FrankS
Registered User
Since getting my new Canon vi-L rangefinder home and becoming more familiar with it, I've made a horrific discovery! I'm an idiot for buying the camera without removing and inspecting the rear of the lens, because, the rear lens group is missing!
Of course I'll call the seller and explain the problem and hope for a refund for the lens (I want to keep the body). When I bought it he told me that this camera was in his collection and that he never used it, so he can claim ignorance about the missing elements. The camera (and the major part of the lens) that I did see was sooo clean and crisp, virtually mint, causing me, I guess, to overlook an obvious inspection point. I did look at the shutter curtains and fired the shutter at different speeds. I also asked him directly if he knew of anything that was wrong with the camera and he said "No."
It is interesting to note that many times during my life I have found that if I act too hautily or with too much confidence/arrogance, life slaps me down immediately as if to teach me a lesson. That's how life does work of course, but I can think of many instances where the consequence of acting badly was so perfect, immediate, and focussed, that it makes me wonder about divine intervention.
Now before you guys start turning away in droves and label me a religious fanatic, I have to tell you that I react the same way whenever anyone else talks like this. I believe in God but don't think He tinkers with daytoday issues. Think of all the bad things (war, famine) that happen to good or innocent people especially children.
It's just this weird phenomenon that I've noticed happening to me. It is even to the point where it affects my behaviour, (for the good I think.) Whenever I feel myself getting too cocky my past experiences come to mind and I back it down a notch. That happened even earlier today. I was thinking about posting my anticipation of picking up this camera and maybe gloating a little about what a good deal it was. I stopped myself though for fear of sabotaging the plan to meet with the seller. (The plan was a bit tricky.)
So anyway when I do get home with the camera firmly in my possession and still looking pretty, I go and let my hair down and gloat with my WOO-HAA post (in capital letters) and than brag about how things "couldn't be any better" Reality comes right along and within half an hour I've discovered the missing lens groups.
Anyway, I won't be posting any photos with this lens, but I will keep you posted on how it goes with the seller.
Why are all these flies around me? Frank
Of course I'll call the seller and explain the problem and hope for a refund for the lens (I want to keep the body). When I bought it he told me that this camera was in his collection and that he never used it, so he can claim ignorance about the missing elements. The camera (and the major part of the lens) that I did see was sooo clean and crisp, virtually mint, causing me, I guess, to overlook an obvious inspection point. I did look at the shutter curtains and fired the shutter at different speeds. I also asked him directly if he knew of anything that was wrong with the camera and he said "No."
It is interesting to note that many times during my life I have found that if I act too hautily or with too much confidence/arrogance, life slaps me down immediately as if to teach me a lesson. That's how life does work of course, but I can think of many instances where the consequence of acting badly was so perfect, immediate, and focussed, that it makes me wonder about divine intervention.
Now before you guys start turning away in droves and label me a religious fanatic, I have to tell you that I react the same way whenever anyone else talks like this. I believe in God but don't think He tinkers with daytoday issues. Think of all the bad things (war, famine) that happen to good or innocent people especially children.
It's just this weird phenomenon that I've noticed happening to me. It is even to the point where it affects my behaviour, (for the good I think.) Whenever I feel myself getting too cocky my past experiences come to mind and I back it down a notch. That happened even earlier today. I was thinking about posting my anticipation of picking up this camera and maybe gloating a little about what a good deal it was. I stopped myself though for fear of sabotaging the plan to meet with the seller. (The plan was a bit tricky.)
So anyway when I do get home with the camera firmly in my possession and still looking pretty, I go and let my hair down and gloat with my WOO-HAA post (in capital letters) and than brag about how things "couldn't be any better" Reality comes right along and within half an hour I've discovered the missing lens groups.
Anyway, I won't be posting any photos with this lens, but I will keep you posted on how it goes with the seller.
Why are all these flies around me? Frank
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back alley
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i know what you mean frank.
i usually attribute this phenomena to kosmic humour.
if there is a god he has a twisted sense of humour sometimes!
anyway, really sorry about that whole lens thing, hope you can find another soon.
joe
i usually attribute this phenomena to kosmic humour.
if there is a god he has a twisted sense of humour sometimes!
anyway, really sorry about that whole lens thing, hope you can find another soon.
joe
WHAT MORON WOULD PULL THE REAR LENS GROUP OUT OF A PERFECTLY GOOD LENS AND NOT PUT IT BACK! I COULD UNDERSTAND IF THE FRONT ELEMENTS WERE BAD! THE LENS LOOKS GREAT!
If you get stuck some Canon F1.5 will be on Ebay cheap with a shattered front element to even this out. I have several lenses and replacement elements just waiting for the right part.
If you get stuck some Canon F1.5 will be on Ebay cheap with a shattered front element to even this out. I have several lenses and replacement elements just waiting for the right part.
