Can never have enough 50mm lenses. I was on the fence with the Olympus f1.8 for my recent purchase of the Fuji X-T1 and you’ve cinched the deal. Was looking for a compact 50 and this will fill the bill. Thanks again. Sunday mornings aren’t complete without your meditative approach to these videos.

The Olympus f1.8 was my first vintage lens, and I still use it all the time. I picked it up about 5 years ago for $25, so it's certainly the best value lens in my kit!

Great video again Nigel thank you for sharing. I have loads of different 50mm lenses and have tried many more working in a camera shop but my favourite is the Olympus Zuiko 1.8. Second would be the Pentax K mount 1.7 then the Yashica C/Y mount 1.9.

I really love this channel. Thanks, man!

Another wonderful video. After your many glowing reports of the Pancolar, I searched for and found one at a decent price, and bought it. Though my copy is cosmetically rough and looks somewhat abused, it certainly lives up to your praise optically, producing striking images that retain a "vintage" feel, and are surprisingly sharp at all apertures. I like it enough that I'm now searching for a more gently cared for example. Have you tried the Meyer-Optik Görlitz Oreston? Quite similar in optical design, but very different in its rendering. It's noticably softer than the Pancolar, and tends towards more bubbly bokeh, but does have a look and feel that is pleasing in its own right.

Respect for a man your age doing YT with great content and on courageing people to open and clean lenses :D Cheers to you sir! Buck

Hi, I got myself an Olympus 50mm 2.8 on your recommendation, Its as fantastic as you described, Took some lovely shots on my Fuji XT3, thanks again

I also like the glow uncoated lenses give, I managed to get hold of a Leitz Summar last year with really clean glass and that , under the right conditions produces that vintage glow. Not to everyone's taste but given the right subject it makes monochrome images that really do have a serious vintage look. Another great vlog.

Its funny that we live in an era that every year new cameras and lenses are getting better and better... and yet these old lenses are giving the most beautiful images... Very nice content sir, thanks for sharing!

Happy to see you again, you gave me the desire a year ago to taste your Universe and I thank you for it. your explanation is full of passionate details! Thanks for what you do !

Not only very informative, but also incredibly relaxing. Great video!

Great video. My favorite is the chinon 50mm 1.4, brilliant image quality from 2.0 and quite cheap

The Canon 1.4 was my second vintage lens after the Helios 44. And it's the one I bonded with most (like you would call it). It's razor sharp wide open and I actually also like its look for some reason (although nothing can beat the collapsibles in terms of look). I got it including a T70 for 10 EUR on a flee market :-)

What absolutely beautiful images Full of colours nice and sharp and so affordable with old fashioned quality

Great video , thanks a lot for all these informations ! When I see your enthusiasm about these Pancolar 50mm I really have to find one for my own collection . If you want to find a 35mm lens with an adequate color and sharpness , try the Zeiss Ikon Skoparex 35 mm 3.4 , have one with M42 thread and adapter on my Fuji X-t1

Great reviews as always. Thank you for this.

This has become one of my favorite channels! I have been so inspired by your content that I recently acquired several vintage Minolta lenses from my dad, and this week, purchased my first vintage lens (Minolta 135m Rokkor 2.8). I've never been more excited to get a lens in the mail! I absolutely love using vintage lenses and have had so much fun with them! Your content has also helped me see and experience photography differently, and for that, I am grateful. I am finding a joy with modern digital photography that I didn't know was possible thanks to including the use of vintage lenses. Thank you!!

Wonderful list, my vintage friend!

I have an Olympus OM1 and have been using since the 1970s. I have had to upgrade the light seals. I have used my 50mm Zuiko f1.8 lens on my Canon EOS DSLR and it works perfectly. You mentioned that the adapter is a few cm thick. You can buy an adapter ring from Amazon which is only a few mm thick, thus maintaining the compactness of the Zuiko 50mm lens. I do like taking film and I very much enjoy your reviews. Keep them coming.

