Sorry for such a generic question - but I am really starting with a blank-ish canvas.
I have just decided to sell off my Nikon D700 kit, with 20, 35 1.4G, 50 1.4G, 85 1.4D and a couple of zooms, to start afresh with a Fuji x-e1 and a much smaller system.
But as well as a few Fuji lenses in 2013 (14mm and 23mm), I would really like to get a couple of alt lenses to add to my system. I might also keep the 85 1.4 as I love the dreamy results.
So my question is which 50mm should I go with?
I have been thinking of the Nikon 50mm f1.2 AIS - but are there any alternatives? Maybe with bokeh that is not as distracting as some samples I have seen.
And a daft question since no one really knows - but as alt lens devotees, will it be better than waiting for the fuji system lens coming later next year?
My key considerations are performance wide open, size, elegant bokeh, and beautiful portraits. Price needs to be sub £1000 per lens.
With a smaller system I would also pick smaller lenses.
If u don't mind missing the AF, there are lots of great 50's out there.
Personally I would pick the leica 50/2 summicron. I have the V5 version (latest with build in hood) but the V4 version with normal hood has the same optics. Both can be found used for 1000 pounds. Just look at red dot camera (london) or ffordes.com for prices.
If u want a new lens, the leica 50/2.5 summarit is great. It has a focustab with works great with small lenses. And the lens is really small and light but works absolute great. My copy had the most smooth focus of all lenses I ever used (including the leica 50/0,95 noctilux)
For a smaller price there are the zeiss ZM's. The ZM 50/2 planar is almost on par with the 50 summicron, but with a slight harder look. And the colors are off course more zeiss (harder contrast, more vivid). The leica is more smooth, better for portraits.
If u want faster there is the zeiss 50/1.5 sonnar. This is a kinda special lens with an 1930 lens design with gives a real classic feel to the picture. Also it has some focusshift (not a problem with the fuji). The rendering works great some times, and doesn't other times. Look at examples if it suits u.
Other option is the voightlander way. They have a 50/1.5 and 50/1.1 lens. Not as good as the zeiss or leica offerings. But also a lot cheaper and still quite good.
Downside with the M mount lenses is their minimal focusdistance of 0,7 (0,8 with the 50 sonnar and 50 summarit) due to the rangefinder mechanism of the M camera's.
But if u don't mind that, they are absolute top of the bill. Stunning performance, best build and nicely small.
And off course they are all manual focus.
For AF u might want to wait for the new Zeiss 50mm f/2.8 macro lens for E and X mount. http://blogs.zeiss.com/photo/en/?p=2864
Expected to be in the 1000 euro pricerange so little under budget. Than u have a small lens with great optics (I expect) and with AF.
For $50, you could grab a Nikkor 50/2 AI. It is a great little lens, I like it better than my Series E 50/1.8 and my 50/1.8 AIS (both are the same optically).
For around $350-400 there is the 55/1.2. I've got the S.C version. It's bokeh is less jittery than the 50/1.2.
Bijltje wrote:
With a smaller system I would also pick smaller lenses.
If u don't mind missing the AF, there are lots of great 50's out there.
Personally I would pick the leica 50/2 summicron. I have the V5 version (latest with build in hood) but the V4 version with normal hood has the same optics. Both can be found used for 1000 pounds. Just look at red dot camera (london) or ffordes.com for prices.
If u want a new lens, the leica 50/2.5 summarit is great. It has a focustab with works great with small lenses. And the lens is really small and light but works absolute great. My copy had the most smooth focus of all lenses I ever used (including the leica 50/0,95 noctilux)
For a smaller price there are the zeiss ZM's. The ZM 50/2 planar is almost on par with the 50 summicron, but with a slight harder look. And the colors are off course more zeiss (harder contrast, more vivid). The leica is more smooth, better for portraits.
If u want faster there is the zeiss 50/1.5 sonnar. This is a kinda special lens with an 1930 lens design with gives a real classic feel to the picture. Also it has some focusshift (not a problem with the fuji). The rendering works great some times, and doesn't other times. Look at examples if it suits u.
Other option is the voightlander way. They have a 50/1.5 and 50/1.1 lens. Not as good as the zeiss or leica offerings. But also a lot cheaper and still quite good.
