Here's the Noob's quick MF 50mm Lens comparison

tikkathree · Expire: 2012-12-28

Okay, so here's the proof of what happens when you set four lenses against each other in Manual Focus, the three M42 lenses being connected via a focus confirm adapter of cheap and cheerful EBay quality.
The 50mm lenses I've got are as follows:

Pentacon f/1.8
Carl Zeiss Tessar f/2.8
Super Takumar f/1.4
Canon EF f/1.4

In order to give comparable results I tested them all in manual focus at f/2.8. I tested the Canon EF in both Manual and Auto Focus. I also tested the lenses which are wider than f/2.8 at their widest setting.

It seemed to me that what I wanted to see most was how their results differed straight from the camera and before processing. Accordingly I set up some flowers in the dappled shade of a birch tree and with some background subject matter so that I could see any differences in the bokeh. I didn't spend a lot of time tweaking camera settings, merely put the 5D on a tripod, selected my focus point, put the Pentacon on first, found a reasonable shutter speed for it at f/1.8 and fired away with the same shutter speed throughout the Manual Focus test shots. I realise that there might be some glare off the white petals but I wanted this to be a tough test rather than the creation of some pretty pictures. All I have done is convert the images from RAW to Jpeg: no pp, sharpening or tweaking. These are as they came off the CF card.

With hindsight I wish I'd set my shutter speed for the test with an aperture of f/2.8 but then this isn't life and death.

I can't wait to see what you guys think and in the meantime I'll be busy trying to decide whether I have any preferences and why.

Here then are the results:

Pentacon f/1.8 @ f/2.8

Carl Zeiss Tessar f/2.8 @ f/2.8

Super Takumar f/1.4 @ f/2.8

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 @ f/2.8 Manual Focus

and the same lens at the same settings in AF mode

And for interest, the faster lenses at their widest settings:

Pentacon f/1.8 @ f/1.8

Super Takumar f/1.4 @ f/1.4

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 @ f/1.4 in Manual Mode

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

I see no differences , how about you ?

revers · Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2010 6:16 pm Post subject:

I find the background of the C Zeiss the most pleasing.

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

walter g · Joined: 20 Feb 2010 Posts: 2463 Location: NC, USA

cooltouch · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 9096 Location: Houston, Texas

Of the faster lenses shot wide open, I prefer the bokeh of the Canon EF. It's softer, and the exposure also seems to be more accurate.

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

The Canon does the best job of making the background clearer, which is what I'd expect, the technology has moved on from the old manual lenses.

I've just bought a Pentacon 50 1.8, but haven't really tried it yet. But it seems ok, not as good as my Helios though.

Interesting comparisons though.

vulko · Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 6:39 am Post subject:

You should make the exposure same for all pics. So we can compare. Or shoot in M mode.

LucisPictor · Expire: 2013-12-03

Hard to judge on these shots, since they show a different exposure.

trev · Joined: 30 Jun 2010 Posts: 580 Location: North Wales - UK

Most definitely the Tessar in the first set of piccies and a MOST definitely for the canon 1.4 @1.4 in the second set

tikkathree · Expire: 2012-12-28

alex · Joined: 18 Apr 2009 Posts: 561 Location: UK

Differing exposures are the most obvious characteristic separating the images, but to my eyes, the Tessar is far and away the most pleasing in the out of focus planes.