Two Canon 50mm F1.2 lenses, which to keep?

[goamules]

Hi,
I have two 50mm F1.2 lenses. I need to sell one, but I've heard conflicting opinions on how condition affects shooting. One lens is in great shape, one slightly not. I've shot with the excellent condition one last weekend:

Other than perhaps not being on with my focus, I love the look and will keep one of these. Another shot here.

The other lens has a dented rim so the threads are a little tight for filters. There are some light use and cleaning marks on the glass. The glass needs cleaning, and I read that can be done, but I'm not sure I want to break into it yet (I've taken apart several Large Format lenses and shutters - but the tiny stuff scares me). The aperture is tight. Oh, there is one small scratch in the rear. Otherwise, the lesser condition lens is just like the minty one.

The two opinions are of course; 1. Use and keep the best quality always. 2. Minor glass marks won't hurt your shots, keep the lesser one. With LF this is true, a few cleaning marks, even scratches and separation, make no difference. But I'm new to 35mm really (after a college course and some Navy shooting 20 years ago). I need to make some bucks, would you sell the nice one and keep the other? I also have a hood, Auto-up, filters. Let them go too? Like I said, I need the money, but want a good shooter to remain. Thanks.

 

[Calzone]

I'd always go for the clean glass, keep the hood also. Hard to find it has been reported. Over the long-long term I believe there is less likelyhood of regets if you keep the cleanest one. Also sounds like it doesn't need a CLA and is good to go.

If I had two cars and only needed one, it makes sense to me to keep the best one. Hopefully the financial pinch will allow you to keep the one in better condition.

How did you end up with two 50/1.2's?

BTW you are a lucky guy to have a choice.

Calzone

 

[Landshark]

Boils down to how much $$ you need. If one lens is a user & cosmetically challenged, every scratch, rub mark & dent depreciates the value. Cosmetics don't mean much as a user & for practical purposes neither do scratches on the glass. There will be slightly more flare with the lens in poor condition than the pristine one.
Shoot the same scene with both & evaluate your prints. Make the decision from that.

 

[goamules]

I got them both at the same time, it was a kit that the seller wouldn't break up. Got a couple bodies too, a VI-T and a 7s. Have about decided on keeping the VI-T, always goods/bads with anything. It's great but a very fogged viewfinder.

Anyway, back to the lenses. Thanks Landshark and Calzone, I plan on shooting the same film and shots this weekend with the poorer lens. It will be hard to decide (see - the first two replies are opposite!) But you're right, how often can you do side-by-side on rare lenses?

 

[goamules]

I ended up keeping the minty one. I'm really enjoying it. I think I need to use one of the two hoods I got with it though, I see flare from time to time. But every roll has shown some keepers. Here is one I like, forgive the fluorescent lighting. Both wide open.

 

[Calzone]

I ended up keeping the minty one. I'm really enjoying it. I think I need to use one of the two hoods I got with it though, I see flare from time to time. But every roll has shown some keepers. Here is one I like, forgive the fluorescent lighting. Both wide open.

Nice. You are a lucky guy.

Cal

 

[John Shriver]

Good choice. The one that was dented enough to make the aperture ring tight may well have had some distortion of the front aluminum optical block, and thus not been up to snuff. Looks like you're doing well with the focus.

 

[goamules]

Thanks. Yeah, I let the other 1.2 go on a 7s that had a sticky shutter. I had to buy everything in large kit for a pretty good chunk of money, so I had to sell a lot of it to get back to even.

Kept the 50/1.2, 35/1.8, 85/2.0 and VI-T body.
Sold the 50/1.8, 135/4.0, other 50/1.2 and 7s body. Still have a couple meters, leather cases, filters, and odds and ends to sell here.