One 50mm lens for SS M3

The good news is that all of the lenses mentioned are very good. I think the easiest to find budget friendly lens for you will be the Canon 1.8. That is not a Sonnar, but very nice none the less. For Sonnars, the Nikkor 2.0 is excellent, and close to your budget. Don't over look the little Jupiter 8 either. As I set my exposure prior to bringing the camera to my eye when using a non-metered body the lack of click stops is not that much of an issue to.
 
Summarit 1.5 with m adapter. I've been using mine on my m9. It flares like crazy but is sharp in the center and has a beautiful bokeh wide open. It is also built wonderfully and aperture is nearly a perfect circle at all apertures

Nik
 
Can I ask the OP why a lens with click stop aperture? I just got the summar and LOVE the fact that it's got a non-click stop aperture adjustment. It makes metering easier, esp. if you're shooting in shutter priority.
 
If you search enough, you may find a Rokkor or Summicron-C 40mm/2 for $300. A more realistic option would be a Canon 50 1.4 for $250-$300 (check out keh.com). If you wantto save some money, consider a Canon 50 1.8 instead. The last sugestion would be a J 3 from the 1950's, if possible. The first two digits of the serial number give away the production year.
 
I like click/stop apertures because I'll be using this on a non metered body (SS M3). I meter once and unless lighting situation changes, I do not change the speed/aperture setting. I inevitably always accidentally change the aperture on the lens while walking around or focusing when the lens does not have click stops.
 
where do you guys find these lenses for $300 or less? canon 50/1.8s in good shape are going for $400, $500 or better. same for the nikkor 50/2, which i'd like to try. maybe you could get a cv 56/2.5 and adapter for under $400, but it ain't no sonnar; way sharp..

just checked the bay for canon 50/1.8s. buy-it-nows ranged from $364 to $599. there is one sub $200 being offered from ukraine. gotta figure the price of an adapter, too. what does a good one run? i've no idea.
 
Paul: the Canon 50/1.8 sells regularly for about $150-$175. I bought a week ago a very clean Canon 50/1.4 for less than $250. The j3 is selling for about $200 these days. The Canon 50/1.5 is costly. I bought a Nikkor 50/2 a couple of months ago for less than $300, butthry can be costly too.

The less costly lenses sell quickly at KEH. Still, there is one in EX condition for less than $350.

http://www.keh.com/camera/Canon-Rangefinder-Fixed-Focal-Length-Lenses/1/sku-CR060000137500?r=FE





Canon 50 1.8 for very cheap: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Canon-Range...19211986?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item46044305d2

Another 50 1.8 less than $200: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Canon-Range...80921270?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item2ebf79b9b6


Canon P plus Canon 50/2.2 for cheap right now:http://www.ebay.com/itm/Canon-P-35m...055360860?pt=Film_Cameras&hash=item3377ed1f5c

Canon P with 50 1.8 for $299:http://www.ebay.com/itm/Canon-P-35m...050548695?pt=Film_Cameras&hash=item3377a3b1d7
 
See above, Paul. There are several 50/1.8 below $200. I have avoided listing here a $99 lens at KEH because it has some fungus in it.
 
Price will be your biggest constraint.

To me, I like the idea of getting a classic Leica lens to go with your classic SS M3. Find out the production year of your SS M3 and get a lens that matches that production year. Just getting nostalgic... 🙂
 
IMO the best option for the original poster is a Jupiter-3. Produces stunning images. No click stops but as others mentioned it can be modified, and the price is quite cheap in general. I have two!
 
one thing i just thought of.

the jupiter-3 is a sonnar design. the jupiter-3 in kiev mount has click stops AND is made of steel rather than aluminum. it's really well built. so is the f2 version.

if you buy yourself an adapter you could get everything for under $300 i think, and kiev / contax mount jupiter front elements and barrels tend to be in better condition than the thread mounted versions.

i know you can get a jupiter-8 for kiev for under $20 if you look hard enough (not just on ebay). the jupiter-8 is a sonnar design so it'll have beautiful bokeh but it can be quite sharp at times. here is a shot from my kiev 4 / jupiter-8 combo. this lens was around $25 in mind condition.

6927109380_5ba6d16ce7_b.jpg
 
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