Matt, I am deeper into the Sonnars now as you know: the Bertele, a new to me 5cm CZJ f/1.5 in the 272nnnn series and still a very nice '57 KMZ J8. The CZJ f/1.5 is nice and has the Sonnar shape definition with good color. I keep the sun behind me. I find your videos not only very good when first posted but also good to go back and review. You are an asset to the photography community. Thanks for everything.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom LOL, the Beetle. I love its color but that is not much use to you. I like the modeling, too. I understand that reviewing a lens that has 8 or 10 copies out there is perhaps of little interest. But I am glad I was able to snag one of the few extant. I count on you and that Texan, Ted Osborne (?), as having the "straight skinny". Cheers
I'm always a fan of the older 50's from Leica, like the 50 Summicron rigid, dual range, collapsible, and the original 50 lux. But I recently got to try a friend's 50 Lux ASPH and I'm really blown away by that lens. Might have to sell some stuff to pick one up...
Matt, your videos are so GAS inducing! Favorite classic 50mm right now is probably a tie between the Nikkor HC 5cm f2 and the Carl Zeiss Opton Sonnar 5cm 1.5 (1951) on an amadeo adaptor. I bought the Nikkor based on your review and it's one of my very favorite lenses. I love the close focus portrait rendering. Thanks for the great videos. Cheers. Robbie J
Hey Robbie! Hope you're well, thanks very much and sorry for the GAS! Yes those are both great lenses. I need to still review the Nikkor SC 50 1.4 :) Don't watch that one! :P
Great content as always Matt. It would have been so interesting to see you test the Jupiter 3 1.5 in the video as well. I hope to see that in the future.
I would have been curious to hear what you think of the build quality of your Summarit. I owned one of these "back in the day" but got rid of it almost immediately, because not only was it worse in terms of performance than, well, anything else I had tried (50/1.5 Sonnar on a Contax IIa, 50/1.4 Nikkor on a Nikon S2, 50mm f/1.4 Canon on various bodies, even the dodgy 50mm f/1.2 Canon) but also because it seemed mechanically weak by Leica standards. In particular I remember that if I gripped the focusing ring too firmly, it would distort into an egg shape and I could feel it dragging and scraping as it went around the lens barrel! In terms of favorite classic 50s, well... I still have a couple of Canon 50/1.4s and a 50/1.8, mostly because they came on cameras I bought, but I have kind of gotten away from the idea of using older lenses for their "dreamy" effect. I figure that if you start out with a more modern lens, such as one of the Cosina Voigtlanders, it's fairly easy to "dreamify" your images in post-production... but if you start out with an old, mushy lens, your options for bringing the images back from dreamland are fairly limited! I make an exception for the Canon 50mm f/0.95 lens, which I continue to use... but I don't think of its results as "dreamy," but aggressively weird in a way that I like and which is difficult to simulate in post...
Thanks JL, my Summarit is fine mechanically so interesting to hear that. I actually prefer to try to get the look in camera so I enjoy these old lenses for creative work. For clients I use modern reliable glass (unless asked to use vintage glass*).
One thing to keep in mind when looking at the modern options, is that the modern sonnar has a focus shift problem that can make nailing critical focus with a rangefinder challenging. The modern Summilux (like the Voit Apo) has a floating design that ensures there is zero focus shift
In fact all Sonnar lenses have focus shift, the one shown here included. It’s inherent in the lens design. You may notice it more in the modern Zeiss ZM Sonnar because it has modern coatings and improved sharpness and contrast, making the effect more clearly visible.
My favorite classic/vintage 50 mm lenses: Leica Summarit 50/1.5 (bokeh wide open is amazing!), Canon 50/1.4 LTM and Nikkor-S.C. 50/1.4 LTM. I recently acquired the Nikkor lens and am still testing it.
Thank you for this very interesting, informative review. For some reason, it always pleases me when very old lens produce wonderful results. I was intrigued by your reference to the contemporary Zeiss Sonnar 50mm f.5 lens -- have you done a review of that lens? I am curious as to how it compares to the vintage version. Thanks!
Excellent review as always, to answer your question, the Carl Zeiss Pancolar f2 is my favourite 50. A wonderfully sharp Len’s wide open with gentle swirl to the bokeh. Works great on my SL.
I only have one classic 50mm so couldn't say whether or not it's my favourite, but I do love it. It's a Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50/2.8. Beautiful bokeh wide open and stopped down to 5.6 it's very sharp indeed. Only about £40-50 on eBay for a good one. Mine is an M42 mount zebra Stripe version.
I have a lot of 50mm lenses... 75 or so in Leica mount. My Favorite is a 1934 Carl Zeiss Jena 5cm F1.5 Sonnar converted to Leica mount using a Jupiter-3 mount. The Sonnar formula changed a couple of times in the early years. The 1934 lens is the second formulation, seems to give more saturated colors. I have a lot of Sonnar formula lenses. The "Bloom", tarnish that acts as a natural lens coating- is not uniform between lenses and gives each a unique character.
What do you think of the helios 103 or the jupiter 8 in comparison with the sonnar? Is it worth buying an adapter to use them on the canon 7 ltm? Or should I continue to use them on the kiev4 even if the viewfinder is dark?
I have both, I will try to do a future video to compare these lenses also. The adaper will cost more than the camera and lens together I think so stick with what you have. Look for another Kiev, maybe your copy is darker
Huge fan of the Zeiss 50mm Sonnars (and Soviet Jupiters). The best out of many I’ve owned is a Carl Zeiss branded f/1.5 with a serial number close to yours. These are from the last few years of production. I use it at f/2 most of the time, where it’s already *very* sharp. Modern lenses have more contrast and sparkle but I’m not sure they resolve any more meaningful detail. I have the same Amadeo adapter as yours. The Contax/Nikon mount difference is down to the focus pitches of the two brands’ rangefinder cameras. Contax (Zeiss) lenses are fine at infinity and at closest focus (~90cm) when used on Nikon cameras, and vice versa, but focus is off by varying amounts in-between. I’ve tried out the adapter on an M10 but bought it to use on L mount cameras. It’s nice that the adapter focuses down to less than 70cm.
