Please recommend a 50mm lens for my R3A

[Shutterspark]

Never used the Canon 1.4 so no comment, but if you decide on this lens and have trouble finding one at a good price they're quite commonly sold attached to Canon bodies here in Tokyo for $250 - $300 for the kit, average condition. I'd be willing to buy one on your behalf and send it to you, but due to the shipping and the no returns policy in most shops I'd keep this as a last resort. Shipping would be around $40 by itself.

http://www.lemonsha.com/item/41724.html
http://www.lemonsha.com/item/45396.html

 

[mfogiel]

In my opinion, a wonderful lens, if you do not need clinical sharpness at f 2.0 is the Collapsible Summicron, you would only have to be careful with collapsing it into the Bessa.

20101609 by mfogiel, on Flickr

 

[amin_sabet]

Thanks again, all. Shutterspark, very kind of you to offer to help that way! I think I've narrowed it to the Canon 50/1.8 and Canon 50/1.4. I wish I could handle the two of them to see the difference in heft.

 

[Shutterspark]

No problem, just let me know via PM if you want to go that way.
Going just by the weight the Canon 1.4 is more or less the same as the CV 1.5, while the Canon 1.8 is about 1/3 lighter.

 

[raid]

The Canon 50/1.4 is not that heavy. The 50/1.2 is heavy.
I sold my first 1.4 lens, then bought anoher one a year later.
I did the same with a Nikon 50/2.0.

These two lenses are just great lenses to use. The Canon has a more modern look to its images. The Nikon is a Sonnar.

 

[denizg7]

I would get the 50mm Collapsible 3.5 Elmar. You can find it between 200-300

 

[Kingsfan]

nice to see you posting here Amin!

 

[Godfrey]

Is the Skopar you both mentioned the same as the 50/2.5 Color Skopar? I thought that might be a good one for me, but the last Ebay auction I saw had it at $450 and rising with a few days left to bid: http://www.ebay.com/itm/190699116911?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Yes, same lens. I just call them Skopar as they constitute a family of compact lenses in 21, 25, 28, 35 and 50 mm focal lengths.

http://www.cameraquest.com/voigtlen.htm#50/2.5_ltm

And yes also: Prices on these gems are rising since they are no longer available and are becoming more sought after. I think I managed to buy one of the last new black ones available last year. It was a bargain. If you hunt around, you can find them at a good price still.

 

[amin_sabet]

Update:

I ended up going larger, heavier, and more expensive than I originally anticipated 😱. Re-purchased the CV Nokton 50/1.5. It hurt a little to buy a lens for $500 that I sold for $300, but I always felt it was worth more than $300 🙄. Anyway, I loved this lens when I had it, and as illogical as it may seem, I like the idea of having a camera and lens of the same brand. Thanks again to all!