My Five Fave 50mm Vintage Lenses - From The Past Year!

Рет қаралды 15,331

4 жыл бұрын

Want a great 50mm vintage lens? Here are the best ones I've used over the past year!
Support at Patreon.com/zenography
Chinon 50mm f1.9
Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 58mm f2
Leica Summitar 50mm f2
Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 50mm f1.8
Canon FD 50mm f1.4

Пікірлер: 98

@mikafoxx2717 2 жыл бұрын

This video reminds me of a story my grandfather told me. In the 70's, his coworker in broadcast was a photographer on the side, and he used a Leica. He was disappointed to find out that my grandfather's Canon FD 50mm 1.4 beat his Leica's lens in the optical testing rig, and swore that he wouldn't take another picture on that Leica, angry over how much more he paid for it than the canon.

@wngimageanddesign9546 2 жыл бұрын

I concur. The Chinon Auto 50mm f/1.9 is a sleeper nifty fifty. A lot of soft bokeh, sharp, contrasty. NOTE: This lens was also commisioned by Yashica to be OEMed as a replacement for their own ML 50mm f/1.9. The later version has a designation of "C" after the name. So, it's the Yashica ML 50mm f/1.9 C. The visible difference to the Yashica original is the bokeh. I suspect the 'C' stood for Cosina. Yashica had a number of 'C' lenses released.

@meaper960 9 ай бұрын

The Canon FD 50mm 1.4 was one of my first vintage lenses. My copy looks like new and I got it very cheap. This thing is fantastic indeed, as sharp as modern lenses but with the vintage look.

@chainsaw2046 4 жыл бұрын

The chinon came with a camera kit I was given, that I in turn gave to my younger sister. She's enjoyed using it, which is nice given how little appreciation these cheaper lenses are often given

@zenography7923 4 жыл бұрын

Some of these Chinons are really nice - definitely unsung gems!

@kenheraty373 4 жыл бұрын

I appreciate that you give time for your photos to refresh thru the KZfaq system, this makes a difference in your deliberate overview. Thanks

@zenography7923 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

@AbdonPhirathon 4 жыл бұрын

I previously own a 50mm Summar f/2, and it had superb sharpness for a lens made in the 1930's. I compared it my Voigtländer 40mm f/1.4 in a side-by-side comparison expecting the Voigtländer to beat the Summar, but turns out that even though it did have better coatings, which allowed it to have better flare resistance, and better color rendition, it still wasn't as sharp as the Summar. That was the moment I realized why Leica is Leica, and why everyone goes crazy over their superb glass.

@zenography7923 4 жыл бұрын

Leica lenses are very hyped and very expensive - but my goodness they make some nice images!

@thomasmoje5926 4 жыл бұрын

I really like the images taken with that Carl Zeiss Pancolar 50 mm f/1.8..vibrant color and sharp..oh my! Just picked up a Nikon/Nippon Kogaku 50 mm f/1.4 non-AI lens to go with my Ftn Photomic..shot first roll with it last week we'll see how it does. Really nice video thanks.

@zenography7923 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

@burstongreye7090 4 жыл бұрын

Another stellar Trevor review ✌🏽

@zenography7923 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

@abhishekvsmalyala 4 жыл бұрын

I have a Rollei HFT Planar 50mm 1.8, very similar to the Pancolar - and it never disappoints.

@sternschnupper 5 ай бұрын

great lens, and considering it can be had for super cheap (at least in german speaking countries) it is one of my best buy recommendations!

@jensknappe2485 10 ай бұрын

i should look for a Chinon 50mm f1.9 for my Pentax ME/ME super cameras🤔 thanks for this detailed review 👍

@parratt-world 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you, from 'lockdown' stranded in the Philippines. Yes, the Summitar I have, as it came with the iiif as the original kit lens. It is indeed a gem, for all the the reasons yoi point out.

@zenography7923 4 жыл бұрын

That Summitar's a lovely little lens. Hope you're able to get home soon!

@chrisnovakowski9827 4 жыл бұрын

I agree with your comments on the Canon FD 50mm f1.4. It's a lovely lens & is a perfect companion for my Canon A-1.

