Test of Twelve 50mm Lenses

[Oliver]

I'm terrible at this kind of thing, but I'm going to vote for 1st set, #4 is the Canon 1.2 and #2 is the Canon 1.8. I love my 1.8, can't wait to get it back from repair. Those are also my favs of your pics, though that's just coincidence I'm sure.

 

[raid]

I'm terrible at this kind of thing, but I'm going to vote for 1st set, #4 is the Canon 1.2 and #2 is the Canon 1.8. I love my 1.8, can't wait to get it back from repair. Those are also my favs of your pics, though that's just coincidence I'm sure.

Oliver: I'm afraid you are wrong in both guesses here.

 

[raid]

BTW, your daughter sould be rewarded for her part in this, my guess is row 3 pic 2.

Todd: If you mean to guess which image was taken with the Collapsible Summicron, then you are wrong.

 

[StuartR]

What about me Raid, were any of my guesses right?

 

[raid]

Stuart: You have one right guess. I will pm you about it.

 

[Jungle Jim]

Gee Raid, tough test. At f/4, you are in the sweet spot for all of these lenses. I have only one of these lens, so I guesstimate that the Canon 1.2 is in Row 2, Picture 1 or 3.

You have a wonderful daughter that is willing to help daddy on his project!!

 

[doubs43]

Raid, I couldn't begin to tell you which lens took which pictures although #9 (3rd row, 1st picture) would seem to be the I-61. I can, however, tell you which four I think are the preferred images with the best balance between highlights and shadow detail. There's not a lot to choose from between lenses as far as color goes. I could, of course, change my mind about the colors if I could view all 12 images side by side.

My pick of the best four are:

First row, last picture.

Third row, 2nd, 3rd & last pictures with the final two being possibly the best of all IMO. Consider my opinion to be highly subjective.

After further consideration I pick the final picture (#12) as THE best and I'll guess it was taken with either one of the two Summicrons or the pre-war Sonnar.

Walker

 

[raid]

Raid, I couldn't begin to tell you which lens took which pictures although #9 (3rd row, 1st picture) would seem to be the I-61. I can, however, tell you which four I think are the preferred images with the best balance between highlights and shadow detail. There's not a lot to choose from between lenses as far as color goes. I could, of course, change my mind about the colors if I could view all 12 images side by side.

My pick of the best four are:

First row, last picture.

Third row, 2nd, 3rd & last pictures with the final two being possibly the best of all IMO. Consider my opinion to be highly subjective.

After further consideration I pick the final picture (#12) as THE best and I'll guess it was taken with either one of the two Summicrons or the pre-war Sonnar.

Walker

Walker: You picked a lens from the FSU as the best pick! Why pay lots of money on a Summicron if such lens does the same job.

 

[doubs43]

Walker: You picked a lens from the FSU as the best pick! Why pay lots of money on a Summicron if such lens does the same job.

I lied. I really don't like that picture! 😀

Just kidding. IMO, it has the best balance between the highlights and shadow details. It also points out that you just can't tell which lens will work best for you until you've tried them.

I don't own a Summicron, BTW. Have never been able to find one I could afford at the time.

Walker

 

[FrankS]

Well done, Raid! I can't comment on which lens took which photo because my visual memory is simply not capable enough to remember the nuances of each picture as I go through them to attach a likely lens to each. I'd need to see 12 prints lying on a table all at once to have any chance at this.

Perhaps if they were in groups of 4, I could remember the characteristics of pics I've viewed as I'm viewing the rest.

To get more responses, please tell us (in no particular order) which 4 lenses took each of the 3 groups of 4 pics.

 

[raid]

I have now listed for each set of four images the four lenses but in no particular order. It is equally interesting to me to see which images you like the most/least and why/why not. Thanks for your interest.

 

[Patman]

After looking at each image on my desktop at 200% I'd say your #17 looks the sharpest & # 3 a close 2nd. Wouldn't venture a guess as to which lens they are!
Since i only have the col. Summicron, i think it's your #17, 3rd in that row and the Elmar as #3 last in that row.

 

[squeaky_clean]

Wow. This is tough. I only currently own one of these lenses (I-61), and have yet to actually see the images through it, so I'm at a loss for which is which.

As far as preferences go, for color I like group 1 #4, and group 3 #4. And for sharpness, I'd have to go with group 2 #3, then group 1 #4, then group 3 #4.

Those are my uneducated opinions. I have a hunch that group 3 #4 is the J8, or possibly the good I-61. I hope it's one of these... My J8 should be here soon... 😀 Curious to ee what the answers are...

 

[nrb]

IMHO trial 3 is the Elmar.

 

[nrb]

Summicrons seem to be 17 and 7, 7 being the coll...

 

[nrb]

13 is the best of the soviets, could be J3
15 could be anyone since it is sick...

 

[Ronald M]

The 3.5 Elmar and the rigid Summicron do it for me. The Sonnars looks yellow, but this is easily correctable and the tones are nice.

I guess I like Leica glass except for the collapsible Summicron. I never liked mine. The other one was the 3.4 S Angulon.

From my collection, I tend to like the `60`s and `70`s Leica products, but I have newer and older stuff, so it is an informed experienced opinion.

 

[FrankS]

Here are my guesses based on viewing results a computer monitor:

Group 1: Elmar, Can 1.8, Can 1.2, Zeiss Sonnar

Group 2: col. Cron, Can 2.8, rigid Cron, Nikon

Group 3: trashed I61, J3, good I61, J8

I have to say that the 3 good FSU lenses did VERY well!

Thank you, Raid!

 

[raid]

No need to thank me. I enjoyed sharing with you guys the test results. I also am impressed by the FSU lenses. The I61L was bought new when the SU was falling apart. The J-3 was adjusted by Brian, and the J-8 was adjusted by Kim. If these lenses came out well, then we have to give tribute to Brian and Kim too.

 

[raid]

I have now posted [in red] the match between each image and lens in my first posting above in this thread. Check out how accurate your guesses were.