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Recommend me a 50mm - 60mm portrait lens

  
 
retrofocus
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p.2 #1 · p.2 #1 · Recommend me a 50mm - 60mm portrait lens


Outside of the focal length spec, but I still want to mention it since it is an extremely good mid-tele portrait lens wider open: CV 75/1.5 in any mount.


Aug 21, 2024 at 08:02 AM
rji2goleez
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p.2 #2 · p.2 #2 · Recommend me a 50mm - 60mm portrait lens


I have both the Canon 50/1.4 LTM and the Voigtlander Nokton 50/1.2. Love them both for portrait work.


Aug 21, 2024 at 08:32 AM
highdesertmesa
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p.2 #3 · p.2 #3 · Recommend me a 50mm - 60mm portrait lens


nehemiahphoto wrote:
...I have owned the older lenses, but never the LLL. Very curious about this. Thanks for bringing it up James!


Sure thing. I really like it for b&w. Bright light with high-key exposure can help bring out the glow. It's especially nice on a Monochrom with a red filter.

I have had the new Sigma 50 1.2 (L-mount) sitting in my cart for a while. Trying to decide between that and repurchasing the VM 50 f/1.



Aug 21, 2024 at 10:32 AM
Sonnar-7
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p.2 #4 · p.2 #4 · Recommend me a 50mm - 60mm portrait lens


Like some others here, I second the LLL Panchro, I love the lens from day one but still it wouldn’t have crossed my mind to propose it for a portrait lens but I tested it for that purpose recently and it gave the best results I could have had for that task. The output is gentle and the glow not overbearing at 1m distance and the f2 doesn’t blow up the background, it’s really great.


Aug 21, 2024 at 10:46 AM
ottokbre
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p.2 #5 · p.2 #5 · Recommend me a 50mm - 60mm portrait lens


rji2goleez wrote:
I have both the Canon 50/1.4 LTM and the Voigtlander Nokton 50/1.2. Love them both for portrait work.


The glorious part about the Nokton 50/1.2 is how accurate it is with a rangefinder. Zero focus shift means I can nail focus wide open which I couldn't do on most other fast 50s. But for mirrorless adapting this is a non-issue.



Aug 21, 2024 at 03:35 PM
rscheffler
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p.2 #6 · p.2 #6 · Recommend me a 50mm - 60mm portrait lens


Konica Hexanon 60/1.2!!


Aug 21, 2024 at 11:02 PM
freddy_hayek
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p.2 #7 · p.2 #7 · Recommend me a 50mm - 60mm portrait lens


rscheffler wrote:
Konica Hexanon 60/1.2!!


And I thought my suggestion of the NOCT Nikkor was pricey...



Aug 21, 2024 at 11:12 PM
JohnJ
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p.2 #8 · p.2 #8 · Recommend me a 50mm - 60mm portrait lens


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.



Aug 22, 2024 at 01:05 AM
markhout
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p.2 #9 · p.2 #9 · Recommend me a 50mm - 60mm portrait lens


JohnJ wrote:
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
...Show more

Interesting indeed - almost sounds like an over-the-top Sonnar. Thanks for this.



Aug 22, 2024 at 04:09 AM
Peire
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p.2 #10 · p.2 #10 · Recommend me a 50mm - 60mm portrait lens


Voigtlander Apo Macro Lanthar 65/2.


Aug 22, 2024 at 07:56 AM
 


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mranger211
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p.2 #11 · p.2 #11 · Recommend me a 50mm - 60mm portrait lens


My favorite: Contarex 50/2.
But be careful, they have issues with the lubricant drying out.



Aug 22, 2024 at 10:30 AM
freddy_hayek
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p.2 #12 · p.2 #12 · Recommend me a 50mm - 60mm portrait lens


Zeiss 2/50 Sonnar, circa 1935. Lovely rendering for B&W portraiture


Aug 22, 2024 at 10:47 AM
dakel
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p.2 #13 · p.2 #13 · Recommend me a 50mm - 60mm portrait lens


Sigma 45mm f/2.8 DG DN

Sweet little lens for portraits if 2.8 is fast enough for you



Aug 22, 2024 at 12:05 PM
Fred Miranda
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p.2 #14 · p.2 #14 · Recommend me a 50mm - 60mm portrait lens


Here are my top picks for 50mm portrait lenses. I prefer lenses with some aberrations, as they can make portraits more pleasant:
  1. Voigtlander 50mm f/1.5 Heliar: Offers a look similar to the Leica 35/1.4 pre-asph.
  2. Leica 50mm f/1 Noct: My go-to lens for portraits, with a stunning look even at f/1.4.
  3. Leica 50mm f/2 Rigid: Full of character, sharp, and still has some pleasing aberrations.
  4. Leica 50mm f/1.4 Lux or CV 50mm f/1.2 Nokton: Both have similar rendering, but the Nokton provides more spherical aberration.
  5. MS-Optics 57mm f/2 Petz: An ultra-compact portrait lens that's definitely worth trying.
  6. Zeiss 50mm f/1.5 Sonnar: Although I no longer own this one, I loved its rendering.
  7. LLL 50mm f/2 SP2: High resolution with low contrast and a characterful rendering, offering a different look compared to the Sonnar.



