Your pick for "good" M mount 50mm lens

[Sierra Club]

As in the title of this thread - I'm looking to equip my trusty M4-2 with a good-but-not-stellar and *reasonably priced* 50mm focal length lens.

I'm very happy with the quality and imaging characteristics of my CV 35mm f/2.5 Skopar.
I did some research on Voigtlander's offering in the 50mm focal length.
Heliar seems interesting but I'd really prefer black finish.
However, I'm also leaning more towards trying something from the classic Leica/Zeiss glass (something from the 80s maybe?).

Doesn't have to be fast, doesn't need to be asph, small and simple just like my 35 would be the best.

I have my eyes on a German made 50mm Cron V3 but the price is not really appealing and I'm not exactly sure if this particular sample is technically sound...

I'd like to hear your recommendations 🙂

 

[Nitroplait]

Cron 50 v3 is great (but not stellar) I love mine. I don’t know the current pricing but I suspect a CV or Zeiss will give much more value for money.

 

[retinax]

I'd look at old ltm lenses from Canon, Minolta etc, and perhaps also FSU lenses. Pretty much all good and not too expensive. It's hard to go very wrong with 50s, far less dogs than among old wide angles I think.

 

[keytarjunkie]

There's so many! Why not the 50mm f/2.5 Color Skopar with a LTM adapter? Tiny, black, similar to your 35mm f/2.5. Came out in the early 00's.

Voigtlander's about to release their new 50mm f/2 APO in M-mount, and just refreshed their 50mm f/1.5 Nokton. But these lenses are $950-1000 new. Maybe that's too much.

The Zeiss ZM 50's - f/1.5 Sonnar and f/2 Planar - are very different to each other, but both compelling lenses. They debuted in the mid 00's and are very popular here, just watch out for "wobble". Zeiss wasn't making M-mount lenses in the 80's. If you want classic German-made Zeiss Sonnar or Tessar lenses, you will need to go back to the 50's and get an adapter from Zeiss Ikon Contax to Leica. If you're looking at lenses from this time period, you might as well consider the Nikkors, Canons, and other Japanese 50mm lenses, some of which are pretty interesting.

Leica Elmar 50mm f/2.8 (two versions) are both popular here too. Quite a different rendering from the crons and luxes, I think they are Tessar-related?

 

[Ko.Fe.]

If you are happy with 35 2.5 CV CS, why not get 50 2.5 CV CS? Small lens as well.

Cron 50 v3 has most awful focus block construction among lenses I have seen and opened to clean and lubricate. If you like to wrestle long focus throw with stiff focus ring, it is your thing.

For classic Leica rendering I recommend Elmar-M 50 2.8. Partially black ones are available.

 

[Godfrey]

As in the title of this thread - I'm looking to equip my trusty M4-2 with a good-but-not-stellar and *reasonably priced* 50mm focal length lens.

I'm very happy with the quality and imaging characteristics of my CV 35mm f/2.5 Skopar.
I did some research on Voigtlander's offering in the 50mm focal length.
Heliar seems interesting but I'd really prefer black finish.
However, I'm also leaning more towards trying something from the classic Leica/Zeiss glass (something from the 80s maybe?).

Doesn't have to be fast, doesn't need to be asph, small and simple just like my 35 would be the best.

I have my eyes on a German made 50mm Cron V3 but the price is not really appealing and I'm not exactly sure if this particular sample is technically sound...

I'd like to hear your recommendations 🙂

Well, the Voigtländer Color Skopar 50mm f/2.5 is a lovely lens, both black and chrome are available, and it's small, handy, and not too expensive. I bought a new one for $350 or thereabouts in 2011-2012, and continue to use it happily on my M4-2 or (digital) CL.

