Normal lens.

Thank you Nachkebia. Like I said, the Planar will not fail you. If you feel you need the extra stop because you are shooting a lot at night etc. there are cheaper options to consider than the Summilux 50 Asph. - there's the Summilux 50 preasph. which is an exceptional lens, the CV Nokton (which for some users here is even better than the older Summilux), and of course the eagerly awaited Zeiss Sonnar 50.

Once you enter RFF world, the difficult bit is not so much to decide which lens to have. But which lens not to have.
 
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telenous said:
0.7m is nearly as close as you can get with a rangefinder lens (there are some notable exceptions: Nikon's classic 50mm f1.4, Leica's Summicron DR and the goggled Summilux for the M3).
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My contax G 45mm goes to 0.5m I think.. ? That's one more exception ;) I'm thinking because I like to get so close to my subjects, perhaps RF is not right for me *shrug*
 
yeah, if you want that extra stop and dont want to spend 2700 dollars on a summilux try for the upcoming zeiss sonnar, im on the edge of my seat for that one.
 
Nachkebia said:
Thank you telenous!
I am also thinking of Summicron, so Summicron has better performace wide open? and bokeh is smoother right?
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One problem with the summicron 50 is that it is very sensible to flare, I have one myself and I will get a planar or the comming sonnar for that reason.
 
alf109 said:
One problem with the summicron 50 is that it is very sensible to flare, I have one myself and I will get a planar or the comming sonnar for that reason.
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I have read a few reports of some modern Summicron 50mms with flare due to improper blackening in inside of the lens barrel, but I never owned one, so I cannot say how it compares to the Planar. The 50mm Planar ZM is very low flare. I have a nice nightshot made with the Planar at f/5.6 on a tripod here:

Tremont Street Scene, South End, Boston, MA

Other shots with the Planar, also f/5.6:

Super 88, Beach Street, Boston, MA

Lu's Sandwich Shop, Beach Street, Boston, MA

and at f/2.8:

Mandatory U-Turn Sign, Big Dig, Boston, MA, which gives some idea of the Planar's background out of focus effects.

I like the fact that the Planar has a separate hood, rather than a non-locking sliding built-in one like the Summicron, and if you want to save money, the Voigtländer LH5 hood fits perfectly well (and also works on the 35mm Biogon ZM). Seehttp://www.adorama.com/VTLH5.html for what the LH5 hood looks like.
 
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I have a latest model Summicron 50 and have seen no problems with flare whatsoever. In fact this is one of the best lenses I've ever used with respect to flare.

Ron
 
visiondr said:
I have a latest model Summicron 50 and have seen no problems with flare whatsoever. In fact this is one of the best lenses I've ever used with respect to flare.

Ron
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I ment when you are taken pictures against the sun for exampel, the pictures tends to be grey with very low contrast. I have the latest summicron myself and I have not this problem with my summicron 35 asph or my summicron 75 or even with my canon 28-135 is. This is a well known problem with the summicron 50.
 
alf109 said:
I ment when you are taken pictures against the sun for exampel, the pictures tends to be grey with very low contrast. I have the latest summicron myself and I have not this problem with my summicron 35 asph or my summicron 75 or even with my canon 28-135 is. This is a well known problem with the summicron 50.
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I've heard the same criticism of the summicron 50. However, I haven't seen the problem in practice myself.

Ron
 
alf109 said:
This is a well known problem with the summicron 50.
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With respect to alf109 and to play devil's advocate .... this is one of those online rumors that keeps perpetuating itself frequently with no evidence, or spurious evidence (such as shooting full on into the sun), which is a bit like testing the safety of a car by driving it off the Grand Canyon.

I have the 50cron (tabbed IV and hooded V). Neither have any flaring problems. At least no more than other lenses I use, Leica or otherwise.

You will frequently see this 'evidence' of alleged flaring from people shooting straight into the sun. Well ... to be honest, what can you say? Who, in the real world, has frequent need to shoot directly into the sun? What do you expect when you shoot ANY lens straight into the sun, unless silhouettes is all you are after. If this is truly a worry, get a Noctilux.

I can only give you my experience with the 50/cron: it does not suffer from a flaring tendency, it is well built, high-contrast, high-resolution, and I would not trade it for another 50 of any brand. As for bokeh, it has one of the best bokehs around ... very creamy OOF rendition. I actually prefer it to my 35/cron pre-asph (IV) (though that is a slightly unfair comparison since the focal length of 50 favors OOF renditions).

But the proof is in photos. You will see that the 50/cron (latest) does just fine on its vacation in Paris with this photographer:

http://kazuyank.plala.jp/archives/category/31303_sm502exp.php?page=1

Most modern lenses in the 50mm range are highly researched, highly designed, and highly tested. There is a reason the Leica 50/cron has survived in the lineup so many years.

You won't be disappointed with any of your lens choices, and you won't be disappointed with the 50/cron (IV and V) (I can't speak about the other versions as I don't have them).

regards
 
visiondr said:
I have a latest model Summicron 50 and have seen no problems with flare whatsoever. In fact this is one of the best lenses I've ever used with respect to flare.

Ron
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I agree with Ron totally. The rumor of flare circulates, but I've never seen actual proof of it from posters (i.e. in conditions where other lenses wouldn't fare similarly). Nor have I ever seen this in personal use.

But like I said, whatever choice you make, you will have a great lens, Zeiss or Leica.
 
Nachkebia said:
I don`t care about resale and I am planning to get new :)
should I save up and buy LEICA 50MM F/1.4 SUMMILUX ASPHERICAL instead? does it worth extra stop?
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If that's the case, then consider a Noctilux as a standard lens. Throw an 8x ND filter in front of it, run slow film, and enjoy f/1 daylight shots.
Last time I went to Portugal (last year) it's what I did and I love going back over the photos I shot.
When I wasn't using the Noctilux, I was using the 35' Lux (ASPH) with an ND filter... Again, a very nice look.

Noctilux and MP together was just about a favorite combo.
 
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