Solid Opinion on Canon Serenar 50mm f1.9

[nation_of_pomation]

I'm having a hard time finding anything fairly recent in regard to this lens, other than a few negative opinions. Does anyone have any detailed insight they could give me on this lens? The values of the Canon 50mm 1.8 and the CV 50mm lenses in LTM are pretty high (in my opinion/in my market) as of right now, but the Canon Serenar 50mm f1.9 seems to be staying put. Also, if it helps answering better, I skew more artful than I do technical; my current favorite 50mm lens is my Jupiter-8-1. Any insight and/or example photos would be much appreciated!

 

[ferider]

I believe it performs very similar to the Summitar. Which some hate and some love, so I think only you can decide if it's good for you .... It is the predecessor of the 50/1.8, which has only a very slightly modified formula:

 

[Mackinaw]

Had one years back (came with a Canon III-A I bought), but sold it. Wide-open, it's on the soft side. It sharpens up nicely at F2.8. At F4 and beyond, it's very sharp and contrasty.

I sold it because I wasn't using it (preferred my Canon 50/1.4). Overall, I liked it.

Jim B.

 

[kermaier]

Roland, is that chart from Canon? They left the 50/2 off -- I assume it's a predecessor of the 50/1.9....

 

[pdexposures]

As Mackinaw said:

Wide open it glows:


Untitled by pdexposures, on Flickr

Stopped down it's quite sharp:


220 SE AUTOMATIC by pdexposures, on Flickr

220 SE AUTOMATIC by pdexposures, on Flickr

 

[Mackinaw]

Roland, is that chart from Canon? They left the 50/2 off -- I assume it's a predecessor of the 50/1.9....

You can find this chart in the 1957 book "Canon Photography" by Jacob Deschin. Not sure where he got it.

Jim B.

 

[ferider]

He posted a link to a chart on Dante's website (http://www.dantestella.com/technical/evolution.html).