Hi David thanks. Great to hear you use the same adapters. YES the close focus to 0.7m on the M3 is a game changer for me! I use it mostly with the Nikkor 50 1.4 (video will come at some point) but if you say I can use the Contax at MFD and it will be accurate on the Nikkor adapter I must try that. I knew infinity was said to be OK. Thanks for the info!
Thanks for the heads up on what i'm about to get. I liked the zorki, but when an opportunity to get a contax II and sonnar came up (the serial numbers have the body at 1936 and the lens from '25), I cannot complain!
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom I literally got it around the time you replied with your comment. Wow... Zeiss did create a formidable alternative to the Leica III. Wow.
Thanks, the bodies only hold the lens so the photos are the same. The advantage on the M3 is I can close focus to 0.7m vs 1m on the Kiev because of the adapter.
Enjoyable video (as always). I don't have any Leica lenses, but I do have a mint Zeiss Sonnar Opton f1.5 50mm. It is a great lens. It is "A" favorite lens of mine. However, my very best "MOST" favorite lens is the Carl Zeiss Jena 50mm Pancolar, f2 Exakta Mount. I have a nice collection in all the various versions it came in - black leatherette, chrome with leatherette, chrome with plastic knobs and Zebra. I even have a counterfeit model in a mount not as nice as the genuine Pancolar. Apparently, some importer brought in some similar looking "Exaktar" lenses and put on a counterfeit Pancolar front bezel. I believe that this lens was made by Petri or Cosina. The photos from a Pancolar lens seem to come alive both in color and what can only be termed a 3D effect. Whenever, I would take photos with a Pancolar I would always get a remark to the effect of "Boy, these are really sharp!"
hi Matt - many thanks for your continued commitment to delivering highly engaging and precise reviews. I was wondering whether you knew much about the CZJ 5cm f1.5 Sonar with LTM (not Exacta). I have one and it is from late WWII years. The better view seems to be it was a military commissioned lens. Some think it is a fake. Welcome your thoughts!
This Leica typically produces soft images at wide open, and flare easily in direct sunlight as you had mentioned. I usually use it for indoor shooting, but I still prefer the Summicron for its sharpness.
My favorite combo recently: Leica M9 with Nikkor-S.C. 5cm f1.4 LTM. I was trying to find a good Sonnar alternative for ZM50 1.5, which I sold a few years ago and really missed its rendering. Then I found this lens on auction at eBay without many bidders and surprisingly won the bid. When adapted on CMOS-based digital cameras wide open, it shows the common glowy look shared by most legacy lenses. But on M9’s CCD, the image turns out more transparent and natural.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Can’t wait for it!! It’ll be a even more interesting comparison between this nikkor s.c 5cm 1.4 with other famous Sonnar alternatives, such as the original Zeiss Opton Sonnar 50 f1.5, Canon 50 f1.5 ltm, and Zeiss ZM 50 f1.5. I feel Sonnar-based lens really has some magic in its rendering that I like a lot 🥰
Matt, you’re awesome!! Love your analysis videos! Because of you I just picked up the new Voighlander 50mm f1 Nokton. It was your video that pushed me off the cliff.
I recently got rid of a bunch of cameras and lenses and decided to just stick with my Kiev 2 and Contax IIa bodies with that Sonnar 50/1.5 as the main lens 90% of the time. No regrets! I came here in hopes of validating my decision so thank you for doing so! I consistently love the magic from the Sonnar.
Hello Matt! Completely not related, but quick question: in your experience, which lens have a high resolving power in 35mm - 45mm for f mount manual? I keep thinking about the zeiss distagon 35mm f/2, but I don't know anybody with that specific lens.
Distagon are said to be good but I’ve not used them. I would expect the best to be the 35APO from Leica and Voigtlander. See the Voigtländer video with examples.
Hi, Matt Can you review sonna 50 vs nikkor and canon 50 1.4 LTM because atm looking which len to go for (sonnar 50 1.5(t) ,nikkor 50 1.4 ,limited summilux 50 1.4 LTm)
Matt, see you can find the modern Cosina made Zeiss Sonnar 50 1.5 S-mount. It has the same optic as the ZM version, but more compact and uses the same amadeo adapter. Probably around 100-200 pieces made in 2007 period. I love mine! The other nice S mount lens to get is the 50 Nikkor f1.4 S mount that’s paired with the Millennium edition Nikon S3 set
hi, i'm looking for Sonnar f1,5 for my Leica CL . Is it possible with an adapter ( M to L , Leica or other ? ) ? thank you for answer , jmarc rodez france
Hi Jean, you can find buy a new Sonnar 1.5 M lens (ZM) for the CL. If you want the old one as hear I think there is a LTM version if you can find one, if not you need the special Contax RF-M adapters which can be expensive.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom thank you for answer Matt. I’m looking for the best price/quality and wide aperture. I have only the 18/56 L . I can’t find an old ( used? ) Leica adapter for my Leica CL . ( sorry for my english !..). Have a good day 😉
@@jeanmarcmaignot6382 get a Leica M-L adapter (any brand) then get LTM-M adapter (cheap) then buy some LTM lenses (see my videos, I’ve reviewed quite a few)( or MrLeica.com blog)
Not easily sadly. If you live in the Us try CameraQuest, if Europe try eBay and wait. If shooting mirrorless there are cheaper versions on eBay, see last nights video, I show one.
