JohnJ Offline Upload & Sell: Off
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I concur with the recommendation for the Canon FD SSC Aspherical but I think it's only special at about F2, at F1.2 it's still a bit 'vintage' (which is not really a bad thing, but it's not special either). Bokeh becomes very smooth at F2, which is this lenses superpower, and it's sharp.
TBH, I've stopped using most of my fast 50's since buying the Sony 50/1.2, mainly because it has a combination of razor sharpness wide open and very smooth bokeh. AF can be handy too.
The Yashica 55/1.2ML is interesting, if 'interesting' is that which you are seeking. It's very glow-ey with a wide band of purple fringing wide open but with excellent resolution. This often makes for slightly 'unsharp' looking images due to the relative lack of contrast and glow rather than the resolution of the lens itself. It looks very sharp wide open when contrast is moderate and the glow is therefore minimised. It's very sharp at F2.8 across the frame where the glow is gone anyway. I don't use it often because it's not reliable in the way a bunch of other fast fifties might be, but it's a nice lens in the right circumstances.
Konica Hexanon 57/1.2 is always good, and probably my preferred vintage fast 50 for people pics. Sharp enough across most of the frame wide open in the areas where you might position a subjects eyes. I prefer the Hexanon to the Minlota 58/1.2 which is similar but less 'interesting' in it's rendering. I find the Minolta doesn't really offer much and I hardly ever use it, but it doesn't have the yellow cast of the Konica.
Canon FL 58/1.2, not very sharp wide open, great for people pics, very 'painterly' (ie lots of aberrations). These types of poor performers are in many ways the most interesting, but not reliable. You wouldn't shoot architecture with it. The FL55/1.2 is simply less interesting because it's optically a bit better.
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