Test of Twelve 50mm Lenses

[raid]

A. Japanese
Trial #
A.1. Canon 50mm/1.2 1
A.2. Canon 50mm/1.8 (Serenar) 3
A.3. Canon 50mm/2.8 5A.4. Nikon 50mm/2 7

B. FSU

B.1. J-3 50mm/1.5 9
B.2. J-8 50mm/2.8 11
B.3. I61L 50mm/2.8 13
B.4. I61 50mm/2.8 15


C. German

C.1. Rigid Summicron 50mm/2 (first version) 17
C.2. Collapsible Summicron 50mm/2 19
C.3. Zeiss Sonnar (pre-war) 50mm/2 21
C.4. Elmar 50mm/3.5 (pre-war) 23


As you can see, I labeled the images ["trial number for each photo file] in the same order as the lenses were originally given.

 

[Patman]

Looks to me the Rigid Summicron the winner!

 

[FrankS]

Raid, sorry I can't understand how you labelled the results. For example, on the last lens, a C.4.Elmar , you have the number 23. What does 23 stand for?

Could you list the lenses used from 1 to 12 to match the pictures numbered 1 to 12?

Or group A 1 to4, group B 1 to 4, group C 1 to 4.

 

[raid]

Raid, sorry I can't understand how you labelled the results. For example, on the last lens, a C.4.Elmar , you have the number 23. What does 23 stand for?

Could you list the lenses used from 1 to 12 to match the pictures numbered 1 to 12?

Or group A 1 to4, group B 1 to 4, group C 1 to 4.

Frank: I took two photos with each lens:

1,2 Canon 50/1.2
3,4 Canon 50/1.8
5,6 Canon 50/2.8
7,8 Nikon 50/2


9,10 J-3
11,12 J-8
13,14 I61
15,16 I61L


17,18 Rigid Summicron
19,20 Collapsible Summicron
21,22 Zeiss
23,24 Elmar

Here, I posted the second trial for each lens ==> the odd numbered trials.

 

[FrankS]

Raid, in your posts numbered 28, 29, and 30, you posted 4 pictures in each for a total of 12. That's all I see. What am I doing wrong?

 

[raid]

Frank: You are mixing up "photo order or number" with what you get when your mouse touches an images and you read "trial nr".

For example, the second photo is for trial 23.

 

[Oliver]

oh nice, my Canon guesses weren't too far off the mark. I rather like the Nikon shot too.

great thread, btw - nice to see things back to normal

 

[raid]

I have now posted above each set of four images the name of each lens. There should be no room for confusion left, unless I screwed up.

 

[doubs43]

I can just see the prices paid for J-3's going through the roof now! It's all your fault, Raid! 😀

Walker

 

[raid]

It will be interesting to see whether you can again pick out your favorites when I post the B&W shots soon. Now you know which lens took which color photo at f 4.0. The B&W shots will be at f 2.0 (or max aperture if it exceeds 2.0). In the first four shots [above in Set 1] I can see a color difference on my monitor. Look at the color of the bricks in the background. I also start to like the Holga-effect with the trashed I61 donated by Kim. Not bad for soft-focus or "similar".

 

[raid]

I can just see the prices paid for J-3's going through the roof now! It's all your fault, Raid! 😀

Walker

Walker: We can only hope that "our" Brian Sweeney will continue his good work to doctor up his J-3 Babies, as he calls them, and at the same affordable rates. Not every J-3 will perform like this one if you buy it unadjusted. If my simple tests can point you to a better suited lens, then a small price hike is OK. This is better than paying a lot for a lens you don't like afterwards.

 

[squeaky_clean]

Now I really want a J3! 🙂 But, I see thast the I-61 did quite well, too. I hope mined does that well! And the J8 was not too shabby either. I hope mine does ok! I also have an I-26 on its way, which are supposed to be about as sharp as the I-61's. I hope so! Thanks for this test Raid! It was fun!

Now I just have to find a J3 sometime... Someday. 😀

 

[raid]

Chris: I guess you meant the I61L since my copy of the I61 (no L) is like a Holga. I am very happy about the J-3. Don't forget that it is a fast lens; max aperture is 1.5.

 

[squeaky_clean]

Yeah, I did mean the I61L. I beleive that is the one that I have also. How do you tell the difference?

The main reason I would want a J3 is for the speed. But the J8 is farily fast too, and will do for now. 🙂

 

[raid]

I got the J-8 after it was mentioned to me in a thread that "it is the best" of the FSU lenses. It got it from our Kim. For some reason, I never gave the FSU lenses any second tought all these years.

When I lived in Iraq, we had a saying about Soviet made items: "Everything Russian gets hot except an iron [for ironing clothes]". Their Lada (a copy of a Fiat) always get too hot, even in the winter and their huge short wave radios too! Maybe that's why I was not really accepting such lenses as being good lenses.

 

[squeaky_clean]

I have heard that the J8 was one of the best as well. Guess I'll find out soon enough. For $30, its worth a try in my book!

 

[raid]

The I61L has some radioactive material in it [supposedly], and it says I61L on the front of the lens.

 

[raid]

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!

Frank: Your earlier guesses were right!

 

[FrankS]

Lucky guesses. Raid, if you have time, could you please edit the posts containing the pictures and the 4 lenses used for them, so that the order of the lenses match the order of the pictures presented? That way no one has to switch back and forth between the pictures and the "answer Key".

 

[raid]

Frank: A couple of hours ago or so, I went back and rewrote my comments above the four posted photos so that the reader can directly see which lens was used. Please check it out and let me know if it is still unclear. Initially I gad the "codes" so that people had the chance to guess before seeing the answer later on.