Great review Matt . It shows that technical a Zeiss Contax lens is better than the much more expensive Leica 1950 / 60 lens . My Contax lenses don't give that old look . I have a Zeiss Opton Trotar 85mm , a beautiful small sharp landscape lens . I have a 1940 Jena T Sonnar 1:1.5 5cm , but I think that your Zeiss Oberkochen post war Sonnar 1:1.5 50mm has an improved contrast because it has a better coating . But it is good there is a real difference between Leica 1950 / 60 and Contax . Now you can make romantic Leica photo's or Contax photo's with a modern look . Best regards Peter .
I can’t find a good mount to make contax mount to m focus correctly , so I recently got one lomo Jupiter 3+ which have great sharpness and vintage colors which also can focus accurately in my Leica m system, but one corn is it don’t have hood and will have dark corners when using any filter
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom It's difficult to find a good copy old Jupiter 3, some have bad glasses, some cannot focus correctly with rangedinder, that's why i find a lomo one, that's LTM also and come with a M adapter
So you came to the same conclusions as I did, which helped me sell my leitz lens, and I don't miss it. Difference with you was I compared a Zeiss Opton 50/1.5 (so western side) to a leitz Summicron collapsible 50/2. As I do not shoot at f 1.5 I compared both lenses at f/2, and the Opton won. I also mount the excellent soviet Helios 103 53mm which is very sharp in the corners at f/2, much sharper than the Opton. I use the RF mount to M mount adapter sold by Retrophotohouse.
Matt, thank you for another outstanding video! I have the current ZM version of the Sonnar 50/1.5. So far I have never really been happy with it. No particular reason I can specify, just not to my liking. I much prefer the Voigtlander 50/1.5 Heliar, a lens I know you're not much of a fan of.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Of late I have been playing around with a number Meyer Optik both old and new. Talk about characteristics, they have them in spades. LOL
I have been thinking of adding an old Nikon 55mm F1.2 non Ai lens to my kit. Or maybe a Pentax 50mm 1.4 8 element M42 lens. Just to have for certain shots and the look they give.
This is despite what Leica would like to claim the main lens Henri Cartier-Bresson used to establish his career, yes the Zeiss Sonnar! Cue gasps of horror from Leicaphiles ;-) In the late forties, Cartier-Bresson was using a Zeiss Sonnar 50/1.5 specially converted to Leica Thread Mount on his Barnack. Reports vary and in some instances he is quoted as saying that said he had had his camera modified to accept the lens, but I believe the reverse is more probable. An example as proof is this shot he took of Albert Camus in 1944 which clearly shows the Sonnar character Matt has exhibited in his video. Several Sonnar lenses converted to LTM owned by HCB have been sold at auction.
Thanks! and nice, both great lenses. All the product images of the lenses in the video were shot with the APO. Amazing lens. Follow up vid will come on that one.
Yeah, 'nuther gidjin. I appreciate the Leitz/Zeiss comparisons. I am currently enamored of a '57 Jupiter 8 which does flesh tones very nicely. The Canon 50mm LTM f/1.8 induces a slight Rosacea into skin tones. This J8 does color well and detail well, too. It lives on my M9. That's the camera I waste pixels on. Cheers. That Canon is #2. I have no Leica lenses. Too dear.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom I have a 2" Amotal arriving in a few days. I will compare that against the Canon f/1.8. The J8 is in for a CLA. The shop is slow: 9 weeks. The Amotal has looked good on BBS's and Flickr. You folks whole rule the waves also made some really nice lenses.
Nice Matt, but that Amadeo adapter is pricey so if you really want to use a 1.5 Sonnar on an M you need to look into the clones, you can literally play Russian Roulette and hope to find a Jupiter-3 that focuses correctly, buy a very expensive Nikkor 50/1.5, or your best bet (in my humble opinion) a Canon 50/1.5 in ltm, the price of which are relatively reasonable (particularly compared to the Summarit or 1.4 Nikkor). With a quality Ltm to M adapter it will pair perfectly with an M and have the added option of utility on other ltm bodies (Barnack Leicas, clones such as Nicca, Leotax etc) and of course on the ltm ne plus ultra bodies, V and VI series (5 and 6) Canons…. Still waiting for that L3 review….
Thanks Adam! Good to hear from you. Yes my J3 doesnt focus correctly on RF cameras but great for mirrorless. The Nikkor 1.4 is excellent. I still need to do the video for that one. Good point on LTM being a cheaper option vs adapter. I'll do more videos. Still need to use L3. I've not forgotten!
Matt, I've been watching so many of your videos and pretty much all in on the adapter rabbit hole. Pretty set on getting an Amadeo adapter for my M2; just need to decide if I want to commit to the Nikon or Contax adapter. So far I'm leaning towards Nikon so I can get the Nikkor-S 50mm 1.4. Thank you so much for all the time and effort you put into your channel and reviews. This makes me even want to buy a mirrorless camera (currently us DSLR for digital) since my investment in glass can be applied to any camera with your great adapter recommendations :)
Thanks Louie! The Nikkor 50/1.4 is excellent. I still need to do a video for that one. Contax lenses are often cheaper. If you ever go for mirrorless invest in the SL. It will bring all your MF lenses to life (the experience of focusing is a joy).
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom I pulled the trigger on the Nikkor 50/1.4! Thanks for the incredible engagement and examples you post on instagram. I mainly want it for portraits of my family. Have you looked into GigantOptik or Goliathus? They have a modification to the rear element housing and RF coupler to make the Nikkor 35/1.8 work with the Amedeo Adapter (website is in Korean). I DM'd him on Instagram and dying to know if that service is still available. Thanks as always for the quick replies and inspiration! Cheers, Louie
Re the sonnar/summarit comparison across apertures, it would be interesting to know at which aperture your sonnar copy has its sweet spot in terms of focus shift. - Overall I agree that the sonnar wins.
