Group Test : 50~55mm f/1.7~1.8mm

[Raxar]

Hi guys

recently purchased a lot of good 50~58mm f/1.7~1.8 lens so i decided to do a comparison. unfortunately some lenses didn't arrived yet and i can mount all of them on canon EF (for full-frame test) so i will complete the test as soon as i find a sony A7 camera for that purpose. my plan is getting all of them tested on 4/3 (just the center) and FF in 3 different distance (60cm - 3m - infinity)

let me know if you think some worthy lens is missing on my list:
CZJ Pancolar 50/1.8
Zeiss Ultron 50/1.8
Yashica ML 50/1.7
Pentax A 50/1.7
Konica AR 50/1.7
Fuji 55/1.8 non-EBC (probably as good as Tak 55/1.8 and mamiya 55/1.
Canon FD 50/1.7
Minolta MD III 50/1.7
Rollei Planar HFT 50/1.8
Zeiss C/Y Planar 50mm f/1.7
Topcor RE 58/1.8 (yes its not a 50 or 55 )
Nikon E 50/1.8

and finally there is a quick test i did this morning with OMD E-M5 :

all images are 100% crop from center and ignore the wrong WB on Fuji

Fujica EBC 50mm f/1.6 @1.6


Fujica EBC 50mm f/1.6 @2.8


Fujica EBC 50mm f/1.6 @4.0


Zeiss Ultron 50/1.8 @1.8


Zeiss Ultron 50/1.8 @2.8


Zeiss Ultron 50/1.8 @4.0


Yashica ML 50/1.7 @1.7


Yashica ML 50/1.7 @2.8


Yashica ML 50/1.7 @4.0


CZJ Pancolar 50/1.8 @1.8


CZJ Pancolar 50/1.8 @2.8


CZJ Pancolar 50/1.8 @4.0


Zeiss Planar HFT 50/1.4 @1.4

[cooltouch]

Hey Raxar,

Doing a comparison between the ubiquitous 50mm f/1.7- 1.8 lenses can be valuable, but I predict that all of them made by major manufacturers will perform excellently.

Please note: Canon has never made a 50mm f/1.7. Their lenses in this aperture range are all f/1.8.

As for lenses you have not listed I have a few suggestions:

Canon 50/1.8 SC (breechlock)
Canon 50/1.8 New FD
Minolta MC 50/1.8 or is it a 1.7?
Olympus 50/1.8
Nikon 50/1.8 AI or AIs - severall different versions exist, exclusive of the "E"
Pentax M42 Takumar 50/1.8 and 55/1.8
Pentax M 50/1.7

[D1N0]

The Super (Multi-Coated) Takumar 50mm F1.4
(EBC) Fujinon 50mm F1.4
Helios 44-2 or 44m 58mm 2.0
A 55mm f1.4 Tomioka (Rikenon/Revuenon/Chinon/Sears/Cosinon/Yashinon and then some)

[coase]

I like the Yashica and the Pancolar wide open.

[Thecageyone]

How about the Zenitar M 50mm f/1.7?

[sergun]

Pancolar unexpectedly showed bad results or your copy is bad.

[Raxar]

[Oldhand]

If you are really keen you might like to include these
Yashinon DX 50/1.7
Rikenon 55/1.7
Schneider Kreuznach Edixa-Xenon 50/1.9
Isco Westrocolor 50/1.9

I know the last two are f1.9 lenses and a little hard to find but they are both pretty special
Tom

[y]

[Raxar]

[Oldhand]

[DigiChromeEd]

[cooltouch]

Speaking of 50mm f/2 lenses, one that bears mentioning is the old original pre-AI Nikkor 50/2. I owned one for a while but didn't shoot with it much. But I've been lectured at by old-school photographers who have told me in no uncertain terms that the old Nikkor 50/2 was the best normal lens ever made. Period, end of story. Well, I wasn't gonna argue with these old curmudgeonly types -- I just took it all in. So I could pass it along like I'm doing right now.

[Raxar]

[cooltouch]

Well, there ya go then!

[itsfozzy]

[Oldhand]

[Sjak]

This is an interesting test, especially since you are looking for the differences in character!

I have only 1 lens in your range of specifications, the Meyer Optik Görlitz Oreston 50mm 1.8. I like its handling, and the minimum focus distance of only 33cm is a very nice touch.
I should take it out more often.

[Raxar]

[BurstMox]

I would suggest you also Helios-77 50/1.8 and Volna 50/1.8. I find the rendering of the volna pretty interesting.

[Sjak]

[itsfozzy]

[sergun]

I dug on ebey, I looked for Rikenon 55 1.7 but I did not find any and even there is no description. Discovered that Rikenon 50mm F2.0 has several markings. Usual, the letter L and the letter P. Who knows what's the difference ?

#1


#2

[itsfozzy]

[PBFACTS]