Shortest 50mm f2 (or faster) rigid lens?

Swift1 said:
While not fully f/2, the Canon 50/2.2 is maybe the smallest rigid 50 out there. At f/2.2, I pretty much think of it as an f/2 lens. It's hard to find, but is a great little lens.
https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=165466
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Great suggestion, Colton! The 50/2.2 is indeed very compact, the Canon Lens Hall lists it at 33.2mm in length:
https://global.canon/en/c-museum/product/s49.html

analogpics said:
I think there's a seller out here that has the canon 50 1.8...i may have to go visit him and see what i think. If there's no tab, and the focus ring moves smoothly, i don't mind a longer throw as much.
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I think all three versions of the Canon 50/1.8 have an infinity lock/tab. Some people hate the infinity lock. From what I've read, the earlier Serenar version is less prone to haze, and is the shortest of the three versions at 38.6mm:
https://global.canon/en/c-museum/product/s18.html

There are two later black barreled versions:
https://global.canon/en/c-museum/product/s47.html
https://global.canon/en/c-museum/product/s48.html
 
Measurements from my example of the black+chroms Tokyo Kogaku Topcor-S 5cm f/2 lens:

Length when focused at infinity, from rear surface of lens that mates up against the camera’s lens mount to the end of the front chrome ring: 41mm / 1.61 inches
As above, but when focused at closest focusing distance: 44mm / 1.73 inches
Lens barrel at its widest point (focusing ring): 50mm / 1.96 inches
Focusing throw is approximately 90 degrees. Lens has focusing tab, but it does not lock at infinity as some LTM lenses do.
Weight of just the lens: 214 grams
 
dourbalistar said:
I think all three versions of the Canon 50/1.8 have an infinity lock/tab. Some people hate the infinity lock
Click to expand...


Canon IL is very easy to disable and it is reversible.
And those who like me also figured out how to re-do its mount to have it working better on M. 3 to 6, instead of all way into VF. Also reversible.
🙂
 
I was thinking of a similar question (for no good reason) the other month and decided that the one of the Color Skopars or a Leica Summarit was probably the way to go for me (I was ok with shower lenses). Then I decided that, while a bit bigger, if I treat the Zeiss C-Sonnar as an f/2 lens, it’s pretty compact and I don’t have to worry about focus shift. And f/1.5 is there if I need it. There are more compact options, but I think it is small enough for my purposes.
 
Tim Gray said:
Then I decided that, while a bit bigger, if I treat the Zeiss C-Sonnar as an f/2 lens, it’s pretty compact and I don’t have to worry about focus shift. And f/1.5 is there if I need it. There are more compact options, but I think it is small enough for my purposes.
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How so, it shifts in the range of F1.5 to F4?
 
Tim Gray said:
If the lens is optimized for f/2 or f/2.8, it should shift only minimally at f/2 and above, with only noticeable shift at f/1.5.
Click to expand...
I agree... DAG adjusted mine (and added 6-bit coding) changing the best focus from its original f/2.8 to f/2-2.2 so I can now effectively ignore the focus shift issue (used on digital). Very nice-rendering compact 50mm!
 
Reviving this thread....so i got a jupiter 8 and it appears that since its a sonnar clone, focus shift is still something to worry about. Currently looking at the konica hexanon-m 50mm f2, topcor 5cm f2 ltm, orrr buy the 50mm zeiss zm planar f2 again (regret selling it now). Any of you guys have experience with two or more of these? Thanks!
 
I'm guessing you're deadset on a 50mm...but the Voigt 40mm 1.4 is tiny if you're open to a slightly wider FL. It sticks out 3cm from the camera body. I have no problem using it with 35mm framelines on my poorboi Bessa cameras. You can get 'em for $250.
 
I measured my Nikkor 50/2 for Nikon S mount, with Amedeo adapter: 35mm/1.38 inches from the back surface of the lens mount (i.e., the adapter) to the filter ring (measured at infinity.)
 
analogpics said:
.

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!
Click to expand...