@@brians2818 Star-shaped apertures help with focus shift? That's interesting. The ZM version has a star-shaped aperture above f2 but it has extreme focus shift nonetheless. Could anything else explain why the Sonnar version used here does not have focus shift? Thanks!
50mm f/1 Noctilux Version 2 followed closely by the old Summicron Rigid. Both (and everything else in the world) are eclipsed in every way by my Nikon S f/0.95 Noct Nikkor but you don't carry that one around.
Having sent a modern Zeiss Planar in for service I was advised by the technician that the metal used in the helicoid was not Leica quality and thus has degraded. Worth bearing in mind that Zeiss/Voigtlander/Codina products aren't over engineered like Leica.
The early production ZM lenses do tend to degrade with use when it comes to focusing smoothness. My own 50/2 Planar has had a dry focus feel for a long time and now even squeaks a bit. But my other ZMs are from the late 2000s and 2010s and are fine.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom I meant the old Nokton 1.5 lens for voigtlander prominent camera (about 1950 to 1960). It's a different beast from current cosina voigtlander design. My copy is quite sharp wild open with a dreamy swirly brokeh and razor thin DOF.
Pro tip: In German, when an S is in front of a vowel, it's pronounced as a "Z", so Sonnar is pronounced "Zonnar." Z is pronounced as "C," so Zeiss is "Ceiss."
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is there a way to adapt the Zeiss 50mm f1.5 Sonnar on a Bessa R ?
Nikkor 50/2 multicoated
At last we’re talking sonnar 50/1.5! Was waiting for this one. Thank you for this illuminating comparison, matt.
Thanks Lugen! I get there eventually (even if it isn't a review of the ZM version I used to own)
Matt, I am deeper into the Sonnars now as you know: the Bertele, a new to me 5cm CZJ f/1.5 in the 272nnnn series and still a very nice '57 KMZ J8. The CZJ f/1.5 is nice and has the Sonnar shape definition with good color. I keep the sun behind me.
I find your videos not only very good when first posted but also good to go back and review. You are an asset to the photography community. Thanks for everything.
Thanks Sandy! I've not forgotten the Beetle (I spoke to Chris too)
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom LOL, the Beetle. I love its color but that is not much use to you. I like the modeling, too. I understand that reviewing a lens that has 8 or 10 copies out there is perhaps of little interest. But I am glad I was able to snag one of the few extant. I count on you and that Texan, Ted Osborne (?), as having the "straight skinny". Cheers
I got the Leica Summarit 50mm f1.5 because of the dreamy look wide open. When it comes to vintage lenses, look is king for me.
Yes it has a unique look!
I'm always a fan of the older 50's from Leica, like the 50 Summicron rigid, dual range, collapsible, and the original 50 lux. But I recently got to try a friend's 50 Lux ASPH and I'm really blown away by that lens. Might have to sell some stuff to pick one up...
Thanks Jacob, yes classic Leicas are nice but the ASPH is a different level! (I have the DR and others too)
Matt, your videos are so GAS inducing! Favorite classic 50mm right now is probably a tie between the Nikkor HC 5cm f2 and the Carl Zeiss Opton Sonnar 5cm 1.5 (1951) on an amadeo adaptor. I bought the Nikkor based on your review and it's one of my very favorite lenses. I love the close focus portrait rendering. Thanks for the great videos. Cheers. Robbie J
Hey Robbie! Hope you're well, thanks very much and sorry for the GAS! Yes those are both great lenses. I need to still review the Nikkor SC 50 1.4 :) Don't watch that one! :P
Great content as always Matt. It would have been so interesting to see you test the Jupiter 3 1.5 in the video as well. I hope to see that in the future.
Thanks, Yes I will do a part 2 I think, stay tuned.
I would have been curious to hear what you think of the build quality of your Summarit. I owned one of these "back in the day" but got rid of it almost immediately, because not only was it worse in terms of performance than, well, anything else I had tried (50/1.5 Sonnar on a Contax IIa, 50/1.4 Nikkor on a Nikon S2, 50mm f/1.4 Canon on various bodies, even the dodgy 50mm f/1.2 Canon) but also because it seemed mechanically weak by Leica standards. In particular I remember that if I gripped the focusing ring too firmly, it would distort into an egg shape and I could feel it dragging and scraping as it went around the lens barrel!
In terms of favorite classic 50s, well... I still have a couple of Canon 50/1.4s and a 50/1.8, mostly because they came on cameras I bought, but I have kind of gotten away from the idea of using older lenses for their "dreamy" effect. I figure that if you start out with a more modern lens, such as one of the Cosina Voigtlanders, it's fairly easy to "dreamify" your images in post-production... but if you start out with an old, mushy lens, your options for bringing the images back from dreamland are fairly limited!
I make an exception for the Canon 50mm f/0.95 lens, which I continue to use... but I don't think of its results as "dreamy," but aggressively weird in a way that I like and which is difficult to simulate in post...
Thanks JL, my Summarit is fine mechanically so interesting to hear that. I actually prefer to try to get the look in camera so I enjoy these old lenses for creative work. For clients I use modern reliable glass (unless asked to use vintage glass*).
Are these vintage lenses with lower contrast more suitable for black and white photography?
The Sonnar has quite good contrast for it's age but yes any lower contrast lens can be preferred for B&W.
Great review Matt
All questions answered !
Thanks for the effort and sharing.
Thanks RS! (Photos were RAW I forgot to mention!) :)
Very interesting. Isn't the Zeiss Sonnar 1,5 the same lens as the Jupiter 50mm 1,5?
