Voigtlander 50mm 1.5 vs Zeiss 50mm 1.5

[jeff_kim3]

I am sending my Leica lens for servicing which is going to take 8 weeks (to Leica) and I need a temp lens. Leica

is 35mm 1.4 ASPH and I wanted to know what you guys thought on 50mm lens.

 

Voigtlander 50mm f/1.5 Nokton vs Zeiss Ikon Standard 50mm f/1.5 C Sonnar T

 

or maybe get Voigtlander 35mm f/1.2 as temp?

 

thank you

[ronald_moravec1]

CV 1.5. is pretty good and you will lose the least if you sell it. Build quality is so so.

 

The Zeiss is old fashioned and has focus shift which you must learn to deal with that might take 8 weeks. Many love its qualities after they learn to use it. It is not like the super sharp Leica or 50 2.0 Zeiss

 

35 1.2? Do you want to replace a 50 with a 35. Its an ok lens, but the CV 1.4 is better from what I have read.

 

Buying used will lose you least if you decide to sell it.

[jeff_kim3]

Leica 35mm is my only lens and I was think of using opportunity to get a hold of 50mm

 

How does CV and Zeiss 50/1.5 compare to Leica 50/2?

 

What's a good rice for recent non-6bit Leica 50/2 used?

[Alex_Es]

Summicron 50/2 is excellent and can be had used at a reasonable price.

[christer_almqvist2]

Eight weeks?

 

Where are you sending your lens ?

 

I sent mine to Solms in the middle of their holiday season and it was there less than a week.

 

The current Summicron is about 600 Euros in the non-6-bit NOS version

[jeff_kim3]

I am just being stubborn and sending it to Leica

 

Should I be worried about lack of speed on Leuca 50/2?

That's the main reason for my choice on zeiss and cv also I can't afford price 50/1.4

[samoksner]

Take a look at the VC 35mm f1.2 (it's bigger then your 35 lux ASPH) http://www.1point4photography.com/blog/cv-nokton-35mm-f12-review/

 

Chris Weeks took a lot of pictures with the Zeiss 50mm f1.5, he liked it a lot, the signature is very nice http://cweeks.deviantart.com/journal/12423179/ (check because he has 2 lens' going in that "review")

 

I don't know of a quality review of the 50mm Nokton, you can always look on pbase: http://www.pbase.com/cameras/voigtlander/nokton_50_15 and on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/groups/nokton50/

 

 

Buy these used so if you want to resell them, you might break even dependng on your luck, whatever though, you won't lose much, it will be the cheapest lens rental ever. Honestly, if you have a chance look at the Leica 50mm f1.4 pre-ASPH.

[tim gray]

I just sold a 50 cron (latest version with pull out hood) for $700. It was in pretty good shape with nice glass but not perfect.

 

I'd get the zeiss f/2 planar. Sounds like a great lens and the cron really doesn't seem to be worth the premium over the

zeiss. It might not even be worth getting if they were the same price.

 

From all that I've read, the 35/1.2 is amazing. The only downfall is that its large.

[tim gray]

I just sold a 50 cron (latest version with pull out hood) for $700. It was in pretty good shape with nice glass but not perfect.

 

I'd get the zeiss f/2 planar. Sounds like a great lens and the cron really doesn't seem to be worth the premium over the

zeiss. It might not even be worth getting if they were the same price.

 

From all that I've read, the 35/1.2 is amazing. The only downfall is that its large.

[wgpinc]

If it was me I'd look for a Toyota temporary solution; the CV 35mm 2.5 lens is way inexpensive by Leica standards and has a decent reputation. Probably a lens you might keep for those times when you wanted to go light or not put your Summilux at risk. Good luck.

[Brian1664876441]

Add the price of an LTM to M adapter for the Nokton, the modern one is in LTM. The new Sonnar is native M-Mount. Both are easier than using the original 1950s Nokton and 1930s Sonnar on a Leica. But the latter two give fine results. I suspect either of the modern lenses will do at least as well.

[knut_schwinzer]

I have the Nokton since it came out in about 2002. It's great! I used yo own a Lux 35 Asph, until it was stolen in 2000. Man, I did miss it! Than I stumbled over the Nokton on a Photo fair in Barcelona. It was not even released. I took a shot of a clerk of Voigtländer with a demo unit of the 35/1.2 (1/250, f 1.2) and made a copy on fiber base paper.

