In search of the dream standard lens?

GeorgeSalt · Joined: 09 Feb 2013 Posts: 336 Location: Norfolk, UK

I'm not sure that a selection of eight lenses from five manufacturers makes for "a good overview" of a focal length which every camera manufacturer has produced several variants of over the course of the last 6 decades..

Good sales pitch for the SLR Magic lens though, with a good comparison to and name-check alongside the Leica.. or am I being overly cynical?

Lightshow · Joined: 04 Nov 2011 Posts: 3669 Location: Calgary

One thing about having a large collection of lenses is that you can see that generally all lenses are different in some way, that no lens is perfect for all situations, though some do come close.
Any lens can be used artistically, in fact the less perfect a lens is the easier it is to use it in an artistic way.

skida · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2014 12:35 am Post subject:

AstroZon · Joined: 13 Jul 2014 Posts: 172 Location: Colorado Springs

On the indoor shots I prefer the Olympus OM 50 @1.4. I like the softness of it. Of the outdoor shots I like the Leica Summicron.

I'd love to have that Sony SEL 50 though as it's auto focus and would be better for a moving subject.

WNG555 · Joined: 18 Dec 2014 Posts: 784 Location: Arrid-Zone-A, USA

Nice to find this thread and read the results of the linked test. Agree that this doesn't encompass a valid test of all 50s.
Just a glimpse of the test lenses and subjectively picking one.

I have the Sony E-mount, and have a Zuiko 50mm f1.8 coming. The Sony is not a top of the line lens, but is a remarkable prime for the money. Never fails to impress me. Will continue to try to acquire a few more primes to compare. Love the results found here and elsewhere of Rokkor glass.

Another site had a more technical test, between Canon and Zuiko 1.4s, and showed the Canon handles flare better. So, depending on your subject and type of photography, some will be more desirable than others.

And yes, the model was cute. Wink

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

SLR Magic HyperPrime CINE 50mm T0.95 (F0.92) (one of the currently available prototypes, click here for details)
Leica Summilux 50mm F1.4 ASPH (M-Mount, E46)
Minolta MC Rokkor 50mm F1.4
Olympus OM 50mm F1.4 (OM-mount)
Olympus OM 50mm F1.8 (OM-mount)
Sony 50mm F1.8 OSS (SEL 50F18, E-Mount)
Olympus M-Zuiko 45mm F1.8 (MiroFourThirds Mount)
Leica Summicron 50mm F2.0 pre-ASPH (M-Mount, E39)

Since I last commented on this I have acquired a Mamiya Sekor 55 / 1.8 in addition to the Minolta MC Rokkor 50mm F1.4 and the Olympus OM 50mm F1.4 (OM-mount) + Olympus OM 50mm F1.8 (OM-mount) that are on the list. And I honestly think the Mamiya is the best 50ish lens I have, out of about 30 50ish lenses. I dare say the Mamiya would not win when used to shoot test charts and be subjected to severe pixel peeping, but it's a lens that I can put on the Sony A6000 and rely on, it's as sharp as I need it to be, the colours are excellent and it's just a great lens to use. I know what I'm going to get from it, as indeed I do from the Rokkor's and Zuiko's; and the Canon's, Pentax, Helios, CZJ and all the others, but the Mamiya has one thing going for it. It's the best average lens I've ever used, it never surprises me, but always pleases me.