Canon LTM Canon 50mm f1.2 LTM Sample Images

[8bit Barry]

Interesting. I love the background rendering of the 1.2.

If you dislike the backgrounds of the f1.2 you'll probably detest these from its brother, the 0.95. I offer 'em just for comparison purposes to the f1.2. And yep, the images are plenty soft.

All 3 images below taken recently and within minutes of each other with Canon 50mm f0.95, wide open.

Just metering the natural window light for this room but ended up liking her expression and the natural short lighting on her face.
S1010288 by Brusby, on Flickr


Taken in the doorway to the front porch, which was reflecting light up into her face, giving a bit of the old Hollywood monster light.
S1010257. Canon 50mm f0.95 "Dream" lens by Brusby, on Flickr


In the living room with window light. That's an old pump organ in the background -- made almost unrecognizable by this lens.
S1010262 by Brusby, on Flickr

Yeah I can see the flan of focus is so narrow, on the second one in particular. But overally a very pleasing result. I like the diffusion and characterful, glow and in the right context it can be really useful.

I was watching some Matt Osborne videos on YT last week and he was mentioning 'vintage lenses for digital portraits, modern for sharpness for film portraits' and how he uses lenses to match the camera type. I think that's sound advice.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Canon 50/0.95 Wide-open, 1/15th sec, Canon 7. This is at the Smithsonian where the IR sensor was running, displaying heat maps.
Back when $200 got you this lens. I focused on the Keyboard, was lit well enough for the RF, then shifted framing. 20 years ago.


A Panel in the same display.
Canon, wide-open, 1/30th.


Wide-Open on the Nikon Z5. First lens used on the camera, to decide if I liked Focus Peeking.
1/100th, wide-open, ISO 6400.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I took my new Canon 50mm F1.2 bought from the RFF classifieds last month- this one went to Kanto in Japan to have the group after the Aperture repaired. This involves separating the rear doublet and replacing the damaged element. The lens also received a full CLA. It works like new.

On the Leica M240, ISO 3200, Wide-Open.


Focus using the Rangefinder, not Liveview as the Latency is just too long.
I used the 1.4x Light Lens Lab viewfinder, which gives a 1x view- allowing both eyes open for me.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Lights back on, ISO 1250. Wide-Open.

This woman is amazing, she and her son were skating today.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Sequence Shot, wide-open. The long focus throw took some getting used to. Keeping both eyes open for stereo view helped.

"Subject did not stay still while focusing"

 

[brusby]

Sequence Shot, wide-open. The long focus throw took some getting used to. Keeping both eyes open for stereo view helped.
View attachment 4859218View attachment 4859219View attachment 4859220
"Subject did not stay still while focusing"

Looks like an excellent copy. Nice score.

 

[krohmie]

Wide open on Leica M9

 

[krohmie]

At 1, 4

 

[aw614]

I sent my canon 1.2 to Kanto, but did get a few photos back from the lab. Mine did have some issues in the middle element...

Candido 800t +1 stop push on my Minolta CLE

 

[Ray Vonn 2023]

I enquired on another forum some time ago about this lens as one was going for a decent price and although I can't imagine he remembers it, it was Brian who helpfully advised me to "grab one". So I did. Thank god for that.


Canon 50mm F1.2 LTM/ M9

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I enquired on another forum some time ago about this lens as one was going for a decent price and although I can't imagine he remembers it, it was Brian who helpfully advised me to "grab one". So I did. Thank god for that.
View attachment 4859469

Canon 50mm F1.2 LTM/ M9

I remember that! The Canon 50/1.2 is one of the most under-rated lenses made. I suspect this is due to many of them having fogging and etching. ~1/2 stop slower than the "Dream Lens"- which does not suffer from the damaged glass issue.

 

[aw614]

Finally I got my photos back from the lab that I shot with my canon 50mm f1.2 with the new Kanto Camera element. Pretty pleased with the results. Didn't realize it would flare so much.

 

[qqphotos]

 

[peterm1]

Another shot taken by me with this lens. My experience is that it is at its best when there are no strong backlights, as here. I was surprised about how "clean" the image was when I captured it. But I must say that on reflection it may have been stopped down to f1.4 or f2. (Probably the latter). Still, a good performance for a lens of this type and age. It produces characteristically somewhat low contrast images with lovely pastel colors. (Both are easy to give "a boot up the bum" in post if you want something more "punchy" and here I suspect I have tweaked both a little.

Those Eyes - Color by Life in Shadows, on Flickr

 

[brusby]

I love this lens. If the light is right, highlights can have a nice, subtle glow, somewhat like Hurrell's Hollywood portraits from the early part of last century.

Canon 50mm f1.2 ltm at f1.2
_OSR4005 by Brusby, on Flickr

 

[aoresteen]

I'm on my 2nd 50mm f/1.2. The one I have now wasn't quite as good as my first one (that I stupidly sold). A common issue is they develop haze in a middle element. I sent mine to Kanto Camera Co in Japan along with Canon 50mm f/1.8 black LTM that had a similar problem. Six months later I got them back and they both were clear as a brand new lens. I put them on my Sony A7 III and they are improved. Well worth the cost. I've has serious heart problems/surgery so I haven't run any film through them yet. Soon I hope.

The original Canon vented lens shade for the 50mm f/1.2 is stupid expensive - $100+. The Olympus 55mm f/1.2 lens (55mm filter - there is a 50mm f/1.2 Olympus OM lens that used 49mm filters) METAL shade fits the Canon 1.2 lens perfectly. They cost about $40. I leave my original shade at home and use the Olympus shade.

Kanto Camera Co., Ltd.
1-1-23-2F, Watarida, Kawasaki-ku,
Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa,
210-0837 Japan

 

[Sonnar Brian]

@aoresteen
I believe the Kanto repaired Canon 50/1.2 is better than my original which has perfect glass. Improved coating? Something- but it is good. It's my 4th Canon 50/1.2.