Another super lovely video! Darn now I want both the Pancolar and that silver Helios Some of my picks for wonderful 50s: - The Konica 50mm 1.7 - I have not had the chance to try this much, but I took a photo and two and was astonished by how sharp it is wide open. If you keep an eye out, you can probably get this inexpensive since it was bundled with a lot of cameras back in the day - Carl Zeiss Jena Prakticar 50mm 1.4 - This one usually goes for a big price but I think you can get em for less. Pretty soft wide open, but the images are distinct, and I love the large well defined bokeh bubbles it can make. (There are 2 versions and apparently they are pretty different) - The Shneider-Kreuznach Retina-Xenon 50mm f/1.9 - Someday I must make a video extolling this lens because it is just lovely in my opinion. It is not that sharp and it loses contrast easily, but the colours can be really pleasant and the background blur is messy and yet somehow really nice too. I love how this lens isolates subjects, it is just really good at it somehow despite not being super fast. If you buy it in the DKL mount, it can be had pretty cheap! The only caveat is that the DKL mount adapters are more finicky since they need an aperture ring. (Since this lens isn't too commonly talked about, here are a few quick samples if you like www.flickr.com/photos/191721832@N04/albums/72157718588565593 ) I haven't tried them, but I have heard good things about Pentax K-mount 50s, like the compact Pentax-M 50 1.4 etc. It is definitely not value anymore since collectors etc, but I hope someday you get to try out the Olympus OM 50mm f/2 Macro. I think it is a really nice, wonderful optic.

Our Sunday's wouldn't be complete without Zenography. A lovely, and varied lens line-up, Nigel. Images made with this old glass is something that modern, computer designed lenses just does not achieve. There must be lens designers out there tearing their hair out, trying to build into modern lenses the look that these old, hand designed, lenses get without breaking a sweat. Top quality video again, and my Sunday morning go to channel.

Love the content! I was wondering if you have any experience with the Rokkor lenses?

Great video, thank you 👍👍👋👋

Bit late to the party here but I really enjoyed the video. I am about to pick up a Voigtlander Color Ultron 50mm F1.8, which from what I have read is very similar to the Carl Zeiss Planar lens.

Great, great video, as always.... thank you!

I absolutely love my Minolta MD 58mm f1.4 but I noticed the front element on pretty much all of them looks very hazy. It's a beautiful lens that can create some stunning results, just gotta remember to stop down a little bit.

Great channel. Thank you! 👍

Hi Nigel, many thanks! The Olympus OM Zuiko 1.8/50mm seems to be much more affordable than its 40mm sibling. I’m very happy with my 1.4 version! This is also very small and nicely engineered. Best wishes Ralf

Fantastic how much we learn with you! Grettings

Wow. Love the images from the Jena so muchhh... How does the earlier zebra SC version compare to this one? Seems like the only version I could get my hands on!

Cool Video thxs ! I have the Pancolar 50mm and you can easily turn the front glass element and get Art photos .... with a 35mm 2.4 Felktogon an go out and have fun couple ! Great lenses that never be build again ! I use those with my fujj xt2 and a zhongyi lens turbo m42 great job with ~53mm ....

I have the f2 version of the CZJ Pancolar on my Exakta, purchased new in 1969, and still superb. It is coated, (but not multi coated). I would not like to speculate on how it compares performance wise, to the f1.8 multi coated lens, but it is usually available to purchase at lower prices, and owing to the different grouping of the six elements, it is physically, almost like a pancake lens, compared to the f1.8 optic.

The ugly industar 50 actually has an adapter installed on the back to allow it to work on a rangefinder, if you unscrew it it will work on a m39 slr (zenit). The first m42 mount was used on a contax s (1949) and a few years later on praktica fx. Thanks

So I came across this video again after a few weeks of shooting with a CZJ Pancolar 50mm 1.8. I also have a non-NEW Canon FD 50mm 1.4 and a Helios 44-M 58mm 2. The Pancolar is by far my favorite lens to shoot with--at least on my 5D MkIII. If I'm doing photography or video with my BMPCC4K, the win goes to the Helios. One thing I never considered before my shoot with the BMPCC4K is that on a sensor that small, the majority of the image winds up sharp wide open. I usually shoot floral and street photography so it's not a huge deal for me, but on my third portrait session, it was something I quickly realized. I had to switch between the 5D and BMPCC4K for this last shoot.

Nice Olympus lenses. I just got the 50mm 1.8 and 1.4. Nice color characteristics.

Thanks for the recommendations. I do a lot of shooting with a Helios 44-2 on my DSLR and absolutely love the look it gives. I wasn't aware that the 13 blade version looked different. I'll have to check that out. If I can find it for a reasonable price, I wouldn't mind checking that Carl Ziess lens out either.

