I have too many 50mm lenses. Do you too?

raid · 11-09-2005

I am having too many 50mm lenses in LTL and M mounts, and I wonder if this is a general phenomenum among users of rangefinder cameras. I seem to be owning the following 50mm lenses:

M Mount:
1. Summicron 50/2 rigid first version
2. Summicron 50/2 collapsible in M m

LTM Mount:
1. Canon 50/1.2
2. Canon 50/1.8
3. Canon 50/2.8
4. Nikon 50/2
5. Zeiss 50/2
6+ Russian

I never use the Russian lenses or the Canon 50/2.8. These lenses came with cameras and I did not go out to buy them. I read posting by photographers who state that they would never use such a boring lens, but I like the 50 lens perspective.

The Summicrons are excellent lenses overall and they keep their value for potential resale if desired one day (I doubt it!). Both are high resolution leneses, with the colalpsible one having lower contrast, based on my perception. Maybe I am wrong here.

Canon has nice lenses that seem to be ignored by some Leica users. Is it the lack of prestige or lack of perfomance? I find my Canon lenses sharp and contrasty enough. The 50/1.8 is a great overall performer and the 50/1.2 is not bad at all even wide open for certain type of photos.

The Nikon 50/2 is also a fine peformer. It is very well built and is a sharp lens. As usual, Nikon lenses cost more for same focal length than Canon counterparts.

My last one, the Zeiss, is my current "favorite" for exploration. It is a pre-war version and has just been adjusted by DAG. That's my experience with 50 lenses.

FrankS · 11-09-2005

Rover, we have a new buddy!

FrankS · 11-09-2005

Raid, is that Zeiss 50mm lens LTM or Contax rangefinder mount?

I've got:
Summicron version 2 (black)
Summicron collapsible
Summitar collapsible
Summarit
+4 different Russians in LTM

in Contax mount:
CZJ prewar f1.5
CZJ prewar f2
1959 Jupiter 8
1980 Heliios 103

raid · 11-09-2005

[quote=FrankS]Raid, is that Zeiss 50mm lens LTM or Contax rangefinder mount?

Frank: Actually, it is one of the few 50/2 lenses made by Zeiss in LTM. It would not focus properly when I bought it, so I sent it to DAG to have it adjusted. I am intrigued by its history. Aren't old lenses really cool.

FPjohn · 11-09-2005

Hello:

There are strong partisans of Canon RF lens on these fora. Is your Canon F2.8 50mm the type 1 or the 11/111? My type 1 is excellent with lots of pop.

yours
Frank

raid · 11-09-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by FPjohn

Hello:

There are strong partisans of Canon RF lens on these fora. Is your Canon F2.8 50mm the type 1 or the 11/111? My type 1 is excellent with lots of pop.

yours
Frank

Hi Frank: I'm afraid I don't know the types of Canon 50/2.8. How can I tell them apart? Does your 50/2.8 give you nice results? Is it similar to an Elmar?

dexdog · 11-10-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by raid amin

Hi Frank: I'm afraid I don't know the types of Canon 50/2.8. How can I tell them apart? Does your 50/2.8 give you nice results? Is it similar to an Elmar?

canonrangefinder.com, the creation of Peter K is the best on-line resource for identifying Canon RF lenses.

wlewisiii · 11-09-2005

You can never have too many 50's

BTW, how much for the 50/2.8?

William

raid · 11-09-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by wlewisiii

You can never have too many 50's

BTW, how much for the 50/2.8?

William

William: I have no clue; pm to me if you have an offer :-)

rover · 11-09-2005

The clan is strong!!!

Have a look here Raid.
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/foru...ht=50mm+lenses

Vics · 02-16-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by rover

The clan is strong!!!

Have a look here Raid.
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/foru...ht=50mm+lenses

That thread was up when I first joined! I've never forgotten the line by Jason Spregner, "50's collect in the corners like dust bunnies."

back alley · 11-09-2005

didn't we just do an inventory of our 50's?

joe

Gabriel M.A. · 11-09-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by back alley

didn't we just do an inventory of our 50's?

Yes, I thought so too...

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/foru...ad.php?t=12739

Benjamin Marks · 11-09-2005

Leica M:

50 Summicron
50 DR Summicron
50 Elmarit (coll.)
50 Summarit
50 Noctilux
50/1.4 Asph
50/1.4
50 Summarit
50 Zeiss Ikon
50 Hexanon-M
50/1.5 Canon
50 Nockton
50/2 J-8

Non-Leica M:

Nikon 50/1.4 AF
Nikon 50/1.4 AI
Nikon 50/1.8-E
Pentax 50/1.4 M42
Pentax 55/2 M42
Canon 50/1.4 AF
Leica 50/2 R
50/4 Hassie

Proof that this is a sickness is that I am daily tempted by others.

FrankS · 11-09-2005

Let's stick to RF 50's. This is RFF.

Benjamin Marks · 11-09-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrankS

Let's stick to RF 50's. This is RFF.

Oops. Forgot two Retinas with 50's on 'em. They are RFs after all.

captainslack · 11-09-2005

There's such a thing as too many 50's?

doubs43 · 11-09-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by captainslack

There's such a thing as too many 50's?

Of course not! I have a Summarit, Summitar, Summar, Elmar, Nikkor and various Russian lenses in LTM.

I have no idea how many M-42 50's I have but it's at least a bushel basket full. I have several more in Exakta mount.

Will I stop where I am? NO!

Walker

harry01562 · 04-07-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by captainslack

There's such a thing as too many 50's?

Oh Really....

LTM
(2) Serenar 50/3.5 very early lenses, late 40's
(3) Serenar 50/1.9 col.
(1) Serenar 50/1.8 chrome
(3) Canon 50/1.8 chrome
(1) Canon 50/1.5
(1) Canon 50/1.8 black
(1) Canon 50/1.2
(2) Canon 50/0.95

(1) Leica 50/2 Summar
(1) Leica 50/2 Summitar
+ 2 Russian

Contax
(3) Sonnar 50/1.5
(1) Sonnar 50/2
+ 2 Russian

That's in addition to the SLR lenses, like
(21) R/FL/FD 50's 1.2/3.5
that's right... 21

I haven't counted them like this before.. now I feel a bit silly..

Harry

rover · 11-09-2005

For a long time Raid I resisted calling myself a collector, but now with so many 50mm lenses I have to admit to it. At least having a nice lens collection is something that you can use too.

kiev4a · 11-09-2005

I have 48 detachable 50 mm for my slrs and RFs and a few additional fixed 50s.

rover · 11-09-2005

Brian, 10 Nikkor 1.4s

raid · 11-09-2005

Frank: This discusison on prewar Sonnars may interest you, if you have not seen it before on PN.
http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00AwhI

After the posting "died" I got input from knoweldgeable people in this field that my lens is one of the few ... one of the proud ... :-)

Alec · 11-09-2005

Apart from the CZJ Sonnar, only one 1.4/50 and one 2.8/50 macro in Minolta AF mount.
None in LTM/M mounts.
Nothing unreasonable.

FPjohn · 11-09-2005

Hello:

The type 1 (see my atavar) takes 36mm slip on filters. The 11 and 111 are black and white and take 40mm filters. I believe all are Tessars. Mine equals or betters my Elmars.

yours
Frank

http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/c...ns/f_lens.html