Three 50s - advice/thoughts?

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Paulie707

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Dear esteemed RFFers,

I am the proud owner of a Leica II in black, dating from 1933, I believe. I've had this lovely thing for about 12 months now and don't plan to give it up any time soon - I love it. I've chopped and changed lenses a few times (Canon 50/1.8, CV 35/2.5, Summitar 50/2) and am currently settled on the Summitar pairing, which has given me some lovely results. I recently also picked up a Canon 28 3.5 (black) and did away with the 35. Also no longer have the 50/1.8.

Anyway...I am looking for a 'fixed' 50. I'm not overly in love with the collapsible lens for when I'm walking around but 50 does seem to be my preferred focal length.

I've narrowed it down to three possibles:

Canon 50 1.5
Nokton 50 1.5
Summarit 50 1.5

To me, they all offer something different depending on the 'look' you are going for. I get that, but I'm thinking about buying something that will last. I'd like to have a 50 that I keep for the foreseeable and which can, to quote JL, 'grow old with me' ha.

I feel like the Canon has excellent reviews, seems to lack the haze issues of black Canons and is based upon a trusted lens (Sonnar...?). The Summarit seems to polarize opinion and may be - in 2018 - difficult to find in good condition.

I tend to take mostly street photography but these days also do photograph my new family, so a degree of portrait photography is creeping in (compared to may European wandering days...*sigh*). Mostly b/w too.

I'm leaning towards the Nokton as, as the newest of them, has the potential to last the longest and has great reviews. It's also in black, which is certainly a plus point to me as I like the black lenses as they match the camera nicely!

I know there are other lenses and I've considered quite a few, but thoughts on these three would be appreciated!
 
The 50/1.5 Canon can get the usual Canon haze, but they are easy to disassemble and clean if it happens. Just make sure the glass isn't etched. It's a Sonnar, great for portraits. The usual veiling flare wide open, goes away at about 2/3 of a stop down. I have a black one, custom painted by Alan Starkie. They are pretty small and light for the speed.

Have had several Summarits, never cared for the rendering, although the operational feel of a nice copy is unmatched. Have no experience with the Nokton.

DSC00210.jpg
 
splitimageview said:
The 50/1.5 Canon can get the usual Canon haze, but they are easy to disassemble and clean if it happens. Just make sure the glass isn't etched. It's a Sonnar, great for portraits. The usual veiling flare wide open, goes away at about 2/3 of a stop down. I have a black one, custom painted by Alan Starkie. They are pretty small and light for the speed.

Have had several Summarits, never cared for the rendering, although the operational feel of a nice copy is unmatched. Have no experience with the Nokton.
Click to expand...

That's a lovely set up - and you have perfectly circumvented my issue with the Canon being chrome! Alan currently has my SBOOI 50mm viewfinder to convert to black for me...

The Canon does look lovely and the reviews have been by and large, very good. Do you find that it's an all-purpose lens or do you have a specific use for it? I also like that it's small as compactness of the package is a key asset of the Leica barnack after all. The Nokton certainly looks to be the biggest of the three.
 
Just my 2d worth but you ought to decide first if you want an all Leica outfit or a Leica body with a 50mm lens.

If you go for the all-Leica option you than have to think in terms of contemporary with the body or not so. Then the fun will start.

Regards, David
 
I also have the Canon 50/1.5. Only reason I bought it was because of its ridiculously low price (because of internal cleaning marks). Nice lens. Soft wide-open, but sharpens up at F2.0. The lens is also big and heavy, being chrome-on-brass, which may or may not be a an issue with you. I use it sparingly, preferring my Canon 50/1.4 or Nikkor 50/2.0. Don’t know much about the Nokton or Summarit, so no comment.

Jim B.
 
Mackinaw said:
I also have the Canon 50/1.5. Only reason I bought it was because of its ridiculously low price (because of internal cleaning marks). Nice lens. Soft wide-open, but sharpens up at F2.0. The lens is also big and heavy, being chrome-on-brass, which may or may not be a an issue with you. I use it sparingly, preferring my Canon 50/1.4 or Nikkor 50/2.0. Don’t know much about the Nokton or Summarit, so no comment.

Jim B.
Click to expand...

This is interesting info - thank you. Out of interest, do you mount the 50 1.4 on a barnack? I have a shoe-mount viewfinder so not concerned about blocking of view but wondered if it just looked weird!
 