Amazing review as always :) Because of your channel and these reviews, I have invested in an M42 mount and M39 mount camera and I gotta say.. I’m spoiled for choices… and those Soviet and German lenses came in those mounts a lot.. I found a Meyer-Optik Görlitz Primotar E 50mm f3.5 and a lovely Jupiter 8 over here in Tokyo and my god.. I’m starting to feel bad neglecting my Nikon’s with their Nikkor glass because I’ve just been using those two lens and cameras Soo Soo much.

Quite an episode. Excellent mention of the early Helios 44. Not many discuss it’s serviceability, but there’s nothing more rewarding than resurrecting a treasure with your own hands that others had disregarded. I’m curious, which version of the biotar 58mm did you compare it to? I’ve got my eye on the 17 blade version.

I love your commitment and appreciate your knowledge. I'd really like to get a copy of the Zeiss but all the copies I see look the same but have electric written on them. Do you know the difference?

I have an early aluminium 39mm Helios 44 but mine is an 8 blade version and I can say it is a very nice lens indeed. I'm assuming it has the same glass and coatings as your 13 blade version so I also think that plays quite an important role in the success equation. I'd prefer the 13 blade version but I'm happy with my 8 blade version.

Lovely as always. Have you ever reviewed the Jupiter 3 lens? Regards Ulf

My favorites right off the bat: The Leica II clones and the Minolta XE7.

Hello. Have you tried the smc pentax 50mm f1.2 yet ? Great review 👌

It's pure pleasure to watch your videos! Can you make a video dedicated to that Canon New FD 50mm f/1.4? Thank you!

Tomorrow I'm going to pick up my new Nikkor 50mm f1.8 pancake lens (2xxxxxxxx serial number, 0.45m cfd, non E-Series) for my FE2. Love my Pancolar and collapsible FEDs plus all the non 50s. Nice lineup!

Great video, as always, but there are none of the Canon lens online anywhere for less than £100 (in good/excellent condition?)

I'm glad that you mentioned that bargains are still out there, you just have to try a little harder than a few years ago. I just got the Helios lens I have been looking for for years very cheap.

beautiful review! so beautiful that I am undecided between the Canon FD 1.4 and the Carl Zeiss pancolar 1.8, both wonderful .. i found them in good conditions and at the same price (£100), which one do you recommend? (I'd like to buy them both.. 😅) best congratulations & regards from Italy!

Would love a video testing if the Fed 10 collapses OK on mirrorless cameras like Fujifilm, M43 etc...

I have a older versions of the canon fd 1/4 and 2.8 also i have the olympus mainly was using on Olympus EM1 mkII and recently trying on Sony A7R3. Find both lenses better for portraits. Thanks for your videos always learn something new. What's is the best 85mm value for your money been looking at Olympus 85mm f2. But this one is pretty pricey from $600 us dollars and up

Excellent. Thank you. What are the differences between Olympus OM 50mm f1.8 Zuiko and the F.Zuiko?

The Canon FD 59/1.4 SSC is one of the most beautiful lenaesbI have ever seen. All metal with a lovely coating. I bought the lens and then bought an eary Canon F-1 to go with it.

I actually prefer plasticky nFD lenses to older metal housing FDs, they are aging way better from my humble experience. My own latest great 50mm finding is a jupiter 8m (contax rf mount). I shoot it with kiev 4a and I am blown away by its rendering and character and it is also so tiny and with f2 max aperture a5 the same time.

Great info on the 50s. Have you done any videos on Best Value Wide Angle, Ultra-Wide Angle and Wide Angle Zoom lenses?

Hello sir! I am delighted I found your channel. As a lover of old lenses, I feel your content speaks directly to me. Thank you for that. Question. My favorite lens that I use on my a7ii is the series e Nikon 50mm 1.8 from the 70s. How do you think this lens compares to your favorite 50mm lenses?

I may be 3 years late to the game here, but still wanted to add something. You really made me wonder when you spoke in such good terms about the Olympus 50mm 1.8. As I had such a 50mm 1.8 in a drawer somewhere, I decided to set up my own comparison against my own gold standard, which is the Konica 50mm 1.4 (the 1.4-16 version). I don't know if I just picked up the most amazing Konica 50mm 1.4 ever made, but in terms of sharpness, it's simply amazing! Wide open not so much and indeed the Olympus was much better. The Olympus is actually an incredible lens, as sharpness is impressive from wide open onward. But soon the Konica takes over and tops everything I ever compared it with, including a Sony GM zoom 24-70 F2.8 at 50mm. which is some 50 years younger! It beat also the Pancolar 50mm 1.8, the Nikon 50mm 1.4, the 8 elements Takumar 50mm 1.4, etc.

