WTB a tessar 50mm, ideas?

[squinza]

Hi guys
I've been shooting some frames with my Canon 50/2.8, which is a tessar design lens. I actually like the kind of look this little lens gives to the photoes. But my sample is not perfect, as it severely suffers from flare (lenses are not in really good shape).
Is there any other tessar lens with a good performance? Maybe something more modern? Ideas and photoes are welcome.

Here a sample from my Canon 50/2.8

 

[xayraa33]

You can try an I-61 l/d
the price is right on these.

 

[raid]

Bypass Leica and get a Kiev plus the genuine Tessar lenses by Zeiss in Contax mount.
Another option is getting an Exakta SLR.
If you want to limit yourself to Leica cameras, get anFSU lens that has a Tessar design in LTM.

 

[squinza]

The industar seems interesting, I didn't think about FSU lenses before posting...
The Elmar would be probably better, but is it worth the price? I mean, tessars are thery simple lenses, made to be cheap...

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The Elmar is a good choice, and it is made to the Leica standard.

The I-50 and I-61L/D are Tessar formula lenses made to the Zeiss standard focal length, and some work may be required to focus optimally on a Leica. The I-50 and I-61L/D use newer glass, and are quite good. My I-50 is as sharp as my coated Elmar on the M8.

I-61L/D

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91163

I-50 Collapsible:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=89934

I have a 5cm F2.8 Tessar for my COntax II. It is an early one, Black namering, a bit soft. The F3.5 lens is sharper, and the chrome-faced F2.8's are sharper. But I'm keeping mine.

 

[squinza]

Bypass Leica and get a Kiev plus the genuine Tessar lenses by Zeiss in Contax mount.
Another option is getting an Exakta SLR.
If you want to limit yourself to Leica cameras, get anFSU lens that has a Tessar design in LTM.

Well, I'd rather stick to a LTM lens, I like digital... and my M8 craves for a new 50mm 🙄
Are the Zeiss tessars only in Contax mount or are they like their sonnar siblings, which are found also in LTM? I like Zeiss, as a matter of fact 😉

 

[Sonnar Brian]

There is one Zeiss 50mm F2.8 Tessar in LTM mount that I am aware of.

Maybe someone made a second one...

 

[squinza]

Thank you Brian, I was hoping for your intervention!
I was wondering I focusing is correct on Leica for Industar lenses, seems like they can give some trouble. But at 20$, you can't ask too much 🙂
Do somebody knows how a Canon 50/2.8 or 50/3.5 in good shape compares with Leica originals? They aren't very expensive, usually, got mine for less tha 80$ from Japan...

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The Canon 50/2.8 used a newer glass, which unfortunately was prone to damage from oil/outgassing. The glass etches easily. The earlier Canon 50/3.5 is a collector's lens, and I have not used one. Probably on par with an Elmar.

The I-50 uses newer glass, and is sharp. The I-61L/D is also sharp and contrasty, but the focus mount is not the quality of a J-3 or J-8.

The I-50 collapsible is brass, has some heft to it, and is nicely made. The aperture is much easier to adjust than it is on the Elmar.

 

[squinza]

THX again, I'll take a look at those I-50... hope adjusting focus won't be too difficult...

 

[Sonnar Brian]

It is not hard to do, and easy to get right with an M8.

Typically, adding 0.1mm to the shim does the trick. The second trick of taking off the infinity stop allows use of infinity wide-open. Even pixel-peeping.

 

[raid]

I picked up a 50/2.8 Tessar that was changed from Pentax M42 mount to LTM. I like it a lot.

 

[Steve M.]

I had an LD61 that was stellar. Even had that Leica way of imaging. But the quality is variable, so it may take 2 or 3 buys to get a really good one. Still, at the prices these go for, 3 of 'em wouldn't cost very much, and you can sell the other 2. I think your lens may benefit from a good hood and possibly a CLA (there may be some haze in there causing the flare), but in my opinion a good LD61 is a better lens than the Canon LTMs. Just not as smooth to focus. And much, much cheaper. You can even get a Zorki or Fed body for a rear lens cap w/ your lenses.
,

 

[Bingley]

The Elmar 50/3.5 in LTM is not that expensive, and can be an excellent lens; ditto the Elmar 50/2.8 in LTM (I sold one in Classified recently for $275). These are very much like a Tessar.

BTW, OP, nice photo!

 

[coelacanth]

Elmar 50/2.8 is great. I had M version (but older, not Elmar-M which I have now) and I bought it for $260.

All three are zone focused, no-framed candid so they aren't super sharp or anything, but I think you can see the characteristics of the lens.

 

[squinza]

Thank you coelacanth, nice shots! Tessar bokeh is quite unique (kinda progressive and smooth), and these lenses are actually sharp!

 

[aoresteen]

Well, that's why I have two Contaflexs (Rapid & Super). I love the 50mm f/2.8 Tessar with B&W film. Opps, it's an SLR. 😀

Sorry!

 

[squinza]

Well, in the menatime I found an auction for a (supposedly) CZJ Tessar 50mm/2.8 in M mount.
I received the lens yesterday, seems nicely made BUT if front focuses! Got to open it up...