bennyng
Benny Ng
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,
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,
Last edited:
raid
Dad Photographer
This is quite interesting. Both lenses seem to be great. The photos look very nice. Congratulations on the "new" 100/3.5. I got lucky and my 100/3.5 with milky layer inside it was cleaned and it is now clear.
payasam
a.k.a. Mukul Dube
The two lenses seem to give equally good images.
Erik L
Well-known
my 100 3.5 is also amazingly sharp wide open. they are a bargain when you get a good one.
bennyng
Benny Ng
Raid, congrats on cleaning out the lens successfully. I wasn't so lucky so I was out of pocket for cleaning and two way postage. You win some, you lose some.
Anyway, another two images at f/3.5 and f/8.0..
Shot at f/3.5 with Epson R-D1s.
Shot at f/8.0 with Epson R-D1s.
Again images are unadjusted and unsharpened. Straight JPEG out of the camera.
Can't wait for the weekend to go out with this little fella!
Cheers,
Anyway, another two images at f/3.5 and f/8.0..
Shot at f/3.5 with Epson R-D1s.
Shot at f/8.0 with Epson R-D1s.
Again images are unadjusted and unsharpened. Straight JPEG out of the camera.
Can't wait for the weekend to go out with this little fella!
Cheers,
raid
Dad Photographer
Your Rollei lens looks A W E S O M E [and some more!]
Have fun this weekend. I will use my Tenax II.
Have fun this weekend. I will use my Tenax II.
bennyng
Benny Ng
More from this little wonder...
Taken last week....
Handheld exposure at 1/500 sec, f/8.0, ISO 200 on Epson R-D1s.
Handheld exposure at 1/2000 sec, f/3.5, ISO 200 on Epson R-D1s.
Exposed on Tripod at 3 sec, f/22, ISO 200 on Epson R-D1s.
And here's a picture of the lens with hood and finder.
Cheers,
Taken last week....
Handheld exposure at 1/500 sec, f/8.0, ISO 200 on Epson R-D1s.
Handheld exposure at 1/2000 sec, f/3.5, ISO 200 on Epson R-D1s.
Exposed on Tripod at 3 sec, f/22, ISO 200 on Epson R-D1s.
And here's a picture of the lens with hood and finder.
Cheers,
bennyng
Benny Ng
besk
Well-known
THose photos are inspiring!
I've had one of those lenses for over a year without using it. Now that you have shown what it can do I need to take it out and get acquainted with it.
I've had one of those lenses for over a year without using it. Now that you have shown what it can do I need to take it out and get acquainted with it.
Bingley
Veteran
Those are great shots! It's a wonderful little lens, sharp but w/ nice bokeh, too:
raid
Dad Photographer
These are great looking images. The photographers and the lens are doing their jobs well.
kermaier
Well-known
What do you use for a viewfinder on the R-D1s with a 100mm lens?
harry01562
Registered semi-lurker
Beautiful shots that explore the potential of the lens pretty thoroughly. It is a great little lens, and still a bargain at todays prices. Hard to find something so compact and versatile that can compare.
Fortunately for us, Canon sold pretty substantial quantities of many of their lenses, and they don't command a large audience. I own over 2 dozen RF, as well as versions for all 3 of the SLR types. Most will compare very well with the competition, and almost none are overpriced.
Remember to downplay them when talking to certain users... it helps to keep the prices in our favor!!
Harry
Fortunately for us, Canon sold pretty substantial quantities of many of their lenses, and they don't command a large audience. I own over 2 dozen RF, as well as versions for all 3 of the SLR types. Most will compare very well with the competition, and almost none are overpriced.
Remember to downplay them when talking to certain users... it helps to keep the prices in our favor!!
Harry
bennyng
Benny Ng
I'm sure you'll be pleasantly surprised with it as I was. The small form factor of this lens makes it a great companion on a sunny day. Obviously in low light, the performance is discounted slightly by the lack of details in the shadow areas.
Cheers,
bennyng
Benny Ng
Thanks Steve! I would say the bokeh is really not too bad for the speed and the price of this little fella.
Do share more images with us if you can. I'm particularly interested to see photos in low light situation to compare with the ones that I have. From the short time I own this lens, I do find that it handles strong and direct light source pretty well. Minimal flaring so far, even wide open. I was originally under the impression that it flares badly and the hood is quite necessary.
Cheers,
bennyng
Benny Ng
Thanks Harry. I think this lens will always be sidelined by big brand names and other collectibles from the same period. I have seen them going for the equivlent of US$15, albeit the condition of the optics are not described. Somehow, the odd focal length and the somewhat slow aperture of f/3.5 negates the positives of its performance. That should keep the price in our favor for quite some time to come.
Thanks raid for the compliments. My casual snapshots are nothing compared to the extensive lens comparisons that you do from time to time. I do find that very helpful.
Cheers,
bennyng
Benny Ng
I use the 50mm viewfinder and make a mental note of the point about 50% between the patch and the frameline. Seems to work well for me so far.
If I have to use an external viewfinder, I think the closest will be the 135mm and frame it slightly tighter.
Cheers,
januaryman
"Flim? You want flim?"
The Canon 100/3.5 was one of the nicest surprises for me in nearly all my lens buys. Small, light (comparitively) and amazingly sharp. I use it now in place of my very nice Jupiter 9, an 85 I used to use for a bit of reach, but the 100 edges it out. As others have said before, the bokeh is all one could wish for, the sharpness and contrast has all the positive aspects of the modern day CVs without overdoing the contrast, and all the creamy oofa that are representative of the classic lenses like the early Canons or the 1950 FSUs like the J9. It may get me to use a long lens more. VERY nice on the Canon P, good but odd-looking on the Bessa R.
Bingley
Veteran
Benny, Raid -- Thanks. Benny -- I haven't shot my 100 in a low light situation yet, but I agree that it handles strong light contrast situations well:
raid
Dad Photographer
It is challenging to use one 100mm lens and leave other lenses behind. I may just do that next weekend. Have a "100mm Day" with a RF camera.