@zenography7923 4 жыл бұрын

It's one of the nicest 1.4s I have!

@puntonpointmedia5669 4 жыл бұрын

Hi Zenography--new to photography and videography this year. Purchased some great and affordable vintage lenses based on your recommendations. Recently acquired the Industar-61 2.8 for my Sony A6400. Delivers on everything you said--exactly. Really pleased. Thanks!

@zenography7923 4 жыл бұрын

That;s great, glad these videos have been useful to you! Enjoy that little Industar!

@ghw7192 3 жыл бұрын

The original Vuvitar Series 1 lenaes were amszing! I have the 28, 90 macro,. 135, 90-180, and 200 in Canon Fzl mount.. excellent!

@jonlouis2582 4 жыл бұрын

Another hugely enjoyable review. I used nothing but Zuiko lenses for many years, but always respected Canon FD glass and wondered why it was so disrespected. Until recently, you could hardly give them away. Here in the US, I have never even laid eyes on a Chinon lens, but I took some of my favorite pictures with a similar Minolta Rokkor MC 55/1.9 lens that I bought for $5 USD with an fugly camera as a rear lens cap. You just never know.

@zenography7923 4 жыл бұрын

All things being equal, it's the photographer, not the gear...!

@fangzhou3235 2 жыл бұрын

I think it is due to the death of FD system and the difficulty of adapting FD lens to another system. FD system has very short flange distance so FD lens cannot be adapted to any other SLR camera w/o using extra glasses. No user means dropping price plus nobody to discover their strength. It is only with the coming of short flange distance mirrorless camera, FD is alive again. As it is so easy to do comparison test using digital camera, and the high power of pixel piping, the strength of FD lens is easy to rediscover.

@alangamble3236 4 жыл бұрын

I’m using a canon 50mm FD lens with an adaptor on my OMD e-m10 Mkii and getting fantastic results. Well recommended.

@zenography7923 4 жыл бұрын

Enjoy!

@BIMLounge 3 жыл бұрын

Not sure how I missed this video as I usually watch them as they come out. The Canon was a big surprise to me at the end of the video. I own a 1.8, lovely lens. Now I'm going to have to pick up a 1.4. My personal favorite is still the Pentacon 50/1.8 (multicoated version!). Best handling, minimum focusing distance and bokeh. I just got a Schneider- Kreuznach Xenon 50mm F/1.9. If you haven't tried it, please do. it's such a surprising little lens. It would be great to see it reviewed. If I lived in the UK I would definitely send you mine! Thanks as always!

@zenography7923 3 жыл бұрын

And thanks for watching! I've heard much that's good about the Schneider Kreuznach lenses and will investigate them soon. The FD 1.4 is rather nicer than the 1.8 (which is itself a nice lens) - I don't think you'll regret getting one - and although I do like the Pentacon 50, the FD 1.4 will blow it out of the water, technically speaking, at least!

@hiresmusic 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you for good review/testing.Following your reccomendation I purchased Leica Summitar 50 2.0 and very like it for street & video on full frame camera.From your list I also used Pancolar for flowers& bugs shots with great result.If you will have chance try Canon FD 55 1.2 SSC lens ,its blows away FD 50 1.4 IMHO .Closed to 2.8 its easy outperforms 24mpx sensor of Nikon Z6 in terms of resolution.Its massive and 4x times more expensive,but the least expensive lens compares to other manufacturers( for 1.2 aperture).It cost like Summitar around 250-300 euro on ebay

@zenography7923 4 жыл бұрын

I've heard the Canon 1.2 is quite something; glad you're enjoying the Summitar by the way!

@martinda7446 4 жыл бұрын

That was wonderful. The Canon took me by surprise...I didn't expect that. The images looked amazing. My favourite is the Biotar though. I know it isn't your style, but sometimes I would like to see a test card to determine performance, resolution etc...It is my engineering side that sometimes needs pampering. Nobody else is going to do it with these lenses. (And then again - I like the Biotar??) Edit - Which I doubt would test too well. Edit again: Which answers my own question really..

