Your Top Five 50mm lenses (RF)

[dof]

Ah, the 50. My long-time favorite focal length. I've used several of them. Here are my favorites:

Summilux-M e46 f1.4
APO-Summicron f2.0
Zeiss C-Sonnar f1.5

 

[zuiko85]

I only have one ICL RF, a M4-2 and one lens, a FSU N-61 50mm lens, (well, it's marked 52mm, close enough).
So....I guess that makes it my top lens. Cannot comment on any other 50 for RF, never owned any other 50.

 

[hendriphile]

In order of acquisition:

1) Voigtlander Color-Skopar f2.8 (circa 1960)
2) DR Summicron
3) Summilux pre-ASPH type 2
4) Noctilux f.095
5) Apo-Summicron

 

[kiemchacsu]

It seems that the 50/2 Rigid (DR) appears in most of the lists.
Sometimes I regret that I sold mine but 50mm is not my frequent focal length to justify to keep one.
Having said that, my favorit list is based on what I have used:
- 50mm Summicron Rigid
- 50mm Summicron IV
- 50mm Summicron I (Collapsible)

P/S I now own an Nikkor 50/2 HC (cheap enough) just in case I miss the 50mm focal length

 

[pyeh]

This is a great idea for a refinement of the recent thread for favourite lenses. I love the 50 focal length. Of the ones I have or have used, my faves are, in order:
Leica APO Summicron Asph
Zeiss C-Sonnar 50/1.5
Leica Summicron v1 collapsible
Leica Summilux v1
Leica Summicron Dual Range

Let me just say, the ones that I have used and have never grabbed me are:
All the other Leica Summicron 50 versions
Zeiss 50/2 Planar
Leica Summilux 50 Asph

There are a few others which I have found interesting and fun, but not good:
MS Optical Sonnetar 50/1.1
Canon 0.95

 

[bluesun267]

It seems that the 50/2 Rigid (DR) appears in most of the lists.
Sometimes I regret that I sold mine but 50mm is not my frequent focal length to justify to keep one.
Having said that, my favorit list is based on what I have used:
- 50mm Summicron Rigid
- 50mm Summicron IV
- 50mm Summicron I (Collapsible)

P/S I now own an Nikkor 50/2 HC (cheap enough) just in case I miss the 50mm focal length

Take out that Nikkor and do some work with it. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. I used the f2 before the f1.4 version and they are pretty much identical at equal apertures. I think the f2 is a very underrated lens. Also, unlike the Summicron collapsible, the Nikkors seem to do great things in color and black and white (Summicron V1 is fabulous in B/W, very lacklustre in color IMO).

 

[bluesun267]

This is a great idea for a refinement of the recent thread for favourite lenses. I love the 50 focal length. Of the ones I have or have used, my faves are, in order:
Leica APO Summicron Asph
Zeiss C-Sonnar 50/1.5
Leica Summicron v1 collapsible
Leica Summilux v1
Leica Summicron Dual Range

Let me just say, the ones that I have used and have never grabbed me are:
All the other Leica Summicron 50 versions
Zeiss 50/2 Planar
Leica Summilux 50 Asph

There are a few others which I have found interesting and fun, but not good:
MS Optical Sonnetar 50/1.1
Canon 0.95

I agree about the other versions of the Summicron. Though I never used the V3 or APO, the V4 just had too many odd reflections of light sources in nighttime shots (ha, I'm saying this realizing I put the Nikkor SC in my list...:angel🙂. I wanted to like V4 in the worst way, and for sure it was sharp. But ultimately, esp. in B/W, the DR Rigid or Collapsible win).

 

[pyeh]

bluesun, I also wanted to like those other Summicrons. I had the v2 (non DR version of DR) and v5(current non-APO Asph version). I think the v4 is the same optically as the V5. Like you I haven't had a go with the v3. The v5 was just a bit bland for me and I let go of the v2 because it the same as the DR but without that distinguishing closeup capacity.
The APO Asph is a very special lens, as people say, but some of the adulation I'm sure is because these same people look for specialness because of its reputation and price.

