MF Lenses Zeiss/Leica...?

[Leopard Lupus]

Hello everyone!
I am a sucker for manual focus lenses, mainly due to the days of film. I love my 5D mk ll and the variety of L lenses I have, but am looking for something else to add to the collection...
Is there a manual focus lens that would be recommended? I love the classic 50mm focal length on FF. I never use AF, even though I already own the 50mm f/1.2 L. However, I am looking for something to just have fun with. I have been looking at the Carl Zeiss Planar T* 1,4 50mm with the Canon mount, as well as various Leica lenses. I have only ever shot with Canon, so 3rd party gear is new to me. The Zeiss is half the price of my current 50mm L, which is appealing, but are there limitations?
Thanks in advance!

 

[wickidwombat]

I just got the Eg-S focus screen for my 5D2 only put it in yesterday so still trying it out, but so far seems pretty easy to nail focus at f1.4 with my 85mm. just got to have more of a play with it and also see if i can live with the dimmer viewfinder on the f4 lenses. you could always get some FD superteles and an ed mika adapter if you NEED some more MF glass

 

[Joaquox]

For 50mm, you could try something like the Zuiko 50/1.4, Pentax Super Takumar 50/1.4, Leica Summicron-R or Summilux-R 50 2.0/1.4.

Limitations include: manual focus (ofc), manual aperture (open to focus, then close before shot), some adapters does not have AF confirm, no proper EXIF and people will inevitably start harassing you for using "inferior" optics.

 

[NormanBates]

I'll vote for Leitz glass: I have a vintage Summilux-R 50mm f/1.4 and it's absolutely awesome (yes, it's sharp, but what makes it apart from everything else I've tried is the absolutely lovely bokeh - I haven't tried the canon 50mm f/1.2L, though)

here you have it compared with nearly every other great 50mm lens (only MTF):
http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2012/01/the-great-50mm-shootout

here you have it compared (and losing, but not by much) with cine lenses that cost $8K each
http://www.ryanewalters.com/Videos/Tests/tests.html

and here you have my own bokeh and sharpness tests:
http://www.similaar.com/foto/lenstests/bokehtests.html
http://www.similaar.com/foto/lenstests/lenstestsa.html


also:
* I think "open to focus, then close before shot" is bad advice; that's what modern glass does with AF, but it's actually a problem: on fast glass at close to maximum aperture, DoF is minimal and focus shifts when you change aperture: http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2010/10/how-to-shoot-with-wide-aperture-lenses
* anybody complaining that I use inferior optics because my vintage lenses don't have AF or focus confirm has no idea what they're talking about; but they could very reasonably complain about, for example, the bad coatings: it's not a problem for me (I shoot video and like flares), but it could be a big one for others

 

[Joaquox]

also:
* I think "open to focus, then close before shot" is bad advice; that's what modern glass does with AF, but it's actually a problem: on fast glass at close to maximum aperture, DoF is minimal and focus shifts when you change aperture: http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2010/10/how-to-shoot-with-wide-aperture-lenses

I usually shoot with rangefinders, so I do have some experience in dealing with focus shift.
Personally I don't think you have to bother with this issue unless the glass is faster than 1.4 or of a sonnar design (or other notoriously shifting type). The ones I listed should not be shifting their focal depending on f.
If you're using a special focus screen, you may not even be able to focus at smaller apertures YMMV.

 

[NormanBates]

cool, then

I always prefer to focus with my final exposure on screen anyway