FS: canon 50mm f0.95

[Wimpler]

Sorry to just post this right away being a new member, but I'v had this huge thing lying around and have no use for it.

I offer a canon 50mm 1:0.95 lens (the real one, not the TV). No haze, no cleaning marks, no fungus, inside clean from dust, apperture blades are clean. Stopping down and focussing work correctly.

It has a bit of dust (not dirt!) on the outside because I will not clean it before selling but leave it for the buyer to do. The focus ring, apperture ring and filter threads are not completely covered by black paint anymore but have small specles off metal visible. They are not damaged however, the paint cimply came off on those places. Not all the aperture numbers on the ring are completely white as they originally were. The "5" of f5.6 misses some white paint on top.

It has the orignal mount which is in good condition.

To say it short: should be optically and mechanically perfect, cosmetically shows that it has been used before but can be fully restored, no damage done.

I am not the first owner, I bought it second hand from a shop. It has not been reported stolen. Serial number is 29281.

It is currently located in Belgium. I'm open to suggestions from the buyer concerning shipping.

I am not binding myself to selling it to the highest bidder. I expect a fair price as I need the money to fund other photographic needs. This lens has not been put on that auction site yet, wanted to offer it here first.

 

[ChrisN]

Hi Wimpler, and welcome to the forum. I'm sure that some of the members here will be interested in your lens.

The convention here is to set your asking price, rather than seeking bids. We're a very conservative and polite bunch, and don't like to bid against each other! So - set your price then sit back and wait for the contacts!

Best wishes for the sale.

 

[Wimpler]

Thank you for informing me Chris. I often see it listed for about 700$ second hand, so I guess I'll continue the trend.

 

[fgianni]

What kind of mount does it have?
Is there an adapter available somewhere to stick it to an M mount body?

 

[ScottS]

It mounts only on the Canon 7, 7s cameras which have an outer bayonet around the normal LTM mount.

There have been cases of other bodies having their mount replaced with the Canon 7 mount which would theoretically allow this lens to mount. My VI-T was modified in such a way (presumably several decades ago). However, in order to mount this lens, the chrome ring around the RF window must be removed. In addition, part of the RF window is covered, making focusing a bit more difficult. So if I did own this lens, I doubt I'd actually use it on the VI-T.

The lens can be adapted to M mount, but it's a destructive modification (no longer useful on the Canon 7 afterward) rather than an adapter.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

This lens can be adapted for Leica. It involved removing the Canon breech-mount for the Canon 7 putting an M-Mount bayonet onto it. Easier and cheaper to buy a Canon 7 for the lens. Plus you can get an Ever-Ready case that fits the Canon 7 with this lens on it.

 

[Wimpler]

The Canon 0.95 is easily adapted to fit the M mount by anyone with basic mechanical skills, a lot of people have done so. In fact, I bet this lens is more often used on a leica then a conon 7. No adapter is available.

Adapting is indeed destructive but will only raise the lenses value.

 

[fgianni]

The Canon 0.95 is easily adapted to fit the M mount by anyone with basic mechanical skills, a lot of people have done so. In fact, I bet this lens is more often used on a leica then a conon 7. No adapter is available.

Adapting is indeed destructive but will only raise the lenses value.

Is there a website with step-by step instructions or something like that, even if I am not sure I am willing to try such a thing, when it comes to DIY I have two left hands...

 

[Wimpler]

I have not found instructions yet, but I've found posts on forums of people who have done it... I don't own or use canon or leica equipment so I don't exactly know who to ask.

 

[Mackinaw]

FYI, Michael, at eastcamtech.com, will convert a rangefinder-coupled 50mm 0.95 to Leica M for $180.00 ($225.00 for the TV version), you supply the 50mm screw-to-M adaptor. His e-mail is camike@eastcamtech.com.

Jim Bielecki

 

[jlw]

FYI, Michael, at eastcamtech.com, will convert a rangefinder-coupled 50mm 0.95 to Leica M for $180.00 ($225.00 for the TV version), you supply the 50mm screw-to-M adaptor. His e-mail is camike@eastcamtech.com.

Jim Bielecki

Does he do nice work?

BTW, re the comment about the conversion being possible for anyone with "basic mechanical skills" -- I've just been having a look at my 50/0.95 with a view toward seeing about converting it to M mount (for use on an Epson R-D 1) and my conclusion was that it would take more mechanical skills than I've got. Since I've tackled a lot of projects ranging from overhauling a water-dunked Miranda Sensorex to rebuilding the transaxle from my Saab Sonett, I figured my mechanical skills are at least at the "basic" level.

I guess the question is what level of conversion you need, and that depends on what camera the lens is fated to use. For example, on the R-D 1, there's a "step" just inside the bottom of the lens mount, and the protective feet on the back of the lens hit this step unless you grind them off.

