Nikkor is a Sonnar design; some people like the "look" of the Sonnar formula, but the double-Gauss design is generally regarded as giving more consistent performance across the field.

The main reason Nikkor lenses cost more on the collector market is that they say "Nikkor" on them...

 

[Bill58]

Thanks--you just saved me a lot of $$$$$$$. Great analysis.

Bill

 

[Sonnar2]

I didn't have tried out the Nikon 1.4/50mm but it was a very early (Sonnar) design. Performance-wise it's quite stretched for speed - probably more then the contemporary 1.5/50 Canon (same Sonnar type).

Quite low contrast and poor sharpness wide open, tested by PopPhoto some years ago (compare with the 2/85 nikkor!). It was signicficantly improved by the later "Olympic" version (rare and expensive)

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/nikkoresources/50mmnikkor/index.htm

 

[vrgard]

Thanks, Roland, for your always insightful comments. Very interesting info. And yes, we should do the test. Can even throw in a side-by-side comparison of several Canon 50/1.5 lenses since you have two as I recall and I finally went ahead and picked one up. Just couldn't fight the siren song of the Sonnar any longer...

-Randy

 

[vrgard]

Safe travels, Roland. Hope you get some great shots. Let me know when you get back. And yeah, you're right. It was only a matter of time...

-Randy

 

[furcafe]

Don't forget the new Zeiss 50/1.5 Sonnar C (M-mount only, though).

If you want a fast all-around lens these days, I think you have 3 choices: Summilux, Nokton or Canon 50/1.4.

 

[peterm1]

I was fortunate enough to find one of these a few years ago and at a very good price. So I snapped it up and have never regretted it. It is sharp, contrasty and flare resistant. It is also built with the same sort of quality as Leica glass. And of course best of all it looks superb mounted on an M3 :^)

 

[Rafael]

There were comparison shots between Canon and Nikkor a while ago in a thread that Rafael started ...

HERE is the thread. The advice I received and the comparison shots that were posted were very useful. I wound up buying the Canon. But I would still love to see the results of this test.

Have a great trip Roland.