Downside with the M mount lenses is their minimal focusdistance of 0,7 (0,8 with the 50 sonnar and 50 summarit) due to the rangefinder mechanism of the M camera's.
But if u don't mind that, they are absolute top of the bill. Stunning performance, best build and nicely small.
And off course they are all manual focus.
For AF u might want to wait for the new Zeiss 50mm f/2.8 macro lens for E and X mount. http://blogs.zeiss.com/photo/en/?p=2864
Expected to be in the 1000 euro pricerange so little under budget. Than u have a small lens with great optics (I expect) and with AF....Show more →
AdrianGB wrote:
Sorry for such a generic question - but I am really starting with a blank-ish canvas.
I have just decided to sell off my Nikon D700 kit, with 20, 35 1.4G, 50 1.4G, 85 1.4D and a couple of zooms, to start afresh with a Fuji x-e1 and a much smaller system.
But as well as a few Fuji lenses in 2013 (14mm and 23mm), I would really like to get a couple of alt lenses to add to my system. I might also keep the 85 1.4 as I love the dreamy results.
So my question is which 50mm should I go with?
I have been thinking of the Nikon 50mm f1.2 AIS - but are there any alternatives? Maybe with bokeh that is not as distracting as some samples I have seen.
And a daft question since no one really knows - but as alt lens devotees, will it be better than waiting for the fuji system lens coming later next year?
My key considerations are performance wide open, size, elegant bokeh, and beautiful portraits. Price needs to be sub £1000 per lens.
p.1 #10 · 50mm choice - for an alt lens 'beginner'
Alistair1 wrote:
Zeiss 50mm F2 Planar Macro. I have an M mount non-macro version and it is very good but the macro is even better.
U found it was not for nikon mount Maybe this topic should move to the altenative section since its not really a nikon question.
The macro is way bigger and has a more hars bokeh than the M mount F2 planar. I would prefer the ZM planar for a fuji body.
DaveOls wrote:
As a start, why not keep you 50mm 1.4G? I believe Contax also made some small lenses, but I don't know if the mount would work.
Those small contaxes are the contax G lenses by zeiss. The zeiss G 45/2 for example. Quite low prices for zeiss lenses.
Downside is they don't have a focusring since that was done inside the contax G body. So u need a more expensive G adapter with focusring to use these lenses.
But they are pretty good performers, and quite low in price.
p.1 #11 · 50mm choice - for an alt lens 'beginner'
Bijltje wrote:
U found it was not for nikon mount Maybe this topic should move to the altenative section since its not really a nikon question.
The macro is way bigger and has a more hars bokeh than the M mount F2 planar. I would prefer the ZM planar for a fuji body.
Those small contaxes are the contax G lenses by zeiss. The zeiss G 45/2 for example. Quite low prices for zeiss lenses.
Downside is they don't have a focusring since that was done inside the contax G body. So u need a more expensive G adapter with focusring to use these lenses.
But they are pretty good performers, and quite low in price.
...Show more →
I use the ZM Planar on a Nex 7, wish I could adapt it for the 800e. One of the few lenses that will do justice to the Nex 7 sensor which is actually more ruthless on lenses than the 800e. I am personally not a fan of using the Contax G lenses on the M mount. The adaption is just too cumbersome.
BTW, another M mount option well worth considering at the longer end is the Minolta Rokkor CL lenses. They are Leitz lenses but a lot cheaper. If you ever see a 90mm F4 Rokkor CL for around £250 or less, grab it.
p.1 #12 · 50mm choice - for an alt lens 'beginner'
Thank you all for the considered responses! I feel bad because I have clearly posted in the wrong forum - I should really re-post this in the alt gear forum.
But I have noted down all your recommendations and will follow up on them to see what I can find online. The ZM Planar and the Leica Summarit sound very interesting - and of course I need to work out if that will be an improvement on my 50 1.4G! (I've always managed to get really nice results with that lens, but I don't enjoy manual focussing with it).
Thanks one and all - and maybe I'll hear from you on the other forum.
p.1 #13 · 50mm choice - for an alt lens 'beginner'
The 50mm. F/1.2 AIS Nikkor is surprisingly a general use lens.One is now the regular 50mm on my F2.
Once stopped down the diffraction effect is the same as the slower fifties.
I think of it as a superior F/1.4 ( with a half stop in reserve. )
