Which 50mm on M8?

dkphoto

dkphoto

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I'm thinking about buying a 50mm for my M8.

I have 3 options:

1.)
Used Voigtländer 50 F1.1 from a friend
pro: good price because i would buy it from a friend
pro: F1.1
contra: harsh/ugly bokeh
contra: big and heavy

2.)
Used Summicron 50/2 (v3)
pro: it's a leica lens ;)
pro: not that expensive
pro: classic look and bokeh
pro: small and light
contra: "only" F2, but i think this should be ok

3.)
New Summarit 50/2.5
pro: new and 6bit coded and it's a leica lens
pro: small and light
contra: about 1100euros, the most expensive option
contra: only F2.5


So, what would you recommend me?

Thanks!
 
All of them, there is basically something to be said for all three of them, and they are all excellent choices. As a matter of fact I cannot think of a single 50 mm lens I would be unhappy about, used on the M8.
 
Thats exactly my problem :D

All of them are really nice.
The Voigtländer 'cause of F1.1, the cron because it's a cron and the summarit because it would be brandnew and 6bit coded.

Hmm.. :D

My other lenses are the CV 21/4 Pancake and the CV 35/1.7 Ultron..
 
Have to agree with Jaap. It's really hard to go wrong picking a 50. Just need to find the one that meets your needs.
When I went through this myself, I ended up settling on a Zeiss Planar as my primary 50. But that was me.
 
Roger Hicks said:
Not for everyone. It's my wife's standard.
Click to expand...

Well, internet posts by an individual, when asked what they recommend, are usually opinion... my opinion is that there are plenty of fast + great 50mm lenses out there, so I wouldn't bother with a slow one.
 
jsrockit said:
......f/2.5 is too slow for a 50mm lens.
Click to expand...

I can accept that f2.5 is too slow if [for example] the conditions and subject matter absolutely dictate that e.g. f1.4 is essential, but the general statement that f2.5 is too slow merely panders to the internet forum obsession with ultra fast lenses. The relatively 'slower' lenses offer design, performance, weight, cost, handling advantages which are very desirable. If an optimum-performance 50mm lens design resulted in it's maximum aperture being f4.0 or f5.6; I'd consider one, and if I were loaded and reliant on the Nikon platform I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Coastal Optics 60mm f4.0 :

http://diglloyd.com/articles/CoastalOptics60f4/index.html

........... Chris
 
Ok, guys...relax, I just gave an opinion. I use a dead slow f/3.5 lens as my main lens on my M8. I do not give a rat's ass about internet forum obsessions. However, with the M8 having no true high ISO options, fast glass can come in handy. The summicron is a great lens by any standard. I see no reason to not get it over the 2.5. Faster 50mm lenses are plentiful, generally small, designed well, have great performance, are cost effective etc.

That said, I don't pander to the internet obsesssion with sharpness in corners, brick wall tests, bokeh, glow, etc.
 
@OP: fast is better to avoid too much noise. Given your list...none of the above. Zeiss Planar 50/2.0 is my suggestion. Great everything.
 
I too am of the opinion that the range of options is outstanding in this focal length. The 50mm Dual-Range Summicron is just about the only 50 with which you can go wrong.
 
I would have to say that the Voigtlander Nokton 50mm f1.5 ASPH is a wonderful lens.

They can still be found new at Cameraquest but it is a discontinued lens. Often can find them used at a good price.

Speed, affordability and great pictures, JMHO . . . . .

Life is Grand!

Dan
 
The 1.1 seems large for the kind of street shooting you have posted to your site, and unless there is something striking to you about the summarit why sacrifice the speed? I'd go with the summicron (with great glass) or planar (without wobble).
 
I have a v3 summicron, and the Nokton 1.1. I use the Nokton a lot more, but I end up shooting in low light a lot.

The bokeh isn't the nicest, but it can look ok, and it's pretty sharp at 1.4.

So, if you need 1.4 and faster, go for the Nokton, otherwise summicron, I'd say.

- Steve
 
Why comparing an f2.5 vs f2.0 vs f1.1.

If you are concerned about bokeh&size of the f1.1 nokton, why not look at something in the f1.4-f1.5 range.

A pre-asph 50lux could be had for the same price as a 50/2.5 Summarit.
A 50/1.5 Nokton could be had for 1/2 the price.

Both would be a decent size/weight vs speed/bokeh compromise.
 
Another consideration: Either Canon 50/1.4 or canon 50/1.8 ltm with L to M adapter. These are plentiful and still reasonably priced.
 
My Nokton 1.1 is very heavy, but it is such a nice lens, sharpness, bokeh and all. It is great for low light shooting and, besides, the price is right. For me, it also doubles as a normal lens for my film cameras.
 
Stephen G said:
Why comparing an f2.5 vs f2.0 vs f1.1.

If you are concerned about bokeh&size of the f1.1 nokton, why not look at something in the f1.4-f1.5 range.
Click to expand...

Good point. You may find your search most successful if you can clearly articulate what are your lens priorities. Cost? Size? Resale value? Shallow DoF? Purpose? (I guess that's how I end up doing it. I read up a lot, get lots of advice, and try to buy according to such criteria.)
 
I think if I were in your shoes I would buy the Summicron first - that way you get to experience a Leica body with a classic Leica lens. I would prefer the Summicron over the Summarit simply because its THE classic Leica glass. But all of these are good options. Truth is the M8 works well with any good 50 even allowing for the crop factor and I have a few - a Summicron 50 (v4), a Summitar with adapter, a Canon 1.8 and 1.2 and am in the market for a Voightlander 1.1 even though I think you are right , its bokeh is a bit off.
 
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