Shortest 50mm f2 (or faster) rigid lens?

[analogpics]

Hey guys! So i was curious to see, I want a super compact 50mm to basically leave on my M4 (most of the time at least) as a daily driver. I have the 50 collapsible summicron, which has been great in it's own right. Really pretty rendering, and because it collapses, very portable bit of kit. However, the ergonomics (long focus throw/min focus is at a really awkward location, collapsible, and also 1 m min focus) kinda make me pick other 50s.

So, it's not a big deal, since i have the 50mm summarit 2.5 as well, but was just curious if there's something really short/compact, rigid, "normal" focus throw, and f2 or faster. I was wearing the kodak retina iiic for almost a year straight. I do love that camera, but wanted to try an m body as my daily camera for a bit.

Friend recommended the 50mm zm sonnar, but tbh, the focus shift does scare me away. Was looking at the canon/nikon recommendations from another thread here, but i think they all have a really long focus throw.

Maybe getting a type 3-5 summicron, or getting the 50mm zm planar again is going to be my best bet, but wanted to just throw it out there and see if you guys had any other (possibly cheaper) options. Thanks!

 

[Erik van Straten]

There is a heavy Summicron 50mm version 4 in chrome, German made. No built-in hood, supersmooth focusing movement, 0.7m closest distance. Rare, but worth looking for.


Erik.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Summarit-M 50 2.5 is more compact than any 50 ZM or any non collapsible 50 Cron.
Maybe Color-Skopar 50 2.5 is smaller than Summarit-M.
You are not going to find Canonikons with modern focus and shorter MFD.

 

[dourbalistar]

The Nikkor-H.C 5cm f/2 LTM is very compact (but dense). ~34mm in length, with a 40.5mm filter thread. But it does have quite a long focus throw of about 180-degrees. There's an additional close-focus range down to 0.45m/1.5 feet, but it's not rangefinder coupled in the close-focus range so a little less usable on a M4.
https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-nikon-nikkor-h-50mm-2-0-rf/

There's an image sample thread here on the forum:
https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=90034

 

[Erik van Straten]

Yes, the Color-Skopar is smaller, but is not an f/2 lens.


Erik.

 

[dourbalistar]

Perhaps the Topcor-S 5cm f/2? This thread mentions (Post #14) that the focus throw is around 90-degrees. ~41mm in length, also with a 40.5mm filter thread:
https://rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=2616595
https://legacycamera.wordpress.com/2012/05/12/the-topcor-s-5cm-f2-for-leica-thread-mount/

 

[sleepyhead]

Hi Erik, I have the opportunity to buy one of these chrome v4’s.

What do you think is a fair price in Euros?

Thanks for the input.

There is a heavy Summicron 50mm version 4 in chrome, German made. No built-in hood, supersmooth focusing movement, 0.7m closest distance. Rare, but worth looking for.


Erik.

 

[jsrockit]

Summarit-M 50 2.5 is more compact than any 50 ZM or any non collapsible 50 Cron.
Maybe Color-Skopar 50 2.5 is smaller than Summarit-M.
You are not going to find Canonikons with modern focus and shorter MFD.

Agreed....but 2.5. I would think version 3 Summicron at F2.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Agreed....but 2.5. I would think version 3 Summicron at F2.

I'm confused with those versions.
1 is Collapsible.
2. is Rigid.
3. is one I have now, very long focus throw and not small lens.
4. is Canadian/German, smallest with plastic parts.
5. is the current.

But somehow 2 and 3 are getting mixed.
Anyway, none of them are small lenses. And they do focus shift.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

I think the only way to get a shorter 50mm lens that is as fast as you like is to use a Schneider Xenon in an uncoupled barrel from an Adox Adrette or Wirgin Edinex. You'll be scale focusing but they are compact and in leaf shutters. Once you introduce the RF coupled helicoid, the lens gets significantly larger.
Phil Forrest

 

[dourbalistar]

I'm confused with those versions.
1 is Collapsible.
2. is Rigid.
3. is one I have now, very long focus throw and not small lens.
4. is Canadian/German, smallest with plastic parts.
5. is the current.

But somehow 2 and 3 are getting mixed.
Anyway, none of them are small lenses. And they do focus shift.

