50 rigid or Hexanon 50?

[Bruno Gracia]

Sorry for the post , I have been reading for two days but I'm not clear...

What's the most sharp? and contrastly? which has more "character"? Build construction?

I have a Hexanon 50 but I feel that the leica one is special...

Thanks.

Bruno

[MCTuomey]

I'd like to put the rigid 50 on an M9M ...

[Bruno Gracia]

Mmm... good for black and white?

[buzzardkid]

Sharpest is a tie, as is build quality. But the Summicron rigid is lower contrast.

[amateriat]

I've used the 50 M-Hex for a decade now: don't think I'm missing much, if anything.


- Barrett

[Moriturii]

What buzzardkid and amateriat said. Sharpness and build quality is among the best you can find, they just differ in contrast a bit, Rigid having a bit less contrast and Hexanon having modern high contrast.

[Bruno Gracia]

Lower contrast than the Hexanon? So... the hexanon is aslo sharper?

[buzzardkid]

Yes and no. The Hex looks sharper because of the contrast. But that's not always a pro.
For portraits and for situations where the light exceeds the film or sensor contrast, the Summicron can be a better choice because sharpness will still be there but the contrast will not oversharpen it.

In flat light the Hexanon will deliver more punch to a shot, mostly more 3D feel.

In NL, there's a lot of flat light throughout the year, lots of cloudy days where the sky is a big softbox. In bright light environments the summicron might be a better choice.

[MCTuomey]

Originally Posted by bruniroquai

Mmm... good for black and white?

very ... worth having for dedicated B&W use.

probably interchangeable: hex --> (modern) cron --> planar

in its own place: rigid

[Bruno Gracia]

Originally Posted by buzzardkid

Yes and no. The Hex looks sharper because of the contrast. But that's not always a pro.
For portraits and for situations where the light exceeds the film or sensor contrast, the Summicron can be a better choice because sharpness will still be there but the contrast will not oversharpen it.

In flat light the Hexanon will deliver more punch to a shot, mostly more 3D feel.

In NL, there's a lot of flat light throughout the year, lots of cloudy days where the sky is a big softbox. In bright light environments the summicron might be a better choice.

The point is... I'm spanish but Living in London, so here reign the cloudy time, but after see all the hexanon pictures, I am very pleasure, but I think that the cron type 4 or 5 has different OOF and so much contrast... basically I love B/W but the colour are impressive as well to me.. I am really dutty... the medium tones are not represented as summicron type 4... on the Hexanon.

What about the Planar?

[buzzardkid]

Dunno, never had a Planar. Anybody else?

[MCTuomey]

if you want high contrast, good to great sharpness across the frame, and that hard-to-define zeiss dimensionality, the planar is your lens.

[Bob Michaels]

I have owned the Planar 50mm, the Hexanon 50mm but not the Summicron. I sold the Planar only because 50mm is not a focal length that I use. But I bought the 50mm Hex because the price was right and did end up using it. Unfortunately, it was stolen.

I found both the Planar and the Hex to be incredible optically. I cannot speak of contrast differences because I adjust contrast on every print I make. I have never found a scene that I cannot fit the tonal range on iso 400 film if one knows how to expose correctly.

The Hexanon build quality is absolutely first class. It is as good as the Leica lenses I have owned. My Planar needed servicing because of poor application of the grease applied during manufacture. Damn shame as what saved Cosina 10 seconds cost me $60.

I am considering another 50mm if one comes along at the right price. It will probably be a Hexanon as I only am interested in image quality, not product names.

[gbealnz]

The 50/2 I got from you Bruno was a stunner, very sharp, very contrasty, it was wonderful. I sold it only to gain a 50 Summilux, and it is nice as well.
However I have opted into an X-Pro1 so the Summilux is redundant. Certainly for that "older B&W" look, an "older lens is possibly better. Like Bob says though, "it depends".
Gary

[Bruno Gracia]

Thanks guys!

I'll buy a rigid to compare with my hexanon, then I'll decide.

[buzzardkid]

Originally Posted by bruniroquai

Thanks guys!

I'll buy a rigid to compare with my hexanon, then I'll decide.

Best decision. The Rigid will keep it's resale value for the time you test it

[MCTuomey]

Originally Posted by Bob Michaels

The Hexanon build quality is absolutely first class. It is as good as the Leica lenses I have owned. My Planar needed servicing because of poor application of the grease applied during manufacture. Damn shame as what saved Cosina 10 seconds cost me $60.

+1 Every M-Hex I've owned, same way. Wonderful in use. Had my planar relubed as Bob described, also a biogon 35. Fine afterwards, but not as nice as the KM's.

[furcafe]

By "rigid" do you mean the '56-'68 lens that was contemporaneous with the Dual Range? If so, I would concur w/the other posters that it will provide more of a vintage look, but will have less contrast & more flare than a modern lens like the M-Hexanon (which I understand resembles the Summicron of the same era). However, if it's a vintage look that you want, there are many less expensive alternatives to the Leitz glass, e.g., Canon 50/1.8.

Originally Posted by bruniroquai

Sorry for the post , I have been reading for two days but I'm not clear...

What's the most sharp? and contrastly? which has more "character"? Build construction?

I have a Hexanon 50 but I feel that the leica one is special...

Thanks.

Bruno

[ChrisC]

A similar question, in a different place :

http://photo.net/leica-rangefinders-forum/00Y3E2

............. Chris

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by furcafe

By "rigid" do you mean the '56-'68 lens that was contemporaneous with the Dual Range? If so, I would concur w/the other posters that it will provide more of a vintage look, but will have less contrast & more flare than a modern lens like the M-Hexanon (which I understand resembles the Summicron of the same era). However, if it's a vintage look that you want, there are many less expensive alternatives to the Leitz glass, e.g., Canon 50/1.8.

I think he means this one



They can develop haze, but if you have a clean one its got bags of resolution if pretty low contrast. Even a perfect copy will flare if shot into the light ... see below



... bit of vailing flare in this one ...



I don't know about the Hexanon but I suspect it won't stop one taking nice photos

[Bruno Gracia]

Thank You all... I think I'll keep it finally the hexanon and desist the purchase of the rigid, because it seems to be better on film and I won't use for a while film cameras..

[gilpen123]

I had the 50 cron with built in hood and the Hex as well. The Hex is no slouch, IMO better build than the cron and almost identical draw. I sold the cron and retained the Hex no regrets but I still have the pre asph Lux e43 for lowlight. The Hex and the Cron side by side.

[gilpen123]

From the Hex and M3

[Bruno Gracia]

mmm.. My beloved 50 the pre asph v2..

Thanks for post.

[Bruno Gracia]

Hexanon and M9:


Coffee por Bruno Gracia, en Flickr