What is your favorite 50-55mm prime lens? (Page 4): I have this lens and concur for digital use. The features justify or allay concerns over using a third party lens. Exactly the...

whwiden

CO wrote:

I like my Tamron 45mm f/1.8 SP VC lens. Not many primes lenses have stabilization. The vibration compensation helps out when it's not practical to use a tripod. It also has a metal lens barrel and is fully weather sealed. I won't purchase a lens if it doesn't have a weather seal at the lens mount.

I have this lens and concur for digital use. The features justify or allay concerns over using a third party lens. Exactly the reasons I purchased this lens. Sharper than my Nikon 50mm 1.8 G lens.

pendennis

From the film era: Pentax SMC 50mm f/1.4 (M42); Canon FD 50mm f/1.8; Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 Ai-S.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Leica 50mm Summicron.

Dennis

AndyGarcia

HOT Texas wrote:

At one time that Konica Hexanon 50mm F1.7 was the sharpest lens in the world, it still may be, I almost at one time bought one.

Hi there,

I bought mine for 19 Euros plus postage of 7 Euros and it got through customs where I live with no duty. Mint condition, fab bokeh and very sharp.

My other fave lens is an old Nikon Ai'd 35mm f2.8. Given to me by my brother. Love it. (It's about 50mm on my XT1). Super lens.

Pura Vida.

broncomaniac Loc: Lynchburg, VA

I've got a Canon 50mm f1.8 I'm fond of. Nice, sharp focus. Fast, too.

Indiana Loc: Huntington, Indiana

I feel a bit redundant but...I like the results from my Nikon 50mm 1.4 G lens on both my D700 and D850.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

Indiana wrote:

I feel a bit redundant but...I like the results from my Nikon 50mm 1.4 G lens on both my D700 and D850.

Personally, I prefer the previous version, the 50mm 1.4 D, to the newer G version. Wish I never sold my copy! It had a much better feel and was very sharp. Also made in Japan, unlike the newer version. YMMV.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Streets wrote:

Mine is my Minolta AF 50mm f3.5 Macro. I love this lens for copying slides and general photography. It is wicked sharp, no matter the f stop. A close contender is my 50mm Pentax Takumar f1.4 SMC which I use in low light and portrait work.

All I have is a std. run-of-the-mill 50 1.4, nothing special.
BUT if I had one, it would be the Canon 50mm f1.0!
What an AWSOME lens that must be!!!
SS

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

SharpShooter wrote:

All I have is a std. run-of-the-mill 50 1.4, nothing special.
BUT if I had one, it would be the Canon 50mm f1.0!
What an AWSOME lens that must be!!!
SS

Wouldn't mind having that one myself! Do you think they made a version to fit a Nikon?

DJCard Loc: Northern Kentucky

Bobsan wrote:

Mine is a Fuji 56mm 1.2. Great for low light portraits.

Awesome! For this photo, it’s more the photographer capturing the light and moment, and less the lens. BTW, I like the Nikkor 50mm 1.4G and even more the Sigma 50mm 1.4 Art.

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

Streets wrote:

Mine is my Minolta AF 50mm f3.5 Macro. I love this lens for copying slides and general photography. It is wicked sharp, no matter the f stop. A close contender is my 50mm Pentax Takumar f1.4 SMC which I use in low light and portrait work.

When you ask about 50mm or 55mm I have to think that you are talking about the older lenses, I have several, the 8 element Takumar 1.4, the Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 50mm 1.4, the 55mm 1.8, the Pentax SMC K mount 50 1.4 and 1.7, the Olympus Zuiko OM 50mm 1.4, a Minolta PF 58mm 1.4 that I have to work on to fit the Canon mount, then the newer lenses, the Canon 2.5 Macro, along with a Sigma EX and Canon USM 50 1.4s... I don't have a favorite, I love them all.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Streets wrote:

Mine is my Minolta AF 50mm f3.5 Macro. I love this lens for copying slides and general photography. It is wicked sharp, no matter the f stop. A close contender is my 50mm Pentax Takumar f1.4 SMC which I use in low light and portrait work.

My Canon 50mm f1.4.
The first lens I owned.

BlueMorel Loc: Southwest Michigan

50mm f1.8 Canon on my EOS T2i. Only 50 i have, not way expensive, sharp, versatile. Not likely to get snother one unless this one fails.

Gstanenbaum Loc: Charleston, SC

My Leica 50 mm f1.4 Summilux. Sharp as hell.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Streets wrote:

Mine is my Minolta AF 50mm f3.5 Macro. I love this lens for copying slides and general photography. It is wicked sharp, no matter the f stop. A close contender is my 50mm Pentax Takumar f1.4 SMC which I use in low light and portrait work.

I have or had several 50mm & 55mm Lenses.

50mm smcPentax-M 1:1.7 (Stolen)
50mm smcPentax-K 1:1.4
55mm smcPentax-K 1:2
50mm smcPentax-A 1:2
50mm smcPentax-A 1:1.7
50mm smcPentax-M Macro 1:4
55mm smcTakumar Pentax M-42 1:1.8
50mm smcTakumar Pentax M-42 Macro 1:4

I have no idea which is for sure the sharpest.

I also have a very old late-40's rangefinder camera with a 50mm Carl Zeiss 1:3.5 lens in Compur shutter that is likely very sharp to but un-coated.

I'd like to have a faster 50mm Macro 1:2.8 lens, and a 50mm smcPentax-FA lens. Since all my SLRs and DSLRs are Pentax I only have Pentax Mount lenses. I know Nikon, Canon, and Minolta have made some extremely sharp 50mm/55mm lenses thru the years.