What is your FFF RF lens?

[Krosya]

What is your Favorite Fast Fifty mm RF lens? And why?
By fast I mean f1.5 or faster. Would be nice if you could show a pic or two as well to support your point.

 

[Doug]

My first thought on this question was that the answer is easy but perhaps not satisfying the intent... since I have just the one Fast Fifty, the Sonnar-ZM. But wait, I also have the Nikkor-S on the S3 but I seldom use it. And, there's the Opton-Sonnar on the Contax, but that's a shelf queen too.

So the easy but unsatisfying reply is: Zeiss 50/1.5 Sonnar-ZM, with two samples below on M2 with Fuji 160. It's a lovely lens!

 

[coelacanth]

I don't have anything faster than F2.0, and F2.8 is the fastest for 50mm so I can't play. 🙁
I had a nice copy of Nokton 1.5 but I couldn't bear with the size.

Elmar-M 50/2.8 fast enough for me.

 

[elshaneo]

Nowadays, it's definitely the vintage "Zeiss Opton Sonnar 50mm f/1.5" Contax mount which is always on my Leica M2 together with the Amedeo Muscelli's Contax to Leica M adapter 🙂

Example: http://www.pbase.com/shanelam/image/120096535

 

[Keith]

Well ... it must be my 50mm f1.2 Canon because it's the only fast 50mm RF lens I have! 😀

My new Zeiss f1.4 Planar has totally blown me away but I can't brag about that because it's 'evil' mount! 😛

 

[ItsReallyDarren]

Canon 50/1.5

The other 1.5 sonnar formulas from (old)Zeiss and Nikon I've found to work very well close up and wide open. I like the Canon because I've found it to be very good at middle distances and middle apertures. It's hardly noticeable when comparing all three lenses together but I always lean towards the images made with the Canon.

either f4 of f5.6


f1.5



f1.5

 

[maddoc]

I have three different FFF RF lenses, Noctilux, Millennium Nikkor-S, Summarit 50/1.5. They are totally different beasts and have their pros and cons, so there is no absolute favorite lens (... albeit the Noctilux comes closest)

 

[Roger Hicks]

The current C-Sonnar. Reasons: size, image quality ('look'), ergonomics. Over the last 40 years I've had the f/1 Noctilux, f/1.2 Canon, f/1.5 Nokton (original and CV), f/1.5 Xenon and f/1.5 Summarit, and tried the Contax-fit f/1.5 Sonnar and its FSU copy. The only one I still have (and like very much) is the Sonnar. There's a review with lots of pictures on http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/ps firstlook sonnar 50.html.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Sonnar2]

No "one is best"

Canon 50/1.5 (for general use, and atmosphere), or 50/1.4 (when critical sharpness is more important). My example of the 50/1.4 is so good I never lusted for a C/V 50/1.5.
For close focus atmospheric portraiture (and just here), the Nikkor-S 50/1.4 is even better than the Canon Sonnar.

cheers, F.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

You said "Favorite", so that makes it easier.

My 1953 KMZ Jupiter-3.

Wide-Open

F4

Favorite: because it was a disaster when I got it, took it apart, cleaned and relubed, moved the helical in the mount, shimmed it, took out all the glass and cleaned that, reseated it all. $90 Plus Time. And it does not hurt that "Pixel-Peeping" on the M8 shows it to be as sharp as my Nikkor 5cm F1.4.

 

[Krosya]

Interesting to see what everybody likes and why.
Myself - I have used many and still cant decide which is my favorite. In the past I used to have: Summarit and hated it. Canon 50/1.2 - and loved it (kidna miss it), J-3 - also a good lens. Now I have several others - M-Hexanon 50/1.2, Nokton 50/1.5, Nikkor LTM 50/1.4 and Canon 50/1.5 - and just cant decide which I could call my favorite. Each has something that the other one doesnt - at least to my eyes- and I just keep going through stages where I favour one or two over others and than it changes after a month or so. I was thinking to sell a some of them, but since 50mm is my favorite FL and I like fast lenses - it seems that I will never be able to pick just one.
Presently, I sort of favour Nokton and Canon 50/1.5's:

Canon 50/1.5:

Nokton 50/1.5:

 

[tooffy]

.... and just cant decide which I could call my favorite. Each has something that the other one doesnt - ...... but since 50mm is my favorite FL and I like fast lenses - it seems that I will never be able to pick just one.
Presently, I sort of favour Nokton and Canon 50/1.5's:

I agree totally with you, Krosya. I love 50mm's too. My current favourite is Tanar 5cm f1.5.

Tanar5cmf1.5 @f1.5

 

[tbarker13]

I guess I only have one option to toss out, but I really like it.
It's a 1953 J3.
Here's a shot, at 1.5 or 2.0 from a recent studio session. Apologies to those who have already seen it elsewhere.

I may one day get another fast 50, but for now, I think this does what I need it to, and it makes a great vintage companion for my Zeiss Planar.

 

[back alley]

only have one fast 50, the zm 1.5 sonnar...

 

[Nando]

My favourite the 50mm Summilux-M ASPH.

 

[tbarker13]

only have one fast 50, the zm 1.5 sonnar...

Really nice image....

 

[back alley]

thanks tim...

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Nowadays, it's definitely the vintage "Zeiss Opton Sonnar 50mm f/1.5" Contax mount which is always on my Leica M2 together with the Amedeo Muscelli's Contax to Leica M adapter 🙂

No question, me too. Though mine is a somewhat later CZ version (no separation as yet, knock wood). I'm pretty capricious when it comes to "favorites" but this has been my favorite pretty solidly for the 8 months or so that I've had it. All it took was one roll and I was sold. It renders amazingly on slide film and does well on the M8 too. Film samples:

 

[john_van_v]

Favorite: because it was a disaster when I got it, took it apart, cleaned and relubed, moved the helical in the mount, shimmed it, took out all the glass and cleaned that, reseated it all...

I got bokeh to die for with mine through pine forest, but I never got it to focus right. Its good to hear yours has such excellent glass.

 

[ferider]

I have three 50s left, my favorites from everything I tried: DR Summicron, 50/1.4 Nikkor Tokyo, Summilux v2 pre-asph.

Impossible to decide which of the two fast ones I prefer. One has a very classic signature, beautiful wide open and close-up for portraits, the other one is a more modern and great all-rounder, with some weaknesses for close up and in the bokeh department.

Roland.