"Standard" Lenses - 40mm - 60mm - Must Haves

[Lightshow]

[eddieitman]

/My bad yes 57mm so many damn lenses i lose track lol

[Oldhand]

So glad that folks are realising that this is not another "what is the best standard lens" type of thread.
Some lenses have a quality about them that endears them to us for one reason or another.
It is this characteristic that makes them a must have
A very interesting list
OH

[mo]

The macro-takumar 4/50 such a nice lens or any specialist macro lens, they open up a whole new world,and they are just a useful lens to have.I really have to thank the guys on this forum for encouraging me to buy it,many years ago now

[eddieitman]

Just to demonstrate the magic in the Zenitar here is a pic i shot wide open by accident (did not notice the lens had gone to auto from manual) but for wide open it captures light in a magical way.

[Lloydy]

OMG......I've just looked down my updated list and counted 49 lenses in that range! Some are lenses I have a few of, the common 50's that came with the cameras. So, after much thought, I think these are my favourites.

For sharpness, the Rollei Planar 50 / 1.8. Closely followed by the Rokkor 50 / 1.4

For colour, the Rokkor 50 / 1.4 or the Zuiko 50 / 1.4 - which is also a delight to use.

Best all rounder? the Rokkor wins, with the Zuiko, Canon 1.8 and Pentax 1.7 fighting for a place in the camera bag.

But....they also fight with the Chinon 50 / 1.7 which surprises and pleases me when I use it, and any of the Helios which are never far away from the camera bag.

Rokkor 45 / 2 ? mmmm, I like it a lot but it frustrates me. I get some excellent results from it, and some rubbish. I think it's me though, not the lens.

If I'm feeling like a challenge, then I use the CZJ Tessar. I love the center sharpness and fall off towards the edges. But I have to remember to think about that as I use it.

I like the Industar as well, it has a special quality about it.

I can't get on with the Fujinon 55 / 2.2, there is sharpness, there are nice colours. I just can't get consistency from it. Pretty much the same with my Pentacon's - and I love the Pentacon 30

[eeec]

So many lovely 50s

The one I would never let go of is the Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 - such a classic rendering with perfect colours that you know it came from a legacy lens, but it's all so smooth and professional that it matches anything out there from any era.

The other one everyone should own somewhere in their kit would be the Helios 44-3. Stuffed with charm and unique character. The preset aperture is a joy to use and makes me wonder why companies ever stopped making such lenses.

Maybe I'd also make mention of the Volna-9. Stopped down a little bit and you get the unique bokeh stars... it's a lovely macro performer.

[mzzyhmd]

From my very little experience I'd suggest Pancolar 50/1.8. Super duper lens IMHO

[miran]

From my extremely limited experience Minolta Rokkor MD 50mm/1.4 is a very good lens. It's one of my most used lenses, top 3 for sure.

[DanielT74]

Many great lenses in this range, but for what it's worth, my top five contenders would be

Noct-Nikkor 58/1.2 (very expensive but if you're after a top quality fast glass, it can't be beat)
Leica Summilux-R 50mm E60 (very expensive and probably overpriced due to rarity but damn fine)
Canon FD 55/1.2 Aspherical (fantastically sharp and still reasonable, bokeh could be busy)
Zeiss Macro-Planar 50/2 (pretty damn perfect)
Minolta PG-58/1.2 (bokeh king)

[ForenSeil]

But imho a real must-have for every MF-lens-friend is the Helios 44-2 58/2. Not for best sharpness, not for best colors, not for smooth bokeh but for it's character and price

All little comparision between some cheap 50mm lenses I made a while ago
http://forum.mflenses.com/a-little-comparision-between-some-cheap-50mm-lenses-t45319,highlight,%2Bcomparision.html

[woodrim]

I think Attila was right that you'll get as many answers as there are lenses. Folks here can only comment on what they have and what tickles their fancy. It's not my favorite focal length with a 1.5 crop factor, but I do use them on occasion. Like others, I can only comment on those I have and realize that my favorites are not based on lab tests or other lens against lens pixel peeping comparisons, but what looks and feels good to me. I'll give my short list and subjective assessment.

Minolta Rokkor-X MD 45mm f/2 Seems a very good lens and I should probably use it more. The reason I don't is because I tend to pick up my Topcor 35/2.8 or Lydith.

