Lens with 50/1.8 design, just "so so" or do you like it?

[ic-racer]

If one views some films or videos of lens manufacturing, it is surprising any of them leave the factory within their tight design tolerances. So many steps were things could be slightly off. I don't think every lens from the common 50mm lens manufacturers in the hey-day was tested. My impression is there may be duds out there.

 

[xkaes]

My impression is there may be duds out there.

In my experience, most of the duds are behind the camera, not in front of it.

 

[Paul Howell]

I think that is true with modern manufacturing, but in the 60s and 70s, well it could happen. Japan stated to inspect camera and lens maybe starting in the 60s, every once in while I still used cameras with the passed sticker on it.

 

[kl122002]

I think that is true with modern manufacturing, but in the 60s and 70s, well it could happen. Japan stated to inspect camera and lens maybe starting in the 60s, every once in while I still used cameras with the passed sticker on it.

Some older Japanese cameras and lens have a "checked" stamp with a person 's name inside the gears. Like bottom or top cover of the bodies, or the interior back of the lens .

 

[xkaes]

 

[ic-racer]

If there are dud lenses or not, I found a link the one of the fascinating lens manufacturing videos. This is truly awesome and the video really made me look up the Sigma 24-70 2.8 in Nikon F mount for possible purchase. Seeing the care that goes into the production of this lens really made me want one!

 

[loccdor]

I have a handful of good old fifties, from the Jupiter-8 50mm f/2, Super Takumar 50mm f/1.4 & 1.8, Canon FD 50mm f/1.4. I love them.

But what really changed the game for me in normal focal length film shooting was a third party (!) Tamron 45mm f/1.8.

What did it have that the old ones didn't?
* Weather sealing
* Actual sharp results wide open (though stopping down to f/2.8 removes vignette)
* Three stops (!) of image stabilization so now I can use a fine grained 50 speed film where I was using a 400.
* 1:3 magnification with no extension tube

 

[dynachrome]

The Konica Hexanon f/1.2 standard lens was a 57. The 50/1.7 was not available until 1973 when the T3 was introduced. It was an improvement over the earlier 52/1.8. The 57/1.4 received improved coating in 1972 but was then discontinued in 1973 in favor of the 50/1.4. The 57 was an excellent six element design and benefited from the improved coating. Was the new 50 better? They are both very good. A more compact version of the 50/1.7 was made by Tokina with lens elements provided by Konica. It focused down to 1.75 feet rather than 1.5 feet. Konica's last standard lens was the 50/1.8. Konica designed it but Tokina made all of it. Did Konica make a budget 50? Yes. There was a version of the 50/1.8 with a plastic barrel. As far as I know, the lens elements were the same. Even the focusing ring is made of molded plastic. No rubber covering there. I have just one of these and have never seen another. I heard that it was made for markets outside of the U.S. Most Konica users would prefer either version of the 50/1.7 to the 50/1.8 but I have enjoyed using both.