1.5/35mm Canon

[Sonnar2]

Yesterday I was beaten on the auction side regarding a swedish 1.5/35 at 527 USD. This one wasn't mint and series II, even if I prefer ser. I. But they don't occur as often as they did some years ago. Dunno if this is a great 35mm. As usual they who have it say the lens is good, others dispute it, and after all the lens was designed 1958, among the first Canon high speed lenses and the first Canadian Summilux 1.4/35 also wasn't the sharpest wide open. I still have the 2/35 and 2.8/35 from Canon and a soft spot for high-speed glass but not for 750 USD or something like that!

If you have any idea please let me know.

Cheers Frank

 

[Stephanie Brim]

The f/1.8 is supposed to be better. If it was me (and I wasn't saving for the Ultron instead) I'd purchase the f/1.8. Joe had it at one time, IIRC. I seem to remember him going on about it once... 😉

 

[Sonnar2]

I've got divorced from my C/V 1.7/35 in favor of a pancake 2.5/35mm. But for some reasons I really like my Canon stuff more.

 

[Stephanie Brim]

Do you still have the 35/1.7? Cause I'll be looking for one in the hopefully not-so-distant future... 😉

I've only *heard* of the 35/1.5...never seen shots with it that I can remember. I imagine that it's a good lens. I think, though, that if I was going to go for something that fast, I'd be more comfortable buying something more modern such as a CV 35/1.2. The Canon 1.5 isn't going to be as big as that thing is...but it's not going to be small either. 😉

 

[Sonnar2]

I sold the C/V 1.7/35 for 240 EUR to Spain. It performs quite nicely at f/1.7, the problem is there is no big improvement at f/5.6 or 8. In comparison the Canon 2/35mm is just acceptable at f/2 but a great performer at f/8. What I've heard, the 1.5/35mm is pushed for speed, and bookeh isn't best, but it improves also with smaller stops. It has a big filter (48mm) but it's (as a Gaussian) quite short (29mm compared to 48mm of the Ultron, 78mm Nokton). Personally I prefer short 35mm's because I like them as "standard" lenses and my preferred camera bags are quite tight and compact.