[Leica] IMG: The Age-Old Question: Which 50mm?

[Ted Grant]

Hi Jim,
Just eyeballing them on screen as they came up?  As you say. The first
appears to have a wee bit of an edge on the second.
Me never being a tester of gear throughout my career. Oh a few times I
fiddled, but generally when I bought "LEICA" I automatically assumed I was
buying the best! ERGO? Testing it was an utter waste of time better spent
earning my living!
On my M bodies the only 50mm I ever had & have was the NOCTILUX 50mm f1.0.
I did assume if I had a lens not perfect? It most certainly would show-up as
I shot my assignments where on some of the documentary subjects I'd expose
200-300 rolls of film during a weeks shoot. My Noctilux never failed me at
any aperture, certainly at f1.0 when that aperture made the difference
between a captured moment and not.
cheers
Dr. ted Grant   C.M.- OC

-----Original Message-----
From: LUG [mailto:lug-bounces+tedgrant=shaw.ca at leica-users.org] On Behalf Of
Jim Nichols
Sent: December-16-16 2:13 PM
To: LUG at Leica-Users.org; Olympus Camera Discussion
Subject: [Leica] IMG: The Age-Old Question: Which 50mm?

I have recently posted some images made with the post-war Russian 
Jupiter 8, a Zeiss copy, and have had some favorable comments.  I 
personally like its images, and it is a very small package. Today, I 
decided to compare it to other older 50s in my collection.  I have no 
modern prime lenses in my collection.

I set up a porcelain Wood Duck near a window, so that I could shoot as I 
normally do, hand-held at about 3 ft.  The light required ISO 1000.  I 
shot two images with each lens at f/2.8. The collection included the 
Jupiter 8, the Canon 50/1.4, the Leica Summitar, the Leica-R Summicron, 
and the Pentax Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 50/1.4.

I processed the RAF files sparingly, to let the original files prevail.  
Surprisingly, the Canon and the Summicron appeared the best.  After a 
little sharpening, I picked the Summicron-R as the winner, with the 
Canon a close second.

http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Leica+Summicron-R+50mm+2_0+Lens
+at+2_8+Final.tif.html

http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Canon+50mm+1_4+Lens+at+2_8+Fina
l.tif.html

Unfortunately, these are two of the largest, heaviest 50s in my 
collection, so I may not make them my normal choice.

Comments and critiques welcomed and appreciated.

-- 
Jim Nichols
Tullahoma, TN USA


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