Canon LTM Canon 35/1.5: A Tribute

Canon M39 M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
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trittium

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I was paroozing ebay when I came across a listing for this lens. I currently have one, but the seller said there were only 48 made (which I find hard to believe). I googled the lens trying to find where this seller took this information from. In my search I found many forums saying that is this more a collectors lens than a quality optic for shooting. I strongly disagree with the opinion of masses. I wanted to give a tribute to my favorite 35mm that has captured so many fond memories

Even on the first test roll I knew this lens was special. After shooting and developing the following photo, I realized after that I should have helped this blind man cross the road instead of just take his photo. It enspired change.

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It brings back memories of a wonderful summer Night in NYC

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It has brought me laughter......

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and it has brought me pain

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And you helped me to show people for who they really are....

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And helped me to realize myself

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Thank you canon 35/1.5. You are more then a collectable. You are a piece of my history

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Beautiful shots and its easy to see why you like this lens so much.

I suspect others might copy your idea to post similar threads on their favorite lens.

Very well done!
 
This is a beautiful presentation. Well done.
Now the price of the Canon 35mm/1.5 will increase even more.
 
those are lovely photos .
that lens gives a very unique look, esp. at f1.5 .
it would be a great shame if the Canon 35/1.5 is just collected and not used.
 
Production figures

Production figures

First, your small portfolio is certainly a tribute to the lens, and to you as a photographer. Some very nice shots, certainly showing off a very good optic.

Now, as to production... Randol Hooper in his series of articles in Viewfinder lists the production of the lens at 5389, first marketed Aug. 1958 and discontinued Dec. 1970. These sound much more appropriate for the lens.

I've never used the 1.5, and enjoy using my 35/2. It would be sad to see what appears to be yet another underappreciated Canon lens be a collectible shelfsitter. Hopefully, you've stimulated a few shooter to go out and find one of these to put to good use.

Harry
 
I have one of these Canon 35mm f/1.5 lenses on my Canon 7. I haven't had much luck with it but then again, I don't know much about photography. I haven't gotten a picture back that looked anywhere close to as sharp as the first picture posted by trittium.

First picture is at f/1.5, 1 second, 400 film.
 

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Chad said:
I have one of these Canon 35mm f/1.5 lenses on my Canon 7. I haven't had much luck with it but then again, I don't know much about photography. I haven't gotten a picture back that looked anywhere close to as sharp as the first picture posted by trittium.

First picture is at f/1.5, 1 second, 400 film.
Click to expand...

Sharpness also depends on the film and developer you use. That was shot on ilford panf and developed in d-76. The night shot in NYC was shot on ilford hp5 and developed in diafine (iso 800). If you are looking for sharper images try using rodinal. I purchased some, but have not used it. This developer is know to increase the sharpness of slow speed films (<200iso)
 
I had it on my wishlist for 3 years, and finally bought it at Westlicht auctions last week... it's the nicest Canon 35mm lens, what do you think?

What I like most on it is the compact, short size. Yes I once owned the Voigtlander 1.7/35 (always hated the handling). I've loaded my P with color film and doing some shots currently. Probably it will show flare with backlite, as with any Gaussian type wideangle with f/2 or faster. The W-50 hood was already waiting in my cabinet, but probably not big enough for the big glass. Besides, even not a Gaussian design, the 1.7/35 is flaring badly. And what I've heard, the old Summilux 1.4/35 flares as well...

canon1.5-35mm07_800.jpg
 
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I don't know what these "R..." classifications of Peter K. exactly mean, but I have some production figures on hand by Randol Hooper, "The other 35". Some CANON RF lenses ( I cite these who sounds reasonable to me)

50/0.95: 17,439
100/3.5 (black series): 16,498
50/1.5 (all versions): 13,020
28/2.8: 5,839
35/1.5: 5,389
25/3.5: 5,371
100/2: 3,980
85/1.8: 1,852
85/1.5 (Ser. II): 1,199
19/3.5: 980

Giving the fact that the 35/1.5 is a screwmount lens, was the fastest wideangle lens of the world in the late 1950's and came from a company coming close to Leica RF sales figures one cannot expect the 35/1.5 beeing particulary rare, which it wasn't.
 