For anyone who wants to scope out what's involved in the conversion, here are the basic steps I identified:

1 -- remove the breech-lock ring. To do this, remove the four screws visible at the back of the lens. Once these are removed, the inner breech-lock ring can be unscrewed, noting that it is left-hand thread. Once this ring is removed, the outer, winged locking ring also can be lifted off. There's also a little locating pin on the back; it will have to come off eventually, so might as well unscrew it now.

2 -- It would be a really good idea to remove the optical section from the focusing mount, since you're going to be drilling into the latter. To do this, remove the dark-colored slotted ring visible inside the slots on the rear mount. (This is a larger version of the same construction used on other Canon 50s, with a threaded ring holding the lens head in the focusing mount.) Once you've loosened the ring, remove the entire optical section and put it in a safe place.

3 -- Now you're getting to the part that stumped me. I can imagine taking a screw-to-bayonet adapter, drilling holes in it, then drilling and tapping holes in the back of the lens mount to hold it in place. But you'll see by looking at the mount that it's rather thin -- to make room for the large rear element, Canon had to use thin, high-strength metal rather than the usual thick, soft brass. I'm not sure where or how you'd tap threads into this metal that would be long enough to hold the heavy lens firmly, and without intruding on the rear part of the optical section.

4 -- If you figure out a way to do that, you're not quite out of the woods. Older Leicas (e.g. M3) have a guard ring around the lens release button, and the 50/0.95 is so fat that it covers up the button, making it impossible to squeeze your finger in there to press the release. Since very few people would want a 50/0.95 mounted permanently on their M cameras, you have to figure out a way to make some kind of lens release lever or plunger and pivot it off the back of the lens.

(Okay, this isn't an issue if you don't plan to use it on an M3... but who knows, the next owner might. And no, I don't consider a popsicle stick -- which actually was recommended by one eBay vendor -- as an elegant solution! I notice that on the kevincameras site, he lists three different 50/0.95 conversions, one of which works on older Ms and the other two of which do not.)

So, it strikes me as a project requiring a bit of expertise, which is why I'd like to know how good the Eastcam guy's jobs are. I'm seriously interested in this, so I guess I'll drop him an email, but I'd also be interested in hearing anyone else's experiences with converted 50/0.95s.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

That price is certainly reasonable. I've also seen Leica's converted to take the Canon breechlock mount.

I'm going to keep my Canon 50mm F0.95 on the Canon 7. It ran less than the conversion.

However, this lens with the conversion is less than half the price of a user condition Noctilux. But I am not going to let a thing like common sense and money keep me from Noctilust.

Canon 7, 50mm F0.95 Lens Wide-Open, 1/15s, ASA400 film. Way below what the meter could read.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=1209&cat=3204&page=5

 

[Will]

What kind of mount does it have?
Is there an adapter available somewhere to stick it to an M mount body?

I would like that too...

 

[jlw]

Originally Posted by fgianni
What kind of mount does it have?
Is there an adapter available somewhere to stick it to an M mount body?

I would like that too...

I took the mounting mechanism on mine apart specifically to see if it's possible to make such an adapter, and I concluded that it wasn't.

The breech-lock ring adds enough thickness to the back of the lens that a simple adapter wouldn't be able to mount at the right distance on an M body.

The only way to make it work is a semi-permanent adaptation that involves removing the breech-lock mechanism and replacing it with an M bayonet flange, which must be attached securely to the lens body in an area that doesn't offer a lot of potential attaching points.

 

[Will]

http://www.tet.uni-hannover.de/~kapa/Photo.html

TV len to M

Don't know about the RF blockage, but isn't the "black M6 looks good on the len"?

I like my 7s, but leica is still leica... 😀

 

[Wimpler]

I will lower the price to 600$ (USD) before offering it at other places.

 

[T_om]

I bought this lens from Wim. He delivered as promised and the lens is as he described it. I am a satisfied buyer.

Tom

PS: No, I don't have a camera this will fit.

PPS: Yes, this is stupid.

PPPS: Joe tells me this is "just being prepared". I like Joe. 🙂

 

[raid]

Congrats, Tom. This should open up new possibilities for your photography. The max aperture of 0.95 lets you take photos that others cannot take.

 

[T_om]

Congrats, Tom. This should open up new possibilities for your photography. The max aperture of 0.95 lets you take photos that others cannot take.

Yeah. But now I have to go over to the "Wanted" forum and start looking for either a Canon 7, 7s or Epson RD1... I can't decide which.

Tom

 

[wlewisiii]

Just having gotten my Canon 7, I am so very glad you removed the temptation for me Tom.

Thank you! :angel:

William