Leica LTM Canon Serenar 35mm f3.2

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
jkelly

jkelly

Analog hobbyist
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Feb 23, 2006
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I just bought one of these that appears in good condition, along with the matching 35mm finder and case. I intend to use it with my Leica IIIa. Does anyone have any experience with this lens and/or photos you'd like to share? I've read this lens is an "average" performer, whatever that means.
 
I had one about twenty years ago. It was a terrible lens until f/11!! Now, with more experience, I realize it was probably cla'd by someone who left out the shims that adjust the focus. I just re-lubed a Serenar 28/3.5 and found a brass shim, about 0.7mm deep, that was used to adjust the way the optical unit sits into the focus unit. Whenever I get a new lens, I immediately fire off a roll of cheap colour film and have it 1-hour processed. By varying the f-stop and distance, I get a pretty good idea of the quality, etc.
 
rogue_designer said:
I love this little lens - I shoot in low light too much for it to be my all purpose 35, but it is pretty damn decent.

Here are a couple of shots in my gallery taken with it:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=39324
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=37913
Click to expand...

Thanks, very nice resolution on those two photos. And, I didn't realize Porta came in B&W. Thanks for the examples.

I'll definitely put this lens through its paces once I receive it. It's gonna have to be an "outside" lens primarily. Slow speeds on a IIIa are kinda iffy.
 
jkelly said:
And, I didn't realize Porta came in B&W.
Click to expand...

It used to come in BW - this was an old roll in my fridge. I belive it's the same forumlation as their current BW400CN C41 film.

The little Serenar 35 3.2 I have is sharp, if slightly low in contrast - which works well with the Kodak BW400CN (since it's fairly contrasty, they work well with each other). The size it tiny, but with the old canon focus tabs/infinity lock, very easy to manipulate - even with cold gloved hands.

Enjoy - I look forward to samples from your copy. :)
 
Mine is a 3.5,results with bog standard Kodak 200 colour neg have been excellent.
Hope you have success with it,
Brian.
 
The Canon 35/3.5 is a very different lens, a clone of the Leica Elmar 35/3.5 really, so it's a Tessar design. The Canon 35/3.2 and 35/2.8 are double-Gauss designs, more along the lines of a Summaron. The 3.2 wasn't made very long, they pushed more speed out of it rather quickly.
 
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