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Five Classic Rangefinders Compared
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 12, 2021 11:13 pm    Post subject: Five Classic Rangefinders Compared Reply with quote
As indicated in an earlier post. I want to assemble a classic rangefinder set, for mostly size but also the joy of working with the little Jewels. I have acquired 5 classic rangefinder 50 ish lenses to compare. Shot wide and at F8. Let me know your thoughts. The lenses are a Menopta Helios 103, A Jupiter 8M, A cannon 50 1.2 LTM, a Nikon 1.4 Nikon S mount, and a Zeiss 1.5 Sonnar.

Plan is to keep two out of the 5. I also have a different Jupiter 8 coming, as well as a different Menopta Helios 103.

Without further ado. Here are the pics from a gray day.
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 12, 2021 11:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Jupiter 8M 2/53 Serial 7944755. Homework after I bought this one indicates you either want an early one, or a very recent one. This one is in the middle. wide and f8
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 12, 2021 11:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Menopta (Represented as Meopta on fleabay). I had some Meopta binos and they were amazing. I saw this and had to give it a shot. Supposedly a Helios 103 from a different maker. 1.8 and 8.
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 12, 2021 11:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Canon 1.2 LTM small scuff on the objetive, I CLA'd the lens. Shot wide and then F8. Berries shot 1.2 and then 1.4
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 12, 2021 11:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Nikon NIkkor S 389742 1.4 and then 8 and then 1.4 for the Berries.... Not a fan of the glow
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 12, 2021 11:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Zeiss Sonnar 1438675
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 12, 2021 11:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
And just for fun the Minolta 58 1.2 which has a decent rep for bokeh.....
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 12, 2021 11:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
My rating of the lenses is

1) Menopta
2) Canon 50 1.2 LTM
3) Zeiss 50 1.5
4) Nikon 1.4
5) Jupiter 8M

The Menopta stays as the Technical Rangefinder lens, and the decision is between the Zeiss, and Canon for the speed rangefinder lens based on this. I need to take some night shots with all three fast lenses and see how they do.... Downside to the Canon is its not small...... its 14 ounces of lens, versus 20 ounces for the minolta..... (Minolta is definitely staying on the SLR side).


PostPosted: Sun Jun 13, 2021 8:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Well, I've tested also many 50mm RF, SLR and other lenses on my A7R2.

My most used ones are the 7artisans M-mount 50/1.1 (low light, shorter distances), Minolta MC 58/1.2 (bokeh), Sony FE 50/1.8 (landscape), Rodenstock Apo-Rodagon 50/2.8 with close focus helicoid (macro) and Voigtländer Nokton LTM/M39 50/1.5 and Minolta AF 50/1.4 (general use).

As typical lens for travel and hiking the Sony FE 50/1.8 (and some macro extension rings) is my favorite one (only 200 Gr.) with classical Ultron design (nice bokeh).
Sometimes the Voigtländer Nokton Classic 40/1.4 M-mount is a good compromise instead of a set of 35 and 50mm primes.


PostPosted: Sun Jun 13, 2021 12:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thomas thanks. I took the Nikon 1.4 and the Zeiss sonnar last and shot some. The zeiss provided a nice vintage look, but had a lot of trouble with lights and reflections it would be a nice nitch lens, but I have to decide what I like and pare down. The Nikon was ok, not spectacular. I happened to check that TTartisans and right now its $349 new on Ebay. One of my concerns with the lens was if it were decentered as I have seen several reports of, at least now I have new one coming, to try that can always be returned.

We share the minolta for Bokeh, right now my landscape is a Contax 1.7 Planar. My niche lenses are a 1.8 Rollei Xenon, a 50 1.8 Alpa, and an Icarex zeiss 50..... I have two Elmarits in R mount the 50F2, and a 60 2.8 Macro both of which need work before I can use them. Hoping the 60 becomes my Macro lens......


PostPosted: Sun Jun 13, 2021 2:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Gatorengineer64 wrote:
I happened to check that TTartisans and right now its $349 new on Ebay. One of my concerns with the lens was if it were decentered as I have seen several reports of, at least now I have new one coming, to try that can always be returned.

We share the minolta for Bokeh, right now my landscape is a Contax 1.7 Planar. My niche lenses are a 1.8 Rollei Xenon, a 50 1.8 Alpa, and an Icarex zeiss 50..... I have two Elmarits in R mount the 50F2, and a 60 2.8 Macro both of which need work before I can use them. Hoping the 60 becomes my Macro lens......


The 7artisans isn't without some shortcomings but under certain conditions it can provide quite nice results. Wish you good luck with your copy....

Particularly for landscape I didn't find any better lens than the cheap Sony FE 50/1.8 and I've tested really many in comparison. No adapted lens was that sharp corner to corner at F5.6 on the A7R2.

For macro stacking I've got the Sony FE 90/2.8 G macro as this is the only way to use the unofficial automated focus bracketing app of the A7R2. BTW, this is a phantastic lens for other usage as well. Highly recommendable.


PostPosted: Sun Jun 13, 2021 6:41 pm    Post subject: Re: Five Classic Rangefinders Compared Reply with quote
Gatorengineer64 wrote:
I want to assemble a classic rangefinder set, for mostly size but also the joy of working with the little Jewels. I have acquired 5 classic rangefinder 50 ish lenses to compare.

Really nice set - especially if you can include the Minolta 1.2/58mm as a refence known to many photographers.

Gatorengineer64 wrote:

Shot wide and at F8. Let me know your thoughts.

Well ... the images you publish here are 0.7 MP ... Wide open one can see some differences, but stopped down any lens should be able to resolve 0.7 MP, shouldn't it?

So I'd suggest you repeat the test - put the camera on a solid tripod and don't change the framing. I'd base my decision on two scenarios:

1) Landscape / infinity (including corners) at f4 and f8
2) Portraits 8or a comparable still life scenery) at maybe 1m or 1.5 m distance wide open and at f2.8 (to see resolution, contrast and bokeh).

Then publish the overview image and some 100% crops. I'm sure everyone will appreciate that work since it's quite rare that someone has all these lenses and does comparisons ...


Gatorengineer64 wrote:

Here are the pics from a gray day.

Gray days are perfect for testing (unless you have rain or fog, of course ...)!

S


PostPosted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 12:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thanks Steve you are the master of doing lens reviews. I have to track down the sticky on how to post pics and redo what I have done.


PostPosted: Tue Jun 15, 2021 10:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
So the 7 Artisans came today.....and playing with it in the daylight, not sure where and if its going to fit. Even stopped down to F10 , it isn't particularly sharp. Its also marginal for daylight portrait work and wouldn't be the first lens I would grab for that purpose. Waiting for twilight to see what it can really do.

In the mean time, I played more with the Meopta rangefinder. Love that little lens. its razor sharp stopped down and certainly sharp enough wide open.


PostPosted: Wed Jun 16, 2021 8:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Gatorengineer64 wrote:
So the 7 Artisans came today.....and playing with it in the daylight, not sure where and if its going to fit. Even stopped down to F10 , it isn't particularly sharp. Its also marginal for daylight portrait work and wouldn't be the first lens I would grab for that purpose. Waiting for twilight to see what it can really do.

In the mean time, I played more with the Menopta rangefinder. Love that little lens. its razor sharp stopped down and certainly sharp enough wide open.


The Helios 103 is a wonderful lens.
It used to be sold at give-away prices.
I think people have started to discover what a gem it is.
Tom
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