Jupiter lenses are Zeiss clones yes
One thing to keep in mind when looking at the modern options, is that the modern sonnar has a focus shift problem that can make nailing critical focus with a rangefinder challenging. The modern Summilux (like the Voit Apo) has a floating design that ensures there is zero focus shift
Thanks Peter, good info. Yes used to own the old ZM Sonnar.
In fact all Sonnar lenses have focus shift, the one shown here included. It’s inherent in the lens design. You may notice it more in the modern Zeiss ZM Sonnar because it has modern coatings and improved sharpness and contrast, making the effect more clearly visible.
When does the focus shift? E.g. close focus, infinity focus etc?
My favorite classic/vintage 50 mm lenses: Leica Summarit 50/1.5 (bokeh wide open is amazing!), Canon 50/1.4 LTM and Nikkor-S.C. 50/1.4 LTM. I recently acquired the Nikkor lens and am still testing it.
I love the Nikkor! Video will come at some point. All 3 are very good.
Since I obtained my Contax rf 50mm f1.5 Sonnar 18 months ago, I have not once used my Leica 50mm M mount summicron (4th version).
Yes they really are that good. I use mine a lot too and continue to learn and slowly simplify my setup.
Lovely video as usual . I feel bad for not using a Leica lens on my new M5. What do you think about the Nikkor 50mm f2 ltm?
Thanks Sam! The NIkkor is great, see that full video :)
Thank you for your well thought out presentations. I always enjoy your channel.
Thanks Joel!
Will I get similar results with the Zeiss on a Sony a7r3 mirrorless?
I’ve never shot Sony but it will certainly give a lot more character vs modern Sony lenses.
Thank you for this very interesting, informative review. For some reason, it always pleases me when very old lens produce wonderful results. I was intrigued by your reference to the contemporary Zeiss Sonnar 50mm f.5 lens -- have you done a review of that lens? I am curious as to how it compares to the vintage version. Thanks!
Thanks, I used to own the modern ZM C Sonnar but I stupidly sold it. There are sample photos on the blog.
Excellent review as always, to answer your question, the Carl Zeiss Pancolar f2 is my favourite 50. A wonderfully sharp Len’s wide open with gentle swirl to the bokeh. Works great on my SL.
I agree with you on the Pancolar. I remember buying my first one on 1976. I was in awe on how sharp it was.
Thanks! You are the second person to say the Pancolar :)
I wonder how Zeiss 1.5 compares with f/2 version
Not sure, I’ve only tried Jupiters but the Opton 1.5 beats most other Sonnars (Jena etc) as more optimised for sharpness
I only have one classic 50mm so couldn't say whether or not it's my favourite, but I do love it. It's a Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50/2.8. Beautiful bokeh wide open and stopped down to 5.6 it's very sharp indeed. Only about £40-50 on eBay for a good one. Mine is an M42 mount zebra Stripe version.
Thanks David, Tessars are normally sharp so good choice for that.
I have a lot of 50mm lenses... 75 or so in Leica mount. My Favorite is a 1934 Carl Zeiss Jena 5cm F1.5 Sonnar converted to Leica mount using a Jupiter-3 mount. The Sonnar formula changed a couple of times in the early years. The 1934 lens is the second formulation, seems to give more saturated colors. I have a lot of Sonnar formula lenses. The "Bloom", tarnish that acts as a natural lens coating- is not uniform between lenses and gives each a unique character.
Thanks Brian, that's an impressive collection! Thanks for the info
What do you think of the helios 103 or the jupiter 8 in comparison with the sonnar? Is it worth buying an adapter to use them on the canon 7 ltm? Or should I continue to use them on the kiev4 even if the viewfinder is dark?
I have both, I will try to do a future video to compare these lenses also. The adaper will cost more than the camera and lens together I think so stick with what you have. Look for another Kiev, maybe your copy is darker
The Zeiss Sonnar 1,5/50mm was available from 1932 (not 1937).
Ah thanks Lorenzo, sorry for the mistake.
Huge fan of the Zeiss 50mm Sonnars (and Soviet Jupiters). The best out of many I’ve owned is a Carl Zeiss branded f/1.5 with a serial number close to yours. These are from the last few years of production. I use it at f/2 most of the time, where it’s already *very* sharp. Modern lenses have more contrast and sparkle but I’m not sure they resolve any more meaningful detail.
I have the same Amadeo adapter as yours. The Contax/Nikon mount difference is down to the focus pitches of the two brands’ rangefinder cameras. Contax (Zeiss) lenses are fine at infinity and at closest focus (~90cm) when used on Nikon cameras, and vice versa, but focus is off by varying amounts in-between. I’ve tried out the adapter on an M10 but bought it to use on L mount cameras. It’s nice that the adapter focuses down to less than 70cm.
Hi David thanks. Great to hear you use the same adapters. YES the close focus to 0.7m on the M3 is a game changer for me! I use it mostly with the Nikkor 50 1.4 (video will come at some point) but if you say I can use the Contax at MFD and it will be accurate on the Nikkor adapter I must try that. I knew infinity was said to be OK. Thanks for the info!
Thanks for the heads up on what i'm about to get. I liked the zorki, but when an opportunity to get a contax II and sonnar came up (the serial numbers have the body at 1936 and the lens from '25), I cannot complain!
Very nice Andy and great lens!!
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom I literally got it around the time you replied with your comment. Wow... Zeiss did create a formidable alternative to the Leica III. Wow.
Did that mount the same as the Nikon S rangefinder system?
Yes same fitting as Nikon S but Zeiss is different flange distance so not accurate shot wide open
Thank you Matt for this thorough review.
Hi Jeremy, thank you and thanks for stopping by.
Very interesting video. But I wonder, have you compared them on Leica vs Contax? Would be interesting to see.
Thanks, the bodies only hold the lens so the photos are the same. The advantage on the M3 is I can close focus to 0.7m vs 1m on the Kiev because of the adapter.
