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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

looking for new 50mm lens

J

Joe Cage

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Heey,

I am in doubt between the nikon AI-S 50mm 1.4 and Summilux-R 50mm 1.4. Does anybody has these 2 lenses and how do they compare? I am interested in shooting wide open at 1.4.

I already have a summicron-R set but looking at something faster, the Nikon AI-S is way cheaper though. But not sure if the summilux-r is worth then twice the price.

Thanks!
 
Having had all three of the 50's you're discussing, I'd say that purely subjectively the Summilux E55 is a nicer lens overall, but you can't beat the value of the Nikon 1.4.

The Leica is a bit larger and heavier (and feels a bit more high end as a Lux). I love the Summicron for its smoothness, but the Summilux looks a bit more interesting (bokeh, saturation, drawing, etc), and has a bit higher contrast wide open in comparison to the Nikon.

Have you checked out the Nikon 50mm f1.2 AI-S? Much cheaper than the Summilux, plus f1.2 is even more fun if you plan shooting wide open.


p.s. Have in mind if you buy the Nikon 50mm 1.4 to make sure you get an AI-S and not an older AI (e.g. K), I had multiple copies and performance is much nicer in more recent AI-S copies.
 
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Thanks!
Yeah 50mm 1.2 might also be nice. Do you have experience with the 1.2 as well?
 
Yes I had the Nikon 50mm 1.2 AI-S as well, for the money I think it's a great lens (personally I liked it more than my Canon 50mm CN-E T1.3), and I would choose it over the f1.4 every day of the week. It's just a very fun, compact, and competent lens, especially wide open which you seem to like.

Don't forget preference is mostly subjective, and multiple copies, especially with these kind of lenses that were manufactured over a long period of time and had different coatings over the years, can vary when it comes to performance, especially wide open.

For example the Nikon 50mm 1.2 AI-S is still being manufactured today, the coatings of a new one are quite modern in comparison to a 30 year old copy of the same lens, would you prefer a lower contrast or higher contrast copy? And what about flares? In my case when I compared the older copy to the newer one, I favoured the older coatings since I was going for a creamier look.

But when it comes to coatings, I always prefer Leica lenses (and Zeiss), there's just something more pleasing and clean to my eye -but again- this is purely subjective.

I would advise to test both for yourself, but if I had to choose, I'd say go for a Nikon 50mm f1.2 from the 90's, you can find them around $400, and if you're not satisfied then maybe go for the Lux which is usually around $1000. On another note, my favourite 50mm is the Zeiss ZF.2 f2 Makro, but you can never have one 50mm anyway :)
 
Thanks, yeah I did a shootout with the summicron 35mm f2, contax zeiss 35mm 1.4 and the sigma 35mm 1.4. And I liked the summicron the best, only down side was it was fstop F2, wether the other 2 were 1.4.
 
I have a Summilux-R 50mm and never shot with a Nikon AI-S 50mm but from my expierence shooting with a Summulux-R has been great for me.
 
Thanks, do you often shoot wide open at f1.4? Any examples?
 
How did you get a 35mm Summicron to mount on a Weapon? Isn't that an incompatible lens with the flange/ lens mount? Thought I read that Leica's under 50mm aren't compatible with Weapon mounts.
 
I believe you're referring to Leica M lenses on the M mount. These guys are discussing the Leica R lenses which, when modified to EF, are usable at all
focal lengths on the EF mount.
 
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