ardbeg Posted March 11, 2020 Share #1 Posted March 11, 2020 Advertisement (gone after registration) Yes, I know - open ended lens buying question but bear with me I’ll provide more specifics. I’ve been in a lens buying / kit reorganization phase for a while now. I have 3 50s (and yes, I shoot with all of them weekly). The three are a Noct 1.0, 50 Lux ASPH (Black Chrome), and a 50 Cron DR. I would like to get one more and wanted suggestions on a lens with a rendering style that did not overlap with the above 3. Other random preferences — no “modern” rendering / asphericals (the 50 Lux is truly awesome but I prefer the look of the other two more). Doesn’t have to be a fast lens. Sharp is great but I will go for better microconstrast over pure sharpness. I previously owned a 50 Lux pre-ASPH, (also a lovely lens) but I ultimately sold it as its rendering overlapped with the Noct to my eyes (and thus it sat on the shelf despite the weight advantage over the Noct). I have no manufacturer bias (Leica, Zeiss, Voigtlander) but attainable in good condition without a treasure hunt is preferable. Thank you in advance for your suggestions. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 11, 2020 Posted March 11, 2020 Hi ardbeg, Take a look here Which non-modern rendering 50?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
01af Posted March 11, 2020 Share #2 Posted March 11, 2020 Elmar! (any of them) 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ko.Fe. Posted March 11, 2020 Share #3 Posted March 11, 2020 Which camera? On film clean Summar is awesome and renders like nothing else. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
a.noctilux Posted March 11, 2020 Share #4 Posted March 11, 2020 Time to discover those old LTM Leica lenses: like Elmar, Summar, Summitar, Hektor, Canon, Serenar, Jupiter, etc. A long life time to try them all if we add those in M mount ( or other mounts + adapters ) ... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianman Posted March 11, 2020 Share #5 Posted March 11, 2020 4 minutes ago, Ko.Fe. said: Which camera? On film clean Summar is awesome and renders like nothing else. I agree... and I really like it on my M9 too! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JMF Posted March 11, 2020 Share #6 Posted March 11, 2020 9 minutes ago, ianman said: I agree... and I really like it on my M9 too! +1 ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
james.liam Posted March 11, 2020 Share #7 Posted March 11, 2020 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) 39 minutes ago, ardbeg said: Yes, I know - open ended lens buying question but bear with me I’ll provide more specifics. I’ve been in a lens buying / kit reorganization phase for a while now. I have 3 50s (and yes, I shoot with all of them weekly). The three are a Noct 1.0, 50 Lux ASPH (Black Chrome), and a 50 Cron DR. I would like to get one more and wanted suggestions on a lens with a rendering style that did not overlap with the above 3. Other random preferences — no “modern” rendering / asphericals (the 50 Lux is truly awesome but I prefer the look of the other two more). Doesn’t have to be a fast lens. Sharp is great but I will go for better microconstrast over pure sharpness. I previously owned a 50 Lux pre-ASPH, (also a lovely lens) but I ultimately sold it as its rendering overlapped with the Noct to my eyes (and thus it sat on the shelf despite the weight advantage over the Noct). I have no manufacturer bias (Leica, Zeiss, Voigtlander) but attainable in good condition without a treasure hunt is preferable. Thank you in advance for your suggestions. Love your scotch, Ardbeg VM 1,2/50. Brilliant lens. Other interesting choices might be the Nikkor 50/1.4 LTM. Great Sonnar. Also, Canon 50/1.8 LTM; tiny, lower contrast but relatively high resolution for a lens of its age. Edited March 11, 2020 by james.liam Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
frame-it Posted March 11, 2020 Share #8 Posted March 11, 2020 plenty to choose from here : http://allphotolenses.com/lenses/systems/c_55.html http://blog.bkspicture.com/review_Jupiter_8_50mm_f2.html https://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2015/01/27/the-kodak-ektanar-f2-8-lens-on-the-sony-a7r-by-chris-peters/ https://lens-db.com/konica-hexanon-50mm-f24-1997/ https://www.casualphotophile.com/2017/09/05/nikon-nikkor-h-c-50mm-f2-ltm-lens-review-a-leica-alternative-thats-more-than-just-a-copy/ https://www.35mmc.com/08/07/2018/canon-50mm-f-1-4-ltm/ https://lens-db.com/smc-pentax-l-43mm-f19-special-2000/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted March 11, 2020 Share #9 Posted March 11, 2020 50/3.5 Red Scale Elmar. Canon 50/1.8. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted March 11, 2020 Share #10 Posted March 11, 2020 Elmar-M 50/2.8 Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! LeicaM_5028_specs.pdf 4 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! LeicaM_5028_specs.pdf ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/307336-which-non-modern-rendering-50/?do=findComment&comment=3929354'>More sharing options...
