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Which following 50mm lens would you pick? V2 lux, rigid cron, c-sonnar, Nokton 1.5.


autograph

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Dear friends, I'm in dilemma about getting a 50mm lens for my M Typ 240.

I have 35mm Zeiss Distagon, 75mm Apo summicron.

 

 

And, I can buy following lenses for the same price (1000 dollars) for each.

-Version 2, 50mm Summilux, clean and works perfectly. 

-Rigid 50mm Summicron, clean and works perfectly.

-C Sonnar 50mm Zeiss, almost unused

 

or Nokton 50mm 1.5 Voigtlander last M version, for 540 dollars, almost unused

 

Thanks for replies.

Edited by autograph
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This is perhaps just me, but what I've always found is that no matter which lens I go for initially, I sooner or later become curious about, and am itching to try out, other similar options out there. The differences between the choices are mainly the length of time I'd be able to resist this urge :p

Edited by Rus
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I'd go with the '62 Summilux. I have the v1 Summilux which shares the same great mount, and even the v1 gives nice results. I also have the Rigid (and D.R.), and v. 3 & 5 Summicrons, and the Nokton. Of these I use the v3&5 Summicrons the most. The rigid is lower contrast, and I think the v2 Summilux would be more pleasing. 

The Nokton can be good, but I went through 3 of them and had the last adjusted by DAG to make it right, so there can be a lot of sample variation. The focus ring is uncomfortable to me - I much prefer the older LTM version, and tend to get better images from it as well.

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This is perhaps just me, but what I've always found is that no matter which lens I go for initially, I sooner or later become curious about, and am itching to try out, other similar options out there. The differences between the choices are mainly the length of time I'd be able to resist this urge :p

 

like me :)

 

I would go for Summilux

(even if I own three of different periods already).

 

Thanks.

 

I'd go with the '62 Summilux. I have the v1 Summilux which shares the same great mount, and even the v1 gives nice results. I also have the Rigid (and D.R.), and v. 3 & 5 Summicrons, and the Nokton. Of these I use the v3&5 Summicrons the most. The rigid is lower contrast, and I think the v2 Summilux would be more pleasing. 

The Nokton can be good, but I went through 3 of them and had the last adjusted by DAG to make it right, so there can be a lot of sample variation. The focus ring is uncomfortable to me - I much prefer the older LTM version, and tend to get better images from it as well.

Thanks for your reply, good to read your experience. 

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I mean it is not the version 3 (last non-aspherical summilux). Last pre-asph summilux (ver 3) was produced between 1992-2004.

So far, I am aware of only two versions. The first was produced for only one or two years in the early '60s, and then quickly got superseded by the second, significantly improved version which was produced for more than 40 years. However, this refers to optics only.

 

According to Ken Rockwell, the so-called 'third version' from 1992 has just a re-styled barrel (46 mm filter size, 0.7 m minimum focus distance) but the very same optics as the 1961 version (possibly with improved coatings).

 

Umm ... I guess the improved minimum focusing distance of 0.7 m (formerly 1 m) makes enough of a difference from a user's point of view to consider the 1992 update as a version of its own even though the optics haven't changed.

 

Anyway—given the choices in your entry post, I'd go for the Summilux. However, I'm afraid that sooner or later I might get fed up with the longish minimum focusing distance of 1 m. Being able to focus down to 0.7 m does make surprisingly big a difference.

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Tough choice. Personally I'd go for the Rigid Summicron. Until about 3 years ago I also owned the Summilux, and it was a great lens, but bigger and heavier than I was used to, and I found that I didn't use it very often. These days I'm using the LTM Nokton, as I came across a really good deal on one, especially since I'm using my LTM bodies more than my M2.

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I had Nokton briefly. Purple fringing on digital wide open. I had Rigid it is fine lens, just neutral, with Leica rendering in micro-details. I don't think it should cost 1K$ even now.

I have Jupiter-3 instead of Sonnar, which is too overpriced for itts limitations.

Lux V2 for 1k$ is hard to find. If I had money, I'll get it right away, at least to learn about and sell at easy above purchased price.

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I had Rigid it is fine lens, just neutral, with Leica rendering in micro-details. I don't think it should cost 1K$ even now.

(...)

Lux V2 for 1k$ is hard to find. If I had money, I'll get it right away, at least to learn about and sell at easy above purchased price.

 

 

+1,

both lenses are classics with their own different qualities / rendering. 

Edited by JMF
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Concerning GAS you will end up buying all ;-) At 1k $ I'd opt for the Lux as the Price is good and building is classical. The Nokton is an alternative if you Need the Speed, Sonnar-C renders different and Shows Focus-shift you have to handle. The Cron is also classic lens, compact and good for most situations, that would be me other preferred choice.

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I have both v2 and v3 Summilux 50/1.4. The latter is indeed a different version but aside from its 0.7m focus distance and built-in hood, i hardly see obvious IQ differences, just a bit less vignetting and perhaps a bit less flare and/or more contrast with v3. I prefer the Sonnar 50/1.5 personally but only on TTL cameras because it suffers from focus shift so i would not advise it for use on M cameras, in RF mode at least.

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