I also have a current series Summicron-M 50mm f/2 that I bought second hand in 2017 for about $1700. A very nice lens, works very well indeed on M-D 262 and CL, and of course the M4-2. Probably pricier and newer than you are interested in, from what I read above. I don't know how it compares to the v3 'Cron, honestly, although I probably had one of those once upon a time. I think I also would consider the Elmar-M 50mm f/2.8 from the '90s ... available at prices between $600 and $1000, and a very nice performer from the photos I've seen. On the M4-2, you can collapse it nicely for carrying ... an advantage if you want your M4-2 to be jacket-pocketable for carrying.

G

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The original Cosina Voigtlander 50/1.5 in LTM is available in Black finish and is a fine performer at a reasonable price. I paid under $400 for mine with an LTM to M adapter.

Zeiss was not making lenses in Leica mount during the 1980s, this is a more recent development. The C-Sonnar 50/1.5 is the best Sonnar formula 50mm lens you will find.

 

[pushto1600]

the 50mm ZM Planar is my wager for the best value in 50mm lenses right now. I saw a (admittedly unscientific) test where the Planar was pitted against the 50 APO-Summicron and I, as well as everyone else in the comments, had no idea which was which. You can scoop one up right now for a little over $500 on ebay. I also hear that the Canon LTM 50mm 1.4 is great for the money. The "Japanese Summilux" as some call it... And of course that Voigtlander 50mm 3.5... a little slow but it's only had good things said about it.

 

[raid]

There are numerous 50mm lenses that are excellent overall and that don't cost more than $500 when bought used.

The Elmar 50/2.8 is one of my favorite lenses, but I also like using a rigid Summicron or (what Brian has mentioned above) the CV 50/1.5 ltm. I have read many good things about the CV 50/2.5.

Most 50mm lenses are excellent lenses.

 

[David Hughes]

As the others have said or implied; it is difficult to think of a bad 50mm...


Regards, David




PS (Edit) If you listed every coated lens ever made in 50mm and then picked one with a pin from the list you would probably find some excellent examples of what can be done with it in these forums. But sit down when you do it because you might get some shocks after reading about them on the internet elsewhere...

 

[Sierra Club]

Awesome stuff! Thank you all for your opinions and advice, I appreciate that 🙂

It seems that the ones mentioned most frequently are:

- 50mm f/2.5 Color Skopar with an LTM adapter

I have to admit that I've never heard about this lens before but from quick google search it does seem like a really good candidate.
I take it that this lens was not produced in the M mount version and would require an LTM-M adapter, right?

- Leica Elmar 50mm f/2.8 (two versions)

This was my second pick right after VC Heliar. It seems to be very similar in size (when collapsed) to the above mentioned Skopar and - indeed - a pocketable 4-2 & 50 setup does appleal to me greatly so this is definitely a plus 🙂
It looks like the black version is more rare than the silver one, would that be a fair assessment?

- Zeiss Sonnar/Planar

I was thinking about these and also read that there are either focus shift issues or lens barrel wobble.
They also seem to be slightly larger (even at modest speed of 2.8) than either Skopar or Elmar. IQ is probably on par with Elmar?

Would you say that out of these three 50CV would be the best in terms value for the price? I guess that in terms of IQ, Elmar would be the top pick?

Thank you again for your informative comments.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Yes, you will need 50mm LTM to M adapter. You could find original Viogtlander or Leitz made. Some MiC ones are no good. If you'll go less expensive route, get one with free return policy via Amazon.

Elmar-M 50 2.8 is the last version of this lens. And it is as common in black with metal barrel as one in chrome.

I won't compare CV CS 50 2.5 to this lens, but overall CV CS 50 2.5 is going to be more compact and with better handling. IMO. It is lovely, cute lens and here is no bad fifties as it was mentioned. Just some are better than others 🙂.

 

[KM-25]

I have had a fair number of M mount 50's over the years and I have settled on a pair of 50 Summicrons. I have a 50/2 Rigid that lives on my M3 and a current 50 Summicron in black for my M6 / M10-P, both are all I will ever really want in Leica.

