What is the best cheap but beautiful 50mm there is?

memphis said:
Leica Summarit --- Even Bill Eggelston says it's his favorite lens --- great for low light, nice bokeh, and run from $150 - $400

Summarit, I also think it's the best value at minor price, with an universal and always fine use ...
Ciao! Mauro
 
Excellent - I now own a Canon 50mm f/1.8 and at much less than I thought it would cost.I'll have a new toy to play with and get used to, though I will no doubt look to expand the (mini) collection at some point!
 
Simon,

Your images are beautiful. I normally dont peruse others images - but I am glad I saw yours !

Dan

PS - take more color images ! Your mastery of color in your portfolio is impressive
 
Thanks Raid and Meleica - My home scanner is out of action at the moment hence the lack of regular gallery postings, my boss gets a bit annoyed when I scan personal stuff at work!

I'll hopefully have that issue rectified soon, its very frustrating having loads of unscanned film knocking around!
 
The Canon 1.8/50 is a great choice. I have one and love it, but, I think you have to add an "Elmarski" I50 3.5/50 collapsible. It is a fine small lens that can make just about any LTM camera 'pocketable'. Every time I use my I50 I wonder why I don't use it more.
 
I like my Jupiter-8. I have the black version. I think it's extremely good value as it's sharp and has smooth bokeh too. My only gripe is that the aperture ring rotates "backwards" compared to my 35cron, the ap. ring doesn't have click stops, and the front element coating is quite soft so I have 2 or 3 tiny scratches (barely perceptable and doesn't affect the image quality). But hey, how much can you really ask for when you're paying as low as $25 for a lens? Oh yeah, AND it's f2! Not the fastest but good enough

I shoot it on my Zorki-4 but I plan to get a M-LTM adaptor soon so I can use it on my M6.
 
I have owned a I-61-LD (55mm F/2.8) and it is a sharp lens indeed. 20 bucks in LTM mount. Plus S/H

I own a Brand New (never used since made in 1978) J8 LTM now, Paid $55 bucks including S/H from within the USA. This too, is a great performer. I had a Contax mount first, sold it and the Kiev. But It was a good value, and with 9 blades, it has a nice boken at F/2 and F/2.8


Best Bang: Industar 61 LD 55/2.8
Faster Bang: J8 or J8m 50/2
 
A Canon 50/1.8 is a exquisite lens and will serve you very well as your general purpose lens. I certainly love my chrome Serenar one. Enjoy!

William
 
hi all,

i had been very happy w/ Canon 1.8 (chrome ver.), well constructed and quite an all-rounder;

later i sold it and upgrade (quality and money-wise) to Hexanon 50/2, which is the lens i use whenever i need a short tele, and perhaps it has something with the size, i use 50 less often than i have the canon...
 
My Canon 50mm 1.8 arrived today!! Infact so much quicker than I expected that I still haven't managed to order a screw to m mount from Robert White. An email will be sent tonight so hopefully they'll send one out tomorrow sometime.

On this subject ( if anyone's still reading this thread,) can anyone confirm that I just need a standard 'LTM to M mount' adapter for this and not something different that works specifically for a Canon RF lens.

Thanks
 
OurManInTangier said:
My Canon 50mm 1.8 arrived today!! Infact so much quicker than I expected that I still haven't managed to order a screw to m mount from Robert White. An email will be sent tonight so hopefully they'll send one out tomorrow sometime.

On this subject ( if anyone's still reading this thread,) can anyone confirm that I just need a standard 'LTM to M mount' adapter for this and not something different that works specifically for a Canon RF lens.

Thanks

Yep, just standard adapter. I use one with my Canon 50mm f1.8 on Leica M2.

Wayne
 
For anyone reading this later

For anyone reading this later

I'd also cast a vote for the Industar 61 L/D as it's SO cheap and a great lens (though you wouldn't thinki it by picking it up). Can't say I've tried others as the I-61 has been all right. But like others have said, I could use some more speed.
 
My pics in order of affordability:

1) Fed 5cm/3.5 coated Russian Elmar Copies (Fed, Zorki, Industar, etc.). About $35-40 shipped for a decent one. The one I have is marked Fed and is extremely good. I hear these are Tessar designs even though they look like Elmars.

2) Black Canon 50/1.8. Expect to pay $125-160 for a clean one. Quality and performance.

3) Coated Summitar. Expect to pay $150-225 or so for a clean one -- stunning quality optically and mechanically.
 
David Murphy said:
My pics in order of affordability:

1) Fed 5cm/3.5 coated Russian Elmar Copies (Fed, Zorki, Industar, etc.). About $35-40 shipped for a decent one. The one I have is marked Fed and is extremely good. I hear these are Tessar designs even though they look like Elmars.

2) Black Canon 50/1.8. Expect to pay $125-160 for a clean one. Quality and performance.

3) Coated Summitar. Expect to pay $150-225 or so for a clean one -- stunning quality optically and mechanically.

I have a J8 now, but I have read a lot about the Industar-50 (50/3.5) I am getting one of these too. The BIG PLUS --- Focus Stud on lens. I think the I-50 will wind up being my sandard lens on my Zorki 1e.
 
How is your canon 50/1.8 doing? I am shocked about how few times i saw the 50/1.4 canon mentioned. I have one and I think its pretty darn good. Is the 50/1.8 superior in some way? Is the look more " sonnar " ? Just curious. I'm still on the hunt for a 50/1.5.
 
I don't have this lens but the 1.8/53mm Helios 103 is supposed to be verrry nice. It's a Kiev/Contax bayonet mount. I fear in the future I will break down and get a Kiev 4 variation just for this lens.
 
espressogeek said:
How is your canon 50/1.8 doing? I am shocked about how few times i saw the 50/1.4 canon mentioned. I have one and I think its pretty darn good. Is the 50/1.8 superior in some way? Is the look more " sonnar " ? Just curious. I'm still on the hunt for a 50/1.5.

The 50 1.8 is great to use and looks pretty funky on my black M6 but I'm having problems getting my scanner up and running, just as I get one thing sorted something else goes pear shaped. As such I haven't been able to scan my negs and get a good look, with no darkroom either its proving very annoying!

I've got a roll of Fuji Reala 100 in there at the moment so at least I can look at some prints when I've burnt through it!
 
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