I recommend the Zuiko f/1.2 50mm. Just follow the link, There are lots of sample images, close-ups, panos, etc. If you want to judge performance at infinity you open one of the panos and look for yourself.
Krosavcheg wrote:
Sorry to bump this, but I just located a Yashinon Auto-DS 50mm f1.7. It is sold with a Yashica body for 3000Yen (about $30). I have checked the lense and it seems to be alright.
I am not sure this is the lense images taken with which were posted here, and the mount seems to be M42. Does anyone have any information on that one?
I have one (as I have MANY 50's) and can report that there are better alternatives for this lens. It is not the same as the contax, and for the quality/money I'd suggest to either go for the cheapo EF canon 1.8 or many of the alternatives (takumar 50/1.4 or 55/1.8, all contaxes, all olympus OM zuiko's in this range, pentacon, industar 50/3.5 which is fantasticly sharp, etc. etc.)
Biotar: There must be lots of alternatives. I am using the Canon 50mm f1.4 at the moment. I was simply curious about the Yashinon one. I haven't had much luck with Takumars yet, all I found are eaither moldy beyond belief or to expensive for a M42 MF lense.
Just went to test the Yashinon Auto-DS 50mm f1.7. Here are few sample shots:
No sharpening at all! Bicubic resize in Photoshop for the small images. Use the links to view 100% ones.
EOS 20D using Kenko M42 adapter. Red circle indicates focuse point.
Krosavcheg, I'm not really impressed by the quality ofthis lens. Shure, the photo's are sharp enough for many occasions, but they are not assharpas many other 50's. Also the contrast lacks, and the build quality also leaves something to be desired. Now there are some yashica's worth looking into, but - to me - this certainly isn't one of them. I myself got this lens with a pentacon 29 and a crestar or something 135 together for 5 euro's.
If you are willing to pay 30 for this lens, and perhaps an adapter, and quite possibly a multicoated filter, you can also buy a canon 50/1.8 which is better on all fronts except build quality. Many other alternatives are better still, and its likely that you will replace this lens with any of those eventually, so that money gets wasted (believe me )
Biotar: Cheers for the advise. The exterior of the lense is a bit beaten up so, I suppose I can save the money. I trust your MF lense experience.
Oh well, the search goes on then...
PS Just a small note perhaps, got an adapter already and never use MC filters at all. What I would really like to test is how well it will perform when rev mounted.
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