Canon LTM Canon 100mm f/3.5 LTM lens

Canon M39 M39 screw mount bodies/lenses

ISO 800, 1/250 sec, f/3.5. Canon 100mm f/3.5 LTM on Epson R-D1s. +1/3 stop compensation.

Unadjusted and unsharpened JPEG image straight out of the camera. Standard Settings.


An interesting exposure to test the shadow details that the lens can render. Check out the top left and bottom left details on the tyres.

ISO 200, 1/250 sec, f/8.0. Canon 100mm f/3.5 LTM on Epson R-D1s.

Unadjusted and unsharpened JPEG image straight from camera with standard setting.

Cheers,
 
Benny these remind me a little of images from the Canon 85/2 which has that sort of soft (but not objectionably so) smoothness of image and pastel-line color rendition which I personally find very appealing. Not quite fully modern optical performance, but close enough to it to charm.

bennyng said:
Hi guys,

Just received a copy of the Canon 100mm f/3.5 LTM lens! It's the older type that's black and chrome and it's my second copy. The first one had some murky stuff in the middle element that could not be cleaned out, so it was returned. This one is much better, but still have cleaning marks on the front element. However, it has no effect on the images.

Here are some sample images of some Heliconia psittacorum for my first shots with it. You can click on the respective images for a slightly larger version for comparison. Full size images are on my flickr account for those interested.



The picture on the left is shot at f/3.5 with Canon 100mm f/3.5 LTM
The picture on the right is shot at f/8.0 with Canon 100mm f/3.5 LTM



I've also added a third picture from a beat up Canon 100mm f/2.0 as a comparison. This was shot at wide open at f/2.0.

All images shot at ISO 200, with Epson R-D1s. Images are straight JPEG out of the camera with no color adjustment or sharpening. Camera setting was at standard.

All in all, the small form factor of the Canon 100mm f/3.5 is a real plus factor. However, I've yet to take this lens out for normal shooting and the f/3.5 aperture may be a bit of a challenge in less than ideal light conditions. Contrast and sharpness improved when stopped down as reported by many others.

Pictures and comments from other users of this lens would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Cheers,
Click to expand...
 
I was surprised atthis lens, too and now prefer it over my Jupiter 9, which I had been in love with before I got the Canon 100/3.5 - so the Canon 100 either rides my Canon P or Leica M2, the J9 will stay with my Bessa R, which looks like they were made for each other.
 
Benny, get a Canon P. It looks better, has the same framelines and no broken/inaccurate meter to plague you. ;)
 
januaryman said:
I was surprised atthis lens, too and now prefer it over my Jupiter 9, which I had been in love with before I got the Canon 100/3.5 - so the Canon 100 either rides my Canon P or Leica M2, the J9 will stay with my Bessa R, which looks like they were made for each other.
Click to expand...

Jim,

Do you use an external viewfinder with the M2 or just frame it tighter? I have the old chrome type Canon 100mm finder and it's a bit too tiny to use. I've a brightline version in the mail and hopefull that'll be better.

Cheers,
 
gohaj said:
benny, i mentioned to you earlier over the phone about canon 7. you should get one to match your 100mm. canon 7 has 100mm frameline. see http://www.cameraquest.com/canon7sz.htm
Click to expand...

januaryman said:
Benny, get a Canon P. It looks better, has the same framelines and no broken/inaccurate meter to plague you. ;)
Click to expand...

Hacker said:
Benny, I have a Mint Canon 7 with the meter working. You can try it out if you want to.
Click to expand...

I'm considering a Canon RF film body for the fun of it and have not got down to which one be best for me yet. I quite like the classic look of the IVSB, but the 7 or P seems to appeal to me more. But at this point, it's not a priority. There's still a few lenses (e.g. 85/1.5, 25/3.5) that I would like to experiment with first and the body is just to compliment the package. With the 100mm finder as well as the built in framelines on my existing cameras, framing with most of the focal lengths is not really an issue.

However, does anyone knows if the 7 or the P has the rangefinder cam connected to the parallex correction in the black series viewfinder?

