The Dry Box
Senior Member
I am intending to find a 50mm for my M2, and used to own the Canon 50/1.8 and the collapsible summicron, both are nice painterly lens, but does not have the look that I like.
I chanced upon a Rollei 35 S, and while I don't like the mechanism of the camera, the lens is really something else. It's a Sonnar 40/2.8 that performs magnificently wide open. I don't know how to describe the look of the rendering... there's just something about sonnar that seen so unique.
Shot wide open... it's not surgically sharp, but the drawing from the lens has something that I like.
I like a lens that is versatile at distance and close up across all apertures. I am considering the following option:
1) Nikkor S.C. 5cm F/1.4 or Canon 50/1.5
2) Zeiss C Sonnar 50/1.5
3) Summilux 50/1.4 Pre-Asph version 2
For my need, the summilux will definitely fulfill, but I like the drawing of Sonnars better, so it's the last on my list. You could probably guess that from my list I am looking at faster lenses.
The vintage sonnars by NikCan seen to be optimized for close performance, while with a 50mm I am taking most of my pictures 3 to 5 meters away.
The C Sonnar seen to be the safest choice for that range with the original formula optimized at f 2.8, but I am very sure I'll dislike the focus shift when I used it wide open, I won't use it often but it'll be nice to have.
My main question here for the ZM C Sonnar is would I have any problem with the optimised at f/1.5 version WHEN shooting 3-5 meters and beyond at apertures from f2.8 to f5.6?
From what I gather from the net the f2.8 version is better across the smaller apertures at all distances?
The above mentioned question also applies, for nikcan sonnar copies.
Finding these lenses, shall be another headache.
Thanks for your time
I chanced upon a Rollei 35 S, and while I don't like the mechanism of the camera, the lens is really something else. It's a Sonnar 40/2.8 that performs magnificently wide open. I don't know how to describe the look of the rendering... there's just something about sonnar that seen so unique.

Shot wide open... it's not surgically sharp, but the drawing from the lens has something that I like.
I like a lens that is versatile at distance and close up across all apertures. I am considering the following option:
1) Nikkor S.C. 5cm F/1.4 or Canon 50/1.5
2) Zeiss C Sonnar 50/1.5
3) Summilux 50/1.4 Pre-Asph version 2
For my need, the summilux will definitely fulfill, but I like the drawing of Sonnars better, so it's the last on my list. You could probably guess that from my list I am looking at faster lenses.
The vintage sonnars by NikCan seen to be optimized for close performance, while with a 50mm I am taking most of my pictures 3 to 5 meters away.
The C Sonnar seen to be the safest choice for that range with the original formula optimized at f 2.8, but I am very sure I'll dislike the focus shift when I used it wide open, I won't use it often but it'll be nice to have.
My main question here for the ZM C Sonnar is would I have any problem with the optimised at f/1.5 version WHEN shooting 3-5 meters and beyond at apertures from f2.8 to f5.6?
From what I gather from the net the f2.8 version is better across the smaller apertures at all distances?
The above mentioned question also applies, for nikcan sonnar copies.
Finding these lenses, shall be another headache.
Thanks for your time