I haven't read through all the posts and suggestions, but when I saw this thread, I got out my 50mm Planar and set it beside my 50mm version 3 Summicron. The Planar is about 1/8" longer than the Summicron. So it's not a contender for "shortest 50 f/2." And you had a concern about focus throw. Actually, I chose the version 3 Summicron over the version IV because it has a longer focus throw than the version IV. Why? Because that also gives it a longer DOF scale! I compose in depth, no brick wall photos for me.

Point number two is that I agree with you that the Collapsible Summicron is a fine lens. I have one in M mount, and another in LTM. That's how highly I think of it! Yes, it is not the world's shortest focus throw. But . . . ??

Something I love about the Zeiss Planar is its "focus bump." It has the full focus control ring, and the bump as a bonus. With the Summicrons, you can either have a ring or a tab. But the Zeiss has it all!
 
zenza said:
I'm guessing you're deadset on a 50mm...but the Voigt 40mm 1.4 is tiny if you're open to a slightly wider FL. It sticks out 3cm from the camera body. I have no problem using it with 35mm framelines on my poorboi Bessa cameras. You can get 'em for $250.
Click to expand...

I was thinking the same thing. It is only slightly longer (couple of MM) than the LTM Summicron collapsed and it is a stop faster. It is a little wider diameter lens.

Shawn
 
Zenza:

Yeah i had a CV 40mm for a while, but still ideally would get a 50mm. Currently have the m rokkor 40mm which i actually prefer to the CV.

Splitimageview:

Does the nikkor have a really long focus throw? Was curious about this.

Rob F:

If its 1/8" difference its not a big deal, just want something really compact that will fit on my m4/m9 in my bag. Yessss on the collapsible summicron hehe. But since i shoot in the 1-2 meter range quite a bit, its a bit of an uncomfortable/awkward lens to use ergonomically speaking. I do actually like the bump on the planar, but now reading a lot of comments that the build quality over time...many get a bit of a wobble or play in the lens. But who knows, i bought mine new and for the time i had, it was a solid performer
 
Version 3 is the smallest of the non-collapsible 50mm Summicrons. It traded some resolution for contrast. I've shot most of the versions, and I prefer version 2 (dual range or rigid) and 4/5 for B&W film.

I've recently acquired some old LTM mount 50mm lenses. Even with an adapter they're small, and well made. I've had them for a few months (Nikon f/2, Topcor, and Canon f/1.5), but I'm not much of a 50mm guy anymore, so haven't used them yet.

All f/2 or slower lenses in this focal length are relatively small. A few grams or millimeters more won't make a practical difference in terms of use. Not sure I would get caught up in grams and millimeters, because if you're not a fan of the optics, you'll be disappointed.

Of course you also have the modern Zeiss ZM lenses in 50mm and they're relatively small. Not sure focus shift is an issue with the ZM Sonnar on film, but I've never used these lenses.

I once had a 1950's Zeiss 50mm 1.5 Sonnar with Amedeo adapter and that was compact. Great optics too. Why did I sell that?
 
@analogoics: I think the adapted Nikkor 50/2 is about 270° focus throw. I’ll confirm later tonight. [EDIT: a bit more, maybe 275°] This of course is adapter-dependent since the lens has no helical.

The 50/2 Opton Sonnar as well as the 50/1.5 are big favorites of mine. The 50/1.5 is ‘glowy’ wide open but it goes away and gets more contrast at f/1.8-f/2ish.

The Nikkor is also a Sonnar.
 
Soooo, currently looking at the voigtlander 50mm 1.5 ii as it ticks all the boxes for me. Short/compact, fast f1.5, 0.7 m min focus, sharp but still with character, and we'll see if it has a short/long focus throw. I posted another thread a while ago asking if anyone has used it. My one concern is that i have read about possible focus shift wide open close up.
 
analogpics said:
Soooo, currently looking at the voigtlander 50mm 1.5 ii as it ticks all the boxes for me. Short/compact, fast f1.5, 0.7 m min focus, sharp but still with character, and we'll see if it has a short/long focus throw. I posted another thread a while ago asking if anyone has used it. My one concern is that i have read about possible focus shift wide open close up.
Click to expand...

This review says about 90 degrees for the focus throw. There's also a section about focus shift:
https://www.47-degree.com/focus-shift/Voigtlander-Nokton-50mm-1.5-II-VM-review
 
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