pevelg
Well-known
After selling nearly all my gear, I've found myself feeling deprived by no longer owning a camera. This is being resolved within the next two weeks as I will be getting a beautiful SS M3. I now need to find a single lens to use that will hold me through while I finish my engineering studies at the University. My IDEAL lens is the modern 50m ZM f1.5 Sonnar. I absolutely love the images that come from this lens and its been my all time favorite lens in the 35mm world. However, at this time I cannot invest in such an expensive lens so I am now looking at some temporary alternatives. Another lens I've really liked is the Jupiter 3. However, the lack of click/stop apertures was really aggravating. I always accidentally changed aperture on the lens. Anyways, I'd like some ideas about what lens to get. It can be either M mount or LTM + M adapter. Here are my requirements/interests:
Required:
-focal length no wider than 40mm and no longer than 50mm
-needs click/stop aperture
-f2.0 or faster
Preferred:
-Price below $300
-f1.5 or faster
-50mm
-Sonnar design
Would be cool to have:
-Relatively sharp
Required:
-focal length no wider than 40mm and no longer than 50mm
-needs click/stop aperture
-f2.0 or faster
Preferred:
-Price below $300
-f1.5 or faster
-50mm
-Sonnar design
Would be cool to have:
-Relatively sharp
jammcat
Lick My Lens Cap
Sonnar is a toughie.
Have you looked at the Canon 50mm f1.5 LTM?
I don't know if you can get it under $300, though.
Either way the CV and ZM 50mm f1.5's will be more expensive.
If you don't need sonnar, though, try any of the canon ltm 50's. They're cheap and not too difficult to acquire.
Have you looked at the Canon 50mm f1.5 LTM?
I don't know if you can get it under $300, though.
Either way the CV and ZM 50mm f1.5's will be more expensive.
If you don't need sonnar, though, try any of the canon ltm 50's. They're cheap and not too difficult to acquire.
kokoshawnuff
Alex
Like was mention by jammcat Canon made a sonnar copy in ltm mount. They are all chrome not black and chrome like the 1.4. One on eBay right now should go for about $300
Brian Legge
Veteran
Not sonnar, but the Canon 50mm 1.4 hovers around $300 with some closer to $250. Its a physically larger lens than the J3 though.
pevelg
Well-known
It doesn't really need to be a Sonnar design. I like the Sonnar look for portraits, which I take a lot of when with family. One lens I've considered is the 50mm f1.5 Nokton. Definitely not a Sonnar redering, but it is a good lens. Not sure if I could get it around $300 though.
pb908
Well-known
nikkor hc 50mm f2 ltm
solid brass, hard coating & glass, sonnar design, minimum focus to 1.5feet, i see sometimes last week in classified for around $300 mint. It's a must try for sonnar lover.
solid brass, hard coating & glass, sonnar design, minimum focus to 1.5feet, i see sometimes last week in classified for around $300 mint. It's a must try for sonnar lover.
astro8
Well-known
Nikkor HC 50/2 in ltm
ha!..pb908 you beat me to it.
ha!..pb908 you beat me to it.
pevelg
Well-known
I've looked a several samples from some of the lenses mentioned and I do like the images from the Canon f1.5, preferring its higher contrast and (less?) lack of flare wide open compared the the Nikkor f1.5
How does it compare to the Nikkor f2.0?
How does it compare to the Nikkor f2.0?
Brian Legge
Veteran
Good luck finding a clean Canon 50mm 1.5 for $300. 
I've seen nice ones going for around $500 recently.
I've seen nice ones going for around $500 recently.
pevelg
Well-known
Bummer! At that price point I'd just save a little more and get the ZM. I saw one on ebay with a ton of haze and it looked like it would finish at over $300. Maybe a sharp/contrasty planar like lens would be better for now. I think a f1.5 or faster is currently more important to me than a Sonnar design. The lens should not have swirly bokeh though. That drives me mad!
At that price point I'd just save a little more and get the ZM. I saw one on ebay with a ton of haze and it looked like it would finish at over $300. Maybe a sharp/contrasty planar like lens would be better for now. I think a f1.5 or faster is currently more important to me than a Sonnar design. The lens should not have swirly bokeh though. That drives me mad! Good luck finding a clean Canon 50mm 1.5 for $300.
Yuhi
Member
How about the 50mm F2 collapsible summitar? Great and often underrated lens!
ruby.monkey
Veteran
Would it be too difficult to add click stops to a J-3? Half an hour with a dremel, a spring clip, and a couple of screws, would do the trick; and if your hand slips then at least you're not destroying an expensive piece of glass.
Moriturii
Well-known
ruby.monkey, I was thinking the exact same thing since a few days back since I found out that Jupiter-3's don't have click stops.
Modify it if possible to have a Leica Summarit type click-stop mechanism. Would be super easy if you can find a spot where aperture ring glide on-top of a metal ring underneath the aperture ring. You would just make a small hole on the aperture ring, then tiny indents on the metal ring underneath where you want the click stops to be. Drop in a tiny ball-bearing, a tiny spring on top and close the hole with a screw. Half an hour job.
Modify it if possible to have a Leica Summarit type click-stop mechanism. Would be super easy if you can find a spot where aperture ring glide on-top of a metal ring underneath the aperture ring. You would just make a small hole on the aperture ring, then tiny indents on the metal ring underneath where you want the click stops to be. Drop in a tiny ball-bearing, a tiny spring on top and close the hole with a screw. Half an hour job.
sleepyhead
Well-known
Summitar is a great lens, but it does not have click stops on the aperture ring.
I think if I were you, I would just scrimp and save up for the ZM Sonnar and have all your wishes come true.
As a last note, a rigid Summicron or a DR Summicron are REALLY the match for your M3. The chrome finish on a ZM lens will seem cheap in comparison. Hold a DR Summicron in your hand and feel it's awesome density - the bokeh is amazing as well, and the lens is very sharp in the f/4 to f/8 range.
I think if I were you, I would just scrimp and save up for the ZM Sonnar and have all your wishes come true.
As a last note, a rigid Summicron or a DR Summicron are REALLY the match for your M3. The chrome finish on a ZM lens will seem cheap in comparison. Hold a DR Summicron in your hand and feel it's awesome density - the bokeh is amazing as well, and the lens is very sharp in the f/4 to f/8 range.
gilpen123
Gil
A 40 cron C or a Rokkor otherwise a Canon 50 1.4 or 1.8 is a good option.
normclarke
normclarke
For your requirements the 50mm f1,8 canon should be available within your budget. A planar type but a stunning lens nonetheless.
Best,
normclarke.
Best,
normclarke.
Koni Kowa
Well-known
You should definitively buy the ZM Sonnar (Silver version) I am selling.
haempe
Well-known
Another vote for the Canon 50/1.8.
Fits your budget, solid performer, smoother bokeh than the 50/1.4. And looks good with the M3...
But in the end, it is the 50/2 Heliar, which is nearly always mounted at my M3. Love that thing...
Fits your budget, solid performer, smoother bokeh than the 50/1.4. And looks good with the M3...
But in the end, it is the 50/2 Heliar, which is nearly always mounted at my M3. Love that thing...
kehng
Established
I would also say summitar or even the cheaper and more quirky summar. The summitar is like an old worldy summicron while the summar is well... just old worldly!
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
Canon 50/1.8 or Canon Serenar 50/1.9 collapsible (the most forgotten 50 on the net).
Both can be had for well under USD 300 and a clean one is a great performer.
Both can be had for well under USD 300 and a clean one is a great performer.