Canon LTM 35mm f/1.8 - Does flaring go away when lens is stopped down?

Canon M39 M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
sleepyhead

sleepyhead

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Hello, the Canon 35mm f/1.8 lens is known to flare quite easily and to show a certain "glow" around bright areas (for example, bright light through window shining into a dimly-lit room).

To those of you who have used this lens: is this propensity to flare reduced as the lens is stopped down (say to f/2.8 or f/4)?

I owned one of these briefly, and loved it's rendition EXCEPT for the flaring - now I miss it and am thinking of finding another one.

A SECOND QUESTION: is the Canon 35mm f/2.8 quite flare-resistant?

THANKS for your help
 
Dammit, I was hoping for some replies to this thread as I am considering possibly buying a Canon 35mm, and was verging towards the f1.8. Come one guys, get posting your opinions, please!
 
sleepyhead said:
Hello, the Canon 35mm f/1.8 lens is known to flare quite easily and to show a certain "glow" around bright areas (for example, bright light through window shining into a dimly-lit room).

To those of you who have used this lens: is this propensity to flare reduced as the lens is stopped down (say to f/2.8 or f/4)?

I owned one of these briefly, and loved it's rendition EXCEPT for the flaring - now I miss it and am thinking of finding another one.

A SECOND QUESTION: is the Canon 35mm f/2.8 quite flare-resistant?

THANKS for your help
Click to expand...

The backlight flare is reduced when stopped-down but it's still visible. The Canon 35/2 is better here (but also not free of flare). As for the 35/2.8: this is far WORSE with backlite flare than the 35/1.8!

cheers,
 
Frank - thanks for the information.

I'M UPSET TO HEAR ABOUT THE 35mm f/2.8 - I had high hopes for a small inexpensive Canon 35mm.

But if it flares even worse than the f/1.8, then it's off the list.
 
The 35/1.8 Canon I once owned didn't show flare to an unacceptable level. It seemed typical of Japanese lenses from the late fifties. There was, of course, more flare than the CV 35/2.5 I owned at the same time.
 
Has no one ever heard of a lens hood? Fare should not become the ultimate deal breaker when there are ways to work around this. IMO
 
januaryman said:
Has no one ever heard of a lens hood? Fare should not become the ultimate deal breaker when there are ways to work around this. IMO
Click to expand...

Hi, I'm talking about situations in which the bright light is pretty much shining into the lens, or just outside the frame - a shade won't help much in this situation.

These were the conditions in which I thought the 35mm f/1.8 Canon was too flary for my taste.

I'm now looking at the 35mm CV f/2.5 skopar, but I'm put off by its reputed high contrast - I liked the low-contrast old-timey sound of the Canon 35mm f/2.8

I guess one can't have it all....
 
You're right-you can't have low contrast and low flare. It's the flare that adds to the low contrast look. The VC lens, having more modern coatings, will give less flare and a more contrasty look.
 
Here`s my Canon 7s with a 35mm f1.8 and the 40mm adapter ring and half hood

Canon7s19.jpeg


So much I`ve heard there`s NO original lens hood for the f1.8 - the f1.8 was a crossover lens only made for like 3 or 4 years 1956 to 1960 I think, mainly used on the Canon V series of cameras

(I still have`nt shot this lens yet on my 7s, yet but when I do I`ll post some photos)

But this lens WAS tested on a friend`s RD-1 without the ring setup and there was NO flaring whatsoever

Canon35mmf1.8RD1.jpeg


Special THX to Leo for this photo shot with his cat *wide open* in a very dimly lit room - notice great detail in the center of the photo and bokeh

Tom
 
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Tom,
Your 7s looks good!
The weather is now warm enough for a mornings shoot in Pensacola, except for a few isolated "crazy weather days" here and there.
 
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I shoot with a 35/1.8 and I've noticed a certain propensity to flare but nothing that could hinder my modest goals. As a matter of fact I prefer to use the Color Skopar, or the Summicron, or the Summaron, or the jupiter 12...
 
I am sticking with the Canon 35mm/1.8 as my most used 35mm lens even though I also own a Canon 35/2.8, a Summicron , and a Summaron. I also have a J-12.
 
Raid, can you please relate your experience with the Cano 35mm f/2.8?

Sonnar2 wasn't too impressed with its flaring.

Thanks
 
sleepyhead said:
Raid, can you please relate your experience with the Cano 35mm f/2.8?

Sonnar2 wasn't too impressed with its flaring.

Thanks
Click to expand...

I have had no flaring with my 35mm/2.8. In fact, I don't use a lens hood with this particular lens because of the recessed front element.
 
Thanks Raid. I assume those were with the f1.8 rather than f2.8. You know, for me at least, given the lighting in those shots the flare is more than acceptable.
Hmmm...
 
An example of flare with canon 35-1.8. Film is vista 400 in hc-110.
 

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