Cheers,
 
Hey, Benny--

I do have a turret finder, but I never use it. I should sell it. It's much easier to guesstimate the 100mm. I also find that I get more attention and more stares if I use that external finder, and that's something I definitely want to avoid when shooting in the streets. My goal is to blend in or become invisible!

So, long story short--- play with the camera using the existing framelines and the 100 lens - until you know what to expect. Often that little extra bit of scene you will surely capture will work to your advantage, making cropping the final photo easier. Better too much scene in your frame than too little, yes? I remember those days of snapshots of friends with missing heads... :rolleyes:

bennyng said:
Jim,

Do you use an external viewfinder with the M2 or just frame it tighter? I have the old chrome type Canon 100mm finder and it's a bit too tiny to use. I've a brightline version in the mail and hopefull that'll be better.

Cheers,
Click to expand...
 
Jim,

Took your advice and I have a Canon P now!!! Actually since a few weeks ago.

Looks like prices for the 100mm f/3.5 is really picking up now that folks knows what this little gem can do.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&item=270342132445

The last one went for above US$300 too. I wonder how much will this hazy one go for?

270345471048

Perhaps it will end up like the recent hazy 50mm f/1.5?

Cheers,
 
Benny,It is amazing that such a lens can fetch over $500.

I bought a beautiful 100/3.5 from KEH for a very low price, and then I had Eddy Smolov clean it up crystal clean. This is a very sharp and tiny tele lens. In many ways, it is perfect for just adding it to a small camera bag on top of a wide angle lens and a normal lens.

P1010552.jpg

TheCanons.jpg

TheCanons4.jpg


Take a look at how small the 100/3.5 looks compared to the 85/1.5 and 85/1.9.
 
Last edited:
Benny -- Congrats on the Canon P! I'm surprised, too, by the >$500 sale on the Canon 100/3.5, although that's the later version. I have the earlier chrome and black, and I think these still go for less. But I also think that more RF photogs are discovering just how good these Canon lenses are.

The little 100/3.5 can even handle sports photography in a pinch:

3286484687_d98d4e3505_o.jpg


Lance Armstrong at Saturday's Tour de California Prologue. M2, Canon 100/3.5, Tri-X, Rodinal 13 mins @ 20C.
 
raid said:
Benny,It is amazing that such a lens can fetch over $500.
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I think ever since Peter's book came out, prices for most Canon's RF gear seems to have shifted up a few notches.

Bingley said:
Benny -- Congrats on the Canon P! I'm surprised, too, by the >$500 sale on the Canon 100/3.5, although that's the later version. I have the earlier chrome and black, and I think these still go for less. But I also think that more RF photogs are discovering just how good these Canon lenses are.
Click to expand...

That's a great capture Steve!

I think with more folks sharing pictures from this lens, it's popularity and hence appreciation in value is inevitable. However, I will say that getting a good clean copy without a hazy middle element is quite a challenge.

Cheers,
 
Raid, benny -- Many thanks. The lens proved to be the perfect focal length to get close enough to riders during last Saturday's race. There are more photos over at my flickr.
 
I saw that shot on Flickr, Steve and really like it. Very well done.

BTW, does anybody know where the bike is ? :)

Cheers,

Roland.
 
GREAT shot Bingley and the Pan is spot on. The blur in the background just adds to the overall effect but the guy with the camera held away from his face gives it away as the digital era. I spent 20yrs covering Motocross and black track motor bike racing photography (Canon FD) and I find that digital action photography or the photos I have seen seem to be so stagnant as they lack movement. They seem to go for sharpness and total depth of field and I find it strange that a photo of bike in midair one can see all the spokes. It was a challenge to get a good action pick at 30sec hand held and pin sharp. Just my observation I suppose. Ah, there something about B&W photos

The 100mm f/3.5 has been one of my favorites for some time mainly because of it small size and ease to use. Great pics Benny and others as well and yes I think Canon lenses are getting there just reward after all these years. I have kept a database of final prices for sometime so will be interesting in how they go. Always regarded Canon RF gear as a "Sleeping Giant'.
Tour de France will be interesting this year!



 
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