50mm SLR Primes with 52/55 filter size?

GeneW · 01-22-2005

My knowledge of 50mm SLR primes is limited to Pentax and Olympus both of which have a 49mm thread size. Did any of the other brands of 50mm primes have a native 52mm or 55mm thread size?

I'm looking for an old 50mm prime to reverse on my digicam for ultra macro and would prefer to avoid stepup rings on my existing primes. f/1.4 is preferable to f/1.8 to reduce vignetting. Old is important -- has to be inexpensive ...

TIA ...

Nikon Bob · 01-22-2005

The Nikon Prime 50's have 52mm filter threads. The F2.0 50mm Nikkor has a rep as a good lens to use reversed.

Bob

RML · 01-22-2005

IIRC the Canon Eos EF 50/1.8 II has a 52mm filter thread.

GeneW · 01-22-2005

Thanks Bob! That'll give me something to go on. I've never used Nikons -- this may be my first step into the dark waters

Thanks, Remy, but no EF lenses if I can avoid it. They're rarely cheap and some of them don't even have mechanical aperture/focus settings. Looking for old beaters ...

Gene

Roman · 01-22-2005

The M-42 screwmount Yahinon DS 50/1.9 has a 52mm thread; most of the Konica AR Hexanons have 55mm - e.g. the 40/1.8, reputed to be one of the sharpest lenses ever (and IIRC a slight wideangle in reverse will even get you closer...)

Roman

Roman · 01-22-2005

Oh, and didn't the M42 Pentax Takumars have 52mm (not sure, though), and the 50/1.4 also has a great reputation...

GeneW · 01-22-2005

Roman, thanks for the tips on Yashinon and Hexanon! I'll be on the lookout.

The Super-Taks are 49mm. I have one I used with a 49-49 reversing ring on Joe's Canon G2

Gene

Roman · 01-22-2005

BTW, do you know Matt Denton's site?

http://homepage.mac.com/mattdenton/p...meras/slr.html

He lists the filter sizes for all his cameras, so you might get a few other tips there (Mamiya, Ricoh and Yashica M42-lenses seem to come in 52 or 55mm filter size usually).

Roman

Chaser · 01-22-2005

also minolta manual focus 50mm primes usually come with a 55mm thread

GeneW · 01-22-2005

Roman, Chaser, thanks! 55mm is the ideal size (isn't it funny to choose a lens on filter size rather than brand, reputation, etc?)

Gene

rover · 01-22-2005

Quote:

Originally posted by Chaser
also minolta manual focus 50mm primes usually come with a 55mm thread

the 50mm minolta md lenses have 49mm threads

CleverName · 01-22-2005

I have two canon fd 50mm lenses that are both 55mm filter size. The f1.8 ones are pretty cheap but the f1.4 ones are still a bit pricey.

Kin Lau · 01-22-2005

My older Minolta primes are 55mm and all the newer ones are 49mm, my two Yashica ML Y/C mounts are 52mm.

iMacfan · 01-22-2005

I believe that many A-1 era Canon FD lenses have 52mm threads, I know the 50/1.8 I'm staring at at the moment does!

May I ask if you intend on stopping down the reversed lens, as that will make a major difference because even most of these manual lenses we are recommending won't stop down without something being attached to the mount end of the lens?

David

GeneW · 01-22-2005

Quote:

Originally posted by iMacfan
May I ask if you intend on stopping down the reversed lens, as that will make a major difference because even most of these manual lenses we are recommending won't stop down without something being attached to the mount end of the lens?

David

David, I'm no expert (Mark Plonsky is my guru on this): http://www.mplonsky.com/photo/
and he says to set focus on infinity and leave the lens wide open. He suggests 1.4's are better than 1.8's -- less vignetting. Essentially it's turning the 50mm prime into a quality magnifying glass.

I've done a bit of this previously and want to get back into it with my newest digicam (Panasonic Lumix FZ20). I need a lens with a larger filter thread than my old Super-Tak.

Gene