But if money were a consideration then hands down my choice would be the 50/2 Planar. The size, weight, sharpness and price make it the no brainer entry into the M mount 50's in my opinion.

 

[agentlossing]

I had the CV 50mm f3.5 for a little while, though I hadn't been in the market for a fifty when I bought the kit I bought, and I sold it on for a 35mm f2.5. I did find the Heliar fifty to be super well-made, just a little bit fiddly to extend and get settled in the locked position, but it also makes the camera nice and portable when it's collapsed. As for results, the images I took looked superb.

 

[jmonat7]

Zeiss Sonnar/Planar

I was thinking about these and also read that there are either focus shift issues or lens barrel wobble.
They also seem to be slightly larger (even at modest speed of 2.8) than either Skopar or Elmar. IQ is probably on par with Elmar?

I would recommend giving the Zeiss ZM line a serious look as it is the best bang for your buck out there.

I have owned a handful of Zeiss ZM lenses and haven't ever had the lens wobble issue. It is not a common issue to come across. In terms of focus shift, it is only the Sonnar that suffers from the focus shift issues. Both Zeiss lenses will definitely be larger than the elmar or skoper for one big reason, they are faster. Modern Leica equivalents at f1.4 and f2 are nearly the same size as the Zeiss ZM Sonnar and Planar, with the Sonnar actually being more compact than the Leica offering in terms of VF blockage (there's none) and the Planar has minor VF blockage but it doesn't enter the 50mm framelines.

To get the Sonnar out of the way, I wouldn't compare it to anything other than another Sonnar lens because that's what it is, unashamedly so. It is a specialty lens.

The Planar IQ will run circles around the Skopar and Elmar. It is most similar in image quality to the most modern summicrons and as someone else mentioned, it even rivals the APO. All while coming in at $500-550 on the used market.

Build quality is also superb on all Zeiss ZM lenses, about equal to voigtlander, but will fall short in comparison to Leica.

 

[David Hughes]

Looking at these posts reminded me that there's the new Jupiter-3 available and if my original is anything to go by it should be OK but I've not heard about its performance and searches usually throw up the old aluminium ones...


So, has anyone who owns one got an opinion; it seems a bargain.


Regards, David

 

[santino]

Is it still a available? I thought it was a limited series...

 

[raid]

Looking at these posts reminded me that there's a new Jupiter-3 available and if my original is anything to go by it should be OK but I've not heard about its performance and searches usually throw up the old aluminium ones...


So, has anyone who owns one got an opinion; it seems a bargain.


Regards, David

Brian S loves it. I wonder where you can still find one for sale. It may be out of stock. Maybe finding a used one is the way to go?

 

[raid]

The original Cosina Voigtlander 50/1.5 in LTM is available in Black finish and is a fine performer at a reasonable price. I paid under $400 for mine with an LTM to M adapter.

Zeiss was not making lenses in Leica mount during the 1980s, this is a more recent development. The C-Sonnar 50/1.5 is the best Sonnar formula 50mm lens you will find.

How do you rate your J-3+ in comparison with the C-Sonnar?

 

[David Hughes]

Thanks, I've looked on eBay and there were one or two in amongst the old ones. Example:_
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lens-Jupiter-3-1-5-50mm-Lomography-Zenit-Russia-L39-M-effect-Bokeh-NEW-BOX/174515622928?_trkparms=aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D225114%26meid%3D43fef8dadb7b4b30a88e5fb30dcf8e17%26pid%3D100623%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D5%26sd%3D363121987881%26itm%3D174515622928%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DDefaultOrganic%26brand%3DJupiter&_trksid=p2047675.c100623.m-1

I have an old one (late 50's) on my Leningrad and like it very much. I was using it this summer at f/1.5 to test it on the M9 and would show the test shots but my wife has used her veto...

Regards, David

PS I searched on Jupiter-3 and then sorted them by total price, starting with the dearest to find them.