Enjoyable video (as always). I don't have any Leica lenses, but I do have a mint Zeiss Sonnar Opton f1.5 50mm. It is a great lens. It is "A" favorite lens of mine. However, my very best "MOST" favorite lens is the Carl Zeiss Jena 50mm Pancolar, f2 Exakta Mount. I have a nice collection in all the various versions it came in - black leatherette, chrome with leatherette, chrome with plastic knobs and Zebra. I even have a counterfeit model in a mount not as nice as the genuine Pancolar. Apparently, some importer brought in some similar looking "Exaktar" lenses and put on a counterfeit Pancolar front bezel. I believe that this lens was made by Petri or Cosina. The photos from a Pancolar lens seem to come alive both in color and what can only be termed a 3D effect. Whenever, I would take photos with a Pancolar I would always get a remark to the effect of "Boy, these are really sharp!"
Thanks TOm, ah yes i've heard others mention this lens. I have the 80 1.8 Pancolar.. that is also amazing (M42)
hi Matt - many thanks for your continued commitment to delivering highly engaging and precise reviews.
I was wondering whether you knew much about the CZJ 5cm f1.5 Sonar with LTM (not Exacta). I have one and it is from late WWII years. The better view seems to be it was a military commissioned lens. Some think it is a fake. Welcome your thoughts!
Thanks! There are a lot of versions. I think I used this during my Bertele video. Check that.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Cool, many thanks. I’ll check it out!
This Leica typically produces soft images at wide open, and flare easily in direct sunlight as you had mentioned. I usually use it for indoor shooting, but I still prefer the Summicron for its sharpness.
Thanks Wilfred, yes the Summicron is a better general use lens for sure.
My favorite combo recently: Leica M9 with Nikkor-S.C. 5cm f1.4 LTM. I was trying to find a good Sonnar alternative for ZM50 1.5, which I sold a few years ago and really missed its rendering. Then I found this lens on auction at eBay without many bidders and surprisingly won the bid. When adapted on CMOS-based digital cameras wide open, it shows the common glowy look shared by most legacy lenses. But on M9’s CCD, the image turns out more transparent and natural.
Ah great, the Nikkor 50 1.4 is excellent. Stay tuned, I will do a video for this lens too. :)
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Can’t wait for it!! It’ll be a even more interesting comparison between this nikkor s.c 5cm 1.4 with other famous Sonnar alternatives, such as the original Zeiss Opton Sonnar 50 f1.5, Canon 50 f1.5 ltm, and Zeiss ZM 50 f1.5. I feel Sonnar-based lens really has some magic in its rendering that I like a lot 🥰
Matt, you’re awesome!! Love your analysis videos! Because of you I just picked up the new Voighlander 50mm f1 Nokton. It was your video that pushed me off the cliff.
Ah thank you! Sorry to cost you money! Great lens!
I recently got rid of a bunch of cameras and lenses and decided to just stick with my Kiev 2 and Contax IIa bodies with that Sonnar 50/1.5 as the main lens 90% of the time. No regrets! I came here in hopes of validating my decision so thank you for doing so! I consistently love the magic from the Sonnar.
Thanks Jeff! I shared full res images with this setup (Sonnar-Kiev) on MrLeica.com recently. Great performance for the price.
Hello Matt! Completely not related, but quick question: in your experience, which lens have a high resolving power in 35mm - 45mm for f mount manual? I keep thinking about the zeiss distagon 35mm f/2, but I don't know anybody with that specific lens.
Distagon are said to be good but I’ve not used them. I would expect the best to be the 35APO from Leica and Voigtlander. See the Voigtländer video with examples.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom thank you for replying!
@@LaViejaConsolada 👍
Hi, Matt
Can you review sonna 50 vs nikkor and canon 50 1.4 LTM because atm looking which len to go for (sonnar 50 1.5(t) ,nikkor 50 1.4 ,limited summilux 50 1.4 LTm)
I'm not sure if I can do all together but I still need to review my Nikkor.. I'll try
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom can’t wait for you Nikkor video ,any comment nikkor compare to Zeiss 1.5? And thank again
Thank you Matt for these efforts!
Thanks, no problem. I'm always interested myself so that's how it all started!
I wonder if VL is ever going to release a 28f5.6 Summaron tiny equivalent?
If they do please make it LTM!! :)
Matt, see you can find the modern Cosina made Zeiss Sonnar 50 1.5 S-mount. It has the same optic as the ZM version, but more compact and uses the same amadeo adapter. Probably around 100-200 pieces made in 2007 period. I love mine! The other nice S mount lens to get is the 50 Nikkor f1.4 S mount that’s paired with the Millennium edition Nikon S3 set
Thanks Dave! I have the 1.4 Nikkor and love it and I have the Voigtlander 50 1.5 ASPH too for Nikon S. Good tip on Cosina Sonnar, thanks!
hi, i'm looking for Sonnar f1,5 for my Leica CL . Is it possible with an adapter ( M to L , Leica or other ?
) ? thank you for answer , jmarc rodez france
Hi Jean, you can find buy a new Sonnar 1.5 M lens (ZM) for the CL. If you want the old one as hear I think there is a LTM version if you can find one, if not you need the special Contax RF-M adapters which can be expensive.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom thank you for answer Matt. I’m looking for the best price/quality and wide aperture. I have only the 18/56 L . I can’t find an old ( used? ) Leica adapter for my Leica CL . ( sorry for my english !..). Have a good day 😉
@@jeanmarcmaignot6382 get a Leica M-L adapter (any brand) then get LTM-M adapter (cheap) then buy some LTM lenses (see my videos, I’ve reviewed quite a few)( or MrLeica.com blog)
Excellent comparison Matt. As always, great information! I've used a vintage Minolta Rokkor f1.7 on a Minolta XG-1 and it was very sharp.