@zenography7923 4 жыл бұрын

On occasion, I've toyed with the idea of formal testing such as you describe, to give definitive measurements of resolution, CA etc; as you've probably noticed though, I prefer to test in real world conditions, unscientifically, to gain an impression of the aesthetic feel of a lens. Maybe one day I'll put on my lab coat, as it were!

@thinkbear 4 жыл бұрын

I’ve been enjoying your videos over the past few weeks. I can’t help noticing that you focus much more heavily on 50mm lenses. It makes sense given that these are vintage lenses for the 35mm full frame system, but 50mm is quite long for mirror less cameras. They’re good choices for portraits and macro, but harder to work with for general work. Do you have videos I just haven’t found yet comparing examples of vintage lenses with a 35mm focal length? Thanks!

@zenography7923 4 жыл бұрын

Indeed I do! This video kzfaq.info/get/bejne/gZZzn8ZqybXUl2w.html features two 28mm and two 35mm lenses, this one kzfaq.info/get/bejne/gpmVd8yVsr-uoaM.html looks at four 28mm lenses, and this one kzfaq.info/get/bejne/l9h5Zsue1rOagZc.html compares the Zeiss Jena Flektogon 35mm f2.4 with the Olympus Zuiko 35mm f2.8. Enjoy!

@MudbloodWizard 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the video! Don't you just love 50mm lenses?! I have the Canon FD 50 1.4 that I use on my A7III and it is one of my favorite lenses!

@chrisnovakowski9827 4 жыл бұрын

I completely agree with your comments on the Canon FD 50mm f1.4. I've been using this lens on my Canon A-1 & find that it is a lovely combination.

@ViewandReview 4 жыл бұрын

nice one

@zenography7923 4 жыл бұрын

Many thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

@epiccookingwithtamtam9415 4 жыл бұрын

Wish I can use some of these lenses someday.

@alanthomas2235 3 жыл бұрын

Hello I'm going to look for some of these lens at my local car boot

@benleitch5307 4 жыл бұрын

Surely a Carl Zeiss 50mm F2.8 tessar from the contaflex and alike is a worthy contender. Costs peanuts in the scale of things but an absolute cracking lens £ for £

@zenography7923 4 жыл бұрын

The Zeiss 2.8 Tessar is indeed an impressive lens - and very cheap!

@CapitanFajardo 4 жыл бұрын

When I saw the title of the video I thought the Zuiko 50/1.4 was going to be in your list since you always speak in high regard about it. As a Zuikoholic I was a little bit sad to not see any OM lenses in your list, however I can see why since your selection is excellent!

@tommorgan3125 4 жыл бұрын

Me too...my Easter ruined. Great video as usual and thanks for posting, most enjoyable.

@martinpettinger413 4 жыл бұрын

Yes, I was surprised the Zuiko didn't make it. Had a Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 4 years ago and adapted for Micro 43rd's and didn't rate it. Could have had a poor copy though as I am more knowledgeable about fungus and haze now.

@vikmanphotography7984 4 жыл бұрын

@@martinpettinger413 The Canon does suffer a lot from CA which might make it a less desirable pick for smaller formats. As for the absence of OM lenses, he did mention that this list was for lenses he's picked up in the last year.

@zenography7923 4 жыл бұрын

I do like that little Zuiko 1.4 - as you've noticed! This one was about 50mm lenses tried over the past year though...

@caldera878 4 жыл бұрын

The Canon FD 50 f1.4 have some very pronounced sample variation in the production run. Canon skimping on QC, plastic feeling qualities, and especially where bokeh fringing, and rings is a problem due to inadequate element polishing. Variations of busy, rough bokeh and too much Longitudinal CA. An overrated prime lens from an era when Canon was only chasing behind Nikon.

@shahzadahmed-tq8tm 4 жыл бұрын

Wounderful video as ever! Could you please recomend a 35mm f 1.4 vintage lens for black and white photography? Thank You in advance!

