Leica LTM Does the Canon P Vignette with Some Lenses?

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses

David Murphy

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I recently tested my Leica M2 using a Telesar 35mm F3.5 LTM lens and this was a typical image:

telesartest-1.jpg


I then then tested my Canon P with the same lens and this was a typical image:

vigtest-1.jpg


Note the vignetting from use on the P which was not at all evident on the M2. The vignetting happened regardless of f-stop, although it may be more pronounced at certain f-stops.

FYI the Telesar 35mm F3.5 is a compact Japanese-made LTM wide that appears identical to the more common Kyoei Acall 35mm F3.5.

I examined the interior of my P and it seems more tightly baffled than a Leica M2, but I did not actually measure it (I will). I know that the P cannot be used with a lot of collapsible lenses, whereas the M2 can, suggesting that Canon really necked down the baffles so much certain 3rd party lenses vignette. Does anyone have similar experiences with the P or similar Canon models?
 
A roll I shot recently with my 35mm 1.8 had a lot of vignetting...I think it was from the Voigtlander hood I was using, but suddenly I am not so sure, reading this. I don't believe I got any vignetting with the same lens on my Bessa, but I might not have had the hood yet, I can't recall.
 
No, the Acall (Telesar) rear element is contained inside the housing of the lens. The point is though that portions of light cones at the corners of the frame are just clipping the baffles. It may well happen with other lenses, probably wides. I have in the past used an Acall on a Bessa R with no issues (in fact had great images). I don't mean to exaggerate the problem of the vignetting, it can easily be cropped off, and the images are very sharp, but it's interesting to see these variations among supposedly LTM compatible cameras.

I placed a Canon P, a Canon VT, and a Leica M2 on a table (a flat smooth surface) and held the shutters open with B. With the backs open and one can clearly see a slightly greater interference of the baffles at the corners of the focal plane on the Canon's with respect to the Leica.
 
A roll I shot recently with my 35mm 1.8 had a lot of vignetting...I think it was from the Voigtlander hood I was using, but suddenly I am not so sure, reading this. I don't believe I got any vignetting with the same lens on my Bessa, but I might not have had the hood yet, I can't recall.
Was this a Canon 35/1.8 on a Canon P?
 
Other than that the shutter might be running slower or faster on the Canon P compared to your M2, there's no reason there should be any difference in vignetting. Same film on both cameras? Slide film's higher contrast makes vignetting more obvious.
 
Really strange that it is so symmetric.

Are you sure that you used the same hood and the same f-stop ?

Reason I am asking is that hood/filter vignetting sometimes only becomes visible when you close down.

Best,

Roland.
 
OK, there was NO lens hood used with either camera test. The rear element is not in close and the Telesar. The vignetting is generally on the corners and is rather symmetric -- but not perfectly so (the corners are the most critically close part of the bafflling).

Shutter tapering is not the cause, that is a non-symmetric manisfestation along the direction of shutter motion. The P had a recent CLA in any case.

I'm in France right now with a Leica IIIc and I'll shoot a roll or two with the Telesar and see what happens. The bottom loading Leica's (and there brethren from other countries like Japan) are generally compatible with ANYTHING in LTM!! (a great virtue they have)
 
I have used my Canon P with a CV Color-Skopar 21/4 a lot and never noticed any of this "light-baffles- caused-vignetting" David is thinking of.

If the P light baffles were the culprit they would cause some severe vignetting with a 21mm wouldn't they ?

Not the least spec. of vignetting with my Canon 35/1.8 and 50/1.8, either.
 
It baffles me too. Ok someone had to say it. Could it be an internal problem with the lens?

Bob
 
I saw the image and something clicked. I went through all my recent shots, thinking I had this problem, too. But it wasn't with my Canon P, but my Bessa, using the 35/1.7 Ultron that showed me this from time to time-- usually at f/16 or so. I had on a hood, and I also thought fault was in using the hood.

I will be taking notes in the future to identify where and when and how this effect manifests for me.

Interesting.
 
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