Dear All,

I am thinking of getting another 50mm lens for my M gear. I currently have the following:

24 Elmarit 50 cron 35 cron ASPH 90 Elmarit

I am considering two lenses. The latest Elmar 50/2.8 or the Cosina Nokton 50/1.5. Can anyone let me know your experience with these two lenses. The latter is known for its color and contrast wide open (approaches Noct quality). OTOH, the Elmar has the looks and top workmanship.

I am also welcome any other suggestion in this price range. I am not fond of vintage lenses, as I lived in Hong Kong, and the used equipment prices are sky high, compare to Europe.

Thanks

-- Jeff Yiu (jeffyiu@quamnet.com), March 25, 2002

Answers

Jeff,

Frankly, if you already have 50 cron why buy another 50?

Unless you want a very small lens, in which case the Elmar is the only choice. Or if you want faster and the choice is between Nokton, or one of the 'luxes. If money is issue, then obviously the Nokton wins. But it is less than one stop faster than the cron. So I still wonder why? I would consider 75 instead. The Color Heliar is small and light and very nice.

Ilkka

-- Ilkka Kuusisto (ikuu65@hotmail.com), March 25, 2002.

There is a new Voigtlander 50 f2.5 comming out which has a build quality above their usual lenses. Although if you have a 50mm cron it wont really be much advantage to you. The 50 1.5 is a very big lens which takes 52mm filters.

-- Joel Matherson (joel_2000@hotmail.com), March 25, 2002.

Jeff, if I were in your shoes and had 50/2 Summicron I would look no further. I don't think Elmar or Nokton are as good as Summicron optically. But they are great lenses on their own merits. In fact I have both of them. Nokton was my first RF lens, it is big, heavyish and fast. Handles very nicely, very flare-resistant. The biggest grawback of this lens is that it does not have "Leica" written on it. I also wanted to have lighter and more 50mm to carry, so I bought 50/2.8 Elmar-M. Bokeh is nice, and overall performance is pretty much in line with Nokton (just IMHO, I'm no expert). Tonality on Elmar images is a touch smoother, but not by much.

As far as Elmar's workmanship goes -- I have black version, which I like a lot, but I imagine that the silver one must be much, much nicer.

...but as far as advice goes -- I'd say stay with 50/2, unless you really need faster lens or have an itch for that collapsible beauty.

-- Alexander Grekhov (grekhov@wgukraine.com), March 25, 2002.

Jeff I have the chrome 50mm Elmar-M and it is a beautiful and unique lens which is an outstanding performer to boot. Mount it on my chrome 0.85 and I have a low cost M6J. Mount it on my black 0.58 and I have the look of a prewar Barnack Leica with the black body and chrome lens. It seems that often Leica owners collect multiple 50s. Isn't that part of the fascination of Leica?

-- Doug from Tumwater (dbaker9128@aol.com), March 26, 2002.

Use the Nokton. I have one and it's not all that big... lighter than the Noctilux at least.

-- Alfie Wang (leica_phile@hotmail.com), March 26, 2002.

Jeff,

You currently have 2 lenses opening to f2.8 and 2 lenses opening to f2.

What you want today is a lens that helps you go the extra mile, when the others are just too slow. That eradicates VC or L collapsibles.

You are left with 3 real choices: VC Nokton, L summilux and L Noctilux.

If money is no issue, get the Noctilux (and keep your 'cron). You will gain fantastic new functionality.

If money is an issue, exchange your 'cron for the Nokton, and keep all your bucks. Not quite a full stop faster, but almost, opening access to shots that are not possible with what you currently own. Is considered by Erwin the Puts as better than the 'lux (which is no slouch).

You will NOT notice any practical trade off in quality terms compared to what your 50 'cron currently provides to you. That is if you are man enough to live with the VC badge of course... ;-)

-- Jacques (jacquesbalthazar@hotmail.com), March 27, 2002.