Canon 50 f/1.5 LTM

[naruto]

So, after much flip-flopping and painstaking researching on the internet, I bought a Canon 50 f/1.5 in LTM mount. The previous 50 I had was a Summicron 50 v3, and I found it too contrasty for my B&W shots. I chanced upon a real deal on evil-bay, with a deep-scratch on front-element Canon 50mm lens. I took my chance and ordered the lens. The seller assured me he'll take back the lens if the scratch effects the photographs.

Here are the tests performed using a borrowed RD-1 (Thanks Justin).

@f/1.5

@f/2

@f/2.8

@f/4

@f/1.5

The lens is clean with no haze and fungus. I really love the contrast, OOF areas and the drawing. Finally, I think I have found the lens that will go on my M2. 🙂

 

[Erik L]

looks good. i wish my Nokton 50 was that small.

 

[Solinar]

Shhhh! Keep it quiet and under your hat. The Canon 50/1.5 is my second favorite 50mm lens. I prefer it over the Canon 50/1.4

 

[Justin Low]

Haha, it's certainly a very nice lens. Makes a very nice combination with the R-D1.

 

[raid]

I may get such a lens one day, but for the time being, I favor the Canon 50/1.4. I have too many Sonnar lenses, to which the Canon 50/1.5 would be an addition.

 

[Bingley]

Congrats, naruto! Looks like you got a nice sample (scratch notw/standing). The 50/1.5 works very well on the M2.

 

[ferider]

Congrats ! I guess everybody knows my take on this lens ....

 

[jmkelly]

I find I can't have too many Sonnars. 😀 The Canon 50/1.5 is a great match with the R-D1:

 

[naruto]

Thanks everyone.

Bingley, ferider, raid : I have gone through each of your photostreams on flickr searching for samples of this lens. 🙂 And, that fuelled the GAS attack.

Already loaded some APX100 in the M2 for the first run.

 

[feenej]

I'd be interested to see if you can see the scratch with the lens fully stopped down.

 

[Sonnar2]

I use the tag rfcanon5015 for it on flickr

 

[naruto]

@feenej: I have tried stopping down to f/11, but couldn't see the scratch showing up on the photos.

@Sonnar2: this tag works better. 🙂 http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/canon50mmf15ltm/
And, thanks for creating your website, I really like reading on the optics/technology that is in the lenses.

 

[LeicaTom]

Congrats on buying this lens......it`s one of my ALL TIME Favorites! Color or Black and White Film doesn`t matter which, it always shoots great!!! 😀

Tom

 

[John Shriver]

Put some black ink in the scratch, and it will work even better. Just a loss of 1/1000 of the light hitting the lens -- inconsequential.

You could stop it down to f/1000, and still not image the scratch.

 

[gohaj]

i have zeiss sonnar 50/1.5 & nikkor 50/1.4 (sonnar). think canon 50/1.5 (sonnar) will be next!

 

[naruto]

i have zeiss sonnar 50/1.5 & nikkor 50/1.4 (sonnar). think canon 50/1.5 (sonnar) will be next!

planning to have a shoot-out on the 50/1.5s with Benny sometime. will keep ya posted. 🙂

 

[Bill58]

I guess that's what is called "smooth bokeh".

Congrats!

 

[Sonnar2]

@Sonnar2: this tag works better. 🙂 http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/canon50mmf15ltm/
And, thanks for creating your website, I really like reading on the optics/technology that is in the lenses.

I try to discuss that flickr tagging and identifying lenses somewhere here.
For the Canon 50/1.5 there's no doubt because they made just one, but how about the 50/1.4? (RF, FL, FD, EF version?)

cheers, Frank

 

[ferider]

Here is for the RF version, Frank:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/Canon50mmf1.4LTM

These both come from the M-mount forum. Best,

Roland.

 

[kevin m]

Here's another shot from the Cano-sonnar. 😀 Wide open, naturally.