Lens suggestions for 50mm on CL

[justbananas]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Well,... I'm still stewing on this decision.

I did find an M to L adapter online used for a decent price, so I picked that up.

I've narrowed my choices I think to either the 50mm Summilux ASPH 1.4 or the Zeiss Sonnar 1.5 with the Plannar trailing in position 3.

Part of me want's to believe that the Summilux is the better investment for the future while at the same time being a quality lens.  My wallet says "the Sonnar has character"

I've located a used Summilux for just under $3000 from a trusted source, of course it's silver, but I'm not sure that matters to me.  I considered renting them all, but seems like a waste of money.

Talk me off the ledge...

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[lct]

2 hours ago, justbananas said:

[...] Part of me want's to believe that the Summilux is the better investment for the future while at the same time being a quality lens.  My wallet says "the Sonnar has character"
I've located a used Summilux for just under $3000 from a trusted source, of course it's silver, but I'm not sure that matters to me.  I considered renting them all, but seems like a waste of money. [...]

Renting is the better solution. Otherwise if you want sharpness at full aperture, go for the Summilux asph. If you prefer a bit of sofness there the Sonnar is the way to go. Size wise the Sonnar feels significantly smaller and lighter on the digital CL. Now remember that the Sonnar suffers from focus shift. It won't be  problem on the CL but it could become so if you intend to use i on in RF mode on a digital M.

Edited August 18, 2019 by lct

[justbananas]

3 hours ago, lct said:

Renting is the better solution. Otherwise if you want sharpness at full aperture, go for the Summilux asph. If you prefer a bit of sofness there the Sonnar is the way to go. Size wise the Sonnar feels significantly smaller and lighter on the digital CL. Now remember that the Sonnar suffers from focus shift. It won't be  problem on the CL but it could become so if you intend to use i on in RF mode on a digital M.

Yep, then there's that focus shift...   I'll likely end up with an M body sometime.  I'm kinda waiting to see what Fuji releases this October.  If they release an X-Pro 3, and it's compelling.. I might get one to play with before an M.  So it might be well into 2020 before I go there (m body).  I've seen many images from the Sonnar, and I like them.  I believe sharpness is overrated any way - but the lens has no where to go.  I don't want to deal with focus shift later, and I doubt the lens will hold its value too well.    

I pulled out my Canon 80D APS-C camera today and a 50mm.  It's a pretty tight crop.  I'm going to keep shooting it for a few days still.  My subject Is usually a pretty fast moving kid.  With my current 35TL, a lot of them time I feel like I end up with a photo that just has too much width, and I can only crop so far before the image comes apart and looks bad.  Hence my thinking of a 50mm lens to get that extra reach.  It's extra all right.

Edited August 19, 2019 by justbananas

[lct]

4 hours ago, justbananas said:

I don't want to deal with focus shift later, and I doubt the lens will hold its value too well.

Then the Summilux 50/1.4 pre-asph (preferably v3) could be made for you. Softer than the asph version at full aperture with no significant focus shift. It is also a bit shorter than the asph version. It is not as compact as the Sonnar 50/1.5 though.