Cool black Canon 85m f/1.9!

[bennyng]

Hi guys,

Chanced upon this unique adaptation on the bay! Albeit a bit too late... still, it's interesting.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290364455101&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

From the picture, the focusing helicoid is replaced. and the replacement has no distance or depth of field scale. There's a Lens mount converter A at the end, which indicate that this should be a M39 mount with the converter to fit Canon FL/FD mount cameras. More interestingly, it has a unique lens hood and lens cap! I do know for sure that the hood is marked specifically for the 85mm f/1.9 lens.

Cheers,

 

[Mackinaw]

If memory serves, you could unscrew the front part of this lens and, as you suggest, use the appropriate Canon adaptor to mount this front portion on a Canon SLR. Several other Canon rangefinder lenses could be used the same way.

Jim B.

 

[CanonRFinder]

HI Benny,

I beginning to suspect that there was a series of lenses produced by Canon for the USA TV studios. Recently a chap sent me a pic of a similar lens, which had an "RCA" sticker on the side. US contributors can correct me but I think this was one of the large TV studios around in the 60-70-80s. I have a similar lens pictured on page 161 of my book, which is a 135mm f/3.5. The serial # of these lenses do not coincide with my charts and this range of lenses (135mm f/3.5, 100mm f/3.5 & f/2, 85mm f/1.9 and the .095 TV lens) were issued with a new serial # beginning at 10001 and date from the early 70s. Value... more of an oddity as they do appear from time to time on eBay. Just another mindless observation. Peter


Jim,



Some of the later black issued Canon LTM mount lenses could have the front head screw of and used with R-A and R-B adapters so the lens could then be used on the CanonFlex range of cameras. This range when introduced did not have dedicated short tele lenses and depended on the RF lens heads and adapters to fill the gap. Examples are shown in my book on pages 138, 148, 150. P

 

[sanmich]

Does someone knows how many black 85mm 1.9 blacks were produced?
It's not even on the canon museum site...

 

[Mackinaw]

Maybe in Peter's book (which I don't have with me at the moment)?

As for how many were made, from Peter's website, I'm guessing about 1,000 lenses.

http://www.canonrangefinder.servehttp.com/index.php?page=lenses&type=telephoto_lenses&id=22

Jim B.

 

[xayraa33]

I like my black Canon 85mm f1.9 lens over my chrome 85mm f 1.9 lens because the black one is much lighter in weight.

 

[CanonRFinder]

Jim is correct. Taking into consideration rejects etc then it would be somewhere between 800-1000 lenses. My official Canon Inc produced Lens Data book dated 1981 gives the production number of chrome 85mm f/1.9 lenses at 7492 but none for the black lenses. Another "official" chart (pg 202) mentions 7909 but that was up to 1956 and chrome was on the market for another two years...so take you pick! Canon lumps ALL chrome 85mm f/1.9 lenses together and calls them a TYPE 1 and the black TYPE 2, which is understandable but my book, breaks down the TYPE 1 into different variations that were produced and explains why. The black 85mm f/1.9 was one of Canon Inc line of later black lenses they produced and usually attracts a higher value because of its photographic capabilities.

 

[sanmich]

... a higher value because of its photographic capabilities.

Thanks for the thorough answer.

Just what do you mean by photographic capabilities?
The optics should be similar to the chrome one, right?

And how much higher would be such a lens in good nick?

 

[CanonRFinder]

The schematics are the same but Canon was introducing rare earth glass into some of the elements. My schematics do not show any rare earth elements in the 85mm f/1.9 later lenses but that is not to say that Canon were not trying it out. The later 50mm f/1.8, f/1.4 and f.095 lenses schematics show rare earth elements as does the 85mm f/1.8 lenses. Other than that, the black lenses were lighter and the scalloped barrel made it easier to use.

Capabilities = results

Value...nothing unless there are two bidders..

 

[Sonnar2]

The black 85/1.9 is a bit lighter than 85/1.8
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1042226&postcount=52

 

[bennyng]

HI Benny,

I beginning to suspect that there was a series of lenses produced by Canon for the USA TV studios. Recently a chap sent me a pic of a similar lens, which had an "RCA" sticker on the side. US contributors can correct me but I think this was one of the large TV studios around in the 60-70-80s. I have a similar lens pictured on page 161 of my book, which is a 135mm f/3.5. The serial # of these lenses do not coincide with my charts and this range of lenses (135mm f/3.5, 100mm f/3.5 & f/2, 85mm f/1.9 and the .095 TV lens) were issued with a new serial # beginning at 10001 and date from the early 70s. Value... more of an oddity as they do appear from time to time on eBay. Just another mindless observation. Peter

Thanks Peter. Hope your legs are better now.

I do know that there was a set of these lenses mounted on some strange focusing helicoid. However, they are not marked "RCA". They come complete with marked hood, front and rear caps. If I recalled correctly, I've previously sent you a set of links for these strange lenses as well, including a 35mm f/1.8 version (with original Canon hood!).

Without the right focusing helicoid, these are useless on our normal RF cameras and I suppose it's only of interest to collectors. Most others would consider them oddities.

Cheers,

 

[CanonRFinder]

HI Benny,

Legs are OK it was my heels...stuffed up both for a while.

The lenses as you mentioned are useless as a RF item and only a curiosity, which is why I bought my 135mm f/3.5 but have not worried about increasing my collection in the others. The serial # of these lenses indicates that Canon issued them with a new # and was not part of the normal RF issue. The lens head is fixed or at least mine is so I cannot even take it of and use in a R-A adapter. Someone who worked in the TV industry during the 60s-70s maybe able to clear the air on what they were used on. Mine was not marked "RCA" either just sticker was on the pic sent through to me. The thread mount is roughly 54mm in dia. Maybe I should keep a data on the serial # of these lenses and that will give me some idea on the # made.