Another vote for the Canon 1.5. It's a bit heavy for an early Leica LTM, but the results are outstanding. I bought mine here on the forum and it came with a hood and a UV filter. I have two other LTM lenses - a Summar in good shape that came with a IIIa and a collapsible Summicron bought two decades ago. Both are also good lenses, but you said you are not interested in a collapsible. I enjoy the Canon and would not get rid of it.
 
All listed are good. If you could find without fungus, separation, fog and scratches.
Summarit-m is with focus tab, it makes difference on the street.
If no large aperture is needed 50 Skopar is much better option, IMO.
This one will lasts.
 
Paulie707 said:
That's a lovely set up - and you have perfectly circumvented my issue with the Canon being chrome! Alan currently has my SBOOI 50mm viewfinder to convert to black for me...

The Canon does look lovely and the reviews have been by and large, very good. Do you find that it's an all-purpose lens or do you have a specific use for it? I also like that it's small as compactness of the package is a key asset of the Leica barnack after all. The Nokton certainly looks to be the biggest of the three.
Click to expand...

Alan has painted 3 or 4 SBOOI for me, they look great in black!

I find it's all-purpose, it's really two lenses in one, somewhat 'glowy' wide open, with the glow turning into decent contrast when stopped down just a bit, and super-sharp at 5.6 or so.
 
Paulie707 said:
This is interesting info - thank you. Out of interest, do you mount the 50 1.4 on a barnack? I have a shoe-mount viewfinder so not concerned about blocking of view but wondered if it just looked weird!
Click to expand...

I haven't actually tried shooting with this combo, but this is the 50/1.4 on a Barnack. Very front heavy kit, and the lens blocks a quarter of the viewfinder. Whether or not it looks weird is in the eye of the beholder. 😉


Leica IIIf with Canon 50mm f/1.4 LTM by dourbalistar, on Flickr
 
it seems that the all the fast 50s you identified run on the large and heavy side. Might consider the zeiss c-sonnar, if you don't mind straying from older glass, and spending a bit more. modern lens with vintage character from f/1.5 to f/2.8 or so.
 
I've a 3c and 3a that I use/ have used with the following 50s:

Summitar (f2)
Summar (f2)
1937 uncoated Sonnar (f1.5)
Jupiter 8 (f2)
Canon f1.4
Russian Tessar clones (f2.8-3.5)

For a genuine fast general lens, the Canon eats the others alive.

I like the Sonnar rendition and by 2.8 they are a pretty nice general lens. But faster than that and its a special effect lens.

The Leica lenses are messy with out of focus areas but otherwise very good.

The Canon isn't tack sharp wide open and it lacks the Sonnar OOF smoosh, but it's usable as a general photographic tool at f1.4 and right through the aperture range. If you want a usable, affordable fast 50, that would be my choice. If you want a fast sonnar thats a separate question.
 
Jupiter-3 isn't heavy, big or expensive. But it has small aperture numbers which are hard to see under low light.
I use it on digital, film M and LTM.

On the right:



On M-E:



Wide open, film, print.



And most of Jupiter-3 are Leica, Canon defects free. No haze, no fungus, no separation.
 
Yet another vote for the Canon 50/1.5. I've had a nice copy for a number of years, and keep returning to it b/c I love the way it renders. I seldom shoot it wide open, but it sharpens up quickly stopping down, and it's lovely for portraits. I also use if for street photography; see my flickr (link below) for photos I took with this lens in Paris this past summer.

I had the Nokton early in my return to rangefinder cameras. The lens is very sharp but it's also very large and looks a little odd on a Barnack camera.

Here are two portraits taken with the Canon 50/1.5:

C&E by bingley0522, on Flickr

bobkonos by bingley0522, on Flickr

And a couple of street shots that I think show off the lens nicely:

Air conditioning and conversation by bingley0522, on Flickr

There... by bingley0522, on Flickr
 
MCTuomey said:
it seems that the all the fast 50s you identified run on the large and heavy side. Might consider the zeiss c-sonnar, if you don't mind straying from older glass, and spending a bit more. modern lens with vintage character from f/1.5 to f/2.8 or so.
Click to expand...

The Canon 50/1.5 isn’t all that big for a fast lens, it’s actually surprisingly small considering the speed.

C Sonnar is M bayonet.
 
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