Thanks Lucy! and nice! :)
How can I buy adapter like you?
Not easily sadly. If you live in the Us try CameraQuest, if Europe try eBay and wait. If shooting mirrorless there are cheaper versions on eBay, see last nights video, I show one.
My favorite classic fifties:
1. Leitz 1:2 rigid Summicron M
2. Leitz 1:1.4 Summilux Version I M
3. PENTAX 1:1.4 SMC K
Interesting thanks!
Great review Matt . It shows that technical a Zeiss Contax lens is better than the much more expensive Leica 1950 / 60 lens . My Contax lenses don't give that old look . I have a Zeiss Opton Trotar 85mm , a beautiful small sharp landscape lens . I have a 1940 Jena T Sonnar 1:1.5 5cm , but I think that your Zeiss Oberkochen post war Sonnar 1:1.5 50mm has an improved contrast because it has a better coating . But it is good there is a real difference between Leica 1950 / 60 and Contax . Now you can make romantic Leica photo's or Contax photo's with a modern look . Best regards Peter .
Thanks Peter! Yes I think the coating helps for sure.
I can’t find a good mount to make contax mount to m focus correctly , so I recently got one lomo Jupiter 3+ which have great sharpness and vintage colors which also can focus accurately in my Leica m system, but one corn is it don’t have hood and will have dark corners when using any filter
You can also use LTM mount Jupiter lenses and they were fine on Leica. I do this too.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom It's difficult to find a good copy old Jupiter 3, some have bad glasses, some cannot focus correctly with rangedinder, that's why i find a lomo one, that's LTM also and come with a M adapter
Yes, I’ve run into the same issue with the J3+. It’s otherwise a fine lens. (I love 50mm Sonnar designs for b&w photography using an orange filter.)
So you came to the same conclusions as I did, which helped me sell my leitz lens, and I don't miss it.
Difference with you was I compared a Zeiss Opton 50/1.5 (so western side) to a leitz Summicron collapsible 50/2. As I do not shoot at f 1.5 I compared both lenses at f/2, and the Opton won.
I also mount the excellent soviet Helios 103 53mm which is very sharp in the corners at f/2, much sharper than the Opton.
I use the RF mount to M mount adapter sold by Retrophotohouse.
Thanks Harry! Nice! I have the Helios 103 too. I'll have to feature in a future video! :)
Nice, agreed! Time to test the original Voigtländer Nokton from the Prominent…
Thank!
I am not going to lie, I have always wanted one of those Zeiss Sonnar 50/1.5's, whether it is the Contax mount or the ZM.
Thanks John, get one, they offer great bang for the buck! (CRF mount)
Matt, thank you for another outstanding video! I have the current ZM version of the Sonnar 50/1.5. So far I have never really been happy with it. No particular reason I can specify, just not to my liking. I much prefer the Voigtlander 50/1.5 Heliar, a lens I know you're not much of a fan of.
Thanks! Sorry to hear you don't like the Sonnar. The Heliar has character so I have nothing against it.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Of late I have been playing around with a number Meyer Optik both old and new. Talk about characteristics, they have them in spades. LOL
I have been thinking of adding an old Nikon 55mm F1.2 non Ai lens to my kit. Or maybe a Pentax 50mm 1.4 8 element M42 lens. Just to have for certain shots and the look they give.
Nice Terry!
I like the cheaper 50/1.2 AIS I have
I like the new lenses. It looks like Voigtlander is putting out some nice new lenses!
Yes Voigtlander are doing an amazing job right now for sure.
the sonnar is a nice lens, but it‘s practically impossible now to shoot with it with rangefinder coupling on a l39(ltm) camera
Yes great lens but yes it needs to be on a calibrated camera. I use it on my Kiev 4a the most.
For sentimental reasons and character my great grandfather's Summitar 1950 model.
Thanks Ben!
This is despite what Leica would like to claim the main lens Henri Cartier-Bresson used to establish his career, yes the Zeiss Sonnar! Cue gasps of horror from Leicaphiles ;-) In the late forties, Cartier-Bresson was using a Zeiss Sonnar 50/1.5 specially converted to Leica Thread Mount on his Barnack. Reports vary and in some instances he is quoted as saying that said he had had his camera modified to accept the lens, but I believe the reverse is more probable. An example as proof is this shot he took of Albert Camus in 1944 which clearly shows the Sonnar character Matt has exhibited in his video. Several Sonnar lenses converted to LTM owned by HCB have been sold at auction.
Thanks for sharing, great info as usual!
Great review 👌 my favourites are the 50 f2 apo and the 50mm f1.2 nokton on my Fuji cameras
Thanks! and nice, both great lenses. All the product images of the lenses in the video were shot with the APO. Amazing lens. Follow up vid will come on that one.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom I’m enjoying your videos so much that I’m buying a whole load more voigtlander lenses this year!!
The summarit looks inferior in the test shots but produces quiet amazing mood shots!
Yes! Still a great lens
Stellar photography as well!
Thank you! That's why I try to find good gear to make it worthwhile.
Yeah, 'nuther gidjin. I appreciate the Leitz/Zeiss comparisons. I am currently enamored of a '57 Jupiter 8 which does flesh tones very nicely. The Canon 50mm LTM f/1.8 induces a slight Rosacea into skin tones. This J8 does color well and detail well, too. It lives on my M9. That's the camera I waste pixels on. Cheers. That Canon is #2. I have no Leica lenses. Too dear.
Thanks Zoltan and great info on J8 vs Canon. Interesting!
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom I have a 2" Amotal arriving in a few days. I will compare that against the Canon f/1.8. The J8 is in for a CLA. The shop is slow: 9 weeks. The Amotal has looked good on BBS's and Flickr. You folks whole rule the waves also made some really nice lenses.