 

[Matthew Runkel]

50s are a vice I have allowed myself. In no particular order, I find these five consistently produce images I find special in one way or another:

Summilux v.1
Noctilux f/1.0
Elmar f/3.5 (M-mount)
Elmar f/3.5 (LTM, uncoated)
Summicron v.3

Others that didn't make the list:

Summilux ASPH - the all-rounder I reach for less often than expected
Summilux v.2 E46 - unrivaled haptics
Summicron v.5 - my copy had unpredictable "flare" caused by internal reflections
Summitar "dog leg" aperture blades version - did produce the single most "3-D" photo I can remember taking
Elmar f/2.8 (original version)

 

[santino]

Modern Look: IV Summicron.
Vintage with character: J8
Vintage, Correct Look: Industar 50

 

[Erik van Straten]

optical:
1. Elmar 50mm f/3.5 first uncoated version
2. Summicron 50mm f/2 rigid
3. Summicron 50mm f/2 collapsible
4. Cosina Voigtländer Color Skopar 50mm f/2.5
5. Summilux 50mm f/1.4 v1

ergonomics:
1. Cosina Voigtländer Color Skopar 50mm f/2.5 black paint
2. Summicron-M 50mm f2 v4 chrome (tabbed)
3. Summicron 50mm f2 rigid black paint
4. Summicron 50mm f/2 collapsible chrome
5. Elmar 50mm f/3.5 v1 (LTM) nickel

Erik.

Leica M3, Color Skopar 50mm f/2.5, 400-2TMY/Adox MCC 110:

 

[Bingley]

I've owned quite a few 50s over the years and still have a bunch. The ones that I currently gravitate to are:

1. Summitar
2. Voigtlander Color Skopar 50/2.5
3. Summicron 50 v. III
4. Canon 50/1.5

Two more may get added to the list as I become more familiar with them:

5. Nikkor-HC 50/2.0
6. Zeiss Planar 50/2.0

Honorable mention:

7. Leitz Elmar 50/3.5 LTM
8. Canon 50/1.8

 

[raid]

Many years ago, I did some 50mm lens comparisons, and with Roland's assistance, the results were shown at his website.

https://ferider.smugmug.com/Technical/Raids-50mm-Tests

RFF members mailed me their lenses. It even included a Nikkor 50/1.1 and a Leica 50/1.0 ... etc. Good stuff!
I used a Bessa T with film then.

 

[Greyscale]

I have only ever used five 50s. So, in no particular order:

Summicron V4
Summicron collapsible LTM
Eleven O’clock Elmar
Chrome Serenar 50/1.8

That leaves out the chrome Elmar f3.5, because I have not used it enough since it had a CLA. And I have a black Canon 50/1.8 that has not been in the rotation yet.

 

[rolfe]

Summicron DR
Summilux ASPH
C-Sonnar f1.5
Nokton ASPH f1.5
Jupiter 3

 

[rfaspen]

All right. I'll play.
I've used all of these, but only own a few of them "permanently".

Not ranked in order of "best". They each excel at one thing or another and that's why they are listed.
1. Summicron v4
2. Canon 50/1.4
3. Summilux e46
4. Jupiter-3/Pre-war Sonnar 50/1.5
5. Industar-22 (yes, I said I-22)😱

Honorable mentions:
Canon 50/1.8 -- my copy has stiff focus and aperture. Otherwise a true sleeper
Summilux ASPH -- Almost too perfect, but I still hated to give it back to its owner
Elmar 50/3.5 -- the obvious choice for a sleek Barnack package

A few 50's I'd like to try based on what I've seen and read:
Canon 50/1.2 LTM. I have a newer FDn version of the 1.2 but don't use it. I'd use the RF version.
Canon 50/0.95...
... and while we're at it, a Noctilux -- not necessarily the 1.2, but either 1.0 or 0.95 would be nice to hold.
Oh, and maybe that first Voigtlander Nokton, the one that came with a Prominent. Seems a little unique.

 

[music_healing]

Summilux 50mm preasph E46
Miyazaki Sonnetar
Summilux 50mm ASPH

 

[Freakscene]

Noctilux
Noctilux
Noctilux
Noctilux
Noctilux

 

[teddy]

For me the most sentimental is the Zuiko, but all of the my favourite

1. Summicron 50/2 DR - beautiful articulate rendering for b&w
2. Summicron 50/2 Collapsible - same as DR just more classic
3. Summicron R 50/2 Type 1 - wonderful creamy rendering
4. Summicron R 50/2 Type 2 - superlative for color
5. Olympus OM Zuiko 50/1.4 MC - wonderful handling and contrast

 

[kshapero]

It's better if I just list what I have:

Voigtlander 50mm f1.1 Nokton VM lens
Voigtlander 50mm f3.5 Heliar Vintage Line VM lens
Voigtlander 50mm f2.0 Heliar Classic VM lens (Limited Edition)
Voigtlander 50mm f3.5 Heliar with LTM adaptor lens (Limited Edition)
Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f2 ZM lens

Of these the Voigtlander 50mm f1.1 Nokton VM lens is my favorite because of the wonderful things it does. The Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f2 ZM lens is my work horse 50mm. The 50mm f3.5 Heliar Vintage Line VM lens is special - sharp as can be, nice when wide open as well; never disapoints. My least favs are the other two Heliars because I'm not so fond of collapsable lenses; I mainly keep them because they're parts of limited edition camera sets that I own..

A dream team.