Q From a Canon RF newb

[andredossantos]

Hi all!

I'd been thinking of getting a LTM camera for a while to go along with my Bessa (my intro to RF's) and to permanently house my 15mm heliar.

Anyway, a Canon P in EX condition popped up on KEH and I couldn't resist snapping it up. I've read a ton of good stuff regarding the P and Im sure I'll love it. However, the more I read the more it seems like I should get another LTM lens to go along with the heliar.

So, my question is: if you were going to have one 35mm or 50mm LTM lens that will mount on a P, which would it be? I'm don't have a requirements other than it being moderately priced and I have no prob with slow lenses.

Thanks so much for any insight!!

 

[Bingley]

Congrats on the P! The P shines w/ a 50, IMHO. I would recommend the Canon 50/1.8, which remains one of the great bargains in rf lenses. It's sharp, good contrast, lovely bokeh, balances well w/ the P, and is still very reasonably priced. Check out Dante Stella's write up on this lens in his article on Canon Lenses for Leica over at his website.

I also like using the Canon 50/1.5, which is a Zeiss Sonnar copy and a wonderful portrait and street shooting lens. Looks pretty cool on the P as well:

 

[pagpow]

+1 Canon 50 1.8

 

[Mablo]

CV 35mm/2.5 Color Skopar is another good and inexpensive choice.

 

[mr_phillip]

I mostly use my P with the 15mm Heliar and a 50mm Leica Summitar (a 1946 coated 10-blade example). It's a collapsable lens, which makes for a really compact two lens combo. I agree that the CV 35mm/2.5 is a cracking lens, but IMHO the P just works beautifully with a 50.

The Canon 50/1.8 is a really nice optic too, but I found that I preferred the look of the Summitar. YMMV.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

+1 Canon 50 1.8

 

[januaryman]

Like the man said: Can't go wrong with the Canon 50/1.8 -


OR the Canon/Serenar 35/2.8 - it was cheap when I bought it ($150) and the results were/are pretty amazing: .


So many lenses, so little time.

 

[flip]

The 1.8 is nice and small, but I kept the 1.4 - a fantastic deal and a bit of extra speed for night shooting. But consider the cost of filters / hoods if you go the 'canon way'... oddball sizes are annoying.

 

[januaryman]

Filters? Hoods? What are they? 😀

 

[pagpow]

The 1.8 is nice and small, but I kept the 1.4 - a fantastic deal and a bit of extra speed for night shooting. But consider the cost of filters / hoods if you go the 'canon way'... oddball sizes are annoying.

If you don't need historical authenticity, you can use a 40 to 40.5 and a 48 to 49 step up ring on the Canons and get into easily available sizes.

 

[flip]

If you don't need historical authenticity, you can use a 40 to 40.5 and a 48 to 49 step up ring on the Canons and get into easily available sizes.

Been there, done that, and got vignetting.

 

[Spider67]

+ 1 for the Canon 50mm/1,8 (We should start to describe this lens "as a good entry lens but...mediocre but adaquate results..§" inorder to keep the prices down!)
& for the 35mm/2.5 Skopar.........although as I wear glasses the Canon 7's 35mm frame is more comfortable for me.

 

[andredossantos]

Thanks a ton for all the replies! I had indeed been eyeing the 35mm skopar but the canon 50mm 1.8 seems to be the most popular. I'll have to keep my eye out for one.

Again, many thanks and if anyone else has any other suggestions I'd be happy to hear! 🙂

 

[pagpow]

Been there, done that, and got vignetting.

That's interesting. Hadn't heard that before and this is the 2nd time in the last two days I've read that. What sort of hood did you use?