50D and a Canon FL 55mm f1.2

I picked up this lens last night and want opinions on whether it's worth putting on the $100 ed mika adapter and using it on a 50D. My only other option would be to buy a cheaper adapter and buy a mirror less camera to use it on. I'm not sure I would keep it long term unless the quality is there.

Heya,

That lens is very good. The EdMika is the way to go. But this is only if you want an F1.2 lens for $300ish total as that lens goes for about $200~250 or so currently still in good shape. $300 for a manual lens that is old and adapted is steep. A modern manual lens (oddly enough Samyang 50mm F1.2 doesn't exist, weird?) would cost a bit more but close to that.

If you don't need F1.2 and want to keep the costs down, the Super Takumar 50mm F1.4 (m42 mount) clocks in under $100 with a $10 adapter. I got mine for about $60ish.

Very best,

I would just like to play with it for the summer and I probably would end up selling it. I am having a hard time justifying an adapter that cost as much as the lens.

Heya,

If you got the lens for $100, that's a steal.

Lemme know when you're ready to sell it, if you get the adapter.

I have more vintage lenses than modern. I'm used to adapted lenses and I mostly manual focus everything except the wildlife I do.

Very best,

Go with the Edmika adapter. It is a great lens. Lots of fun!

Do you think I could get more for the lens with the adapter if I decide to sell it? I don't want to sell it for $200 after spending $100 for the lens and $100 for an adapter.

They usually sell for more than $300 on the forums converted for EOS with a good adapter. I think you will like it. it is not a lens you would use every day but at the time it was made it was the best canon had and the IQ shows. Then again I am biased:
https://photography-on-the.net …?t=1105149&high​light=55mm

Heya,

I see them in good shape for $200~250 new, right now, on ebay from a few sellers. The adapter is always $100~150 or so, as it's custom made. You could price it up a few bucks, for the simplicity of having them both together already, if you wanted to sell.

If you bought that lens for $100 and you put an adapter on it and sell it for over $300, you make a profit.

But frankly, I would not worry about "making" money here. You should just enjoy the lens. Or sell it and let someone else enjoy it. Also, frankly, I'm actually fairly put back seeing you say you don't want to sell something for what you paid for it, you want more. Really dude? I get capitalism and all, but come on. Knowing that I'd definitely not want to buy it from you. Just saying.

Very best,

MalVeauX wrote in post #16921128
...oddly enough Samyang 50mm F1.2 doesn't exist, weird?...

Perhaps because the only large brand they would fit on is Canon. Samyang probably want to make lenses that can be used on Nikon cameras as well.

apersson850 wrote in post #16921682
Perhaps because the only large brand they would fit on is Canon. Samyang probably want to make lenses that can be used on Nikon cameras as well.

They make the 24 F1.4 and 35 F1.4 and 85 F1.4, so it makes me wonder why don't have a 50 F1.4, let alone possibly a 50 F1.2. They seem to try to drop solid manual lenses at wide aperture at reasonable prices given they're manual. Still, it makes me wonder why they haven't produced something to grab some 50mm attention.

I know F1.2 is niche and all. But still.

Very best,

As others have stated, get the adapter, use the lens, and when you want to sell the combo you will get every penny you spent back possibly more. Sounds like a 'free' lens to me.

MalVeauX wrote in post #16921282
Heya,

But frankly, I would not worry about "making" money here. You should just enjoy the lens. Or sell it and let someone else enjoy it. Also, frankly, I'm actually fairly put back seeing you say you don't want to sell something for what you paid for it, you want more. Really dude? I get capitalism and all, but come on. Knowing that I'd definitely not want to buy it from you. Just saying.

Very best,

Don't you just hate it when camera stores don't sell to you at cost, and you don't get capitalism "dude".
# bring our country back

MalVeauX wrote in post #16921693
They make the 24 F1.4 and 35 F1.4 and 85 F1.4, so it makes me wonder why don't have a 50 F1.4, let alone possibly a 50 F1.2.

A 50 mm f/1.4, sure, but the 50 mm f/1.2 would have a much more limited audience, since for example a Nikon version isn't possible.

Given your L lineup, you may not fall in love with this lens. It is a Gaussian design, an older variant of the current 50mm 1.4 USM, so it is a little soft wide open (which might be good for portraits) and could have some aberration. If you are looking for a sharp wide open lens, you would want one of the aspherical lenses (FD Ls and some of the SCC variants), which will all have a higher pricepoint to go along.

The cheapest way to figure out if this could be a keeper for you would be to get one of the glassless adapters. You will lose infinity focus (I do not know by how much), but at this focal range, might not be a big deal, especially if this ends up being a portrait MF lens. There is a $13 one on Amazon and Im guessing they are even cheaper on ebay. Install magic lantern (for free) and use the focus peaking option in live view. Wide open the DOF is so thin and with high sensitivity setting, the peaking works well, maybe not Sony a7(r) quality, but very usable and makes manual focusing fun.

The old FD lenses having an aspherical lens element clearly writes that out in the type designation.
The FD 55 mm f/1.2 S.S.C. ASPHERICAL co-existed with the FD 55 mm f/1.2 S.S.C., for example, but there was also an earlier FD 55 mm f/1.2 AL available.