50mm lens for Sony NEX-C3

[metranquility]

Ok, here are the crops to check sharpness:


Crops:

 

[metranquility]

Indeed, the Biogon is the sharpest of all.. but dont forget, it is shot at F2.8..... one whole stop down from the rest of the lenses....

Like I say, above are the newbie tests... for those of you pros who have suggestions on how I can improve my 'testing'... do tell me always interested to learn...



Well, my favourite of all is still the Planar 45mm F2... fast, sharp... only prob is that at 1.5 crop factor, it is sometimes a little cumbersome to use...

Anyway, for a stepped down (I think F4 or 5.6) 100% cropped shot of a tamarind (I think) I took using the Planar 45mm F2, check this out:

 

[Ghostfit]

yes you're right it's uneasy to rotate the ring left - right. so it's not the character of the lens itself but some things are dried up inside?
While Takumr is easy but not so loose, makes me easier to ahieve the focus.
where do you think I can repair that? I don't have gutts & skills like you to open it hahahaha...
thanks for the explanation BTW! I really enjoyed reading it

Sorry for the late reply, somehow I didn't see your post above. :embrass:

You can try contact Bro Fatigue here or pay a visit to Peninsula Plaza.

The Helios are relatively simple lense and you usually don't need any special tools to open them up (google search will review lots of instructions and videos on the Internet). I've partially opened up all my Helios in order to modify them for use with digital, (shortening the activation level to fit special adaptors or locking the stop-down pin to fit normal adaptors)

I've CLA (Clean, Lubricate, Assemble) one that was really bad with a focus ring that appeared stucked and ended up with a lens thats as good as brand new (the "scratches" behind the front element were actually some kind of fine fibre which somehow managed to get inside) ...maybe I should start a thread on how to CLA the Helios :devil:

Thanks, and I've enjoyed writing it, I've developed a passion for the Helios after experiencing the IQ that was possible with this very affordable Lens.

 

[nicekit]

Sorry for the long post below, this thread really struck a chord... so just wanna share my manual portrait lens journey...

So finally laid my hands on the lenses that are always on my camera now - the Contax G Carl Zeiss series

Super sharp wide open (both the 28mm F2.8 and 45mm F2), only slightly bigger than my oly pen f, the pair I got were simply my favourite lens to date. However again, they are not without downsides:
a) expensive ($500 upwards)
b) short focus throw (not really that smooth to focus, as they are autofocus RF lens, not SLR lens made for manual focusing)

So well, it is up to you to try out different lenses and decide what you want.. think what Anthony Lee said is very true :

which mount u use for this lens?

 

[aiest]

The Helios are relatively simple lense and you usually don't need any special tools to open them up (google search will review lots of instructions and videos on the Internet). I've partially opened up all my Helios in order to modify them for use with digital, (shortening the activation level to fit special adaptors or locking the stop-down pin to fit normal adaptors)

I've CLA (Clean, Lubricate, Assemble) one that was really bad with a focus ring that appeared stucked and ended up with a lens thats as good as brand new (the "scratches" behind the front element were actually some kind of fine fibre which somehow managed to get inside) ...maybe I should start a thread on how to CLA the Helios :devil:

Simple or not, I wouldn't dare open any lens up. You got guts! I'd accidentally disassembled my reflector telescope's eyepiece once (a camera's equivilant of a lens), when I had first received it 'cos I was too excited to try everything and twist everything that could be twisted. Even though nothing went wrong with the glass piece and I only had to place it back and screw things back, I am still super-scared of damaging any lenses.

 

[Anthony Lee]

which mount u use for this lens?

Leica M mount. On NEX you need an M to NEX adapter.

Oops...yes it's Contax G to NEX, sorry.

 

[metranquility]

Contax G - NEX adapter...

The one I am using is a metabones one I bought fr a nice guy on the B&S... Market price about $180+

There are cheaper kipon ones on evil bay that you can buy, for about $50 from China, or you can also get fr chiff at excelsior hotel shopping arcade but cost a little more, but you can test. Heard that the kipon ones are not as smooth to use... So good to test.

 

[SCULDER]

Heard that the kipon ones are not as smooth to use... So good to test.

hello, can u explain a bit more, what do you mean by "not as smooth to use"?
I thot adapter is only connect body & lens? thanks!

 

[wonglp]

hello, can u explain a bit more, what do you mean by "not as smooth to use"?
I thot adapter is only connect body & lens? thanks!

G lens has no focusing ring as it AF from contax g bodies, so the adapter has a screw driven mechanism to do MF.
Metabones and kipon are of different built, kipon has 2 versions though previous is a small thumb wheel, latter version is 360, kinda like metabones, this version is quite ok, except the wheel is thinner than metabones.

 

[metranquility]

Yep, thanks wonglp, spot on. Even with adapters, the focusing turning is still not as smooth as a normal manual lens, although the difference is not critical, I feel, and the photos are still as sharp as ever ...

 

[aiest]

Since this thread has been dead for 2 weeks, I'm going to close it with this last post. I'm also going to thank everyone who has contributed their suggestions and explanations here, I'm sure I'm not the only one who has benefited from them!

As a final post, I'm going to update everyone that I have chosen and bought my 50mm lens. I've just received it in the mail yesterday

Now just waiting for my adapter to arrive in the mail too

Thanks again, everyone!