Three 50mm lenses that work for me...

[@MichaelRusso]

If a 50mm gives you good or even great background separation without being too busy with good sharpness and contrast, you can't lose. For me, it's the Takumar 50mm f/1.4

[@baladino]

For a person who has written some of the best long form reviews of leica gear, it’s surprising it doesn’t translate to video. I would say your leica reviews are definitive reviews if placed next to Reid Reviews which compliments them from a technical stand point. I took great relish in receiving a new Leica MA which I plan to use for some time without getting distracted by other options and thought about what you mentioned in your review pertaining to that body. I suppose a camera body is secondary when one has good options like a summicron and Zeiss.

[@rodwhite6308]

My mate uses the Sonnar f1.5 and gets some spectacular results from it. His copy doesn't seem to suffer too much with focus shift either but I know some do. I love the look and render of this lens but I already have the Summilux which has been a long term favourite of mine for many years.

[@HamishGill]

Indeed, some are differently calibrated. So the ones that are for f1.5 will focus shift more at the middle apertures and the ones that are calibrated for f2.8 focus shift more wide open. Mine is for f2 which is the optimum in my opinion

[@papapoum]

@@HamishGill As I plan to buy a Zeiss sonnar f1.5 brand new, I have asked last month what is the new calibration for 2024 new models, here is the reply from Zeiss : "Out of factory, the C-Sonnar T* 1,5/50 ZM always comes in an adjustment to be the best compromize regarding its focus shift. On a camera with a perfectly calibrated rangefinder, the C-Sonnar will give you a slight front focus at f/1.5, spot-on focusing at f/2, and a slight backfocus at f/2.8. Please do your own tests with your camera to get used to the behaviour of this special lens. When using the live view of the Leica M for accurate focusing, the focus shift of the lens is immediately visible on the screen and does not play any role at all in practical use anymore."🙂

[@HamishGill]

That’s their stock response these days. Have you read my full review?

[@rbij]

How do you like the 50 mm Color Skopar?

[@HamishGill]

Roy Bijster I like it - I’ve not shot a huge amount with it yet, but so far so good. A think a lot of the naysayers might be Voigtlander bashers - it’s not Leica so it can’t be that good... so far, I’d say it betters the current 50mm summarit, but I’ll share some fuller thoughts on the blog in due course

[@rbij]

Hamish Gill That would be nice! From the looks of it, the Color Skopars look all good value for the money and they are light and tiny in comparison to most of the competition.

[@HamishGill]

Roy Bijster funnily enough, whilst tiny, the chrome version of the 50mm is actually made of brass and for its size is really heavy. It’s sooo nice to use though!!

[@AdamOnAnalogue]

Evening Hamish, I've come to this rather late it appears. I've got a Canon P impending with some custom paintwork that I'm expecting some disparaging comments on (as is the way with the internet). Has your current 50 line up changed somewhat since this? I've got a Canon 50 1.8ltm on its way, but was contemplating the voigtlander due to size and focusing tab.

[@HamishGill]

I sold the voigtlander in favour of a zeiss 50mm plannar, but if you can find the voigtlander, it's definitely one of the better LTM lenses! If you are the Adam Laws I know, you should message me :)

[@taneltinnuri8985]

Sir so you still shoot with the Sonnar or what is your fav 50mm today. I own Sonnar today but keep thinking of VC Nokton 1.2. What do you think?

[@HamishGill]

Still the Sonnar - I’m not sure that will ever change! The Nokton is great though. I have reviewed it on 35mmc: www.35mmc.com/23/09/2019/voigtlander-50mm-1-2-review/

[@taneltinnuri8985]

@@HamishGill thanks.

[@anumits]

Do you have a link to the motorcycle picture you mentioned?

[@HamishGill]

They're embargoed at the moment, but as soon as they are out in the wild, I will be writing about them on the blog

[@anumits]

Looking forward to it.

[@daveandrews6384]

Hamish have you got the VM50mm f1.2 yet? It's so amazing I sold my Sonnar-C to keep it : ) Talk about 3 dimensions 🤗

[@HamishGill]

I know right, it's awesome isnt it - even has amazing bokeh that's not all that far off the sonnar. Handles like a dream too... In short... yeah... I'm not sure I'm selling the sonnar, but I am keeping this too

[@jakobw135]

Have you used the Leitz Aspherical 50mm F1.4?

[@HamishGill]

No, not for me - it's too expensive. I have to 50mm 1.2 voigtlander now though, it's shaping up very nicely!

[@antlockyer153]

Enjoyable video. I've got a Jupiter 8M and an Helios 103 on my Kiev which gives the classic and 'modern' for me. I'm about to embark on a single lens for a year and I think I've settled on the Jupiter but it really is giving me anxiety lol

[@Socrates...]

sell me the Sonnar 50 1.5 for my Contax ii

[@wodzimierzwohn114]

Zeiss is the German word. Pronounce it "Caiss" not "zaiss" :)

[@HamishGill]

Włodzimierz Wohn I don’t know about that to be honest. Everyone in the uk, and I dare say most English speaking countries says it how I do. I’ve even heard the people on the Zeiss stand at shows say it how I do. Is this not just how language is, words from foreign languages get pronounced differently...?