Canon 50/1.5: Poor Man's Zeiss C Sonnar?

[David Noble]

I briefly owned the new Zeiss C Sonnar 50/1.5 and ended up returning it for the infamous focus shift issue, which was bad in the two copies I tried with the R-D1s. I loved the character of the lens, though—the bokeh, the subtle way the focused areas graded off into OOF, the color rendering, the three dimensionality....

I saw a Canon 50/1.5 in LTM mount today in quite good condition for a price less then half of what a new Zeiss would go for.

My question: how much of the qualities I see in the the Zeiss is down to it being a modern lens and how much to the Sonnar design?

Would I see similar qualities in the Canon? Or should I bite the bullet and give the Zeiss another try?

Anyone with experience with both lenses?

I am not looking for optical perfection, but that elusive "character" issue. But I do like to be able to focus my lenses....

 

[ferider]

I use both. The C-Sonnar has more contrast at f1.5, appears sharper.
The Canon has a tiny little bit of "donuts" in the OOF, wide open. Otherwise
they are rather similar, character-wise. The Canon is way smaller and
quite a heavy little brass and chrome lens.

If you can get the Canon, get it. It's quite a rare and looked-for lens these days.
Try to get it with filters - 40mm is pretty rare.

They both shift. It's just more apparent with the modern version due
to improved contrast.

Roland.

 

[David Noble]

Roland, thanks for the quick and informative reponse. I think I probably will get the Canon; I have had my eye out for one for awhile. You see the 1.4s and 1.8s much more often.

No filters, unfortunately, but a nice hood that looks like it might be original...

I really did like that Zeiss, though...

 

[ferider]

Here are two Canon shots, David, the first wide open, the 2nd at f2.
Judge by yourself.

(the grid in the OOF highlights is due to a mosquito net in the window
behind my wife 🙂 )

These Sonnars are addictive ... there is also the Nikkor 50/1.4 🙂
And don't get me started on 85-90mm 🙂

Cheers,

Roland.

 

[David Noble]

Thanks again! Both beautiful shots (like the second especially—smooth!) and both definitely have that Sonnar look I am after.

I also like the way the point light sources are handled.

Looks like a lens with some real flavor—but you've also done a really nice job of bringing it out in both cases.

I'll probably be looking up my Ginza pusher-man again tomorrow....

 

[LeicaTom]

AHHH there`s Roland! 🙂 Good Morning!

Well, I`ll have to drop some of my newer photos in here too, here was one of the first TEST ones I did with my Canon f1.5 50mm - I LOVE THIS LENS! (*have to get mine CLA`d soon*)
(I would`nt really call it a Poor Man`s lens, becasue the demand out weights the supply, even in JAPAN they have become pretty rare, I need another one myself for a Leica Body and they can be pretty pricey)

Enjoy!

Tom

 

[matt fury]

I just picked one up (attached to a Canon IIIa that I'll need to part with). I've been playing with it on my R-D1 and loving it...makes me wish I didn't have to sell my M4, because I'm only imagining what fun I could have with this and some Tri-X @ 3200....

 

[ferider]

Hey Tom, good morning, still waiting for some barely dressed,
Nikkor 50/2 pin-ups ! 🙂

Thanks for the comments on the photos, Dave.

BTW, depending on which hood you get, if it's original, it's quite valuable
by itself (> 100 US on ebay). I have never seen it, but it might take series
filters instead of 40mm. I use an adapted Leitz hood on mine.

Best,

Roland.

 

[dexdog]

BTW, depending on which hood you get, if it's original, it's quite valuable by itself (> 100 US on ebay). I have never seen it, but it might take series filters instead of 40mm. I use an adapted Leitz hood on mine.

Best,

Roland.

Roland, I have two original hoods for the Canon 50/1.5. One is satin chrome and the other is black. Both are 40mm screw-on types. I am not saying that Canon did not make any hoods for the 50/1.5 that accepted series filters, but I have not seen one. Peter K would be the guy to ask- he would certainly know.

Mark

 

[ferider]

Thanks Mark ! I have only seen pictures of 7551294925 before, from our
friend in LA ...

Best,

Roland.

 

[dexdog]

Roland, that particular hood looks like it accepts series filters. I have a couple of Canon hoods that look like this, just not one marked for the 50/1.5.

Thanks for the link. This is too much to pay for a lens hood, IMO.

