Canon 50/2 Collapsible

I can't say anything about the 50/2 collapsible, but I do have the Serenar 50/1.9 collapsible. It's somewhat like the Summitar, but it seems to be softer, but not in a bad way. I have the impression too that it can resolve better at full aperture than the Summitar.

Here are some examples:

167274_478097564233_632264233_5866161_5419936_n.jpg

The exposure was at 1/4 sec with a Canon IIb handheld; so the blurring is due mostly to camera shake.

36248_478097319233_632264233_5866153_1888655_n.jpg

Same Canon IIb, but at 1/20 sec.
 
Well, both the f/2 and f/1.9 are 6 elements/4 groups designs, and the f/2 was introduced in 1947 vs. 1949 for the f/1.9 -- so maybe the f/1.9 is just a slightly faster update of the f/2? Seems odd though....
 
I promised myself I wouldn't buy any more 50mm lenses, but it turns out I'm an incorrigible liar! :bang: I just bought a Nikkor 50/3.5 rigid a few weeks ago, and now I have a Canon 50/2 collapsible on its way to me. 😀 I'll let you know how it turns out....
 
ItsReallyDarren said:
How about a lens test between obscure and hidden treasure lenses?
Click to expand...

Your signature is right on target: The likelihood that my unscientific comparison testing would reveal substantive practical differences between several 60-year-old medium-speed 50mm lenses of similar optical design is quite small -- even assuming my samples are representative of those lenses in their peak condition. 🙂

Ari
 
ItsReallyDarren said:
How about a lens test between obscure and hidden treasure lenses?
Click to expand...

Simlar 5cm F1.5: not the sharpest lens around, not as nice as the Canon 50/1.5, Nikkor 5cm F1.4, or Summarit. But "uncommon". "Good collectible".

Now: the 1950s Voigtlander Nokton 50mm F1.5 for the Prominent: everything you heard about it is true.
 
Brian Sweeney said:
Simlar 5cm F1.5: not the sharpest lens around, not as nice as the Canon 50/1.5, Nikkor 5cm F1.4, or Summarit. But "uncommon". "Good collectible".
Click to expand...

Yeah, sometimes I'm drawn to a lens just because it's uncommon. 😱

That's how I ended up with a Canon 50/3.5 collapsible -- I'd never seen one offered for sale before. It was a really nice lens, but I just didn't get along with the ergonomics too well. So I sold it here on RFF for what it cost me, and the buyer has already posted much better photos than I ever got.

Same thing with the Nikkor Q.C 50/3.5 rigid -- I saw one for sale and couldn't leave it alone. It's a really solid, amazingly smooth handling lens, and I'm still in the honeymoon period with it. Probably a keeper. (Of course, now I'm lusting for a Nikkor H.C 50/2 collapsible -- I still love the rigid I bought from Raid, and I just have to know how they compare.) Those old Nikkor LTM lenses just get me where I live.

Now I just bought a Canon 50/2 collapsible, which I'd never seen for sale anywhere before. Since I've really liked almost all of the Canon LTM lenses I've used, it seemed like I'd have to give it a try. It's one of the earlier Canon lenses, and fast for its time, so I don't know whether to expect great things or not. Might be like a Summar, might be like a Summicron -- forgotten vintage lenses are like a box of chocolates..... 🙂

::Ari
 
The 50mm focal length is one that lends itself to what some people call collecting and what my mom and girlfriend call "obsessive hoarding."

I've owned a Canon 50mm 1.9 but sold it due to non-use. It was nice but not in the best condition nor nearly as sexy as the 50mm f/1.4.
I think right now I have *only* 6 50mm lenses. I have a weakness for old Summicrons and I expect I'll venture back into the MIOJ lenses and even prewar uncoated German lenses.
I don't even want to get started on a quest to find a Voigtlander Nokton for the Prominent. That just won't be a good path to go down for me. Next thing you know I'll be shooting a Contarex.

Phil Forrest
 
raid said:
Brian: is this a good adapter at a good price?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Voigtlander-Pro...51134?pt=Lens_Accessories&hash=item43a0d56f9e
Click to expand...

That is a good price for a custom adapter. I use mine on a Prominent "1.5" and another on my Nikon S3 with an Adapter.

The Nikkor 5cm F2 Collapsible mount is not as good as the Leica mounts. You must hold the front of the lens to change F-Stops. It does not collapse as deeply as the Summicron Collapsible.

But mine is every bit as sharp as the late Rigid Nikkor-H with the black aperture ring.
 
Last edited:
kermaier said:
I still love the rigid I bought from Raid, and I just have to know how they compare.) Those old Nikkor LTM lenses just get me where I live.

::Ari
Click to expand...

Did you have to remind me!
The loss of the Nikkor still "hurts".
On the other side of things, I have many other 50mm lenses.
 
Phil_F_NM said:
The 50mm focal length is one that lends itself to what some people call collecting and what my mom and girlfriend call "obsessive hoarding."
Click to expand...

I'm willing to admit that my accumulation is more akin to obsessive hoarding. The way I think about it, a collection -- whether of lenses, coins, paintings or whatever -- should have a focus or guiding theme. What I have right now is a big drawer full of nearly every M or LTM lens that struck my fancy and had a price tag I could rationalize at the time of purchase.😱 I'm slowly approaching the decision to actually form a collection within my hoard: Nikkor LTM lenses, though I'll likely not insist on "collectible" condition, and I'll definitely be using them.

I currently have "only" ten 50mm lenses (11 if you count the 50/2 on its way):
Canon: f/1.8, f/1.5, f/1.2
Leica: Summicron rigid type 1, Elmar f/2.8 M (classic)
Nikkor: H.C f/2 NKJ, S.C f/1.4 NKJ, Q.C f/3.5 rigid
CV: Nokton f/1.5, Skopar f/2.5
I've owned and sold only the Canon 50/3.5 collapsible, Summicron rigid type 2 and the M-Hex 50/1.2 -- so 50mm lenses seem to have some staying power with me. 🙂

::Ari
 
Canon: f/1.8, f/1.5, f/1.2
Leica: Summicron rigid type 1, Collapsible Summicron, Elmar f/3.5, Elmar f/2.8 M (classic), Summar, Summarit, Summitar
Heliar f/3.5, f/2.0
Carl Zeiss Jena f/1.5, f/2.0, Tessar f/2.8
FSU : J-3, J-8, I-61, .... etc.
 
kermaier said:
I currently have "only" ten 50mm lenses (11 if you count the 50/2 on its way):
Canon: f/1.8, f/1.5, f/1.2
Leica: Summicron rigid type 1, Elmar f/2.8 M (classic)
Nikkor: H.C f/2 NKJ, S.C f/1.4 NKJ, Q.C f/3.5 rigid
CV: Nokton f/1.5, Skopar f/2.5
I've owned and sold only the Canon 50/3.5 collapsible, Summicron rigid type 2 and the M-Hex 50/1.2 -- so 50mm lenses seem to have some staying power with me. 🙂

::Ari
Click to expand...

I counted Twenty-Four Nikkor 50mm F1.4 lenses alone, S-Mount, LTM, and F-Mount. I have a dozen 50mm F1.5 Zeiss Sonnars. Eight 50mm F2 Summicrons. At least thirty-five 50mm lenses in LTM.

I'm thinking it is time to let a few go... maybe a J-8.
 
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