which 50

[back alley]

i'm curious and also thinking about the world of 50mm lenses.
soon i will have 2 active 50's, my first, the canon 50/1.8 and also the 50/1.9 collapsible.
i'm keeping the 1.9 cause i want the option of collapsing the lens and making a smaller bundle for carrying daily.

i like the 1.8 cause it's small and sharp, hard to ask for more.
but i realize that there are many more 50's out there and now i'm wondering if i have the 'right' one?
in canon screwmount, there is a 3.5 collapsible, a 1.2, 1.4 & a 2.8.
might be more, can't remember...

so, if you were going to have only one 50mm lens, which would YOU choose?

jjoe

 

[rover]

Why only one?

😀

I haven't developed any film taken with the 50/1.4 yet, but you know I really like the 50/1.5. You have the 1.8 which is very sharp and most likely will produce an image similar to the 1.4. If I were adding an LTM 50, find a nice Canon 50/1.5. A little cheaper than the Nikon 50/1.4 which is also a Sonnar design, and will give you a different look than what you have. It will take all the same filters and accessories that you already have. Do you have a chrome 50/1.8? If so the 50/1.5 will be its twin. I should be able to show you later this week.

Oh yeah, those Summicrons are good too.

 

[back alley]

Why only one?

for a guy who does not use a 50 often, i will soon have 2 in regular use.
for the money i'd rather have more 35's.

just thinking about changing out the 1.8 for another.

joe

 

[peter_n]

I have two 50's. Actually I have three but I only use two. The other one is a dark secret. 😱 Anyway my two are Jupiter-8 and current Elmar-M. Both give different looks and are very distinctive lenses and I use each for the situations they excel in. I too would like another 35mm but I'm going to have to wait. 🙁

 

[Roger Hicks]

Um...

50/1.2 Canon
50/1.5 + 50/2.5 Voigtlander
50/2 Jupiter
50/3.5 Elmar

...and I sold my 50/2 Summicron because I never used it and couldn't see what the fuss was about. But if I could afford one I'd have a 50/1 like a shot.

But at photokina one of the Zeiss lens designers said to me, "Oh, yes, I have several different 50s fo the different effects they give.

Cheers,

Roger (www.rogerandfrances.com -- and Photo School now has auto-pay. Go on: gamble a couple of bucks. Then I could afford a 50/1)

 

[aizan]

of the three i have, i'd pick the collapsible summicron.

 

[photodog]

I've been fortunate enough to have tried numerous 50mm lenses. Most recently I've used a black Jupiter 8 and a Canon Serenar 1.9. My preference is any 50mm Summicron (mine is the rigid chrome version) . I bought one with cleaning marks more than 20 years ago and it's still my favorite. Solid well made lens. Here's a few that I tried: Summarit, too front heavy; Jupiter 8, no clickstops on aperture ring which rotates when you focus, edges a bit soft; Canon 50mm 1.8 black, nice solid lens, my second choice; Serenar 1.9, nice vintage lens, well made, ok sharpness.

The Jupiters and the Canons are a good value. Leitz glass is good if you can afford it.

 

[FrankS]

Hi Joe,

I woulld have said exactly what Ralph said.

(I have a Canon f1.8, Canon f1.9, collapsible Summicron, Jupiter 8, Industar 61-LD)

 

[back alley]

i must have drunk when i wrote this question.
at the time i was thinking about lens speed, thinking maybe a 1.4 might be a better all round lens than a 1.8.
but then i started thinking i had that 1.9 also so it wouldn't really be just one 50.
anyway, i appreciate all the answers.

i had been thinking about a 1.4 canon 50 but that has passed (for now, anyways).

i am also wondering about that 100/2 lens. not sure if that's a wise move either.
maybe stick with the 85/2 and try to find a nice 100/3.5 instead and sell off the 100/4.
i read that 100/4 compares well with the 90 elmar.

too many lenses not enough camera bags...
joe

 

[FrankS]

too many lenses not enough camera bags..

reminds me of the quote: so many cats, so few recipies 🙂

 

[rover]

Why do I always forget the nice little Jupiter 8.

For the same reason that I mentioned the Canon 50/1.5, the Jupiter 8 is a Sonnar design and for the price, why not?

I did, and perhaps I will take it along today for some shooting.

 

[back alley]

work day for me.
but the iv sb is in my daybag in case i have the energy for a walk at lunch time.

have a good day off folks.
joe

 

[peter_n]

We don't all have the day off Joe... 🙁

 

[Sonnar Brian]

This is a question that I ask myself whenever I pick out a camera for an outing. Which 50. I gravitate towards the Canon 50mm F1.4. I put it on the Canon Vt so the body would get some more use. The F1.4 also takes the relatively easy to find 48mm filter size.