Regardless of your opinions about the man, Ken Rockwell actually has a pretty good summary table of the 50mm Summicron versions:
https://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/50mm-summicron-comparison-table.htm

Seems all of them have a 39mm filter, making them pretty small at least on that dimension. OP might have to decide what constitutes "short/compact". I believe the current (non-APO) production version is 43.5mm in length:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/86059-USA/Leica_11826_50mm_f_2_0_Summicron_M.html/specs

 

[Ccoppola82]

I love the ZM Sonnar. The focus shift doesn’t bother me. Learn to work with it and it is fantastic and versatile and compact. 1.5-f2 for low light or shallow DOF, f5.6 and smaller for use as a standard lens. I would bet that most people’s focus is farther off than the lens itself in most cases. On film you likely won’t even notice. On digital just use as described above. I do use the Color Skopar 50mm when I want to go REALLY small though.

 

[Ccoppola82]

Another option that is very small is the Chiyoda Kogaku rokkor 50mm 1.8. Sharp, rigid, contrasty, small, and maybe 300$ish for a clean copy.

 

[dourbalistar]

For the OP, the Zeiss ZM Sonnar has a M46 front filter thread, and is 45mm in length without the lens cap:
https://www.zeiss.com/camera-lenses/us/photography/products/zm-lenses/c-sonnar-1550-zm.html#data

 

[Musashi1205]

What about the Sonnetar 50mm f1.1 from Miyazaki San.
Small, ultra fast, 0.8m min. focus.
Don’t know if’s easy to get...???
https://www.thephoblographer.com/2012/11/30/review-ms-optical-sonnetar-50mm-f1-1-for-leica-m/

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Regardless of your opinions about the man, Ken Rockwell actually has a pretty good summary table of the 50mm Summicron versions:
https://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/50mm-summicron-comparison-table.htm

Seems all of them have a 39mm filter, making them pretty small at least on that dimension. OP might have to decide what constitutes "short/compact". I believe the current (non-APO) production version is 43.5mm in length:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/86059-USA/Leica_11826_50mm_f_2_0_Summicron_M.html/specs

It was my guidance. I went from Typ 1, to typ 2, then 4 and now 3.
Prior to this I had Summitar, Summar and Summarit 🙂

 

[Erik van Straten]

Hi Erik, I have the opportunity to buy one of these chrome v4’s.

What do you think is a fair price in Euros?

Thanks for the input.

Depends on the condition and if there are boxes etc. EUR 1.500/2.000. Very rare lens. I have one. A great shooter. Often seen on presentation Leica's M6.


Erik.

 

[Huss]

Hey guys! So i was curious to see, I want a super compact 50mm to basically leave on my M4 (most of the time at least) as a daily driver. I have the 50 collapsible summicron, which has been great in it's own right. Really pretty rendering, and because it collapses, very portable bit of kit. However, the ergonomics (long focus throw/min focus is at a really awkward location, collapsible, and also 1 m min focus) kinda make me pick other 50s.

So, it's not a big deal, since i have the 50mm summarit 2.5 as well, but was just curious if there's something really short/compact, rigid, "normal" focus throw, and f2 or faster. I was wearing the kodak retina iiic for almost a year straight. I do love that camera, but wanted to try an m body as my daily camera for a bit.

Friend recommended the 50mm zm sonnar, but tbh, the focus shift does scare me away. Was looking at the canon/nikon recommendations from another thread here, but i think they all have a really long focus throw.

Maybe getting a type 3-5 summicron, or getting the 50mm zm planar again is going to be my best bet, but wanted to just throw it out there and see if you guys had any other (possibly cheaper) options. Thanks!

You already have a bunch of 50mm lenses. So.......
I have a 7A 35 f2 'permanently' attached to my M4-2 as it is my beater Leica. Tiny lens, super cheap, very nice.

Think about it, you already have lots of 50s, why not mix it up?

 

[Deleted member 65559]

As Huss suggested Leitz rigid 50s aren't particularly short. Yes to 35s.... Summicrons or Summarons.... or a 40mm f2 (really small). Although 2.5, not f2 The Voigtlander 50mm 2.5 is small. Like the saying goes You can have small or fast or 50...but not all

 

[sleepyhead]

Thanks, and for replying so quickly. I will look at the lens in the next few days

Depends on the condition and if there are boxes etc. EUR 1.500/2.000. Very rare lens. I have one. A great shooter. Often seen on presentation Leica's M6.


Erik.