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f1.4 50/55/58 mm manual focus lens?
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PostPosted: Sat May 08, 2010 1:17 am    Post subject: f1.4 50/55/58 mm manual focus lens? Reply with quote
Hi,

I am looking to buy a fast f1.4 or faster lens on budget in 50-58mm focal length range. Does anyone has any suggestions?


PostPosted: Sat May 08, 2010 1:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
What mount?


PostPosted: Sat May 08, 2010 1:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Your best, cheapest, and most plentiful option in m42 is all the same: Super Takumar 50mm f1.4. If you are like me you will buy 4 or 5 before getting a REALLY good one but...

My opinions are worth every penny you pay for them, too. Wink


PostPosted: Sat May 08, 2010 2:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
cheekygeek wrote:
Your best, cheapest, and most plentiful option in m42 is all the same: Super Takumar 50mm f1.4. If you are like me you will buy 4 or 5 before getting a REALLY good one but...


What? 4-5 Taks to get a good one?? I have just one, and it's great. Haven't heard of much copy variation with them, too. Can't really use it on a full-frame Canon though; it hits the mirror focusing beyond about 10-15m Sad

So, I would rather recommend going after Yashica ML 50/1.4, which is arguably a better lens than the Tak, and costs about the same or less. Nikkor 50/1.4 (Ai or Ai-S) is a great one, too, but costs more than the Yashica, and it bokeh is quite busy. Gives excellent sharpness and contrast, and lots of "pop". Both lenses are fine on full-frame cameras.


PostPosted: Sat May 08, 2010 5:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I have the same opinion as aoleg : if you want to top the Yashica 50mm f/1.4 ML, you're going to have to spend money on something like a Zeiss 1.7/50 Planar (the 1.4 Planar isn't a budget lens).


PostPosted: Sat May 08, 2010 7:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I agree with aoleg and alex; yashica ML 50 1.4 is a supperb lens for the price (as most MLs)
The other 1.4 lens I had was a porst 55mm 1.4 (tomioka); very nice lens, not so sharp but very nice bokeh. I sold it as was going to give trouble with the 5D mirror


PostPosted: Sat May 08, 2010 7:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
alex wrote:
I have the same opinion as aoleg : if you want to top the Yashica 50mm f/1.4 ML, you're going to have to spend money on something like a Zeiss 1.7/50 Planar (the 1.4 Planar isn't a budget lens).


Not necessarily...If he is prepared to modify it to fit, or use an adapter, then the Canon FL 55mm f1.2 is the best choice. It a much better lens than the Zeiss 50/1.7 Planar, optically and especially mechanically, yet it fetches around the same price on ebay. Wink
I have both but I only use the Canon.

Heres an FL 55/1.2 going cheap:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Canon-FL-55mm-f1-2-1-2-55-lens-NR-/180503811233?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item2a06dd94a1

and a Zeiss 50mm f1.7 going cheap:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Carl-Zeiss-Planar-T-50mm-F1-7-Lens-Good-Cond-Boxed-/280502562656?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_CamerasPhoto_CameraAccessories_CameraLensesFilters_JN&hash=item414f416f60

Both auctions have about 8-9 days to go though so who knows what they will go for in the end.


PostPosted: Sat May 08, 2010 8:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
DSG wrote:
If he is prepared to modify it to fit, or use an adapter, then the Canon FL 55mm f1.2 is the best choice.

I don't know this lens other than by repute, which is good, but any addition to the pot for the original poster to consider has to be a good thing. Interesting note about use via an adapter. I don't know what camera mount the OP intends, but the CY mount is easily adapted to EOS, but I think the FD to EOS may call for an optical adapter, as I'm sure the FD register is shorter than the EOS. Issues of flexibility may have nearly as much bearing as optics.


PostPosted: Sat May 08, 2010 10:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
aoleg wrote:
cheekygeek wrote:
Your best, cheapest, and most plentiful option in m42 is all the same: Super Takumar 50mm f1.4. If you are like me you will buy 4 or 5 before getting a REALLY good one but...


What? 4-5 Taks to get a good one?? I have just one, and it's great. Haven't heard of much copy variation with them, too.

nor me... I had about 10 50/1.4 takumars in my hands and I didn't found any difference... another thing are amateurish repairs, which often leads to bad adjustment etc., but this isn't problem of the lens, but problem of the previous owner...


PostPosted: Sat May 08, 2010 1:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
10 tak !! wow ..let me know whenever you are selling one Smile


PostPosted: Sat May 08, 2010 2:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Super Takumar 50 1.4, you will never regret it


PostPosted: Sat May 08, 2010 2:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Ash: I have only one which I use. I sold the rest in the last two years Smile


PostPosted: Sat May 08, 2010 2:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I missed the window ..!!


PostPosted: Sat May 08, 2010 2:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Maybe the contax planar 50mm f1.4?
It's been said its the sharpest lens ever.


PostPosted: Sat May 08, 2010 2:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I own a Sony dslr. Therefore, I am looking for screwmount so that I can use my adapter. Also I still a novice to attempt any mount change operation on the lens.


PostPosted: Sat May 08, 2010 3:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I do not have Super Tak but SMC Tak version. That's good but might need little higher cost. You will b ehappy if got either one. Mike


PostPosted: Sat May 08, 2010 5:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Ash wrote:
I own a Sony dslr. Therefore, I am looking for screwmount so that I can use my adapter. Also I still a novice to attempt any mount change operation on the lens.


Then super tak, pancolars, ultrons, etc. So many good options.


PostPosted: Sat May 08, 2010 11:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I have very much enjoyed my Mamiya Sekor 55mm f/1.4, and it comes in M42. I also use a Sony. I should point out that I have no comparative experience with the Tak or Yashica. I have compared the Sekor to the Helios 44-2 and Minolta AF 50mm f/1.7. I liked the Sekor best and it well outperformed the Minolta to my surprise.
http://www.pbase.com/mdlempert/mamiya55mm


PostPosted: Sun May 09, 2010 2:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
+1 for the Sekor 55mm 1.4. It has a very pleasing image to my eyes.


PostPosted: Sun May 09, 2010 6:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
aoleg wrote:

What? 4-5 Taks to get a good one?? I have just one, and it's great. Haven't heard of much copy variation with them, too.


The problem is not copy variation, it is condition. Buying lenses this old you will find (depending upon geography and where/how they were stored) the usual concerns... internal fungus for example. Obviously, this problem goes away if you are not buying "long distance".
Smile


PostPosted: Sun May 09, 2010 10:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
There are a few good 1.4 out their at budget prices. I like this one.



Center crop.

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