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Archive 2010 · 50-ish cheap f/1.2 or f/1.4?

jason.alabama
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · 50-ish cheap f/1.2 or f/1.4?

I am hoping I could get some advice on what would be a cheap option for a manual focus f/1.2 or f/1.4 lens. I would be using this on an EF mount (so would need to get an adapter). The use would be walk-around, general photography. I would like the large aperture for low-light capabilities, and would be using it wide open. Anything in the 50-58mm range would be fine. It doesn't have to be the best optical performer either. If I could keep it under $200, that would be the best - the cheaper the better! Thanks.

Jason

Oct 28, 2010 at 08:40 PM

kakomu
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · 50-ish cheap f/1.2 or f/1.4?

The Nikkor 50 f/1.4 can be had for around $80-$100 in Ai and Ai-S forms (optically identical).

The Olympus 50 f/1.4 can be had for $60-$80.

I don't think you're going to find any 50-ish f/1.2 lenses for under $200.

I, personally, use a Nikkor 50 f/1.4 all the time. It's definitely my favorite lens that I own.

Oct 28, 2010 at 08:52 PM

debuggerus
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · 50-ish cheap f/1.2 or f/1.4?

Zuiko 50/1.4 or Takumar 50/1.4, they are well under $200 and very good in my opinion

Oct 28, 2010 at 08:53 PM

pmcmanis
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · 50-ish cheap f/1.2 or f/1.4?

if you hit up the camera stores frequently you might get a good deal.

I got my rokkor 58mm f1.2 for 120 with a working (mostly) SRT101.

I would recommend the Super Multi Coated Takumar 50mm f1.4 or the OM Zuiko 50mm f1.4 too.

Oct 28, 2010 at 09:05 PM

kakomu
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · 50-ish cheap f/1.2 or f/1.4?

It seems the Nikkor 50 f/1.4 gets no love around here.

Oct 28, 2010 at 09:32 PM

john lewis
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · 50-ish cheap f/1.2 or f/1.4?

I bought the Takumar 50 1.4 for 50 bucks and they are easy to come by from what I have seen. I have upgraded to the Rokkor 1.2 but not for the 50 bucks.

Oct 28, 2010 at 09:56 PM

alexandre
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · 50-ish cheap f/1.2 or f/1.4?

I sold a BGN-UG rokkor for $250 shipped and paypalled sone days ago on this forum. No way you find a good f/1.2 lens at this price.
For $100 or less I'd try a Zuiko 50/1.4 or SMC Takumar 50/1.4.

Oct 28, 2010 at 10:27 PM

RustyBug
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · 50-ish cheap f/1.2 or f/1.4?

I've got a C/Y 50/1.4 that I recently picked up as part of a package with my 28/2.8 that I don't need since I'm really not a 50mm shooter (C/Y 50/1.7 in my bag rarely sees any action as is). There is some oil on the blades, but shoots clean so it is definitely less than what a minty one would run for a Zeiss 50/1.4.

Oct 28, 2010 at 10:53 PM

jason.alabama
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · 50-ish cheap f/1.2 or f/1.4?

If I increased my budget to $300, will it open up a lot more possibilities?

Oct 28, 2010 at 10:57 PM

kakomu
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · 50-ish cheap f/1.2 or f/1.4?

jason.alabama wrote:
If I increased my budget to $300, will it open up a lot more possibilities?

I think $450 is probably where the budget needs to be before you can get any of the good f/1.2 lenses or the more expensive f/1.4 lenses.

Oct 28, 2010 at 11:28 PM

RustyBug
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · 50-ish cheap f/1.2 or f/1.4?

Anybody know what a reasonable price would be for a CLA on the C/Y 50/1.4?

I'd like to price it fairly to compensate for the oil on the blades.

