rollin' with a fast 50

[emraphoto]

well i picked up a canon 50mm f1.2 in about as nice shape as one can find (thanx CF) and took it out the other day/eve for a little dry run after an event.

essentially the idea of two lenses and two bodies for work/travel has been my quest and a fast, fast 50 was one of the options. would it be a useable solution beyond creating pretty swirly things? as a working schmoe a noct. was out of the question and the nokton is HUGE!

so i thought i would post a few for anyone considering such a thing. it's all tri-x/arista shot at 800-1600 in d-76 1:1

 

[emraphoto]

pretty long focus throw on this thing and the infinity lock HAS to go but it seems a pretty decent compromise.

 

[emraphoto]

thats Rick Mercer and his team of Canadian ninjas

 

[Biggles]

Those pictures have a smooth, old-school lack of harshness and extreme contrast to them, if I'm seeing right. Bokeh seems undisturbing, as well. Adds up to a very useful low-light walking-around lens, by my primitive yardstick.

 

[filmfan]

Looks pretty decent. I have heard of this lens' softness as a drawback, but I quite like it.

 

[emraphoto]

Well Biggles my yardstick is fairly primitive as well. I'll take subject matter over "sharp" any day.

I wouldn't fancy myself a good spokesperson for sharp testing. I am pretty willy nilly and haven't the foggiest idea where my tripod is.

It does seem a bit soft wide open. Stop it down a bit and it sharpens up pretty good.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

You have to disassemble part of the lens mount to take out the infinity lock. My lens is made from two parts-only lenses, both were missing elements and one had to be dremeled apart. I put the infinity lock into it, but left the return spring out. That way, you have to push it into place to lock.

Wide-Open on the M8.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

1939 Carl Zeiss Jena 5cm F1.5 Sonnar "T", wide-open on the Canon P.

 

[emraphoto]

thats a bit more work than i care for Brian!

i suppose i will leave it be for now until i am in the middle of nowhere and have nothing to do for a day or two.

 

[emraphoto]

lets say i was a fan of a bit more contrast... any recommendations? doesn't have to be super fast but there are budget constraints.

 

[hans voralberg]

I think you have to get the Nokton if you want more contrast, I don't think it's much bigger, just longer.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Nikkor 5cm F1.4 Sonnar formula lens in LTM is higher contrast, and a different look.

 

[kermaier]

The CV Nokton 50/1.5 is a great lens: sharp, contrasty, flare-resistant, well made, inexpensive.
You could also consider the Canon 50/1.4, Canon 50/1.5 (Sonnar formula, and very compact) or the Nikkor 50/1.4 (also a Sonnar, and almost as small as the Canon).

Ari

 

[Sonnar Brian]

A good Jupiter-3, shimmed for the Leica, gives higher-contrast results as well.

 

[hans voralberg]

It's not a 50, but beside the Nokton 1.5 you could consider the 40/1.4 as well, very compact 😉

 

[Krosya]

I used to have Canon 50/1.2 and it was pretty nice. I miss it at times. Was pretty sharp even wide open:

 

[Krosya]

another one:

 

[emraphoto]

Well the VC 50 1.5 and VC 40 1.5 are great options for sure. Used the 40 for about a year and have no complaints.

Right now my rationale is the canon is in my hands (a big plus for me), I can bump the contrast it post (should it be needed) and the canon is in my hands (did I mention that already)?

Anybody have some VC 50 1.5 snaps to compare?