Ib M Posted October 27, 2011 Share #1 Posted October 27, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Is there any sense to acquire a ZEISS ZM 50 Sonnar 1.5 lens when I already have a Noctilux f / 0.95, and also summicron 50mm, which would then be sold for the benefit of Zeiss. Is there some sense in it, or is it foolish - love the small DOF and a nice bokeh, but is Noctilux and Zeiss so close that it gives no sense, besides size and weight Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 27, 2011 Posted October 27, 2011 Hi Ib M, Take a look here ZEISS ZM 50 Sonnar 1.5. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
brianv Posted October 27, 2011 Share #2 Posted October 27, 2011 The Sonnar is 10% of the price of the Noctilux, so how much sense does it need to make? I like the ZM Sonnar. Sonnars render differently from Planar formula lenses. The modern Sonnar does a good job of recreating the classic Sonnar look. It attains higher contrast wide-open, and higher-resolution when stopped down. http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=107337 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianv Posted October 28, 2011 Share #3 Posted October 28, 2011 ZM C-Sonnar, wide-open at F1.5 on the Leica M9 nikki_swing_f15 by zeiss_sonnar, on Flickr And a 1938 5cm F1.5 Sonnar "T", converted to Leica Mount, on the Leica M9. nikki_f15, 1938 Sonnar "T" by zeiss_sonnar, on Flickr Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
algrove Posted October 28, 2011 Share #4 Posted October 28, 2011 How many 50's does one need? Hey, guess if you can afford the Noctilux then like the other forum member said-- it's only 10% more for another lens. Heck, you can sell it if you don't like it for close to what you pid for it. I sure like mine.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thompsonkirk Posted October 28, 2011 Share #5 Posted October 28, 2011 You're right – it makes no sense & would be foolish. Kirk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianv Posted October 28, 2011 Share #6 Posted October 28, 2011 Having a Noctilux and C-Sonnar probably makes more sense than having 18 Sonnars. and that is not counting the Sonnar copies. add in the Canon Sonnars, Jupiter Sonnars, Nikon Sonnars... 35? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kittyphoto Posted October 28, 2011 Share #7 Posted October 28, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) ZM Sonnar f1.5 is a great lens.Special character and light weight. Good at its price. But if I had Noct 0.95 I won't trade Noct for Sonnar for sure. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kokoshawnuff Posted October 28, 2011 Share #8 Posted October 28, 2011 When you have a noctilux you can't get any faster, only smaller and more compact. I would keep the cron or even get a summarit (I've had both and they're both great, and cheap when you consider the prices of other leicas), smaller is important when you don't need speed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ib M Posted October 28, 2011 Author Share #9 Posted October 28, 2011 Thanks for the replies - can hear that Carl Zeiss Sonnar is not so special that it justifies a purchase next to Noct. I spend the money on another lens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferfi Posted October 28, 2011 Share #10 Posted October 28, 2011 Hi, It depends. Would you ever carry several 50's together with all the other stuff? Or are there any situations where you would leave the Noctilux at home and use the Sonar instead? What are you missing? If you can explain this most important question here, the community will give you the best advice Finding a solution is a complex process. But at the end you are feeling happy, because you know that you baught exactly the lens you(!!) where looking for. BR Ralph PS: No, I'm no teacher..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
horosu Posted October 28, 2011 Share #11 Posted October 28, 2011 I would say buy it. I have the Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH and still wouldn't sell the C-Sonnar it is just magical: it's like painting with a brush, the tones are superb! Plus: it is much smaller and lighter (I have the LHSA version from MP3: superb, but heavy) so that I tend to have it with me all the time. Keep your Noct when you really need it, otherwise you'll end up with the Sonnar on you camera all the time! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted October 28, 2011 Share #12 Posted October 28, 2011 Buy a lens because of what it delivers for you, not because of the price. A couple of years ago, when I bought my MP, I had the cash for a Summilux. After extensive research I went for the Sonnar. Mine has been optimised by Zeiss at 1.5 and performs faultlessly. It is not a lens for everyone - it has been described as two lenses in one because of the significant difference in rendering wide open and stopped down above f4 - f5.6. I love it because it is light, smooth and fast handling, with a small nub of a focussing lever that makes zone-focussing a breeze. The results are exactly what I want and need. It is welded to my MP in the same way as my 50mm Elmar-M is welded to my M7; both are there for a reason. Oh, and by the way, the answer is you can never have too many 50s... I have trimmed down lately and I still have five... ...but then you see I regard them as brushes. Each is different and each has its place and time. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double Negative Posted October 28, 2011 Share #13 Posted October 28, 2011 I wrote a review of the C Sonnar T* 1,5/50 ZM lens that might be worth a read. Personally, I find it to be a fantastic lens - but yeah, it's not for everyone. If you like character (and it looks like you do with that Nocti) then it's a very worthwhile lens. In a way, it's like having two lenses in one. You can never have too many 50s. At least, that's what I keep telling myself! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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