One 50 Is All I Want

wjlapier

wjlapier

Well-known
Local time
1:38 PM
Joined
Jan 30, 2008
Messages
1,895
OK...another which 50 should I buy right? Not really. Well kinda... If I were to have only one 50, and it didn't cost an arm and leg ( $2500-3500 'lux' ), and If I could live with f/2, which would it be? For now I have two Nikkors--Millennium S mount, and 5cm/2 LTM., and one Leica 5cm/3.5. Basically, I want one 50mm f/2 lens that is sharp and contrasty and will fit solidly on my M3. There is nothing wrong with the lenses I have now--I just want to know if there is something else I should consider as the LAST 50 I'll buy. One lens on the M3 that never comes off. And take this in to consideration, I'm a noob when it comes to Leica or any other Rfers, but especially with all the 50's that are out there. So, tell me, which 50/2 would be THE last 50/2 I would buy. Been shooting alot of B+W and developing my own if that makes a difference.

Thanx--
 
The newest 50mm f2.0 Summicron. They have almost no collector value, they have a non-glamorous but highly functional built-in hood, and so they are usually relatively inexpensive. But their optics are great. Lovely.

2412126508_2092c7ee79.jpg


457890452_82a9c7fd8a.jpg
 
Summicron IV (either the newest version with the built-in hood or the tabbed Canadian version with the detachable hood, the two have the same optical formula).

Gabor's suggestion of the DR Summicron is also a good one. Have a look at the M-mount flickr Forum to see examples from each of these lenses.
 
maddoc said:
DR Summicron ... :)
Click to expand...
Absolutely agree. And if you can live with the infinity lock, a rigid Summicron is optically identical. Beautiful for B&W but not super contrasty like the modern lenses. As clicker suggests you might want to look at the Zeiss Planar for that, but since you are doing your own dev/print you have total control over that and the DR/rigid Summicron was made for your M3. :)
 
I had the most current version of the 50 Summicron and it was a very nice lens. Built in hood meant I actually used it and didn't resent it too much. I got the feeling that it might flare every once in a while, but I've never really gone through the negatives to back that up. Other than that (and the lack of 1.4), it's a great lens. I bought mine used about 3 years ago for $550 and recently sold it for about the same price.

If I were buying new, I think I'd just get the Zeiss Planar 50/2. Everybody seems to love that one.

Summicron:


If I only had one lens, and it was a 50, I'd want it to be a 50/1.4, but that's just me. My Nikkor 50/1.4 was pretty cheap and pretty sharp closed down, but leaves a bit to be desired wide open and ergonomically. Still it's a fun lens. The 50/1.4 Asph is awesome and is the ONE 50 for me. Of course, the last Leica 50/1.4 before the Asph would probably make me happy as well. I'd have problems with the ZM 50/1.5 or the Leica 50/1.4's that only focus down to 1m, since I end up shooting a lot in the .7-1m range.

But if you can live with f/2, I'd go with the latest Summicron or the Planar.
 
M-Hex 50/2. Not quite as sharp as the Summicron or Planar, though the differences are pretty hard to see. It's got a built-in hood, build quality as good as (or better) than the 'cron and definitely superior to the Zeiss, and better bokeh than the 'cron according to some. Flare resistance is better than the Summicron but worse than the Planar. It's definitely the cheapest of the three - you can pick one up for around $400-450 in great shape.

I would trade mine in a heartbeat toward the pre-asph v.3 Summilux, though. The extra stop is worth it to me, but I can't afford it :(.
 
This seems to me to be close to a meaningless question. You're asking other people which 50 would suit you best -- and all they can tell you is what suits them best.

The only 50 I use all the time is my 50/1.5 Sonnar.

The only 50 my wife uses all the time is a 50/2.5 Summarit.

The only 50 I'd use if I could afford any one I wanted is a 50/1 Noctilux. I had one on loan for 2 years from a kind friend. The only 50/0.95 I've tried was a prototype.

I've owned (or tried for extended periods) a lot of others. I was happy enough with Voigtländer 50/2.5 and 50/1.5; with a DR Summicron; with a 50/2 TTH; and (for B+W) my old Elmar f/3.5. I gave away my Canon 50/1.2. TAKING PICTURES is a lot more important than agonizing over lenses.

Really, no-one can tell you -- but everyone will try.

Tashi delek,

Roger
 
One of my M3's always seems to be wearing a DR 'cron. I realized the other day that I hadn't shot any color film in more than a year, and with black and white, the DR is about ideal for me. Sharpness and bokeh are peerless, and the slightly lower contrast rendition is perfect for darkroom printing where I can adjust the contrast to my heart's content- especially with the split-filtration printing methods I use.

If I shot primarily chromes, or even color negatives, I MIGHT choose another 50mm- a more modern design with higher contrast- but I might not.
 
You will never have the 100% option here... You have to discover it all by your self, after trying one by one, until you find your 50...

The only thing you can do is to choose wich ones you prefer the most...
 
Why not just get an Amedeo Nikon RF to M or LTM adapter (approx. $250) & use the lenses you already have? The Millennium Nikkor is 1 of the best 50s made, surpassed only by the 50 Summilux ASPH.
 
I'm going to put up my 1958 DR CRON w/goggles
serial #:1585408
next week for Sale / lens in L.I. & I'm in NY right now

EXcellent Condt : Chrome Body & Glass
$595.00

Please PM if interested...:D
just got a 35 cron , have a 1962 50 Lux so I don't need another 50

Best To all- Helen
 
Last edited:
Another vote for the ZM Planar. I made the decision after reading Tom A.'s comments about B&W usage and also seeing examples of how well it did with colour.

I have also seen some splendid images from the Hex50.

~hibbs
 
To answer this question and give you even close to objective advice, you should tell us what sort of photography you like to produce. Your sense that f2 is alright leads me to think you don't shoot much in low light. Is that correct? Do you shoot for still life, nudes, portraiture, street shots, outdoor-landscapes, etc.

Regards, TW
 
You CANNOT just have 1 50mm. I have a Sonnar and a Planar, and use one or the other depending on what mood I'm in (and what look I want). I don't think I'd be able to choose one over the other on a permanent basis.

And just out of curiousity, for B&W film only -- is there really a BAD 50mm ???
 
Modern 50mm f/2 lens? Take your pick between Hexanon, Planar and Summicron. They're all capable and produce very similar-looking images.
 
helenhill said:
I'm going to put up my 1958 DR CRON w/goggles
serial #:1585408
next week for Sale / lens in L.I. & I'm in NY right now

EXcellent Condt : Chrome Body & Glass
$600.00

Please PM if interested...:D
just got a 35 cron , have a 1962 50 Lux so I don't need another 50

Best To all- Helen
Click to expand...

If it's condition is anything like the 35 you sent me ;), I might be interested :)

Thanx for the card&cork BTW!!

Bill
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom