Canon LTM Canon 50mm 1.4 LTM

Canon M39 M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
bigdog

bigdog

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I hope this was a good find for fast glass on my Bessa R2a! I'm not ready to drop $300 or more on a Nokton 1.5 50mm.

I found this Ebay Item (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=290163496281&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=019)

A Canon 50mm f/1.4 in LTM mount for $189, I pulled the trigger before thinking too much. I hate when that happens!

How do you rate this lens' overall performance vs jupiter 8 or VC Nokton 1.5....I am not sure I am totally happy with my Jupiter 8?

Will such a fast lens be easy to focus accurately when shooting wide open on the R2a?

Was $189 a good price...seems to be? I have not seen many available lately.

Any comments on your experience with this lens is appreciated.
 
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Hi Bigdog,

I own this lens (on a Bessa R) and it is really good. It is not very big but quite heavy. At least on the Bessa R the viewfinder blocking is not significant (it is more large than long, if you see what I mean).

The len's overall performance is really good. It is very sharp, has a smooth bokeh and is much more flare resistant than my last generation summicron.

I do not use it wide open much, but it has a relatively long long throw and focusing is firm on mine, so that helps a lot. The infinity lock drives me mad though.

Filter size: 48mm

Overall I'm very happy with it (I did no sell it even after buying a summicron), so cheer up.
Some pictures taken with it:

U2890I1145372051.SEQ.0.jpg

U2890I1134741852.SEQ.0.jpg

U2890I1181372806.SEQ.0.jpg
 
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I'd say that's a very good deal. Your link got mangled, but I'm guessing this is your lens? http://cgi.ebay.com/Canon-RF-Lens-5...ryZ30063QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

You'll want a CLA to clean up the oil & haze but even with that expense you've still got one of the great lenses at a good price.

Can't tell you about the VF issues, it's a type I & according to the ad take 48mm filters. To use a step down will vignette severely.

I doubt you'll have too much trouble focusing unless you get into available darkness macro shots... 😉

Compairing it to a J8, well, it's a Sonnar design vs. a Double-Gauss design. Very different critters with different characteristics. That's one you'll have to decide with your own eyes.

I think you'll enjoy it. Good light!

William
 
I`ve heard nothing but GOOD things about this lens......it`s the only other Canon lens left that
I want as well as the f2.0 100mm which is hard and uncommon to find, yeah the f1.4 50mm Canon is the next lens I`m after......

I want to SEE more samples of the f1.4 here , so owners post more Pix!

Tom
 
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As far as I am concerned this is one of the greats which surpassed the Leica glass of the same era. Love it. I was lucky enough to pick one up cheap in Sydney Australia a few years back and think its a seriously good lens. I have only ever heard good things about this lens. I am lucky enough to also own the 1.8 which is also an excellent lens. Some claim the 1.4 to be even better. It could be true.
 
A very good lens, even by todays standards. The price was reasonable. Run a check on the lens as soon as you receive it, by exposing a roll at varying apertures and processing at a 1 hour shop. That will eliminate finding problems out too late to resolve.

I highly doubt that the front lens cap shown was the one used on the lens. AFAIK, this cap was used on the FL series of SLR lenses. Pete K. would have more definitive information on the proper cap.

Harry
 
It's a great lens, and holds its own in comparison
with the few fast general purpose 50s out there.

121611466-L.jpg


Sharp corner to corner, also wide open.

Roland.
 
Thank you everyone for your information and great photos. It proves that the lens is only part of the equation, I have taken some great shots with lousy lenses and horrible shots with expensive glass. My $60 Canonet found on Ebay still amazes me at times with how fast, sharp, quiet and pleasing it is to use. It was my first rangefinder and I can highly recommend it to anyone. I still use it as my take to the beach camera....although I almost lost it to a rogue wave that took out our blanket and I think I would have been upset to lose it.

It was nice to see the lens mounted on a couple of Bessas. I don't mind the size so much at the expense of weight since it appears not too much of the viewfinder will be obstructed and I now will have a fast kit with a 35mm f/1.7 and the 50mm f/1.4. I have a harder time handling small lenses. I have had my hands appear in the frame using my Jupiter 8 while fumbling to grab a shot.

It looks like only positive comments on this lens....I just have to hope I get a good sample.
 
When I bought mine a few years back I think I paid around $230 Australian which at the exchange rate of the day was probably around $190 US - similar to the first post of this thread. I don't know why the owner of the shop let it go for such a reasonable price as previously I had always found his prices for any kit to be a bit on the high side. Maybe he liked my face, maybe he recalled that I had bought from him before (admittedly quite a time before) or maybe he had bought it cheap and needed a quick sale. Who knows but I certainly do not regret getting it at this price
 
I thought I got a deal...bad ending!

I thought I got a deal...bad ending!

Hello,

So I got the lens today...fungus on inside of front element around the edges, oil on the aperture blades, aperture ring not totally smooth but workable and oil on rear element behind aperture blades. The glass on the outside looks good actually....no cleaning marks or scratches and focus is smooth.

This is when you think I should have spent the money and just purchased a new Nokton 1.5 rather than take my chances on Ebay. I was told I could have the lens serviced for anywhere from $50 to $100 to remove the oil and clean the fungus and lubricate the aperture ring. Keep in mind I paid $190 for the lens as is.

1. Does fungus and oil clean up well?

2. Would you keep the lens, get a partial refund from the seller and have it serviced....or just get a full refund and buy a new VC Nokton 50mm or another Canon 1.4 and take my chances with another used lens?

I think I will just save up a few more dollars and buy a new VC Nokton 50mm 1.5
 
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I bought one of these a couple of years ago and paid close to $300.00 from memory ... but it was pristine!

After a long long time I have finally managed to find a genuine S50 hood for it ... I saw some crazy prices for these hoods but eventually managed to pick one up off eBay for $26.00 with the original case and in unmarked condition.

I've used it once in very low light wide open and under these conditions it really didn't seem to come that close to my Nokton to be honest. In spite of this I love it because it's a classic lens and looks great on my M2 ... I probably need to try it under different conditions now that I have the hood to get a true feel for it! I'll post a pic of it on the M2 later with the very nice lens shade fitted!

ps ... I'd keep it and get it cleaned ... great classics like this are only going to get harder to find. 🙂
 
Too bad, Big Dog. I guess the price was too good to be true. Yes, the lens is good, but I don't think you'll find it as sharp as the Nokton wide open. The VC has more contrast, too. Of course, sharpness and contrast aren't necessarily always good. Just depends on the "look" you want.

According to the description on eBay, the seller did mention the issues with the oil. Fungus, no. Is it the haze he mentions? If you can find someone to clean it for $50-$75, I'd do it and keep the lens. Under $250 is still a good deal on this lens and you'll have an example with a fresh CLA. The oil and fungus should clean up fine.

Joe
 
For this price, you can try to clean it yourself. The lens is
easily dis/re-assembled.

There is a tiny screw in front of the aperture ring. If you take this out,
you can unscrew the front barrel which gives you access to aperture
blades and element surfaces in front and behind.

I believe the front element can be taken off after you unscrew the
labeled ring with a spanner.

Good luck,

Roland.
 
These are a teriffic lens ... all this talk made me put mine on my M3 yesterday for a few Vespa shots at the top of the farm! 🙂

I'm impressed ... a little bit flare prone I discovered but certainly doesn't lack sharpness! I'm definitely going to use it for a while instead of my Nokton. 😀

M3Vespa036.jpg
 
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