This is so strange, I bought the olympus zuiko lens a day before you posted this video and I bought the Sony a6000 a few days before you posted that video. 😂😂Love your channel, thanks for helping to pique my interest in photography and vintage lenses!

I was looking for a vintage 50 in m39 mount and i came across the Jupiter 3 50mm f1.5. The pictures on the net blew me away. Would love to hear your thoughts on it and how it compares with this list.

What a quality youtube channel.

I have the Canon 50 1.4. Great lens. Use it now with adapters on Fuji X-T1 and X-E1 and Sony A6000. I have a lot of FD lenses.

You have some explaining todo, someone keeps buying vintage lenses from my eBay account. I think your to blame, lol. Love the videos. They have made appreciate the uniqueness vintage lens have to offer.

There were a number of Zenit cameras in ZM39 mount up to the Zenit B and Zenit E which exist both in M42 and ZM39 mount. The best known for it though might be the Zenit 3M, as you said.

Love the information always. May I inquire about the Fed Industar 10? I've seen your videos and it seems like your Fed Industar 10 is uncoated. Is all Fed Industar 10 uncoated? I wanted to buy online but it seems like those Fed Industar 10 are later versions (not sure) and seems to be coated. The ones i see online are LTM and zorky, etc. Do you have the full name of your Fed Industar 10 if i may ask?

great video!!!

If you had to choose between the helios 44 8 blade and the helios 44-2, which would you choose? Would the former outperform the latter in terms of sharpness and bokkeh?

All the lenses he touches is excellent, beautiful and good. Which one is the best, he is not sure anymore. Just watch all his videos, you don't know which one to buy at the end 😅

What's your opinion about super takumar 50 1.4 7 elements? Great video as allways!!

you are such a great connoisseur and keeper of the heritage of classical photography that it is impossible not to listen to your story . You are a great professional ! I am glad that you noted helios in your selection - this is an extremely non-standard and lively glass . And each instance is worse or better , but almost every one with its own unique pattern . This is due to the fact that it was produced in different regions, at different factories, where they made their own technological changes and amendments . I'm sorry, there is no white copy , but there are two subsequent ones. By the way, you have a sample with a number, produced from 60 to 62 years . Also, apart from other lenses-helios 40 -2 85 mm 1.2. There is already just a dizzying torsion of the bokeh )

Ordered a 2nd hand Pancolar last night for a price of USD105 here in Europe incl shipping, pictures indicated mint condition, hopefully it turns out to be true. Thanks to your recommendation.

my Favorite is whatever in mint condition 😂

Great presentation and a very gentle way of speaking, but one observation is that the Industar was based on the Zeiss Tessar, have a look at the location of the aperture for a clue. I still work with very early Leicas, and print in a darkroom, but the idea of collapsing a Summitar or Industar on the Sony cameras, which I only use when I have to, scares me to Hell - Arithmetic says it should be OK, paranoia says NO.

Hi, excellent and very useful video - having looked at various Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar lenses for sale, none of those that I have seen so far have the red "MC" lettering that yours seems to have. Is there something essential/more desirable about lenses with this lettering please?

My favourite 50mm is de Sekor C 50mm f/4.5 :)

Those are some lovely lenses indeed! Did you ever try the Auto-Chinon 55mm f/1.7? I recently picked one up for about £2.50, just unbelievable value! It has some nice bubbly bokeh and a little bit of swirl.

EBay prices on these lenses are double the prices you are suggesting even from Japan, thank you very much for the advice, I will wait to travel to Japan again

And about the 50mm Fujinon X DM 1.6 and FM 1.9 or Pentax M 50mm 1.7, what do you think about its sharpness, colors and saturation compared to the Carl Zeiss J Pancolar that you comment on in your video(especially in sharpness)? much respect from a follower! Greetings.

Hi there I got the Olympus from your review and is amazing in terms of color and contrast . I have all the rest canon pan collar Konica Helios Minolta the color of the Olympus on a Fuji is from another world. Contrast and sharpnes is also perfect. So amazed. I have to get the 85mm now. By the way I have the nfd canon and is much better than the nikon. I am glad I sold it and got thi one instead

I love my Canon FDn 50mm 1.4.. but when you said it lacked "grippy dimples", how could I *not* lust after a Zuiko?