@vikmanphotography7984 4 жыл бұрын

35mm 1.4 is really a newer accomplishment so you won't find much in the way of 'vintage'. The closest you'll probably get is the voightlander 35mm 1.4 Classic in Leica M mount.

@shahzadahmed-tq8tm 4 жыл бұрын

@@vikmanphotography7984 Thank You for the reply! What abt. f2 and above?

@vikmanphotography7984 4 жыл бұрын

@@shahzadahmed-tq8tm your best bet is either the Nikkor pre-ais 35mm f2 or the legendary Minolta/Leica 40mm f2. Minolta did make a 35mm 1.8 but it has many many issues and I can't recommend it. Pentax and Olympus have 35mm f2 offerings also but I'm not familiar with them.

@abhishekvsmalyala 4 жыл бұрын

As someone already suggested, get the voigtlander nokton classic 35 1.4 (preferably SC version if you are shooting black and white) A cheaper option is the voigtlander color skopar 35mm F2. 5 in Leica thread mount. Way sharper than most 35mm F2 lenses I've tried.

@northstar1950 4 жыл бұрын

I'm well impressed if you strip and clean your own lenses.

@zenography7923 4 жыл бұрын

It's something I approach with a minimalist philosophy - do the minimum amount of disassembly to get to the parts to be cleaned. The Biotar was quite difficult actually, due to the body having to come apart to get to the rear element. Reassembly took quite some time! The Helios 44, by contrast, is one of the easiest in the world to strip and clean!

@northstar1950 4 жыл бұрын

@@zenography7923 , We, my wife and I ,well mainly me partially stripped a Leitz Summitar described by a dealer as scrap. The ten iris leaves had to be removed for cleaning as they were coated in fine rust, she did a splendid job using very fine makeup removal pads, I cleaned all the all the accessible lens surfaces but were still trying to get all ten leaves back in position. we have now given up and I re assembled it with out the leaves, it takes a great photo on a digital camera providing you want plenty of Bokeh!

@thoughtcriminal7198 4 жыл бұрын

I wonder how the Pentacon 50mm f1.8 would stand up in that group. If I could only keep one old 50mm vintage lens, that would be the one.

@zenography7923 4 жыл бұрын

The Pentacon is a very nice little lens - wish I'd kept mine!

@marksieving7925 Жыл бұрын

I recently saw a Zenit Biotar-Krasnogorsk 58mm F/2 in Nikon F mount. I'm wondering how it compares to the CZJ or Helios 44 .

@Magnetron692 4 жыл бұрын

Hi, thanks for the review! What about the Canon FD 1.2/50mm? Best, Ralf

@zenography7923 4 жыл бұрын

I'd certainly like to try that lens, I've heard very good things about it!

@takaya4203 4 жыл бұрын

In my opinion the Pentacon 50mm f1.8 is a less sharper, more dreamy and cheaper alternative to the Pancolar...

@thoughtcriminal7198 4 жыл бұрын

A direct comparison would be interesting. The Pentacon reaches maximum sharpness at f4 with plenty of bokeh. It also focuses closer than the Pancolar.

@wreford07 3 жыл бұрын

I love the pentacon. Have several. Great bokeh. Dreamy

@ldstirling 4 жыл бұрын

Are you testing these lenses out on anything aside from your Sony mirrorless digital camera? It would be nice, I think, to see these lenses' results on shooting film. BTW, I totally agree with you on the Canon FD 50mm f/1.4. I have a Breech- lock version of this lens and its sharp and contrasty whether on my Canon A-1 or adapted to my Fuji X-E2. Got it for about $70 USD, or about £55-60.

@zenography7923 4 жыл бұрын

I'm going to do some film shooting in upcoming episodes. And those Canon lenses can be real bargains at the moment!

@teshaksnake783 4 жыл бұрын

I really wish you'll try Minolta rokkor 50 1.4 and 40 1.8, both are pretty bargain in Russia, and I think here in England too

@zenography7923 4 жыл бұрын

I'll keep a lookout for them!

@theyasman 4 жыл бұрын

I want the Summitar but damn they are expensive!

