Manual 50mm lens?

amtaylor

amtaylor

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Andy
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Would like a nice quality 50mm lens to go with my 5d2. I don't really want the Canon 1.4 but I've been thinking about a manual lens as I have the egs screen. Any suggestions? I've seen a few leica summicrons for 300 on ebay and they are supposedly awesome. A zeiss perhaps.300 ish is about all I would like to pay. It doesn't have to be particularly fast but I want really good iq. Obviously a wide aperture would be nice but the summicron is only f2 and that would be fine.
 
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Shots I've seen from the leitz Summicron-R 50mm f/2 have a very special look to them, very pure colour and contrast that I've only seen from leica lenses.
It would be my first choice as a manual 50mm.
 
I've been pondering getting hold of a Summicron-R too. With a Leitax adaptor.

With my previous 5D2, I had a Contax Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 Planar. Another wonderful lens and not too expensive. The adaptor was dirt cheap. Stupidly when I sold the 5D2 I also sold the Contax, I'm not sure which was the biggest mistake.
 
You should take into account that any adapted lens will be preset only. Focusing will be harder at higher aperture numbers.

I'm using a Nikon 55mm f1.2. The usual veiling wide open, but absolutely fantastic at f2 onwards.

Edit: Btw for 300 you might as well get a voigtländer 58mm f1.4 or the Sigma HSM lens.
 
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Just out of interest, when stopping the lens down how does the metering work as the eg-s screen gets relatively darker as the aperture shrinks so how does it start to expose wrong. I'm assuming the iris is closed manually. I haven't used any manual lenses before so sorry if this sounds dumb.
 
amtaylor said:
Just out of interest, when stopping the lens down how does the metering work as the eg-s screen gets relatively darker as the aperture shrinks so how does it start to expose wrong. I'm assuming the iris is closed manually. I haven't used any manual lenses before so sorry if this sounds dumb.
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This happens if you use preset lenses, i.e. all lenses you use on the Canon with an adapter. Everything past f3.5 will be difficult to focus. Liveview is your best friend in these cases. If you buy the "native" Zeiss EF-mount lens, you won't have any of those problems problems.

By the way, if you are just after maximum across the frame sharpness, the Contax 50mm f1.7 C/Y mount lens is your thing.

edit: I usually don't have any problems with metering though.
 
Are these going to be better quality than the sigma 50 1.4. Not particularly sharpness but colour and contrast and bokeh.
 
manualfocus-g said:
My main walkabout and low light lens is the Contax Carl Zeiss Planar 50/1.4. The lens has incredible pop and is pin sharp across the frame at infinity. You should be able to get one for £200.00 or so. At f2.8 the lens is unbeatable IMO.
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That's reassuring.
 
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