Canon LTM Canon 50/1.2 or 50/1.4 - Kevin Cameras?

Canon M39 M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
I have never heard anyone speak more highly of the f/1.2 than of the f/1.4, if they have tried both
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I repeat: wipe the haze off the inner elements! :D

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peter_n said:
A lot of his eBay stuff is BINned, but some have the "Make an offer" button. Probably depending on how long the item has remained unsold, he will accept discounted offers. I've only bought once from him and it was a very good lens.
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He`s notorious for "upping" the price on items people make offers on.....he did this to me once or twice, even as I made a decent offer, the next day the lens was $200 more expensive and I`ve noticed that with other items also happening in his BIN group.
(he`s had some Leica gear now for over 4 years unsold - I don`t think it hurts him not to sell anything)

As I said he should be a "last resort" for finding gear unless it`s really really rare stuff and then be prepared to pay 3 to 4 times what the items really worth.

Tom
 
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kevin m said:
I repeat: wipe the haze off the inner elements! :D
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Dear Kevin,

Ir was professionally cleaned by Optical Instruments (Balham), the best in the business (Ministry of Defence contractors), and is now sparkling throughout. It's lot better than it was, but I'd still rather have a Noctilux if I could afford one.

Cheers,

R.
 
Roger Hicks said:
Dear Kevin,

Ir was professionally cleaned by Optical Instruments (Balham), the best in the business (Ministry of Defence contractors), and is now sparkling throughout. It's lot better than it was, but I'd still rather have a Noctilux if I could afford one.

Cheers,

R.
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I presume you are referring to the older one, not the ASPH one.
 
Thanks again for all suggestions ... Well, Jiri Ecer has finally found an optically nice 50/1.2 for me. It needs adjustment of the RF cam and I have ordered it.

Any recommendations on who would be best to do this work? Also needs cleaning some oil off the diaphragm blades.
 
Pictures are better than a bunch of lies, I find. I think the prices at Kevin's are a bit high, but when I bought a Canon 28/3.5 from him, I found it to be the cleanest, smoothest lens I have and probably worth every penny I paid. Not that I didn't wince when I finally pulled the trigger. A suggestion: try looking for him on ebay where he frequently lists the same lenses with BIN and Best Offer. I made two low best offers before the the more rationale third offer was accepted. Again, a nearly perfect lens, and circa 1955!

If jiri_e had one, I'd have bought from him on ebay.

If KEH had one listed as "bargain" I'd also have jumped at it.

Fast lenses are always popular, but don't turn your nose up at Canon's 50/1.8, as it is one of my favorites. Sharp, nice contrast, works fine nearly everywhere. Unless you frequent jazz clubs or old candle lit beatnik joints, you can use a 1.8 and never want for speed. YMMV

[update] Hmmm... I need to pay attention to the dates of these things! I answered a question asked last year and then forgot I'd already answered before! So seems I was a bit too late. jiri_e is a great source.

As for jiri_e's stuff, to all readers, DO NOT think you will need to have his lens worked on. I find his descriptions are very critical and every lens I ever got from him worked perfectly, despite his warnings.

That said,
JohnL said:
I am thinking of getting a Canon 50/1.2 (or maybe 1.4) and there seem to be many on the Kevin Cameras website, although I find it rather long on pictures and rather short on explanations.

Does anyone have any experience dealing with this firm?

They seem to be on the pricey side, but that would depend on how strictly they grade. Can anyone provide info on this?

Anywhere else I ought to be looking?

I have considered non-Canon, but most I have seen in this speed range are even more expensive. If CV were making 50/1.2s new at a reasonable price, I'd get one in a flash. I have a Canon 50/0.95 but I find it a bit on the big side for general use.
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My only experience w/ him is that when I asked about a lens he was selling he wouldn't answer my question. He was borderline rude and said that the pictures explained it all, only they didn't. At that point I decided that between his *&*^$ attitude and his astronomical prices it would be a cold day in Oakland before I bought anything from him.
 
Whoops. I also just realized that this question was posed many months ago! There needs to be a better way of sorting the posts in the order that they were asked.

Sorry, I was referring to GoKevin.
 
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I live in the UK and often buy from Kevin.All my purchases have been really excellent and worth the money because if Kevin says it is mint, it is MINT.
If you want quality you have to pay for it, this applies to anything you buy.If you want to take a risk then try Ebay but you might get your fingers burnt.
There is nobody in the UK or Europe that can touch Kevin for the quality of his secondhand stock.I would recommend him completely, he is an honest and very knowledgable dealer and even purchasing from half way around the world I have complete confidence in my purchases from him.
Kevin, your a top class dealer and your items are worth every penny.
Long may you remain in business.
 
Well, I finally got what looks to be a rather nice Canon 50/1.2 from Jiri Ecer. It does need a CLA (he told me very clearly) but should be great when that's done. I would now like to tap the wisdom of the forum for a suggestion as to who would be best to do this. Someone in the USA who could turn it around within 2-3 weeks would be best.
Thanks to all for their inputs so far ...
 
My experience with routine CLA (aperture, focus, light haze) is that Don Goldberg of DAG Camera, and Essex Camera Service in NJ, are both quite good with turnaround times in your range.

If you need refinishing of glass surfaces due to fungus or other coating damage, Jon Van Stelten at FocalPoint is good, but that's a pricier sort of repair.

Sherry Krauter at Golden Touch and several others have good reputations, but I don't have personal experience with them.

::Ari
 
Actually ANOTHER Great Seller
besides Kevin :)
is : Igors Camera Exchange
when Igor says Mint its MINT and He is Quite Fab to Deal with!!!

BTW if I had to make a Choice I would go for the Canon 1.2

Cheers to All- Helen
 
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Anyone know where i could find a user 50/1.2? As long as it's working, I don't mind cosmetic flaws. Optics great (even if I would need to have it CLA'd, as long as it's repairable)... shots from this lens has prompted me to get one. much more appealing to me than the 50/0.95. I'm not rich, a humble writer actually, so any used copy, as long as it is working perfectly is great! :)
 
Thinkfloyd: You could email Jiri_e from ebay and ask if he has one in stock. If he doesnt, I am sure he will email you if he finds one.

As a heads up to others, I just purchased a 50/1.4 from KEH in BGN condition for $175, which seems like a decent deal. Might want to keep your eyes open there.
 
lol, funny how people like kevins. His stuff is overpriced (well, not like you-know-whom of course). The description is no where near "precise". He does have a lot of rare equipment for sale and they have been there for a while.
I assume people are referrring to the Kevin's based in LA.
 
I've bought from both Jiri and Kevin and have had uniformly positive experiences with both. Jiri's descriptions are far more critical than the the product deserves. I purchased a Canon 50 1.4 from him which he described as have faint cleaning marks. When the lens arrived I was unable to identify said marks. I have bought Rollei, Canon and Leica kit from Kevin, and yes he is pricey, but like others have said, his inventory tends to be best of the best. If you are not desperate and selective you can get some excellent product from Kevin.
 
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