@zenography7923 4 жыл бұрын

Expensive, yes, but my goodness they're nice!

@Desmond-Hume 3 жыл бұрын

You really need to use binaural microphone (or just simple 2 mics, one for the left channel, one for the right), and make those videos in ASMR style, as it is now anyway. And put title "ASMR" in thumbnail, u're gonna get really big.

@BIMLounge 3 жыл бұрын

I know, right? I think that would totally shift the meaning of the channel. AND you don't want too many people to know about vintage lenses 😂

@zenography7923 3 жыл бұрын

Oh, I do hope so!

@NevardArt 4 жыл бұрын

Riveting, where would you have put the helios 44 in a top ten?

@vikmanphotography7984 4 жыл бұрын

Helios 44 is just a Zeiss biotar 58 f2 with slightly worse build quality.

@zenography7923 4 жыл бұрын

The Helios, especially the early 13 blade version, is a very nice lens and one of my favourites. In a shoot out between all the lenses I have it would most likely be somewhere near the top; this test however was for lenses I've newly used over the past year.

@stefpix 3 жыл бұрын

What is your opinion on vintage Nikon lenses? I have not seen any mentioned in your nice videos.

@zenography7923 3 жыл бұрын

Check out my video '85 is the new 50', and some of my other videos from around that time!

@stefpix 3 жыл бұрын

@@zenography7923 Thank you. I find actually 55-60mm the ideal focal length for my portraits. I like the closeness. I have been playing with the Helios 44x-xs and I like it, quite tighter than a Takumar. I used to shoot jobs with Sony A7xx and the 55mm Sony/Zeiss. I got the 85mm, first the Zeiss then the Sony, but I barely used them except for some round table events to get close up shots of participants. I have a few Helios, I will keep some sell some. I like the 44-3 and 44M-4 better than 44M and 44M-6. The 44-2 zebra looks nice, but the 44-3 has more usable focus ring. I will check your 85mm video, but I think the 50/58mm offer the most pleasure in using manual focus.

@ritonmhilli 3 жыл бұрын

6:13 big like Thanks

@ritonmhilli 3 жыл бұрын

Love the canon 50 too

@zenography7923 3 жыл бұрын

Big thanks!

@atomicwaste12 3 жыл бұрын

I have the Canon FD 50mm f1.8 version, is that one any good?

@zenography7923 3 жыл бұрын

Well I think it's lovely, but that doesn't matter! What's important is whether you like it!

@bradl2636 2 жыл бұрын

The Canon is FD or New FD version and does it make a difference?

@zenography7923 2 жыл бұрын

This one is new FD, but as I understand it the mounts are almost the same, and are interchangeable.

@bradl2636 2 жыл бұрын

@@zenography7923 Im wondering if the optical formulas are the same?

@N0rdman 4 жыл бұрын

Very interesting line-up and presentation of some serious vintage glass. Now there is one brand of vintage lenses I haven't seen you mention that I think you should explore further if you haven't before: Konica and their AR Hexanon top of the line, not the cheaper Hexar. Like all brands, not every lens is stellar but they have some qualities that make them quite interesting: high contrast, deep colour saturation, almost Minolta Rokkor in colour reproduction and excellent control of flare. Have a look here: www.flickr.com/photos/24288287@N05/49773609647/in/dateposted-public/

@zenography7923 4 жыл бұрын

I've heard the Hexanon lenses are quite something - I'll look out for some nice ones. Which are the best, in your opinion?

@N0rdman 4 жыл бұрын

@@zenography7923 I'm quite new to Konica Hexanon; I'm a mostly a Minolta person, but I thought I should start and take a look at the Konica brand as Minolta and Konica merged in 2003 and so far I've tried the 28mm f/3.5, 50mm f/1.7, 100mm f/2.8 and Hexar 135mm f/3.5. The 28mm and 50mm are clearly the best of these so far, but the Tele lenses are not that different from Minolta Rokkor. The Buhla site has more information about the lenses: www.buhla.de/Foto/Konica/eHexanonUebersicht.html