@@zoltankaparthy9095 thanks for info! Will be interesting to hear
Great video ... Always surprise to see how good these little Sonar is.
The Summilux 50mm still to be my favorit on my new toy :-)
Thanks Jerome! Yes I hope you are enjoying your new toy! :)
Interesting to see how that 🗑 50f1.5 Heliar VM compares with these two character lenses
Yes! If I get the opportunity one day I will do it.
Hey Matt, you finally got around to the Sonnar. lol Great - thanx!
Not the ZM but a Sonnar! It’s a start :)
Nice Matt, but that Amadeo adapter is pricey so if you really want to use a 1.5 Sonnar on an M you need to look into the clones, you can literally play Russian Roulette and hope to find a Jupiter-3 that focuses correctly, buy a very expensive Nikkor 50/1.5, or your best bet (in my humble opinion) a Canon 50/1.5 in ltm, the price of which are relatively reasonable (particularly compared to the Summarit or 1.4 Nikkor). With a quality Ltm to M adapter it will pair perfectly with an M and have the added option of utility on other ltm bodies (Barnack Leicas, clones such as Nicca, Leotax etc) and of course on the ltm ne plus ultra bodies, V and VI series (5 and 6) Canons….
Still waiting for that L3 review….
Thanks Adam! Good to hear from you. Yes my J3 doesnt focus correctly on RF cameras but great for mirrorless. The Nikkor 1.4 is excellent. I still need to do the video for that one. Good point on LTM being a cheaper option vs adapter. I'll do more videos. Still need to use L3. I've not forgotten!
That is my setup, on the rare Nicca III-L, which has the looks of a Leica M3 but takes LTM lenses
@@aussiecryptomaniac ah nice l!
Matt, I've been watching so many of your videos and pretty much all in on the adapter rabbit hole. Pretty set on getting an Amadeo adapter for my M2; just need to decide if I want to commit to the Nikon or Contax adapter. So far I'm leaning towards Nikon so I can get the Nikkor-S 50mm 1.4. Thank you so much for all the time and effort you put into your channel and reviews. This makes me even want to buy a mirrorless camera (currently us DSLR for digital) since my investment in glass can be applied to any camera with your great adapter recommendations :)
Thanks Louie! The Nikkor 50/1.4 is excellent. I still need to do a video for that one. Contax lenses are often cheaper. If you ever go for mirrorless invest in the SL. It will bring all your MF lenses to life (the experience of focusing is a joy).
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom I pulled the trigger on the Nikkor 50/1.4! Thanks for the incredible engagement and examples you post on instagram. I mainly want it for portraits of my family. Have you looked into GigantOptik or Goliathus? They have a modification to the rear element housing and RF coupler to make the Nikkor 35/1.8 work with the Amedeo Adapter (website is in Korean). I DM'd him on Instagram and dying to know if that service is still available. Thanks as always for the quick replies and inspiration!
Cheers,
Louie
@@loubenii congrats! I know the 35/1.8 but not sure about the mentioned service, sorry.
Re the sonnar/summarit comparison across apertures, it would be interesting to know at which aperture your sonnar copy has its sweet spot in terms of focus shift. - Overall I agree that the sonnar wins.
No focus shift up to f8 on this Sonnar. The ZM version has shift.
This version Sonnar uses a "Star Shaped" Aperture to reduce focus shift. The same idea as the hex shape of the aperture on the Summar and Xenon.
@@brians2818 Star-shaped apertures help with focus shift? That's interesting. The ZM version has a star-shaped aperture above f2 but it has extreme focus shift nonetheless. Could anything else explain why the Sonnar version used here does not have focus shift? Thanks!
Nice photos of gdansk
Thanks! You can now see them full res and more of them on the recent Mrleica.com Kiev blog post :)
Great Work 👍
Thanks!
50mm f/1 Noctilux Version 2 followed closely by the old Summicron Rigid. Both (and everything else in the world) are eclipsed in every way by my Nikon S f/0.95 Noct Nikkor but you don't carry that one around.
Thanks Frank, Nice!
Leica 50mm summicron rigid 😍
Nice! I have the DR instead.
Having sent a modern Zeiss Planar in for service I was advised by the technician that the metal used in the helicoid was not Leica quality and thus has degraded. Worth bearing in mind that Zeiss/Voigtlander/Codina products aren't over engineered like Leica.
The early production ZM lenses do tend to degrade with use when it comes to focusing smoothness. My own 50/2 Planar has had a dry focus feel for a long time and now even squeaks a bit. But my other ZMs are from the late 2000s and 2010s and are fine.
Interesting, thanks Paul
Yes if you see my ZM Biogon video I have the same problem with one lens
Vintage voigtlander nokton 50 1.5> carl zeiss sonnar 50 1.5> Leica 50 1.5. funny how Leica is the most expensive out of those three 😂
Hmm.. I'd need to check but maybe Nokton 50 1.5 ASPH LTM > Sonnar Opton* > Leica .. that Nokton has a Summilux ASPH fine grain look
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom I meant the old Nokton 1.5 lens for voigtlander prominent camera (about 1950 to 1960). It's a different beast from current cosina voigtlander design. My copy is quite sharp wild open with a dreamy swirly brokeh and razor thin DOF.
Pro tip: In German, when an S is in front of a vowel, it's pronounced as a "Z", so Sonnar is pronounced "Zonnar." Z is pronounced as "C," so Zeiss is "Ceiss."
Thanks! I struggle speaking good English let alone German but I’ll try to remember and thanks for your help.
that leica one is absolutely garbage wide open
Some say "dreamy", others say "garbage" buy either way it isn't sharp :)
First!
Thanks Lugen!