Canon 50mm f/0.95 lens

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Tillyd14

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Can someone tell me a bit about this lens? I was told by a one of my teachers that i could adapt it for a digital camera. Is it worth my while or should i try sell it on and get a digital equivalent? I have the Camera it came with but the shutter isn't working anymore
 
Search the web for more performance data.

Not sure exactly what you mean by "adopting it to digital". The lens has a unique mount. It is somewhat common to adapt it to Leica M mount, and then you can use it with film on Leica M's or digital on the M8/M9.

Check ebay to see how valuable it is. I've seen them get around $2K


....Vick
 
Tillyd14 said:
Can someone tell me a bit about this lens? I was told by a one of my teachers that i could adapt it for a digital camera. Is it worth my while or should i try sell it on and get a digital equivalent? I have the Camera it came with but the shutter isn't working anymore
Click to expand...
The following website I found describes the steps to convert the lens, but isn't quite detailed enough for a DIY. But you get the idea of the work involved.

I bought a lens that wasn't properly converted and had to return it. The rear shroud wasn't modified so the lens wouldn't mount on an M4 or M8, nor my M->NEX or M->MFT adapters. It also did not appear to focus to infinity.

Steps 5 and 9 are very important to get right.

http://www.sekaimon.com/i220833760083
 
Wow, I didn't expect that. That's great to hear, I'm a student so extra cash for equipment would be awesome. I would like to use it myself but i cant afford a Leica or the conversion. I'l probably sell it then, so someone can use it.
 
I've got one & converted it myself. It wasn't that big a deal. The biggest problem was finding small screws & an appropriately sized tap to tap. It comes apart so you're working on metal only, all the glass comes off as a unit, requiring no recalibration.

It is VERY soft wide open, and quite good for in camera "photoshopping" of facial wrinkles😉
It's a pretty normal lens when stopped down, and therefore it's drawbacks (size/weight & very long focus racking) make it a pain as a general purpose lens.

YMMV

Robert
 
it can be adapted to be used in either a mirrorless camera, such as the NEX series or a micro 4/3rds, or with an M mount to be used with digital rangefinders - R-D1, M8, M8.2, M9. forget about using it mounted on a DSLR: it'll become a pretty weird macro lens.

as others have said, it's pretty soft wide open, i recommend only getting one if you really like the look, otherwise it's a burden.
 
neelin said:
.......It is VERY soft wide open, and quite good for in camera "photoshopping" of facial wrinkles;......
Click to expand...

If it was very soft wide-open then the lens wasn't properly calibrated. For best results, you have to calibrate the lens to a specific camera body. We're talking almost micron tolerances here. Once the lens is calibrated, the results at F0.95 are actually pretty good, especially in the central 1/2 of the picture (on film).

I took this last year at Halloween. F0.95 on Neopan 1600. Lens modified by Ken Ruth to fit my Leica MP.

bones.jpg


Jim B.
 
That's some good knowledge you guys have. It's much appreciated. I've decided I'm going to sell the lens and the body and get some much needed stuff for college
 
You should sell the lens now, prices are historically high. Figure around $1600 or more if the lens is mint.

I have two, both converted. If properly matched to the camera, pretty sharp wide open. Mine was done by DAG.
 
I'd sell it here. Actual prices are a little less typically then you would get on ebay, but then ebay isn't eating part of that up with fees. I find the forums are less hassle generally, so I start there (RFF, Getdpi are both great for rangefinder stuff). Then I move things to ebay which has a larger market.
 
Mackinaw said:
If it was very soft wide-open then the lens wasn't properly calibrated. For best results, you have to calibrate the lens to a specific camera body. We're talking almost micron tolerances here. Once the lens is calibrated, the results at F0.95 are actually pretty good, especially in the central 1/2 of the picture (on film).
Click to expand...


I agree - these lenses are pretty sharp for 0.95, not as sharp as a new Noctilux (but not $11k either). I converted mine to M-Mount and painstakingly calibrated it - it is not just a matter of screwing an adapter on. Mine focused perfectly on a Canon 7, but needed shims for an M3/8/9.

BTW, prices seem a little low recently, it may be hard to get $1600 for an unconverted lens alone - maybe if it was really nice and had a really nice working Canon Body with it. Really nice combos could go for $1700-2400, from what I have seen.

I am trying to sell my very nice converted lens for $2250 - but not takers in two days. I think I am a couple of hundred high...

7227436538_900aa8f129_o.jpg

6019615178_5e6201be18_b.jpg
 
I had a TV version, converted to M-mount. It was lots of fun and I liked the results, but it was just too big and heavy.
 
Those of you that have calibrated or had their 50mm F0.95 calibrated, Can I assume you mean to your particular rangefinder cameras viewfinder? Mainly I'm looking for a little lens to sensor distance theory here. If I want to use this lens on Nex or M4/3 systems, can I assume the distance from the rear element to the sensor will only effect the distances at which I can focus (close and infinity), and that it won't effect the lenses ability to focus at all?

Apologies to the OP if this is out of place but it seems his questions have been answered and rather than start a new thread...
 
The calibration would be to the RF mechanism of a specific camera. For a NEX or M4/3 system, what you see is what you get, so the critical piece for you is will the lens focus to infinity (and exactly to infinity).

I bought one on E-bay to use on my NEX, but had to return it as the lens would not only not focus to infinity, it wouldn't mount on many cameras (Including an M4 and M8) because who ever did the conversion didn't cut down the rear shroud.

For the lens I had to return, I feel they didn't do the work shown in steps 5 and 9 found here...

http://www.sekaimon.com/i220833760083
 
dbm, I remember reading that thread. At least you weren't out anything but time. That Japanese Ebay listing with the step by step has been my reference for disassembly , I hope nobody ever buys that thing or they remove the listing, I'll be lost😱

There is an adapter now that will go directly to Nex but it's about $250. Might as well have it done right with an M mount if I'm going that far but here is the link;
http://www.sankouseiki.com/canon50mm_and_leicalmount_for_sonyemount.html
One nice thing is the lens remains unaltered.

I've been having some fun just holding it up in front of a nex body with a Leica R adapter attached, Infinity is about 2'. Resolution at the focal point is about what I've seen from others shots and the bokeh is... (in the eye of the beholder). Looking forward to actually attaching it to a camera.

47a2d832b3127cce98548fd20bd400000035100AauWjRy5bM2VA
 
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