Canon LTM Interesting results from Canon 50mm f1.2 wide open

Canon M39 M39 screw mount bodies/lenses

peterm1

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Just thought I would post these here as some may be interested.

Last week I picked up a Canon 50mm f1.2 in fairly knocked about condition for a good price. Although it looked as if someone had a go at the front element with a Brillo pad I thought it might make an interesting portrait lens.and be fairly low contrast - an effect I like in black and white imaging. The price was right after all.

I had my doubts about how it would handle any light sources, but I must say I was reasonably pleasantly surprised overall with its ability to render a useful and interesting image in this situation. I deliberately shot the first 2 photos below "contra joure" to check the handling of flare which I knew was going to be a problem. But I still quite like the creative results although the photos cannot claim to be master pieces I think the lens will be one that has a specialized niche in my armoury.

Boy, I was not wrong about "low contrast" though, I suppose veiling flare contributes in no small part. The same era 50mm lens in f1.8 is noticeably better contrast (see the last photo) although its not shot against the light which I imagine helps.

Overall I like the 1.2's effect for portraits. All photos have a slight touch up in post processing to tweak the image very slightly as I invariably do.

But at least I have one and this means I now have the 50mm 1.8, the 50mm 1.4 and the 50mm 1.2. and the first two are in excellent nick.

Overall I am happy with my little purchase although I would love mint version of this lens. So the results give me enough payback to keep me experimenting. I must do a proper comparison shoot one day and I must try it with color emulsion next - love that pastel look.

Any one else with some 1.2 images taken wide open?

Canon 50mm f1.2 wide open

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Canon 50mm f1.8 wide open

F1000021.jpg
 
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I've used it wide-open a lot with film, and just took it out this weekend on the M8. I'm using a 55->52 step down ring to use an IR Cut filter with it. Works out well.
 
I also picked up a Canon 1,2/50 some weeks ago and only made some night shots since then.
If interested please take a look into my flickR, because when trying to put it in here I always see the link only but not the pic :-( - by the way, is it too large in size for insert here? Thanks for advice
 
Haven't used mine for a while ... can't seem to get it to fit the OM-1. :p


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I also picked up a Canon 1,2/50 some weeks ago and only made some night shots since then.
If interested please take a look into my flickR, because when trying to put it in here I always see the link only but not the pic :-( - by the way, is it too large in size for insert here? Thanks for advice

It works just fine:

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Just click on the "Insert Image" button and paste the URL of the photo in the box. That's it. Nice picture, BTW!
 
Man, I thought that my 50/0,95 had quite a lot of veiling flare, but the f/1.2 version seems quite similar. Love the first shot!
I agree it makes for a wonderful B&W portrait lens, if you like this kind of dreamy shots (I do)!
 
I've got a 50/1.4 that I shoot wide open whenever I can. I like the look. Peter, I really like the feel of your 1.2 images. That softness really suits your portraits well (including the portrait of your M3).
 
It probably won't work too well on a Nikon FM3A

I love this lens for what it is.

Exactly the same with me. I don't look for something standard I'm satisfied with what this lens gives and it's not standard absolutely.
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Unfortunately I still have no IR/UV cut filter for it

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This one is the best made by me with this lens
 
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Wide-Open at Night on the M8, next time I will not use the IR cut filter.

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Through a shop window, ISO 640, wide-open.

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Also ISO 640, hand-held at 1/4th ~ 1/6th.

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Wide-Open, ISO 2500 this time.

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in-camera JPEG.
 
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