Which 50mm?
- Thread starter Horatio
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brusby
Well-known
I have no idea what generation it is. Looks like this.
Superb lens. That's the second version and the first M mount I believe. I used that same version to make this image. It handles skin tones and mixed lighting sources (daylight, tungsten and flash here) as well if not better than most lenses I'm aware of.
edit: And pretty sharp wide open, as here.
_DSC0724 by Brusby, on Flickr
helen.HH
To Light & Love ...
the OP has personally narrowed it down to two lenses
Both the Planar & 50 Nokton 1.5 VM are stellar
I just looked, our head bartender / CameraQuest has a Used Nokton VM 50
for $549.00... Chrome, Mint, with Box, Hood,
https://shop.cameraquest.com/voigtl...es/voigtlander-50mm-f/1.5-used-nokton-chrome/
His used are always excellent be it Condition, Price, Shipping
a no brainer unless You desire the Planar another exceptional 50
Thanks Horatio for your kind comment 😉
Both the Planar & 50 Nokton 1.5 VM are stellar
I just looked, our head bartender / CameraQuest has a Used Nokton VM 50
for $549.00... Chrome, Mint, with Box, Hood,
https://shop.cameraquest.com/voigtl...es/voigtlander-50mm-f/1.5-used-nokton-chrome/
His used are always excellent be it Condition, Price, Shipping
a no brainer unless You desire the Planar another exceptional 50
Thanks Horatio for your kind comment 😉
J
jmonat7
Guest
In terms of price the VM Nokton 50, not the LTM or the newest version, is most comparable to the Zeiss Planar. The fact of the matter is that they're both exceptional. If you need the speed, get the Nokton, if you prefer better handling and a little more punch and contrast, get the Planar. Although you'd be hard pressed to discern the two on a blind test with a little editing. The most important factor in my opinion is to determine whether the less than ideal handling of the Nokton and the added VF blockage are worth the extra stop. I personally side with the Planar but have used and loved the Nokton at one point in time.
brusby
Well-known
Couple of issues for your consideration that haven't been mentioned yet:
1) LTM will require an adapter for M3. Most are pretty good but it's just another factor that can cause the rangefinder not to be accurate -- and another thing to futz with and possibly not have handy when needed. If the adapter is off a bit, so is your focus. Well machined ones, with close tolerances, are pricey. Cheap ones are a crapshoot. It's critical with fast lenses like f1.5 shot wide open.
2) I own and like the planar, but I'm not aware of anything it can do significantly better than the Nokton - at least the M mount version I'm familiar with. I actually prefer the rendering of the Nokton M mount, but that's purely personal preference. They're both great. Maybe the LTM version Nokton is as good, but I just don't have any personal experience with it. With the speed and price advantages going to the Nokton, and image quality roughly equal or slightly in Nokton favor, I'd vote Nokton.
3) Nokton has better, or at lest smoother, bokeh than then planar imo. That's one of the main reasons I got it.
1) LTM will require an adapter for M3. Most are pretty good but it's just another factor that can cause the rangefinder not to be accurate -- and another thing to futz with and possibly not have handy when needed. If the adapter is off a bit, so is your focus. Well machined ones, with close tolerances, are pricey. Cheap ones are a crapshoot. It's critical with fast lenses like f1.5 shot wide open.
2) I own and like the planar, but I'm not aware of anything it can do significantly better than the Nokton - at least the M mount version I'm familiar with. I actually prefer the rendering of the Nokton M mount, but that's purely personal preference. They're both great. Maybe the LTM version Nokton is as good, but I just don't have any personal experience with it. With the speed and price advantages going to the Nokton, and image quality roughly equal or slightly in Nokton favor, I'd vote Nokton.
3) Nokton has better, or at lest smoother, bokeh than then planar imo. That's one of the main reasons I got it.
WJJ3
Well-known
IQ is excellent. It's no secret that this first version CV Nokton is a great lens, and is in fact one of the lenses Cosina built their new Voigtländer reputation with. This lens was groundbreaking in that it used aspheric surfaces on both sides of one element.
Some comments from Tom A. here
The M mount version, when it was introduced 13 years after the introduction of the screw mount version, employed a new barrel (with the vintage style focus ring some gripe about) with a native M mount, but it used the same optics as the first version. Apparently Cosina found nothing they could improve upon optically...
One point to be aware of if you want to shoot this lens on a digital M is that it is prone to purple fringing at its widest apertures. I haven't seen this on film.
WJJ3
Well-known
It’s a great combo, and the price of the screw mount version is unbelievably low now. It's like people forgot it is a fantastic modern high speed lens.
Bingley
Veteran
FWIW, I’ve admired the pop from the Zeiss Planar from the time I first saw photos made with it, particularly color photos. So, in early 2018, I bought one new. And sold it after a year. I did not like the handling at all. If I were looking for a fast, modern lens, I’d seriously consider the Voigtlander Nokton M Mount shown above. But the little CV Skopar 50mm f2.5 more than meets my needs when I want a sharp, modern image. And if I need a lens that’s a bit faster than 2.5, I have the Canon 50/1.8 and Summicron 50 v. III to fall back on.
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