Aug 22, 2024 at 12:23 PM
nehemiahphoto
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p.2 #15 · p.2 #15 · Recommend me a 50mm - 60mm portrait lens


@Desmolicious Love that midtone to highlight roll off the last picture posted!

@fjablo Was not aware of this option, if I wanted uber-swirl look, I'd be all over this.

@kiaora Which ones in particular?

@rps_23 Noted--I have been loosely keeping an eye out for a cheap good used TT 50/1.4 for a minute now.

@freddy_hayek. Steve did, but he hasn't shot it. Nobody mentioned the Nikon 58/1.4 G, a lens on my list for a while. Seems to have a lovely draw with nice bokeh and color and not too much contrasts on axis.

@rscheffler Despite the price, the images I've seen have never wowed me though they are nice. Wish I could give it a whirl for under 2k!

@JohnJ Nice post--you got me going down a Hexanon wormhole. The 57/1.2 seems a bit like a the Minolta 58/1.2 but smoother WO with less SA? Have any samples you could/would share?

@mranger211 I loved my Contarex 85/2 and regret selling it. Never thought you check out the 50/2. Thanks mentioning it.

@fredmiranda I really do need to try that Heliar and Petz



Aug 22, 2024 at 03:28 PM
JohnJ
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p.2 #16 · p.2 #16 · Recommend me a 50mm - 60mm portrait lens


Peire wrote:
Voigtlander Apo Macro Lanthar 65/2.


Focus throw is very short at portrait distances making focus very difficult, in my experience anyway.



Aug 22, 2024 at 04:21 PM
Fred Miranda
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p.2 #17 · p.2 #17 · Recommend me a 50mm - 60mm portrait lens


JohnJ wrote:
Focus throw is very short at portrait distances making focus very difficult, in my experience anyway.


And your subjects better have flawless skin.



Aug 22, 2024 at 04:26 PM
Mitch Alland
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p.2 #18 · p.2 #18 · Recommend me a 50mm - 60mm portrait lens


Fred Miranda wrote:
Here are my top picks for 50mm portrait lenses. I prefer lenses with some aberrations...:
  1. Leica 50mm f/2 Rigid: Full of character, sharp, and still has some pleasing aberrations...

I like the DR Summicron, which is essentially the same lens:

Leica M-Monochrom | DR Summicron-50 | ISO 320 | f/4.0 | 1/180 sec

Bangkok


On the other hand, although not in the requested 50-60 mm range, sometimes this 90 mm works well:

Leica M-Monochrom | Macro-Elmar-M 90mm f/40 | ISO 1250 | f/8.0 | 1/120 sec

Bangkok


Also, for environmental portraits, this 28 mm lens works well:

Leica M10 | Summaron-M 1:5.6/28 | ISO 800 | f/5.6 | 1/350 sec

Bangkok

Edited on Aug 23, 2024 at 05:34 AM · View previous versions



Aug 22, 2024 at 04:48 PM
rscheffler
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p.2 #19 · p.2 #19 · Recommend me a 50mm - 60mm portrait lens


nehemiahphoto wrote:
@freddy_hayek. Steve did, but he hasn't shot it. Nobody mentioned the Nikon 58/1.4 G, a lens on my list for a while. Seems to have a lovely draw with nice bokeh and color and not too much contrasts on axis.


IMO the Canon EF 50/1.2L is a similar lens. I really liked it for people photos around f/2, but it might be too calm for your preferences.

@rscheffler@ Despite the price, the images I've seen have never wowed me though they are nice. Wish I could give it a whirl for under 2k!

It's the only 'interesting' 60mm I could think of. Yes, shame that it's more of a collector's lens and ridiculously priced. ~10+ years ago I followed a guy's blog shooting one with the M9 and generally liked what I saw. A bit wild wide open and calms as it's stopped down. Kind of thought somewhere in that range would be the right look for you. If I had any influence, I would nominate this as the next LLL replica project, though perhaps it's too similar to the 50/1.2 Nocti?



Aug 22, 2024 at 05:20 PM
kiaora
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p.2 #20 · p.2 #20 · Recommend me a 50mm - 60mm portrait lens


@nehemiahphoto I've had a couple of 2.8 Planars and a 3.5 Xenotar. I also these days use a 20mm Vega-7 on a Super 16 size camera. They all work out roughly equivilent in focal length except the 3.5 75mm Xenotar which is slightly wider.

Shooting on film with a Rollei, focus was one of the main issues. It sounds not very exciting but it was that simple and having a decently in focus and sharp negative to work with when a photo can't be rephotographed is/was the main thing, for me anyway.

I really like the Vega-7 lens. It is tiny but has the same traits as a Schneider Xenotar as it is a Xenotar design. Very sharp wide open for at least half the frame. OOF rendering is classic, slight swirl, and warm colour rendering. A front group cemented pair compared to the rear group cemented pair of the classic 5 element Planar. I'm not saying I know the rendering difference between those lens designs. I don't own Rolleis anymore. But the Vega-7 is an actual Xenotar lens design.

I still get a lot of satisfaction from the old lens designs though. I also use a Heliar (from what I can tell) design chinese MFT lens. It's not as good from a manufacture and build quality point of view compared to the old brass Soviet lens or the West German lenses.



Aug 22, 2024 at 06:34 PM
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