The 50/1.5's

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espressogeek

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I am looking to find information about and a comparison of the CV Nokton 50/1.5, the ZM 50/1.5 and the Leica 50/1.5 summarit . Are all of these " sonnar " type designs? How do their " signatures " compare to each other? Do any of them have significantly inferior bokeh and if so why?
Just curious as i am considering buy any of the above listed and/or the canon 50/1.5 .
Thanks so much.
 
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From my experience with the Summarit years ago, I would recommend you choose one of the others. It is very soft focus wide open, and quite frequently found with haze. I also had mechanical problems with my sample.

Jim N.
 
The Zeiss is the only Sonnar design among the three you mentioned. The Canon Serenar is of course also a Sonnar design.

The Nokton is a modern design using an aspherical element.

Due to patent restrictions, Leica could not have its own Sonnar, so they used a Xenon design from Schneider for their fast 50 in the '30s. The Summarit is essentially the same design with the addition of coatings in the.
 
im not a big fan of the summarit, contrast is too low for my taste. The new sonnar seems pretty nice, the old sonnar is a nice little lens but not the sharpest thing you can get. In my personal opinion the nokton and the new sonnar have a very different look, the sonnar seems to take very clear and dynamic images, while the nokton seems more flat by my eye.
 
Nokton flat huh? I really have not seen many great pictures taken with either the new sonnar or the nokton. I suspected the formula might be similar with both lenses but I am probably incorrect. Anyone have a good series with the new sonnar?
 
I am far from being an optical engineer but the optical designs of the Sonnar ZM and the Nokton, as evidenced in the Zeiss and Cosina websites, look very different. (I looked for that some time ago because I also wondered if the Sonnar was an optical derivative of the pre-existing Nokton).
 
Agree with Jim N. about the Summarit. The example I had gave nothing but flare, and its focussing barrel seemed like an oval in section.
 
I like the Summarit 1.5 for color and b&w. I wish someone with a XOONS shade for this would sell me one cheap ;)
 
Wow, so many mixed review of the summarit. I can more pictures from that than most of the older lenses that are not summiluxs or summicrons. I really like the look of the samples but it seems like hit or miss.
I have seen a handful of snaps from the nokton but , while sharp, they dont jump out at me.
I have only seen one good sample from the new sonnar. I LOVE the look of the 35mm biogon I have and I think I would be happy with the new Zeiss glass but I would like to see more of it.
 
So, guys, what would be your consensus (or rather subjective opinions) would you have to chose between Nokton 50mm/1.5 Asph. and Zeiss ZM Planar 50mm/2 (bearing in mind f/1.5 isn't really necessary for your needs) to put it on Bessa R3A ?

Alex
 
Nokton flat huh?
Click to expand...

Nonsense the Nokton is anything but flat. Its one of the best in Voigtlanders optical lineup. All things considered however, the size of the Nokton is a concern and as such I would go with the ZM Sonnar.
 
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