FrankS
Registered User
Update: I just phoned the seller about the lens problem and it went pretty well. He said he had no idea that the lens was incomplete and that he would find a substitute lens for me. The darkness is lifting. I guess I should ask for a small price adjustment too, since the substitute lens would likely be a more common 50mm f2. What do you think? Should I accept a Nikor lens if that's what he comes up with?
The Nikkor 50mm F2 in LTM usually sells for more than the Canon 50mm F1.5. It also focusses to 18". I would be happy for the substitution. The F1.5 Canon is relatively uncommon, but as least in older Shutterbug mags, never commanded a premium like the Canon 50mm F1.4 or Nikkors.
I am waiting for the right 5cm f2 Nikkor to come along; I have a replacement front lens group for it in great shape.
I am waiting for the right 5cm f2 Nikkor to come along; I have a replacement front lens group for it in great shape.
T
taunusreiter
Guest
OK, lession learned: to all the questions I try to ask a seller before buying a lens, one should add "is the lens complete or are any groups missing?" ..at ebay nothing seems to be self-evident... ;-)
...Many lenses from the 50's, 60's suffer from fungus slowly destroying their rear elements - even Canons, but not so often as others. Repair is not always possible to economical costs. Maybe this was left of an attempt to repair it...
I have a nice Canon 1.5/50 which I bought because of its Sonnar design, and fine construction. I found that one of the rear lenses has a slight, though visible, scratch on it. Obviously this only could have been done at an attempt to repair. A person doing such repairs normally should know that the inner elements are often less hard coated than the front or rear glass.
Since this particular lens was in great shape generally and makes fine sharp pictures - even better now then I have the right sunshade! - I kept it. But it happened two times to me that I bought folder cameras which focus were out of control, due to missing readjustment after overhaul attempts. So you are lucky if the loss is limited, and you can correct it yourself, which I learned this way...
My suggestion is: if your lens is an 1.5 and everything else is fine, try to find a rear group, because the 1.5 is not a quite common, nice, and an underestimated lens both in terms of performance and value. If it is an 1.8 -- it's value is less, but as a user lens it has a good reputation too.
And, yes, I would take the 2/50 Nikkor in LTM. Except for the rare Zeiss 2/50 there is no other with this 6 element/2 groups Sonnar type construction for a LTM camera.
regards,
Frank
...Many lenses from the 50's, 60's suffer from fungus slowly destroying their rear elements - even Canons, but not so often as others. Repair is not always possible to economical costs. Maybe this was left of an attempt to repair it...
I have a nice Canon 1.5/50 which I bought because of its Sonnar design, and fine construction. I found that one of the rear lenses has a slight, though visible, scratch on it. Obviously this only could have been done at an attempt to repair. A person doing such repairs normally should know that the inner elements are often less hard coated than the front or rear glass.
Since this particular lens was in great shape generally and makes fine sharp pictures - even better now then I have the right sunshade! - I kept it. But it happened two times to me that I bought folder cameras which focus were out of control, due to missing readjustment after overhaul attempts. So you are lucky if the loss is limited, and you can correct it yourself, which I learned this way...
My suggestion is: if your lens is an 1.5 and everything else is fine, try to find a rear group, because the 1.5 is not a quite common, nice, and an underestimated lens both in terms of performance and value. If it is an 1.8 -- it's value is less, but as a user lens it has a good reputation too.
And, yes, I would take the 2/50 Nikkor in LTM. Except for the rare Zeiss 2/50 there is no other with this 6 element/2 groups Sonnar type construction for a LTM camera.
regards,
Frank
FrankS
Registered User
It sounds from my reading on the Canon museum site, that the Canon 50mm f2.8 lens (4 elements) would be a poor substitution for the Canon 50mm f1.5 lens (6 or 7 elements) that came with my Canon vi. (Actually it would be a good replacement since that lens was incomplete, but I mean it as a comparison with a functioning f1.5 normal lens.) I have to phone the seller on Wednesday to see what replacement he's come up with. (I had suggested Leitz or Nikon.)
In the Canon line-up, the 50mm F1.4 lens would be the most direct substitute. The Canon 50mm F1.8 lens 1/2 F-Stop slower than the F1.5, but is the sharpest lens of the Canon series. The 50mm F2.8 was less expensive in its day; I do not have any experience with it.
T
taunusreiter
Guest
the 2.8/50 was less expensive at it's time but it's seems to be seldom. I've seen none at ebay for at least 3/4 year. From digram it looks like a Tessar. always are good lenses. I would give it a try and keep the uncomplete 1.5.
FrankS
Registered User
taunusreiter, I don't think keeping the incomplete lens is an option. The seller is, hopefully, replacing it with another, hopefully complete lens.
Frank
Frank