colonel Posted February 2, 2021 Share #1 Posted February 2, 2021 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) There is no poll system here, so if you post I will keep running total. Plus any comments on what makes this your favourite 50mm lens welcome This is for most used 50mm, not occasional special purpose use. List (sorry if missed, feel free to add) of latest production lenses: 7Artisans f1.1 7Artisans f0.95 Lomography Zenit Jupiter 3+ f1.5 TTArtisan f1.4 TTArtisan f0.95 Voigtlander f1.1 Voigtlander f1.2 Voigtlander f1.5 Voigtlander f1.5 ii Voigtlander f2 APO Voigtlander f3.5 Heliar Zeiss f1.5 C-Sonnar Zeiss f2 Zhony Yi Mitakon M f0.95 Edited February 2, 2021 by colonel 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 2, 2021 Posted February 2, 2021 Hi colonel, Take a look here Your favourite non-Leica go to 50mm. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
roelandinho Posted February 2, 2021 Share #2 Posted February 2, 2021 (edited) Easy: the Zeiss C-Sonnar. Small, light, fast, nice color, good contrast, flare resistent, very nice bokeh (except at 1.5), great build quality and relatively inexpensive. I have owned and used the Leica 50 Summilux asph for a few years and I actually prefer the Sonnar. Edited February 2, 2021 by roelandinho 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedaes Posted February 2, 2021 Share #3 Posted February 2, 2021 Zeiss f2 Planar 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
markhout Posted February 2, 2021 Share #4 Posted February 2, 2021 42 minutes ago, roelandinho said: Easy: the Zeiss C-Sonnar. Small, light, fast, nice color, good contrast, flare resistent, very nice bokeh (except at 1.5), great build quality and relatively inexpensive. I have owned and used the Leica 50 Summilux asph for a few years and I actually prefer the Sonnar. Agreed completely, but only with the EVF due to the Zeiss' focus shift... Would like to add the Nikon 50mm 1.2 AIS if possible (with adapter). That lens shines on my M240 and I enjoy the significantly different 'draw' compared with the C-Sonnar. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted February 2, 2021 Share #5 Posted February 2, 2021 7Artisans f1.1. Super-characterful wide-open but as still really sharp when stopped-down. I bought a black one not long after it was released and liked it so much I bought a chrome one for the other body. The only down-side it has (calibration apart) is that I've never found a way to use both a filter and a lenshood at the same time as there is always cut-off at the extremities of the corners regardless of how I try to circumvent the situation. On my Barnacks, FWIW, my favourite non-Leica is an early '50s all-chrome 'Serenar'-style Canon f1.8. Superb piece of kit. Philip. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roelandinho Posted February 2, 2021 Share #6 Posted February 2, 2021 (edited) 25 minutes ago, markhout said: Agreed completely, but only with the EVF due to the Zeiss' focus shift... For me the focus shift with this lens is very manageable in practice. My copy is optimised for perfect focus at f/2, which I use much more often than f/1.5. Even then, the front focus at f1.5 (because of focus shift) is so very small that it doesn’t really impact my results (especially considering focusing with a rangefinder at 50mm 1.5 in low light is already error prone as it is...). With smaller apertures I can easily compensate the back focus. I am using this lens on film so that’s a factor as well. Btw, a lot has been said about the focus shift of the C-Sonnar while in my experience almost every Leica 35mm lens I have owned and used (Lux pre-FLE, Cron asph, Cron v4, Lux pre-asph) suffers from noticeable (and all very similar) focus shift... Only the 35 Summaron f2.8 did not. Edited February 2, 2021 by roelandinho 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdlaing Posted February 2, 2021 Share #7 Posted February 2, 2021 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) TTArtisans 50 /0.95 I have a lot of fun using it. Edited February 2, 2021 by jdlaing 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sutlore Posted February 2, 2021 Share #8 Posted February 2, 2021 #8 Voigtlander 50/1.5 I I love the chrome design so much. The aperture ring bump feels so good, too. I would share the love with the APO Lanthar later, I have not intesively used it. But initially, very impressive on shapeness at wide open. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith (M) Posted February 2, 2021 Share #9 Posted February 2, 2021 Easy choice for me from a cast of one - C-Sonnar f1.5! Bought some years ago primarily for use with film but has also turned out to be a great performer on M10M. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shirubadanieru Posted February 2, 2021 Share #10 Posted February 2, 2021 1 hour ago, roelandinho said: For me the focus shift with this lens is very manageable in practice. My copy is optimised for perfect focus at f/2, which I use much more often than f/1.5. Even then, the front focus at f1.5 (because of focus shift) is so very small that it doesn’t really impact my results (especially considering focusing with a rangefinder at 50mm 1.5 in low light is already error prone as it is...). With smaller apertures I can easily compensate the back focus. I am using this lens on film so that’s a factor as well. Btw, a lot has been said about the focus shift of the C-Sonnar while in my experience almost every Leica 35mm lens I have owned and used (Lux pre-FLE, Cron asph, Cron v4, Lux pre-asph) suffers from noticeable (and all very similar) focus shift... Only the 35 Summaron f2.8 did not. I must be lucky, or somehow naturally correct for focus shift (maybe it’s my hidden skill lol) because I have literally never had focus shift issues that impact my focus with any of the pre-asph Leica lens (and I’ve used many usually at f2, f4 and f8). At no aperture or distance have I ever noticed focus shift, be it on film or digital...so at least from my experience people care too much about focus shift when in reality it seems to have little to no impact. I have not tried to Sonnar so can’t really say anything about it, so it’s only based on my experience working with Leica lens. On a separate topic, to answer the original question here: - not a true 50mm, but the Rollei Sonnar 40mm f2.8 is a beautiful lens (tiny, nice Sonnar rendering, and fairly affordable) - Nikkor f2 Ltm (lovely rendering, and can focus down to 0.5m) 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roelandinho Posted February 2, 2021 Share #11 Posted February 2, 2021 26 minutes ago, shirubadanieru said: I must be lucky, or somehow naturally correct for focus shift (maybe it’s my hidden skill lol) because I have literally never had focus shift issues that impact my focus with any of the pre-asph Leica lens (and I’ve used many usually at f2, f4 and f8). At no aperture or distance have I ever noticed focus shift, be it on film or digital...so at least from my experience people care too much about focus shift when in reality it seems to have little to no impact. I have not tried to Sonnar so can’t really say anything about it, so it’s only based on my experience working with Leica lens. I do see it when I test it... but for actual photography it’s never really an issue. My point is not that there’s a problem with the Leica lenses, but that there’s too much attention going to the so-called “focus shift problem” of the C-Sonnar. I do believe the older versions of the 50 C-Sonnar were (unfortunately) optimised for perfect focus at f2.8 (instead of f2 which is the current default optimisation), which would make the front focus at f1.5 a lot worse. If you give such a lens to a bokeh junkie who only shoots wide open I can imagine they would have problems. That’s probably where the focus shift problem stories come from... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted February 2, 2021 Share #12 Posted February 2, 2021 None on RFs as i prefer Leica's there. ZM 50/1.5 on mirrorless for reasons explained above and because it doesn't suffer from focus shift on such bodies. Also it is my favorite portrait lens on the digital CL where it replaces my bulkier Leica 75/1.4 on full frame. I won't show portraits sorry but i like this pic on Sony A7s mod. 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! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/317597-your-favourite-non-leica-go-to-50mm/?do=findComment&comment=4131915'>More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted February 2, 2021 Share #13 Posted February 2, 2021 For me it is a tie between my 50/1.8 Canon Serenar and my recently CLA'd 50/2.0 Nikkor HC. The Nikkor has a (non-RF coupled) close focus range down to 18 inches, making it invaluable for nature close-ups. I also have a CV 50/1.5 but I don't use it that often to categorize it as a go-to lens. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BradS Posted February 2, 2021 Share #14 Posted February 2, 2021 (edited) Zeiss 50mm f/2 Planar ZM in fact, I think it is my favorite 50mm lens, period. Edited February 2, 2021 by BradS 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ocean2059 Posted February 2, 2021 Share #15 Posted February 2, 2021 For me, I will reach out to Zeiss 50mm f2,0 Planar ZM, if I don't use Leica M 50mm lenses. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
astrostl Posted February 2, 2021 Share #16 Posted February 2, 2021 - Leica Summilux-M 50/1.4 ASPH. 11891 - TTArtisan M 50/1.4 - Voigtlander VM APO-LANTHAR 50/2 - ZEISS ZM Planar 50/2 I own those. The VM APO is my go-to. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colonel Posted February 2, 2021 Author Share #17 Posted February 2, 2021 37 minutes ago, astrostl said: - Leica Summilux-M 50/1.4 ASPH. 11891 - TTArtisan M 50/1.4 - Voigtlander VM APO-LANTHAR 50/2 - ZEISS ZM Planar 50/2 I own those. The VM APO is my go-to. 1. how do you rate the ttartisan 50 f1.4 ? 2. In terms of pleasant draw (to you eyes) how would you rank these four lenses 3. In terms of general sharpness across the range, how would you rank these four lenses ? rgds Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanGeist Posted February 2, 2021 Share #18 Posted February 2, 2021 I'm totally not a 50mm guy but I have a weakness for the Canon 50mm 1.4 LTM and I regret selling it some years ago. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sinjun Posted February 2, 2021 Share #19 Posted February 2, 2021 51 minutes ago, colonel said: 1. how do you rate the ttartisan 50 f1.4 ? Harpomatic of this forum did a very thorough and informative review of this lens. It can be found at https://www.47-degree.com/focus-shift/ttartisan-50mm-14-review It looks absolutely excellent for the price if you can put up with the size. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Blanko Posted February 2, 2021 Share #20 Posted February 2, 2021 Voigtländer 50/1.2. It has a pleasant bokeh for my taste. Even though I now mostly use the Summilux 50, I think the answer is still allowed, as you asked for our non-Leica lens. 😉 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now