raid
Dad Photographer
Roland: To attain max sharpness with an SLR lens, I always used a heavy tripod and used a cable release.
Most F1.4 SLR lenses did better at F2 then the "slower F1.7, F1.8, and F2" siblings did at F2.
Performance at F1.4 was not as good wide-open at the sloer lenses did when used wide-open. But, almost across all manufacturers, the F1.4 lenses sharpened up greatly when used 1-stop down.
There are some exceptions. Best cheap 50mm lens, Konica 50/1.7.
The "bars" are performance of lenses tested in the group, the black dots are for "this lens". Look at those black dots at the top of the charts. The 50/2 Summicron was tested with this group. My Konica lenses tend to be very sharp. And the 28/1.8 focuses to under 0.6FT.
Performance at F1.4 was not as good wide-open at the sloer lenses did when used wide-open. But, almost across all manufacturers, the F1.4 lenses sharpened up greatly when used 1-stop down.
There are some exceptions. Best cheap 50mm lens, Konica 50/1.7.
The "bars" are performance of lenses tested in the group, the black dots are for "this lens". Look at those black dots at the top of the charts. The 50/2 Summicron was tested with this group. My Konica lenses tend to be very sharp. And the 28/1.8 focuses to under 0.6FT.
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semilog
curmudgeonly optimist
I guess you have never shot with the f1.4 / 50mm Planar for the Contax SLR system
I think I was pretty careful to qualify what I wrote: most 50/1.4's are on the edge of usability when used wide open.
I think that very few critical 35mm photographers would disagree with that statement.
will-i_am
Well-known
such a nice lens and cheap also
cheers,
will
David Hughes
David Hughes
I'll second Brian's comments about Konica lenses and add that they are dirt cheap these days as few people have bothered with them. But there's lots of nice lenses out there that are ignored because they haven't got that (or those) magic name(s) on them.
And my little Konica APS is neat enough for a shirt pocket and punches way above its weight. And there are times when I wish it would take a cable release...
Regards, David
And my little Konica APS is neat enough for a shirt pocket and punches way above its weight. And there are times when I wish it would take a cable release...
Regards, David
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
Absolutely, but given that they are one full stop off the extreme, while the others are a half stop to none off theirs, this is a somewhat skewed comparison. For a fair comparison, f/2.8 or f/4 would be a better benchmarking value.
The test chart as provided allows that comparison.
Looking at the test charts from 1976 of 32 "normal" lenses, by F4 the fast lenses and "f2"ish lenses were about equal in performance. Some of the F1.4 lenses drop off at the far edges.
My 5cm F1.5 Summarit compares well with a type 1 Rigid Summicron at F4.
Same tests for Canon, look at the F4 performance between the F1.4 and F1.8 Canon.
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Spider67
Well-known
In my experience it is really hard to find an evidently bad 50mm.Even the Nikon 50mm Series E gives very good results although it was meant to be cheap.
scottgee1
RF renegade
If memory serves, HC-B made most of his pix with 50mm lenses that probably wouldn't test particularly well but seem to have done the job . . .
venchka
Veteran
I was wondering when Canon was going to get some respect. Mated to an early all metal Canon body (EF body or older) makes a very good all-round performance package. I paid $50 for mine (S.S.C. version) and love it. Teamed with a $50 24mm lens, I'm all set for candid, close quarters work. Street photography?
dogbunny
Registered Boozer
I'm really enjoying my Takumar 50mm 1.4. It just feels right in my hand--I have the all metal scalloped version. The build quality is there, but as someone stated above, the metering on the older Pentaxes is a little bit of a pain. The price was right for me though. It was fully functioning for about $130.
I think I'll figure out a way to keep the lens and ditch the body.
I think I'll figure out a way to keep the lens and ditch the body.
monochromejrnl
Well-known
also a pentax fan, but use the M42 mount SMC55/1.8 for maximum sharpness and the SMC50/1.4 for more than adequate sharpness but a stop faster - the SMC50/1.4 has nearly identical lens diagram as the Zeiss 50/1.4 Planar - coatings and construction will differ of course.
As for a body, the Spotmatic F is cheap, well built and has a very simple but extraordinarily accurate needle meter (which I prefer because I get to see how much over/under exposure I get unlike most +/_ or <> indicator systems.
It is possible to find the Spotmatic F with 55/1.8 for under $100 and the SMC50/1.4 for $100 or less if you are patient.
As for a body, the Spotmatic F is cheap, well built and has a very simple but extraordinarily accurate needle meter (which I prefer because I get to see how much over/under exposure I get unlike most +/_ or <> indicator systems.
It is possible to find the Spotmatic F with 55/1.8 for under $100 and the SMC50/1.4 for $100 or less if you are patient.