Canon LTM Serenar 50/1.8

Canon M39 M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
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squirrel$$$bandit

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I was in the market for an affordable 50 with a vintage look, and found a Canon 50/1.8 on eBay, with a quite nice-condition IVSB attached to it. I was surprised when it arrived to find it was a Serenar; I thought IVSB's usually had Canon Lens lenses on 'em, but anyway, I quickly did some test shots on the R-D1. I believe it is a keeper. Tomorrow I'll shoot it on the IVSB...

shoes.jpg


basket.jpg


chairs.jpg


shuttlecocks.jpg
 
I believe the Serenar and the Canon marked version are only cosmetically different with the exception of the earliest (1st) type, which was marginally (20g) lighter. But the Serenar lenses are not as common as the Canon ones for sure.

I'm sure it'll be a blast and go retro with the IVSB with it! Enjoy and show us the pictures!

Cheers,
 
One thing, though, the aperture ring is extremely stiff--to the point that the lens has actually come unscrewed from the camera a couple of times while turning it. I have worked it a bit and it's not THAT bad now, but is there a way to lubricate this without sending the camera somewhere for a CLA? Everything else, including the glass & coatings, is flawless--I'd hate to have to pay just for this.
 
bennyng said:
I believe the Serenar and the Canon marked version are only cosmetically different with the exception of the earliest (1st) type, which was marginally (20g) lighter. But the Serenar lenses are not as common as the Canon ones for sure.

I'm sure it'll be a blast and go retro with the IVSB with it! Enjoy and show us the pictures!
Click to expand...

Will do...I'm working commencement tomorrow at the college where I teach, and will do some shooting there. Should be fun.

I will have to pull down Peter's book and see where my copy fits in!
 
bennyng said:
I believe the Serenar and the Canon marked version are only cosmetically different with the exception of the earliest (1st) type, which was marginally (20g) lighter. But the Serenar lenses are not as common as the Canon ones for sure.

I'm sure it'll be a blast and go retro with the IVSB with it! Enjoy and show us the pictures!

Cheers,
Click to expand...

Benny,

Both of my Canon 50/1.8 lenses are branded Serenar. The look is really cool. Optically, the Canon 50/1.8 is superb.
 
mabelsound said:
I was in the market for an affordable 50 with a vintage look, and found a Canon 50/1.8 on eBay, with a quite nice-condition IVSB attached to it. I was surprised when it arrived to find it was a Serenar; I thought IVSB's usually had Canon Lens lenses on 'em, but anyway, I quickly did some test shots on the R-D1. I believe it is a keeper. Tomorrow I'll shoot it on the IVSB...

shoes.jpg


basket.jpg


chairs.jpg


shuttlecocks.jpg
Click to expand...

The photos look very nice, John. In the end, it is the photographer and not the lens.
 
Nice score, John. A few weeks ago, I picked up a Canon IIIA at the Chicago camera show. Attached was a Serenar 50/1.8. Unfortunately, mine isn't in very good shape, with many front element fine scratches and some serious haze. The aperture ring has the same problem yours does. A LOT of working it back and forth helped a just little bit. I only paid $40 for both the camera and the lens and the camera seems to be just fine, so I'm not too worried about the lens. I've even thought about just tearing it apart for fun and learning. Since the lens is in such poor shape, I have nothing to lose. Your's, however, looks to be quite the keeper. The shots are proof of that!
 
Stiff focus lens? pop the lens into the oven at low temperature, around 40deg C and leave it for 20 minutes. That should melt the dried grease a little. I tried it on a J3 some time ago and the focus moves quite well now.
 
With all due respect, I am not going to put my brand new near-mint lens into the oven! I think I will be taking Robert up on his offer once I've had a few weeks to shoot with it.

Glad you guys like the pics! They were very off-the-cuff but the shuttlecocks one is growing on me...
 
The shuttlecocks shot is exceptionally nice. I imagine it would make a fun 8x12 on the wall.

The little :) ball of chrome and brass that is the Serenar 50/1.8 is one of the top 5 lenses of all time in my book and is still hugely underrated. So many times it just gets "thrown in" with a Canon RF body but I'd argue that more often than not the lens is the more valuable in user terms of the two - and I'm not dissing the bodies, the lens really is that good. If I ever get another screwmount body it will be because of Canon Serenar lenses.

Good luck with yours,

William
 
Used a Serenar 50/1.8 from 1985 to 2002. No complaints at all. A lens which quietly goes about the job and does it well.
 
Personally, I like the photo of the chairs slightly better than the shuttlecocks, John. They all look pretty good, though.
I added a 40 to 40.5 step ring to mine so I could use the hood and filters I've gathered for my FSU 50s on the Canon.
But let's not talk too fondly about this lens...at least until after I get another one!:D
Rob
 
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I've always really liked the bokeh and tonality I've seen from older canon RF lenses. Incredibly smooth. These are not high rez lenses, but they are very, very well balanced.

One day I will pick up another one. Probably have to wait longer though cuz this thread is going to surely raise the price!
 
Beautiful shoots. It seems all the Canon/Serinar ltm lenses are real gems. Have not tried anything longer than the 85 or the 25 (a topogon copy :?). I love the balance as someone else pointed out. Last week I won a 1.2/50 that looks like it needs some service. Hopefully it will come back in to shape. The seller had a mint 1.8/50 for le$$ . Now I wish I had bitten on that instead .
 
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