Konica Hexanon 50mm f/1.4 I've only used it once. When I look back at the images, I see that they're plenty sharp, so I have to say it's a good lens, but nothing clicked with me when I saw the images. The feel of the lens impressed me as cheaper build - it just didn't feel good.

Minolta MC Rokkor PG 50mm f/1.4 This is my oldest lens, having come on my first Minolta SRT-102 circa 1973. Of course I have a sentimental attachment with this lens, but it also feels very good to me and the images have a warmth to them along with excellent sharpness. This along with the Topcor is my most used in the focal range.

Minolta MC Rokkor-X PF 50mm f/1.7 Aother I've had a long time - this one came with my second Minolta camera in 1976. It's a good lens, but I rarely use it because I have the f/1.4.

Carl Zeiss Planar *T 50mm f/1.7 Seems a very good lens. I can't really explain why I don't use it more.

Schneider - Kreuznach Edixa - Xenar 50mm f/2.8 Also seems a good lens, but doesn't offer anything special over the others and it's quite slow.

Mamiya Sekor 55mm f/1.4 One of the Tomioka builds, a very good lens with cool colors. Just don't use it a lot.

Panagor 55mm Macro f/3 A great macro that is good at distance to, but not great. Special purpose lens used on occasion.

Topcon 58mm f/1.8 RE Auto-Topcor Oh my, an excellent lens. I can think of nothing bad to say. Build is excellent as is IQ. Gets equal use with my Rokkor. Wish I could afford the f/1.4 version. Honestly, I think it is a tad better lens than my beloved Rokkor.

Helios 58mm f/2 Everything everyone else says; good lens at incredibly low price. I have it because it's good and cheap, but I'll always pick up the Topcor 58mm first. Well, unless I think a need for the pre-set.

[Oldhand]

[uddhava]

[Rick1779]

The cheapy: Helios 44, pretty fast, sharp, nice bokeh and I said it's cheap?

The expensive: Leitz Summicron-R 50/2, both versione are impressive, some say 1st version is better, some say the 2nd is the masterpiece...

[gaeger]

Lots of great 50s listed here. I would add the Nikkor 50mm f1.2 and f1.4 lenses, along with the Micro Nikkor 55mm f2.8, which is sharper than either of those in addition to its macro capability.

[hinnerker]

[ZoneV]

[extra|ordinary]

My absolute favorite standard lens is the C/Y mount Carl Zeiss Tessar 45mm f/2.8 Pancake. I love absolutely everything about this lens. It's sharp and it renders beautifully. Icing on the cake? It's about as compact as they come!

[asterinex]

[Oldhand]

Thanks everyone for your responses.
Yes, there are hundreds of lenses in this category.
The purpose in proposing the question was to find out which lens(es) endeared themselves to image makers and for what reasons.
It was not necessarily a what is the sharpest lens question.
The feedback has been revealing
Much appreciated
OH

[DR.JUAN]

Add the Kern macro switar 50/1,9.

No matter if it's not cheap, who can hold it, DO!!

Very good IQ, excelent colors, no distortion at all.

In my experience, I think that it's apochromatic lens. Almost negligible CA, minimal. My telyt 180/3,4 reminds me the macro switar's CA treatment.

[fermy]

It's hard to find a bad 50mm lens, but my favorites are Canon FD 50/1.4 and Leitz Summar 50/2. The first is a very reliable and easy to live with lens: fast, good contrast, good sharpness, good coating, good flare resistance, inexpensive, no weaknesses. When I want to be sure that there will be no nasty surprises from the lens, I pick up this one, it delivers. Summar is completely different, you have to be careful how you shoot with it, but then it gives a very special vintage look that is difficult to get otherwise.

[james]

Personally, I love the Nikkor 50/1.2 AIS. It's got a lovely dual character; dreamy lower contrast but high resolution from ƒ/1.2-2 and thereafter, until ƒ/5.6, just wonderful sharpness and contrast. And you can still buy it new.

[Mir]

good thing they're so many !


I love my M42 Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 4,5/40 T with 10 blades and a MFD of 40cm.
Slow, but in good light it's wonderful....

A "must have" 40mm lens imho...