ardbeg Posted March 11, 2020 Author Share #11 Posted March 11, 2020 3 hours ago, Ko.Fe. said: Which camera? On film clean Summar is awesome and renders like nothing else. M10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ardbeg Posted March 11, 2020 Author Share #12 Posted March 11, 2020 Also, any thoughts on the CV 50 Heliar 3.5? That said, I am intrigued by the LTM suggestions but how hard are they to find in reasonably good condition? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
a.noctilux Posted March 11, 2020 Share #13 Posted March 11, 2020 8 minutes ago, ardbeg said: Also, any thoughts on the CV 50 Heliar 3.5? That said, I am intrigued by the LTM suggestions but how hard are they to find in reasonably good condition? LTM Leitz/Leica lenses are plenty available, so take time to choose best condition units ... Elmar 3.5/50 : about 360.000 made from 1926 till 1962 , so I have some of different periods and older lenses not coated are NOT less desirable and can give lovely results. Summar 2/50 : can be harder to find in good conditions as the glass type used prone to haze and/or scratched, I have two, one coated but not really matter as Summar are character lenses coated or not. Summarit 1.5/50: this lens is the most "character" lens not easy to learn how to use it at best ... And much much more in Leitz/Leica or other brands Canon, Nikon, Zeiss, etc. ... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ko.Fe. Posted March 11, 2020 Share #14 Posted March 11, 2020 14 minutes ago, ardbeg said: Also, any thoughts on the CV 50 Heliar 3.5? That said, I am intrigued by the LTM suggestions but how hard are they to find in reasonably good condition? It is big lens for its aperture. And deliberately made with old LTM lenses quirks, like too long focus throw, which leads fingers, focus tab to the VF window. I could take it with old Summar, but modern lens... CV Heliar 3.5 is known as very sharp lens and smooth rendering. No "retro" to be found on images. F2 version of this lens is not sharp lens at all, with very smooth OOF, but you have 50 1.0 with the same. Summar is interesting lens due to absence (most of them) of coating, which handles contrast differently. But it also mutes colors in OOF, at least on film. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted March 11, 2020 Share #15 Posted March 11, 2020 50 minutes ago, ardbeg said: Also, any thoughts on the CV 50 Heliar 3.5? That said, I am intrigued by the LTM suggestions but how hard are they to find in reasonably good condition? I have the ltm Nickel Heliar 3.5 and like it a lot. There is now a newer M mount version (black and chrome, different appearance) with the same nice optics. I don't believe it has a focus tab, and does focus closer (0.7 meter instead of 1 meter). The front of the lens still rotates as you focus as on old Elmars. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Del-Uks Posted March 11, 2020 Share #16 Posted March 11, 2020 I’m surprised nobody mentioned the Summicron-M 50mm f/2 IV (or V)... it’s a phenomenal lens and although I also own a Noct f/1 and a Lux pre-Asph vers. III, I would never get rid of my much loved Cron. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted March 11, 2020 Share #17 Posted March 11, 2020 7 hours ago, 01af said: Elmar! (any of them) + 1 with a Red Scale (or a 3,5 in BM) as the preferred. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ko.Fe. Posted March 11, 2020 Share #18 Posted March 11, 2020 33 minutes ago, Del-Uks said: I’m surprised nobody mentioned the Summicron-M 50mm f/2 IV (or V)... it’s a phenomenal lens and although I also own a Noct f/1 and a Lux pre-Asph vers. III, I would never get rid of my much loved Cron. I didn’t find very significant difference between this lens and Cron OP has mentioned. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Del-Uks Posted March 11, 2020 Share #19 Posted March 11, 2020 4 minutes ago, Ko.Fe. said: I didn’t find very significant difference between this lens and Cron OP has mentioned. To my experience Crons vers. II and vers. IV are two very different beast. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted March 11, 2020 Share #20 Posted March 11, 2020 6 hours ago, lct said: Elmar-M 50/2.8... I'm intrigued by this lens, lct, and have been trying to find out a bit more info from those with experience of the 'old' and the 'new' versions. Would you say that it has the same underlying characteristics of the original Elmar-M but with the added advantage(?) of a shorter focus-throw and (possibly) more modern coatings? Any other major differences (infinity-lock focus tab apart)? Philip. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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