Just got a Barnack Leica!

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I recently got a good deal on an old all-chrome Canon 50mm f1.8 LTM lens, which I am very impressed with. The resolution across the whole frame, even at wider apertures, is much better than the Summitar; that works better for my work, which is largely architectural. I also like the wide focusing ring; easier for me to use than the little focus tab on the Summitar.


These are my first shots with it. These scenes are on Lower Huntington Road in the Waynedale area of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Waynedale was once a small town, but was absorbed by Fort Wayne in 1957. Though it has been part of the larger city 63 years, it still looks like a small town. Lower Huntington Road was Waynedale's "Main Street." I grew up in Waynedale and moved back here a few years ago.

I bought a Serenar (Chrome Canon) 50/1.8 for my Leica IIIc in 1964. It was my only camera/lens for the next ten years (student days). This was a fine combination with a handheld meter. The negatives on Plus-X made sparkling 11x14's and the Kodachromes were and are still lovely.

No longer my only Leica/lens combination, I pleased to have and use more than one Barnack Leica with this lens.

Also nice to see a working barber shop in your photograph. They are starting to disappear around here as the barbers age.
 
I bought a Serenar (Chrome Canon) 50/1.8 for my Leica IIIc in 1964. It was my only camera/lens for the next ten years (student days). This was a fine combination with a handheld meter. The negatives on Plus-X made sparkling 11x14's and the Kodachromes were and are still lovely.

No longer my only Leica/lens combination, I pleased to have and use more than one Barnack Leica with this lens.

Also nice to see a working barber shop in your photograph. They are starting to disappear around here as the barbers age.




I love the Canon LTM lenses I have. When O.C. gave me the camera, one of the lenses he gave me with it was a chrome Canon 135mm f4. I don't use it much since I rarely use lenses that long, but it is very sharp.

Last week, I bought a Canon 35mm f1.8 from someone in the RFF Classifieds. I'm very impressed with it, too. The later f2 version is said to be better than the f1.8 lens I have, but I can't imagine by how much. The copy I have is incredible. The chrome 50mm f1.8 is a great lens, too.

That barbershop will be around a while. It is owned by an older man and his son. The son is in his early 30s, so he has a lot of years of cutting hair ahead of him. My son gets his hair cut there by the younger barber. My hair is still very long, so I'm not a good customer to barbers!
 
Another one with the Hektor, taken with a Leica II from 1932. The Hektor is from 1930, it was once part of a Leica I, but was later fitted in an interchangeable nickel mount, not unlike an Elmar 50mm.

Erik.

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More fine photos, Chris.



I really liked my somewhat newer version (with the black body and wide focus ring), but it hazed over again after I cleaned it out. The older lenses (Serenars and the no-name chrome bodies) don't have that issue, which makes them a better buy.


I do have an f2.8 black body version that doesn't have the haze issue, and as I recall did fine against the Yashica 50/2.8, so it might find it's way onto the IIIf at times after I get the shutter replaced.


PF

FYI I have 2 of the black focus ring versions of the Canon 50/1.8. One hazes constantly despite regular cleaning - the other does not - no idea what is going on.
 
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First test shots with the Canon 35mm f1.8 that I bought from the RFF classifieds last week. These places are all in my neighborhood in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
 
FYI I have 2 of the black focus ring versions of the Canon 50/1.8. One hazes constantly despite regular cleaning - the other does not - no idea what is going on.


There is another line of thought that the lubricant used on these lenses causes the hazing, and if cleaned out it cures it. I'm going to try that on mine if I ever get my workbench back in order.


PF
 
There is another line of thought that the lubricant used on these lenses causes the hazing, and if cleaned out it cures it. I'm going to try that on mine if I ever get my workbench back in order.


PF

I've head that also but never with any had "evidence" - it makes sense but....
Mine is easy to clean, but I've heard of others where it's not easy.
Anyway glad yours is OK - they are very nice lenses
 
I've head that also but never with any had "evidence" - it makes sense but....
Mine is easy to clean, but I've heard of others where it's not easy.
Anyway glad yours is OK - they are very nice lenses




I think it depends on how long the haze has been there. Left a long time, it can damage the glass. If it is cleaned often, it never has enough time to damage the glass, so keeping the glass clean is easier.
 
I think it depends on how long the haze has been there. Left a long time, it can damage the glass. If it is cleaned often, it never has enough time to damage the glass, so keeping the glass clean is easier.

My first, bad copy of 50 1.8 Canon LTM had fog inside of the optical element, pair or how it is called. I don't know if it was glue separation or something else, but it was not easy-peasy Summar or LF lens to work on often.
 
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Back in November, I made this photograph of Sherlock, one of the two fatcats that live at Hyde Brothers Books in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Sherlock spends all of his time lounging, and he gets annoyed when people pet him or take his picture!

I used the 50mm Summitar and Tmax 400.
 
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