Opinions of Canon 85mm f/1.8 SM lens

[sleepyhead]

Hello, I was wondering what people think of the Canon 85mm f/1.8 lens (black one) in Leica SM?

Does anyone have some example images that they can post? How is the bokeh? Is it sharp(ish) wide open?

I'm asking, because this lens intrigues me as an inexpensive alternative to one of the earlier versions of the Leica 90mm Summicrons, or perhaps even a poor man's 75mm Summilux.

The Canon is also significantly lighter than the above Leica lenses, it weighs 470g, while the 75mm summilux is 600g, and the earlier 90mm Summicrons are 685g. The current black version of the 90mm f/2.8 Elmarit is 410g for comparison...

THANKS for your input, regards

 

[xayraa33]

I do not own a 85/1.8 Canon LTM , but it is the last of the 85's Canon made in LTM and said to be one of the finest also.

 

[rover]

Then Canon 85/1.8 is relatively rare, so I don't know how much less expensive you will be able to find it compared to an older Summicron. The couple I have seen recently have sold for over $500, the pricing bible may be little low on this one.
http://members.aol.com/dcolucci/can.htm
Another alternative may be the Canon 100/2 which you see offered a little more often than the 85/1.8. I kick myself for not bidding higher on one that closed for under $300. Auctions that I have watched for the 100/2 have closed in a wide range, from under $300 to over $450.

 

[Bill58]

If it's black, it's sure enough high dollar. A best bet would be the tiny, black (but much cheaper) 100/ 3.5. Also is more numerous and of outstanding quality.

 

[sleepyhead]

Bill and Rover, thanks for the pointers, but I'm interested in a lens that will give beautiful dreamy OOF backgrounds for portraiture. So doesn't have to be the sharpest wide open.

 

[rover]

I think you are on the right track,

Canon 85/1.8
Canon 100/2
Nikkor 85/2 (they sell pretty regularly for around $300, maybe a little more)
It is as sharp as can be too, but I have really liked what I have seen from the Konica KM 90/2.8. That will be more expensive though.
The best bet may be the CV 75/2.5 as far as bang for the buck goes, but you won't be able to do head shots with it.

 

[xayraa33]

Bill and Rover, thanks for the pointers, but I'm interested in a lens that will give beautiful dreamy OOF backgrounds for portraiture. So doesn't have to be the sharpest wide open.

A well collimated Jupiter 9 in LTM will give you what you want.

 

[rover]

A well collimated Jupiter 9 in LTM will give you what you want.

We have to get Kim back into the business of cleaning these lenses out and selling them in good working order for us.

 

[Bill58]

OK--I understand; then get a CLA'd J9 and save some big bucks!!!!

 

[Kim Coxon]

Old News!

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=422935#post422935 😉

Kim

We have to get Kim back into the business of cleaning these lenses out and selling them in good working order for us.

 

[Kim Coxon]

The 85/1.8 and 100/2 tend to be sought after by collectors and therefore quite expensive as Ralph says. Another good alternative might be the Canon 85/1.9 which you can get for less than half the price and only a little more than the J9 as long as you are not using an FSU camera.

Kim

 

[sleepyhead]

Thanks to all who suggested the J-9 - but I'm biased against lenses with no click stops on the apertures.

It would be nice to see some images taken with these lenses, e.g., the Canon 85mm 1.8 and the J-9.

 

[rover]

Well, that is good news for those in the old world. I actually gave in and bought a Nikkor 85/2 so a J9 would be redundent for me (not that that has stopped me in the past 😉).

 

[Kim Coxon]

The lack of the click stop on the J9 is less of an issue with the J9 than say the J8. The ring is further away and less likely to be "knocked". It also tends to be stiffer than the ones on the shorter focal lengths.

Kim

Thanks to all who suggested the J-9 - but I'm biased against lenses with no click stops on the apertures.

It would be nice to see some images taken with these lenses, e.g., the Canon 85mm 1.8 and the J-9.

 

[sleepyhead]

Hi Kim

I guess you mean J-8 in the above post.

I just searched the gallery for J-9 images and found some nice examples, but nothing on the 85mm 1.8 Canon.

 

[Bill58]

Well, that is good news for those in the old world. I actually gave in and bought a Nikkor 85/2 so a J9 would be redundent for me (not that that has stopped me in the past 😉).

What did you have to pay for the Nikkor?

 

[dexdog]

Hi Kim

I just searched the gallery for J-9 images and found some nice examples, but nothing on the 85mm 1.8 Canon.

Raid Amin included the Canon 85/1.8 in his test of mid-tele lenses this past summer. A search of the threads would probably turn it up. Happy hunting.

 

[jlw]

Then Canon 85/1.8 is relatively rare, so I don't know how much less expensive you will be able to find it compared to an older Summicron. The couple I have seen recently have sold for over $500, the pricing bible may be little low on this one.
http://members.aol.com/dcolucci/can.htm
Another alternative may be the Canon 100/2 which you see offered a little more often than the 85/1.8. I kick myself for not bidding higher on one that closed for under $300. Auctions that I have watched for the 100/2 have closed in a wide range, from under $300 to over $450.

Having owned both, I can tell you that the Canon 100/2 has much better full-aperture performance than the first-generation 90/2 Summicron -- it's somewhat sharper, and has considerably better resistance to flare and ghosting.

 

[Sonnar2]

Some of my pictures taken with the 1.8/85 Canon:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14734139@N00/tags/rfcanon1885/

I prefer it to most other 85's I have, incl. the more warm-toned Nikkor 2/85, the Jupiter (always decolliminated when you get them from Russia) and the 2.5/75 C/V which look is very similar, although it seems a bit sharper to me at infinity. If you like a more soft warm image wide open the 1.5/85 Canon may also be a choice. But this one is heavy too.

One last thing to add to the 1.8/85 is the single helicoil and has a long turn from infinity to 1m. Since it is still no lightweight (460g) this feels somewhat "stiff" and "slow". My Zeiss SLR lens 1.4/85 is quicker to move. Slightly sharper as well. (But nearly 15 years ahead in lens design too!)
The quickest focussing RF telephoto is again the C/V 2.5/75.

The 1.8/85 is way too slow in focussing, too rare (sources say 1852 made) and too expensive to use it as a everyday's telephoto lens IMHO. 60mm filters is also not very common. And 85mm brightline finder are even harder to find than the lens.

On the other hand I wasn't ever tempted by the 2/100mm (although it would better fit my Canon P finder) due to its volume, or be more precise, length.

It has to add that the SLR Canon FL lens 1.8/85 uses the same optical formular, has a double focussing helicoil, and is much cheaper to have (my was 60 USD). Can be used as preset lens for FD SLRs (http://www.taunusreiter.de/Cameras/Pentax_Takumar_85mm.html, scroll down to "Competition")

cheers Frank

 

[rover]

What did you have to pay for the Nikkor?

$325 shipped