Canon LTM Canon 50mm/1.2 examples

Canon M39 M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
raid

raid

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I got back a few rolls of scanned film that I have taken with a variety of cameras and lenses. There is nothing exotic about the photos, and they were mostly of my family. In this case, we were at a Subway sandwich place in downtown Pensacola, and I took some photos of my daughters. The Canon lens is an excellent performer. Film was most likely Kodak Portra 160.
 

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I also got back some results with a Contax IIa and the old Sonnar 5cm/2. I took these photos inside the hotel room and at available window light. I may have used 1/20 of a second hand held. I like the Sonnar 5cm/2 more than most of my 50mm lenses.

While the Canon 50/1.2 is a wonderful lens, I prefer the look of the Sonnar 5cm/2. Brian sold me a Sonnar 5cm/1.5 last week, and I still have to try it out and compare it with the Sonnar 5cm/2.
 

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I see there is absolutely no hint of "glare/flare" on the highlights; you have a great example. Mine is stubborn. Were these shots with the aperture closed a bit?
 
Gabriel M.A. said:
I see there is absolutely no hint of "glare/flare" on the highlights; you have a great example. Mine is stubborn. Were these shots with the aperture closed a bit?
Click to expand...

Hello Gabriel,
I guess, you mean the Canon shots.
I took the shots at about 1.2~2.0 with ASA160 film.
My lens has been thoroughly worked on by Don at DAG two times. It initially had a lens element incorrectly installed, and Don adjusted it for me.
 
raid said:
While the Canon 50/1.2 is a wonderful lens, I prefer the look of the Sonnar 5cm/2. Brian sold me a Sonnar 5cm/1.5 last week, and I still have to try it out and compare it with the Sonnar 5cm/2.
Click to expand...

I just bought a LTM 50/2.0 Nikkor which, I understand, is a copy of the 50/2.0 Zeiss. I'm curious as to how this will perform on my MP. Will run a few tests this weekend and compare to my 50/2.0 collapsible Summicron, my Canon 50/1.2 and Canon 50/1.4.

Jim B.
 
I also took some shots with a Nikkor 5cm/2. I love this lens, but recently it appears less sharp to my eyes. Maybe it needs some adjusting.
 

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Mackinaw said:
I just bought a LTM 50/2.0 Nikkor which, I understand, is a copy of the 50/2.0 Zeiss. I'm curious as to how this will perform on my MP. Will run a few tests this weekend and compare to my 50/2.0 collapsible Summicron, my Canon 50/1.2 and Canon 50/1.4.

Jim B.
Click to expand...

Hello Jim,
The Nikon 5cm/2 is a calssic and it is supposedly a true Sonnar design lens. Using a tripod, I get sharper results than what I managed above.
 
Raid,

I have to say, you have the best lens testing subjects anywhere on the net. Quite a beautiful family!
 
raid said:
I also took some shots with a Nikkor 5cm/2. I love this lens, but recently it appears less sharp to my eyes. Maybe it needs some adjusting.
Click to expand...
Hey, Raid, nice pictures of your young ladies.

Do I detect a little bit of front focus? In the 3rd pic for example, looks to me like the face is slightly out of focus but the pleats of the blue dress are pretty sharp.

Pete.
 
farnz said:
Hey, Raid, nice pictures of your young ladies.

Do I detect a little bit of front focus? In the 3rd pic for example, looks to me like the face is slightly out of focus but the pleats of the blue dress are pretty sharp.

Pete.
Click to expand...

Hi Pete,
I will send this lens off for adjusting. You are correct that sharpness is not where it is supposed to be.
 
kbg32 said:
Raid,

I have to say, you have the best lens testing subjects anywhere on the net. Quite a beautiful family!
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Thank you, Keith. I will tell my wife :D .
 
raid said:
The Nikon 5cm/2 is a calssic and it is supposedly a true Sonnar design lens. Using a tripod, I get sharper results than what I managed above.
Click to expand...

Raid------I have an old copy of "Photographic Optics" by Dr. Arthor Cox that shows an optical diagram for the Zeiss 50/2.0 Sonnar. Best I can tell, the optical diagram for the 50/2.0 Nikkor in Rotoloni's Nkon Rangefinder book is identical to that of the Zeiss. I'm looking forward to getting the Nikkor and seeing what it can do.

Jim B.
 
Raid, I would try the Nikkor on a Tripod test before sending it off for adjustment. My model has been known to move around a little.

The Nikkor is a fairly exact copy of the pre-war Zeiss Sonnar 5cm F2. Mine gives the same out of focus rendition as the Zeiss lens. Color rendition is quite different between it and the uncoated Zeiss lens. The post-war Zeiss-Opton 50mm F2 and post-war Zeiss Jena 5cm F2 "T" lenses are quite different from the pre-war Zeiss lens. The post-war CZJ optics look like they have a larger diameter, probably for better color performace at the edges. Toe CZO lens is a redesign. All are Sonnar formula lenses.
 
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raid said:
I also got back some results with a Contax IIa and the old Sonnar 5cm/2. I took these photos inside the hotel room and at available window light. I may have used 1/20 of a second hand held. I like the Sonnar 5cm/2 more than most of my 50mm lenses.

While the Canon 50/1.2 is a wonderful lens, I prefer the look of the Sonnar 5cm/2. Brian sold me a Sonnar 5cm/1.5 last week, and I still have to try it out and compare it with the Sonnar 5cm/2.
Click to expand...

Raid -- I can see why you like the Sonnar so much. Those three shots are great, and the middle one especially (of your daughter sleeping) is, I think, stunning -- a real classic portrait quality, IMO. Very nice!
 
Brian Sweeney said:
The Nikkor is a fairly exact copy of the pre-war Zeiss Sonnar 5cm F2.
Click to expand...

Brian, according to Rotoloni the optical design of the Nikkor 50/f2.0 was finalized in 1937. So a pre-war copy it is!

Jim B.
 
Brian Sweeney said:
Raid, I would try the Nikkor on a Tripod test before sending it off for adjustment. My model has been known to move around a little.

The Nikkor is a fairly exact copy of the pre-war Zeiss Sonnar 5cm F2. Mine gives the same out of focus rendition as the Zeiss lens. Color rendition is quite different between it and the uncoated Zeiss lens. The post-war Zeiss-Opton 50mm F2 and post-war Zeiss Jena 5cm F2 "T" lenses are quite different from the pre-war Zeiss lens. The post-war CZJ optics look like they have a larger diameter, probably for better color performace at the edges. Toe CZO lens is a redesign. All are Sonnar formula lenses.
Click to expand...

Brian,

I will test the lens carefully. If the results confirm a need for adjusting, I need to find "someone" here who knows very well how to reshim a lens! :angel:

I also have in LTM a wartime/pre-war CZJ Sonnar 5cm/2 that has a different look with color film.
 
Bingley said:
Raid -- I can see why you like the Sonnar so much. Those three shots are great, and the middle one especially (of your daughter sleeping) is, I think, stunning -- a real classic portrait quality, IMO. Very nice!
Click to expand...

Thank you, Steve. I love the photo of Dana sleeping. The whites look great to me.
 
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