The next day I ordered it and never looked back.

But if you have only one lens, and probably the +best+ 35 ever, it would be somewhat redundant to your arsenal! (Also, it's big...but balances well, and has more positive clickstops than the Lux, and a very short focus throw...and ergonomics well proven, copied from the first Noctilux)

I second recommendations on the 50 Summicron/lux, and, to confuse you a little bit more, consider also the Nikkor SC 5cm/ f1.4!<div></div>

[knut_schwinzer]

The above posted pic will not convince anybody, but it's 1/8 or 1/4 handheld slightly OOF than... Though I like it!<div></div>

[jeff_drew4]

I had the CV 50mm f/1.5 and sold it. It was very good and it did a fine job for the few years I used it. I currently have & use the Zeiss ZM 50mm f/1.5 and find it perfectly suited for me. It is noticeably sharper and has few flaws compared to the CV version. However; the CV is a terrific value and for your needs may be an excellent choice. For me, the Zeiss is #1 and my long-term keeper. Other CV choices, like the 35mm Ultron etc, are also excellent values.

[trex1]

No one mentioned the really horrible bokeh of the CV lens. I bought one and the bokeh is jarring. I have great doubts about the CV lenses, vis a vis Leica. Also, I am kind of in the same boat. I have a 40mm CV on my M3, and am wondering what to do, maybe sell it and get a planar or summicron 50.

[marek_fogiel]

Jeff,

The C Sonnar is a specialty lens, particularly suited for people shots - in my opinion it is the best portrait lens for a half

body shot ever made, it can be used as a normal 50mm lens at f5.6 and beyond - if you buy it you will not want to sell it

back. Here's an example in B&W:http://www.flickr.com/photos/59177039@N00/2832801348/

and here in colour:http://www.flickr.com/photos/59177039@N00/1019892254/

The CV 35/1.2 Nokton is also a special lens - I think it is actually optically better than the Leica Summilux, but it is also

twice as big. The bokeh is fantastic and has nothing to do with the bokeh of the f1.4 CV lenses. Here's a shot at f1.4 in

B&W:

and here in colour wide open:

You can enlarge these shots by clicking on the "all sizes" icon.

For a "temporary" 50mm lens, there are many choices around, and I do not think f2.0 is limiting. Try the Planar or

Hexanon, the first is the sharpest 50mm around and the second is appreciated by many for overall balance.

[Robin Smith]

Well I have both the 50mm Nokton and the 50mm Summicron and the Nokton is a worthy competitor. It is also a

bargain and perfect for temporary use. I use it when I want the extra almost-one-stop over the Summicron. I have no

complaints with it, nor do I find its bokeh unpleasant. As others have commented, the Sonnar is a much more

expensive lens and attempts to give to the user the look of a classic old-school Contax-era Sonnar - in other words it

is not optimized for high resulution at full aperture. It gives a somewhat softer, "classic" look wide open. The Nokton

is a modern optic in every way, and gives very good performance, particularly so when one considers its price.

[Brian1664876441]

Well, I cannot speak for the new Sonnar, but have the "classic". If I were to buy a new lens, it would be

tempting. The new Nokton is a great price for an aspherical lens, as cheap as the 1950s Canon 50/1.4. I tend to

use the older lenses.

 

Here is a shot taken wide-open with a 1935 5cm F1.5 Sonnar on the Canon P. <p>

 

<img src=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3273/2745727832_d701701137_o.jpg> <p>

 

and more examples here:<p>

 

<a href="http://flickr.com/photos/oldcamerapictures/sets/72157603706389629/"> Classic Sonnar Shots</a>

[02Pete]

For cost-effective lenses, you might also consider a Canon 35mm f/2 LTM, Canon 50mm f/1.8 LTM or Canon 50mm f/1.4 LTM with an LTM to bayonet adapter if you can find one in good condition at a reasonable price. Those were professional-grade lenses when made from the late 1950s to early 1970s, are durable and compact, have stood up well over time, handle well, and can still deliver excellent results. Any one of these, but particularly the 35mm f/2 LTM, would be significantly smaller and lighter than the Voigtlander 35mm f/1.2.