Sonnar2 said:
I want to crosslink for Raid's beautiful portaits, shot with the Canon 1.5/35 wide open. Regardless it's speed, due to short length it could be a "everyday 35mm" for me...

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38002&page=12
Click to expand...


Thanks!

Now I am becoming sentimental; I had to send back this lens to its owner. It felt like sending back a "friend". I have had the fortune to be allowed to try out quite a few fine lenses, but there a few lenses that I would start budgeting for. This is one of those lenses. Its size is very manageable, unlike the Canon 50/0.95 which impressed or the Nikkor 50mm/1.1 which is awesome too.

Raid
 
Like many 'collectable' lenses, they actually are still wonderful to make photographs with. It may not be 'as good' as one of the modern lenses, but as you have shown it has more to do with the photographer.
 
I understand it, Raid. I looked 3 years for the lens. Even with strong EUR, the "2nd invoice" from the customs becoming more and more expensive... strange enough, I bought it from this auction house in Vienna (Never thought I would do such sort of things; now I becoming a collector...). Even including the premium it was cheaper than current prices in US ebay.
These are three of my first shots with the 1.5/35, I think @f/2.8 with my Canon P and Fuji200. I had the W50 hood on but there were sun-spots shining through the twigs which probably caused the reflections. I like them too...
Later this evening at BBQ dinner I shot wide open but this was just too dark (no candle lightning). Pictures becoming unsharp except the center, this don't look good with 3 people in the scene, and significant light falloff to the corners. Probably you need a strong center motive when using it wide open. But I can imagine the old Summilux 35/1.4 isn't simple lens to learn using it wide open either...

I think I will use this lens much more at f/2-2.8 range than my Canon 2/35 (which I use mainly at f/8), and keep the extra-stop when there is really a need for it...
 

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Sonnar2 said:
I understand it, Raid. I looked 3 years for the lens. Even with strong EUR, the "2nd invoice" from the customs becoming more and more expensive... strange enough, I bought it from this auction house in Vienna (Never thought I would do such sort of things; now I becoming a collector...). Even including the premium it was cheaper than current prices in US ebay.
These are three of my first shots with the 1.5/35, I think @f/2.8 with my Canon P and Fuji200. I had the W50 hood on but there were sun-spots shining through the twigs which probably caused the reflections. I like them too...
Later this evening at BBQ dinner I shot wide open but this was just too dark (no candle lightning). Pictures becoming unsharp except the center, this don't look good with 3 people in the scene, and significant light falloff to the corners. Probably you need a strong center motive when using it wide open. But I can imagine the old Summilux 35/1.4 isn't simple lens to learn using it wide open either...

I think I will use this lens much more at f/2-2.8 range than my Canon 2/35 (which I use mainly at f/8), and keep the extra-stop when there is really a need for it...
Click to expand...

These are lovely photos. The OOF points look very interesting too.
I started using the war time Zeiss 50/2 for a vintage look, and I will next use a few FSU lenses to see if I can detect any optical diferences between them and lenses like the Summicron.
As for the Canon 35/1.5, I hope that I one day mnanage to find a very clean one.

Raid
 
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Just for trivia, I managed to buy another "Canon 35/1.5 Linse" from German ebay, out of Wetzlar (did they sell bad Canon stuff in Leicatown those days?). This was a very strange auction, strange description, and because the price jumped in the very few last seconds from 54 EUR to 224. I bought my first at WestLicht for 400 EUR incl. all costs.

IMHO, the 35/1.5 is currently highly underrated. There is no better Canon 35 at f/2.8 in terms of sharpness, color tonality and OOF behavior.
 
It's hard to argue with pictures like those. Some great shots there. The second one, the NYC summer night, has fantastic atmosphere.
 
I had a minty one of these for about about a month, and did not like the results - swapped it for a 35mm f2 summicron (4th). I like the 'cron much more. Subsequently, I have landed a 35mm f1.8 canon in ltm and actually prefer the results from that to the 1.5.

I guess if I could find another at the right price, I would buy so that I had the extra speed in the bag when I need it.
 
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