Canon LTM Canon 85 f1.9

Canon M39 M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
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Timmy P

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I grabbed what looked like a perfect condition Canon 85 f1.9 LTM (some minor dust inside, granted since it's over 50 years old, but no oil on the blades or scratches on the glass) complete with lens holder and finder.

Anyway, I was wondering, has anyone got samples from this lens or just general advice about this lens? I've read some stuff around the interwebz that describe it as good but heavy, so I'm looking forward too it. Although canon rangefinder lens advice seems to be few and far between. Anyone got any good sites on them?

Cheers,

-Tim
 
I have a 85/2 Serenar (just got it from a fellow RFFer). First roll still in the camera, but I find it extremely hard to focus on the Bessa R2A - a lot easier on the M2 and even better on the FED 2. It´s only natural, I guess - the RF base is very short on the Bessa.
If the 1.9 version is the same, you are in for a challenge in lowlight/closeup situations!

Cheers /R
 
I've got a 0.72 M6 and R3A, so hopefully it'll be ok :)

Definately looking forward to some nice background blurring happeing though, since the longest lens I own thus far is a 50 f2 Summicron, which doesn't exactly do close up headshots or extreme blurring etc.

Thanks for the advice,

-Tim
 
Addition after having shot a roll or so:
I found focusing to be a LOT easier when using a magnifier from Megaperls Japan! But - and it is with regret I say this - it will not become my fav short tele lens. It´s too heavy, too "loud" (visibly) on the camera for stealth operation, and it´s far too stiff to focus, in spite of being CLA:d recently.

It takes forever to focus (it´s helix has looong travel), and focusing it is/will be rather hopeless in any action scenario that is faster than a garden slug. Shooting moving humans wide open (or at anything wider than f4) is a challenge, especially in low light....

This will probably be true for your lens too.

That being said - it has wonderful bokeh, and really is sharp, once you get the focusing and the DOF right. And it has a nice vintage vibe in the B/W pics that I like a lot. And I mean a lot.

FWIW. Cheers /Richard
 
Something wrong with the lens (or the CLA was incomplete),
if it's hard to focus, the focus ring should turn almost by itself.
But it has a long throw and is big.

For closer distances and people shots I changed technique: pre-focus
and then move your body. Works well for me.

See my avatar for a smaller and lighter 85/2 :) A good Jupiter 9 can
do wonders, too.

I tried several times to focus an 85-90/2 on a Bessa (even the R3a)
and always failed.

Cheers,

Roland.
 
Hi, congradulations on your purchase. I've never used a 85mm f1.9, but I had the 100mm f2.0 and for all of the reasons you've already heard, I sold it.
It is big, SLR style big, the 100mm had nearly a full 360 deg of focus movement. I used it on my M3 and consistant, accurate focus was a challenge, but it was sharp and had very nice OOF areas, just too big and slow for my RF style.
If you are going to set up and shoot tight heads at a similar distance and not need to pull focus in and out you'll love it, I'm sure.

Cheers Amdrew.
 
Came in the mail the day I was driving back to Wagga Wagga for uni, I loaded up some expired (but fridge kept) colour neg film, so I'll scan it up once it's been developed so anyone who's curious can seem some samples. I've been trying to use it as wide open as possible, so I'm looking forward to some nice blur :)

Oh, and, yes, the barrel is stiffer than me in the morning for class in winter in Wagga, it is quite difficult to turn. But, it does turn, however the helical as others have pointed out is quite extensive.

Anyway, anyone interested check back here for some samples hopefully soon!

Catch ya,

-Tim
 
One sample from my 85/2:
Bessa R2A, Tmax 400
 

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