50mm f/1.4 Shootout

Popular Photography Feb 1999 issue tested 50mm f1.4 lenses from Canon, Zeiss

Leica, Minolta, Pentax, Nikon etc. The best 50mm f/1.4 lens was

Carl Zeiss Planar 50mm f/1.4 lens, followed by Leica Summilux-R 50mm/f1.4.

Both these lenses achieved a maximum resolution of 95 lpmm. Canon EF USM 50 f1/4 81 lpmm,

Pentax FA 50/1.4 80 lpmm; Nikkor D-AF 50/1.4 was surprizingly low at 72 lpmm, Minolta Maxxum AF 50/1.4 67 lpmm.

Perhaps this is a confirmation of my dissapointment with the

AF-D Nikkor 50/1.4 that I used to own. Normal lenses are my

most used lenses but I felt that the 50 lacked punch. Nowadays

I'm spoilt by the CF80 standard lens for Hasselblad, the center

sharpness of that lens from f2.8 + = is magnificent! I'm looking

into the Leica M with summicron 50, would that lens have more

punch than the Nikkor in "real picture taking"? (for me it's

B&W to 90%).

Yes, the Nikon is a dog until you stop it down to f4 or 5.6. They

really should cal it a 2.8. The Summicron f2 Leica lens is outstanding

from wide open. You will see a huge differnce at full aperture compared

to your Nikon.

I believe that the Leica R 50/1.4 tested was the old version. A new one

is out and it is substantially better, probably the best available. And

at the price it had better be.

Surely the contrast is also a significant aspect of how "good" a lens

is, as well as the colour balance and other values? Sorry to repeat

the obvious...

AMEN! I'm fed up with the over-emphasis on resolution. To

paraphrase Leica's response to these tests: "that's fine, if you want

to go around shooting optical test targets."

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Resolution, contrast, correction (and many other factors) have to be

balanced in lens design. Emphasis on one of these factors only comes

at the sacrifice of the other factors.

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The only important criteria is how the final rendition pleases the

human eye. I think Leica, in most cases, has struck a good balance.

Well, two years after I asked the follow up question above I got my

own Summicron 50, a lightweight 1970 one, so not the current version.

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I have since reevaluated the Nikkor and I think it is a fine lens. It

would have been my most used Autofocus-lens if I had kept it.

However, I like the Summicron much more. In black & white it has a

special quality that is hard to describe. I have used it a lot to

take pictures of indoor horse-back riding in electrical light. Even

at F/2 it gives a pleasing image quality. The images don't

scream "SHARP AND CONTRASTY IMAGE". However, they strike a very good,

should I say "balance"?. Yes, I think "balance" is the best word I

can come up with for the moment. Nothing, good or bad, sticks out.

The difference between in focus areas and out of focus areas is

noticable but still pleasing. The Nikkor images look "harder", as if

a subjects natural smoothness hasn't been recorded.

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Yesterday I had my first accident with the Leica. I took an

embarrassing nosedive while cross country skiing and the lens shade

became packed with snow. Thankfully I had a UV-filter on and nothing

seems to have been scratched or broken.