Canon f/1.2 report

[fredus]

Hi there,

I'm the new owner of a Canon f/1.2 LTM lens. I'm using a voigtlander adapter to use it on my MP and M3. I've written an initial report on my website if you're interested in this lens. I had trouble finding information on this lens and I thought it might help other to get an opinion on it.

You can find the report here

Fred

 

[ChrisN]

Hi Fredus. You have some lovely shots of your daughter there. I really like the look - I'll be interested to see what Joe has to say about them (I think he likes the soft look too).

If your lens is stiff to focus and difficult to change aperture, it will definitely benefit from a CLA: my 50/1.2 has a problem with a damaged surface on one of the elements, but mechanically it is excellent and has neither of the characteristics you attribute to yours. It sounds like it would be well worth investing the cost of a service.

As you said - a keeper!

 

[fredus]

I'm not sure if the stifness is normal or not. For example, the voigtander lens are stiffer than the leica lens and I got used to it. The aperture ring is small so I don't really know if I'm not used to it or if it is a little stiff. I'll use the lens a bit more and will decide if I send it to Sherry Krauter or not.

Fred

 

[sf]

I love the look of that lens' images. It has a really soft sort of feeling.

 

[rover]

My 50/1.2 arrived with stiff rings too. A CLA freed them right up and now they turn like all my other lenses'.

 

[djon]

Rover, who did your CLA...link?

 

[jorisbens]

That's a wonderfull, calming picture 🙂 Nice warm colors Beautifull!!!

 

[FPjohn]

Hello:

Your images say a great deal!

yours
Frank

 

[back alley]

i like the look of this lens, i like having the option of throwing so much in the background out of focus.
the infinity lock may be an aquired taste. when i bought my first 'old' lens it had the infinity lock and i thought i would not like it but i quickly started to be very comfortable with it and now prefer it. one of the reasons the 35/2 is my least favourite 35 is the lack of an infinity lock. (also i just like the look of the 35/2.8 better)
why is it there?
not sure, i have read to aid in the mounting and dismounting of the lens. i like that it tells me where my lens is focussed without looking. you get a feel after a while.

nice shots btw.

joe

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Love the shots of your daughter.

The stiffness should clear up with a CLA. My Canon 50mm F1.2 was quite smooth. The lens is softer than the F1.4, and is the same optical formula as the F0.95. The Infinity lock on a screw mount lens was there to help mount and dismount it. The F0.95 lens does not have an infinity lock; used the Canon 7 breech-lock mount.

 

[Mackinaw]

I've been singing the praises of the Canon 50/1.2 since I've joined RFF. A remarkable lens that, for some reason, hasn't gotten its due. The secret of this lens is realizing that, at F1.2, only the central 1/3rd of the picture area is tack sharp, as you go out from there the image starts to get soft. I love this "tunnel" effect which gives this lens a very unique signature. The attached pic, taken at F1.2, illustrates this effect nicely.

Jim Bielecki

 

[Mackinaw]

I'll try this again, but this time with the attachment. Again, taken with a MP with the Canon 50/1.2 wide-open.

Jim Bielecki

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I don't understand what the fuss is all about regarding the infinity lock. The only time I have a problem with it, though, is when I try to unmount it from my Leica M6, that's all. They were designed to be used with LTM bodies, though, so I don't blame the designers (much).

I like this lens a lot; different look and feel. I think it's underappreciated. Can't wait to have it CLA'd.

 

[fredus]

Hi there,

I finally had time to scan my roll of XP2 taken with the Canon f/1.2. I've updated the review Here

Fred<br>

 

[taffer]

The B&W shot of your daughter is lovely ! Congrats !

I have one of these myself, and even with the haze in the rear element gave me some very pleasant results.

 

[terrafirmanada]

Wonderful shots. I like the fingerprint of this lens. After the review and this posting I am sure prices will climb. I like the infinity locks. It comes in handy if I ever get an adapter stuck. Then I just mount it on the M3 and unscrew it with the lens locked. That way I am not torqueing on the mechanics of the lens.

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

That is a terrific shot of your daughter. I too like that soft smooth OOF rendition.

Now you've done it, stirred up the siren call of the lens again! 🙂

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

Jim,

I like the look of your shot too, very sharp in the center with a 3D transition to the foreground/background. Nice.

 

[Sonnar2]

Good report..!

Nice pictures.

Good to hear that the Canon RF 1.2/50 isn't so bad too.

cheers, Frank

 

[jlw]

There shouldn't BE any lubricant on the aperture mechanism. If there is, it's either because it diffused out of the focusing-mount grease, or because some dodo decided to oil up the aperture blades. Either way, it should be cleaned out, and that should solve your fogging problem.

About stiff aperture rings on Canon 50s of the black-and-chrome-finish era: Canon used a grease that eventually deteriorates. It turns yellow and gets sticky just like rubber cement. This alone is often the cause of stiff aperture ring action. A repair technician easily can clean out this grease with a solvent, and replace it with a modern grease that won't deteriorate. Then your aperture ring will feel as Canon intended: firm and with positive clicks, but smooth and not sticky.