Bingley
Veteran
I think the current Zeiss lenses are out of your budget range, unless you want to look for used copies. The Zeiss ZM Planar 50 is listed at B&H at $999, and the C-Sonnar 50 is over $1300 USD. These are terrific lenses, but if you are looking for something under $1K USD you will need to look elsewhere ... and seriously consider buying used.
Apart from price, what camera are you using? What "look" do you want from a lens? Are you looking for a lens that is sharp sharp sharp... or for one that is sharp enough but also has some other qualities that fit your photography.
Voigtlander's recent lenses look really impressive, and some are w/in your budget. See some of the responses above. As a regular user of Voigtlander lenses, I think the quality of construction and optics are first rate... best bet if you want to buy new. In the last year or so, I've acquired the new Heliar Classic 50/1.5 (admittedly, a kind or unique lens), and the Heliar 40mm f2.8 in LTM mount; both retail new for under $1K. The new Voigtlander Nokton and APO Lanthars I have not tried, but others, including in this thread, highly recommend them. From what I see, recent Voigtlander rangefinder lenses just keeping better and better.
If you're willing to explore the used market, and include "vintage" lenses in your search, my list of top 50mm lenses for under $1K (in some instances, well under...) include:
-Voigtlander Color Skopar 50mm f2.5
-Canon 50s, including the f1.4 and f1.8
-Nikkor-HC and -SC 50mm f2.0 (the HC is LTM; the -SC is S-mount, but usable on any LTM or M-mount camera w/ an adapter)
-Leitz Summitar 50mm f2.0 (made from 1939 to the early 1950s; the post-war lenses were coated)
Apart from price, what camera are you using? What "look" do you want from a lens? Are you looking for a lens that is sharp sharp sharp... or for one that is sharp enough but also has some other qualities that fit your photography.
Voigtlander's recent lenses look really impressive, and some are w/in your budget. See some of the responses above. As a regular user of Voigtlander lenses, I think the quality of construction and optics are first rate... best bet if you want to buy new. In the last year or so, I've acquired the new Heliar Classic 50/1.5 (admittedly, a kind or unique lens), and the Heliar 40mm f2.8 in LTM mount; both retail new for under $1K. The new Voigtlander Nokton and APO Lanthars I have not tried, but others, including in this thread, highly recommend them. From what I see, recent Voigtlander rangefinder lenses just keeping better and better.
If you're willing to explore the used market, and include "vintage" lenses in your search, my list of top 50mm lenses for under $1K (in some instances, well under...) include:
-Voigtlander Color Skopar 50mm f2.5
-Canon 50s, including the f1.4 and f1.8
-Nikkor-HC and -SC 50mm f2.0 (the HC is LTM; the -SC is S-mount, but usable on any LTM or M-mount camera w/ an adapter)
-Leitz Summitar 50mm f2.0 (made from 1939 to the early 1950s; the post-war lenses were coated)