Oct 28, 2010 at 11:32 PM

sebboh
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · 50-ish cheap f/1.2 or f/1.4?

you can in fact get a good f/1.2 lens for under $300: the canon FL 55mm f/1.2. i got mine for $50

, these days they run around $150-$200. i believe the FD 55mm f/1.2 is the same optical design with better coatings, these run around $250. the lens is sharper than most f/1.2 lenses wide open but has a fair amount of ghosting. stopped down to f/5.6 it is sharper than anything i've seen (but i don't have any $1k lenses to compare it to). i'm not a huge fan of the wide open bokeh but some people like it (liked my rokkor 50/1.2's better), stopped down to f/2 or smaller the bokeh is very good.

the catch - there might be mirror interference at infinity on a FF canon and it's an FL/FD mount lens, which means it needs to be converted. a forum member, jim buchanan, offers conversions, or if you want to save money, you can try it yourself (the FL is easier to convert than the FD because you don't have to mess with the aperture linkage). here's a link to an old thread about it: https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/751251/0

Oct 29, 2010 at 12:39 AM

aleksanderpolo
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · 50-ish cheap f/1.2 or f/1.4?

RustyBug wrote:
Anybody know what a reasonable price would be for a CLA on the C/Y 50/1.4?

I'd like to price it fairly to compensate for the oil on the blades.

I would like to know about that too, as well as where to have it repair in the US for an affordable price.

Oct 29, 2010 at 12:53 AM

RustyBug
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · 50-ish cheap f/1.2 or f/1.4?

I'm guessing KEH or

I meant to call them last week and ask, but somehow it slipped my mind while I was in the Smokey's.

Oct 29, 2010 at 01:00 AM

zalmyb
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · 50-ish cheap f/1.2 or f/1.4?

The pre ai 55mm f1.2 nikkor could be had for around 250. I bought a copy in excellent condition for 275 (not a bargain).

I haven't had it for too long so I haven't formed a concrete opinion. Its definitely "interesting".

Good luck.

Oct 29, 2010 at 01:07 AM

staticInc
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · 50-ish cheap f/1.2 or f/1.4?

If you consider a mount conversion, there may be quite a few less expensive alternatives...

Good light,
sI

Oct 29, 2010 at 01:20 AM

asbalyan
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · 50-ish cheap f/1.2 or f/1.4?

Sometimes you can find good deals on craigslist (in case you are in US), although becoming rare. Try different cities where you have friends too

I found my Rokkor 58/1.2 for $200 in LA (I am in OH.. called friend in LA for picking that up)...

Oct 29, 2010 at 04:30 AM

AhamB
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · 50-ish cheap f/1.2 or f/1.4?

There's a number of recommendations of the SMC/Super-Takumar, but the Pentax-M 50/1.4 is supposed to be good (maybe better) too, and affordable (under $100 for an EX condition at KEH). I'm still looking for one at the right price (on my own continent).
The Pentax-A version is more expensive but I don't know if it's any better. The build quality is less solid (much more plastic) than the M.

Oct 29, 2010 at 04:59 AM

cogitech
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · 50-ish cheap f/1.2 or f/1.4?

debuggerus wrote:
Zuiko 50/1.4 or Takumar 50/1.4, they are well under $200 and very good in my opinion

+1

Oct 29, 2010 at 06:27 AM

justruss
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · 50-ish cheap f/1.2 or f/1.4?

The Zuiko and OM will probably be the cheapest and the easiest to convert.

I think the Canon FL 55mm 1.2 is a cracker. Very sharp, gorgeous colors. Does have some wide-open glow/ghosting (which can be nice, but is technically a flaw), and will not clear a FF mirror at infinity w/o (but shooting stopped down, you'll get infinity in focus). You can find one in your price range. You Will have to remove the mount, which is easy, and then take an off the shelf mount from something to EOS (OM--> EOS for instance), and drill holes through this new mount so you can attach it to the lens...

The Rokkor 1.2 is out of your price range by a good margin-- unless you get really lucky-- but is probably the most popular f/1.2 lens on this board. It has some wonderful characteristics. But mount conversion is even more involved. The Rokkor 1.4, which I believe takes a similar mount conversion (which Jim Buchanan can do, as someone else mentioned) doesn't get as much attention, and doesn't have the flash of being a 1.2 lens, but looks like it has comparable IQ to the 1.2 (aside from the 1.2 aperture, of course), and is cheap.

The easiest, most straight-forward will be the OM or the Tak.

Oct 29, 2010 at 07:08 AM

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