Recommendation for a "cheap" second 50mm?

If you have speed already, the tiny 50 2.5 looks like the best option for you...

Another option (if you want speed/selective focus on your second 50 too) is buying a J3 (small, fast and ultralight) but you should buy it from someone who knows it's a good one...

But the 2.5 is fast enough for fast film, even for low light, and it's a wonderful lens you'll be able to enjoy on LTM bodies too... Some people like it as much as a Summicron...

Cheers,

Juan
 
Pikapig said:
Both are gorgeous lens....
My experience with canon 1.8 is "WOW"
for that amount of money...i think i picked up a precious...


then i jump into a 50 1.4 to see wats de difference...

These are all shots wide open....its amazing sharpness and the tones and contrast on black and white is nice...
Click to expand...

Spectacular shot with the 1.8

My copy is not quite clean enough to do that---some haze. I guess that's the real trick is to find a really nice one.

The formula is the same in all LTM versions, if I'm not mistaken.
 
I was lucky to recently find:

6022984133_838c53c67b_z.jpg


for 200USD in the classifieds here. I did not realise when I pulled the trigger that there are internal S-mount 50s which use the on camera helicoid. But as I looked through the threads I soon realised I needed help from Amedeo 🙂

He sent me a nice simple helcoid adapter for 170USD. It has a wonderful smooth focus throw.

This is a really fantastic 50--far better than I ever imagined. Many here know it well---way better than me, but:

6023001105_fe6ac99149_z.jpg


6023080773_70b29b4ccd_z.jpg


6023638304_0c89e76cac_z.jpg


all these at 1.4, where the centers are superb (i missed the focus on the portrait), and OOF rendering explodes at 1 meter.

I need to shoot some more at f/11, where it is reputed to be sharp across the frame.
 
Last edited:
alexnotalex said:
I have the canon f1.8 and the Nikon HC f2, both are fantastic, and my preference swings from one month to the next. Currently the HC is on my camera, but the Canon will be coming back soon.
I paid less than £150 for each, on ebay, both needed a little cleaning and the HC a new front element (thanks Brian Sweeney). Highly recommended.

shots and chat here

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=105611
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=90034&page=3
Click to expand...
wow the nikon HC seems to put the canon abit down...haha...nvr really tried a nikon lens...but heard alot about it...
 
Last edited:
Another vote for the CV 50/2.5. A cracking little lens. I wouldn't think you'd have to stretch your budget that much to get one used.
 
I would wait and try the nokton. Yes, its a bit bulky but balances nice and actually just half inch or so longer and only 150grams more heavy!! What are we talking about here in the forum.

The result with this lens are great so i am walkin around with it all the time. No problem at all and no need for a smaller 50.

Just my 5 cents

Unless you are suffering from GAS (like everyone on this forum, including myself) and looking for an excuse to buy another nice lens to have 🙂


krötenblender said:
Hello

I'm going to get a Nokton 1.1 and although of course I know, one should only use the Noctilux on the M9... 🙄, it is currently out of reach for me. But the Nokton is too big and heavy for, to have it all the time with me. On the street, I shoot with f8 or even more closed anyway, so I do not need the 1.1 there.

My question now is, what other "cheap" 50mm can you recommend? I have no problem, if it starts at f2.8 or even f3.5, if it is M39 or M. I already have another russian collapsable 50mm, which I got for about 20€ and it is mostly good enough for the street, but it's mechanics (aperture ring and focus) are not very smooth, so I like something else.

Thanks in advance for serious recommendations.
Click to expand...
 
Me again... Just wanted to tell you the results.

My first choice after the recommendations here and much reading would have been the Voigtländer 50mm/f2.5, but I did not find one for a reasonable price. I had an eye on some Canon f1.8, but was not sure about the condition of the ebay-listed copies.

So, in the end it became a 1957 Elmar f2.8 in pretty good condition and at a good price. The lens has some very slight haze inside, but apart from that, the lens is really nice. Maybe I send the lens to a service to try to remove the haze, but my first few pictures with the lens are really good, even with direct front light.

Does anybody know here, if it is save to collapse the lens into the M9? In the R-D1 it is not a problem, but the room inside the M9 looks smaller to me. I measured about 22mm, and the lens extends about 20mm, so the error margin is very small...
 
I have the 1.1. It's fun wide open but has some focus shift issues. I came a cross a CV 50mm 1.5 Nokton LTM and adaptor. It's just a brilliant lens. Pretty cheap second hand now, but prices are now rising as it's discontinued. If you see one of these at a good price, don't wait, just grab it.

Gordon
 
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