 

[LeicaTom]

Yes, Roland....if I don`t get someone over here real soon, it`s burning me up......
I don`t know what`s up with the Florida models lately, I think the heats warped their brains 😛 nobody`s working now at the moment

Here`s my Canon again on the "Half Race" Leica and that hoods got that 42mm adapter on it so you can drop 42`s into it etc.
(but I aready have a "flattie" 40mm filter on the lens here....I love those filters but they are hard as hell to find) - If anyone has any laying around let me know, skylight-uv-green-yellow-blue I`ll take them off your hands for a decent offer

Tom

 

[LeicaTom]

I just picked one up (attached to a Canon IIIa that I'll need to part with). I've been playing with it on my R-D1 and loving it...makes me wish I didn't have to sell my M4, because I'm only imagining what fun I could have with this and some Tri-X @ 3200....

Was this the IIIA/F1.5 combo that was on Evilbay? If it was you got a great deal.....too bad it was`nt a IIF2 or else I`d take that off your hands 🙂

Tom

 

[matt fury]

Was this the IIIA/F1.5 combo that was on Evilbay? If it was you got a great deal.....too bad it was`nt a IIF2 or else I`d take that off your hands 🙂

Tom

OK, you caught me lol. I bid on all the fast Canon combos she had up, but it took until the last one for me to luck out. After doing more research, I think I should be very happy that I ended up with the f1.5 and not one of the f1.2s. I'm plenty happy with the deal, but holding this IIIa is making me see what all the fuss is about LTM bodies....and that just can't end well. 😱

 

[LeicaTom]

OK, you caught me lol. I bid on all the fast Canon combos she had up, but it took until the last one for me to luck out. After doing more research, I think I should be very happy that I ended up with the f1.5 and not one of the f1.2s. I'm plenty happy with the deal, but holding this IIIa is making me see what all the fuss is about LTM bodies....and that just can't end well. 😱

Heheheheheheheee, you got a GREAT DEAL!!!! Yes, she had Canon`s up there we all won`t see for a long time, someone got lucky with that VL too

But the IIIa I know personally two other people other than myself who were after that one, that camera`s interesting too because it was an in-between model didn`t it have the newer Canon logo? but the soild film advance knob......etc.

Canon "Knob Top" LTM bodies are confusing with their different little things that place each model, but the build quality`s just amazing I think, I`ve still to shoot with my IIF2 I`m sure the outcome will be really good using the f1.5 50mm 🙂

Tom

PS: I think that Roland and I are watching the direction of all the Canon f1.5`s online 🙂 hahahahahaha.....I do want one more to put fulltime on one of my Leica bodies 😉

 

[matt fury]

I see so few Canon LTM bodies that I couldn't tell if any were particularly rare. I guess it didn't matter much as ultimately it's the glass I was after, but I had I known I might've changed the way I handled things a bit.

You're pretty much right on..it's got the newer top script, but one piece advance knob & one piece magnifier lever (or so I think).

I'm definitely impressed with the build quality. Granted, I'm not the most familiar with Leica LTM bodies, but if this one said Leica on the top instead of Canon I wouldn't be too surprised. It's probably a good thing that the VF doesn't get along too well with my glasses, as it's likely I wouldn't be able to part with it!

 

[harry01562]

The Canon bodies can be addictive. I own 10 examples, from the SII through the IV-Sb2, and they are marvelous examples of how Canon maintained a standard of quality, and still advanced the design with their own innovations.

The VF is squinty, but that's true of most of the Barnack-style bodies. I use an eyeglass protector from Aki on mine, and it's easy to make up a home-made version using anything from a washer to an O-ring. They are soo small, especially with either the collapsible 3.5 or the 1.9, and make a great little jacket pocket companion.

Harry

 

[Joerg]

BTW, depending on which hood you get, if it's original, it's quite valuable
by itself (> 100 US on ebay). I have never seen it, but it might take series
filters instead of 40mm.
Best,

Roland.

Roland,

indeed the original hood takes series filters.

😀

Ciao

Joerg

 

[David Noble]

Well folks, thanks to everyone for their input. I am now the proud owner of a Canon 50/1.5 I picked up on the way home from work.

I think I lucked out. The lens seem sin great condition, aside from a few hairline scratches that won't affect the image quality. Mechanically seems very good. Optically? I haven't had enough time to put it throug its paces but I like what I see so far. It really is a Sonnar! I think so far it does seem very similar in character to the new Zeiss, with the caveats Roland made.

It also came with an original silver hood, f & r caps, and even a filter—though the filter has gone completely yellow with age! 😱 Also a nice little leather case for the hood & filter.

Don't make any claims for artistic excellnce, but am including a few first snaps that do say something about the look of the lens. It does seem to focus pretty well, and when it is sharp, it is sharper than I thought it would be. The OOF areas are great.

Really looking forward to working (or playing) with this some more.

Doe anyone know how to date it? I reckon it is about the same age I am.
The serial number is 16xxx. Mine is 19550828.

 

[David Noble]

Here' a couple in b/w just for laughs. I like the center sharpness on the first and the bokeh on the second.