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Is 50/2 a good lens on M8?


super7668

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With a film M I always liked the 50mm. It was my normal lens and I never went anywhere without it. Now that I have the M8 the 50 is still the lens that is on the camera more then any other. It all depends on what type of shootiing you do and what focal length you like for that type of shooting.

Someone else said this and it is true for me also. "I find that the lenses I used most with film are still the most used lenses with the M8, even with the crop factor".

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Guest tummydoc

I have more 50mm Leica lenses than any other focal length, and used that focal length more than any other before the M8. Since the M8 I do not carry a 50 anymore at all. The 66.5mm effective focal length to me is in no-man's land. Heretofore 75mm had been a focal length of little usefulness to me (indeed, it was chosen only because Dr. Mandler was charged with creating an f/1.4 lens >50mm, and 75 was the longest that could practically be made that did not obscure most of the viewfinder) but with the M8 crop has usurped a 90mm in my bag.

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I love the 50mm lens on the M8. With the crop factor its just that little bit longer effective focal length - great for isolating what I want in a picture. Its sharp, its fast, its great wide open and nice bokeh.

 

My other most used lenses are the 28 and 75, so the 50 is a good pick in the middle although it does get used less than the other two, probably just because it is in the middle!

 

A real advantage over 28 and 35mm f2 lenses is it's much less expensive!

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It's interesting how some of us find the 50mm very useful on the M8, and some don't. I was recently in Yellowstone for a vacation. I debated taking my 50 'Cron with me. Eventually I decided to. I'm glad I did. I used it a lot more than I thought I would.

 

50mm is my favorite focal length on film. I find I use 35mm most on the M8, but 50mm comes in a reasonable second place. It has a definite telephoto-ish personality on the M8, but not like a 75 or a 90. If you're a wide-angle type of person who likes to get really close to your subjects, you might not like the 50. If you were a 50mm type of person with film, you may find that with an M8, the 50 complements a 35 and/or 28 nicely.

 

You really don't need to code 50mm lenses, unless you really want the focal length in the EXIF data. The cyan corner issue doesn't really come into play for practical purposes until 35mm and wider.

 

Some people are trying to get $1000.00 for recent Summicrons on "The Auction Site." You can do better if you look for the black 1970s and 1980s versions that take a detachable hood. The 1980s version has the same optical formula as the most recent one, but has a focusing tab. They can go for $400 to $600 for a good sample. The 1970s model has a knurled focusing ring, and is a little less contrasty wide open, but still an excellent lens.

 

Avoid the Dual-Range, which won't work on the M8. The old collapsible, which is a good lens if in good shape, but many samples are worn, hazy or have coating marks. The chrome "Rigid" from the 50s and 60s is a good lens if found in good shape, but beware of haze, wear and cleaning marks. It's also commanding a premium price these days.

 

--Peter

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It is not the most expensive 50mm from Leica, but by far the best 50mm lens. That´s what they say... With my experience I agree. Wide open it is already stunning, if you stop down it´s pretty close to perfect.

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