Helios 13 blades indeed really nice lens, but you should try helios 44 start mount with red coating, another gem of helios 44 that dont have alot attention.

oh no!! i miss the minolta mc rokkor PG(!!) 50mm f1.4. beats the canon fd by miles!!! stunning lens

Like the Minolta Rokkor 1.7 50mm (old made in Japan Version) on my X-t1. Great Lens 👌

what the difference between the ziess and its zebra version?

What is your opinion about the modern manual lenses which try to replicate these vintage lenses. For example the tt artisan lenses

Is the Canon NFD 1.4 better than the old 1.4 with SSC ? There's an offer near me for the latter with both caps and OEM hood.

I would love to see you compare the bayonet Pentacon Prackticar MC 1.8 Some people has said that it's a re-branded Pancolar MC and just as sharp. If true that would be awesome and you could have a pancolar for 10-20 pounds.

I love my Nikon 50mm 1.4 non ai s-c lens which I bought from Japan for £50. I use it on my Nikon FE. Wonderful bokeh, sharpness and colour rendition. I have, or have had all the lenses on your video, but the Nikkor 50mm 1.4 blows them all out of the picture.

Hello Sir! As for the early Helios 44, 13 blades, I understand that it has a 39mm mount, and it can physically be mounted to a Leica III (for example) but “it will not focus”. Am I correct assuming that you still can focus by “guessing” the distance or by using an external rangefinder? Or is it impossible at all to take photos with it on a Leica LTM camera?

Hi, this might be a dumb question. But I wonder if it is possible to fit Zeiss Pancolar 50mm 1.8 to a Leica M?

Hello. Why suggest the Canon FDn 50mm f/1.4 and then complain it is made of plastic when you can buy the 50mm F/1.4 S.S.C with metal body and chrome nose? Canon's marketing department for sure will agree with those that think that the "new" coating of the FDn provides "better" performance, but maybe with the 55mm front lens of the S.S.C. you get a a sharper image? I cannot see much price difference between the two...

I bought 50mm Pancolar 1.8 after seeing your reviews. Thank you for these helpful videos. But why does the Pentacon looks like a like Pancolar? Which I discovered later

4.8 out of 5 lenses.... I fear I have severe GAS!!!! Or, too, I like 50s very much! Thanks for the nice vid.

Hi, i am a new viewer to your chanell and i really love watching your videos. I own an Minolta MC 50mm f1.7 PF Rokkor-X which is made at late '70s. This is very sharp lens. Only at f1.7 has that dreamy look but from f2.8 already is very sharp and good contrast. Wow, every time i watch your videos i want to go out and shoot with my old lenses!

Hallo and sorry for my english, I wach your canal sens a several month and yes I mad it trough all the episodes. To me it is a verry excellent canal with an always good explanation without the fancy animation. But there is one thing I am missing: erveryone know the big brands like Canon;Nikon;Olympus ect, but how about the unpopular brand like Revue these Kamera does the same like the great Brand`s also, these also can make great picture`s if the photographer know how to do it. Law of nature is not negotiable. Maybe a possibillity to do a Video abouth this branded camera and change the perpective view. I collecting those camera`s and for sure i used, all of them and i am allways satisfied. Thak you for all your Infomation you put into this canal. Jürgen

I have the F2 Pancolor - have you tested that against the 1.8? Do they have similar performance? I’m happy with it but was curious how it stacks up to the 1.8.

I've lost count of how many lenses are "second to none". 😜

I have Helios 44 with13 blades aperture. But the last rear element of the lens is full of scratches from cleaning, the image is sharp but lacks contrast. I think about replacing the last element from another Helios. 44-2. Is there a point to try it?

Can I ask your opinion on the Nikon 20mm 2.8 ai?

I cant imagine the New FD 50mm f/1.4 from Canon sells for less than the older breech-lock style of the same.

I absolutely LOVE my 50mm Canon FD f1.4 but it doesn't focus to infinity. I'm not sure if I can do anything to fix it, either. Aperture blades are perfectly fine, turns very nicely, just can't to infinity. I'm not sure how to fix it.

Be careful on mirroless on that elmar copy don't collapse on camera 😮