Canon LTM Some questions about Canon LTM 35/2

[Swift1]

I am contemplating getting myself a Canon LTM 35/2 lens, and just want to be sure it's the lens I want.
I have done some research on it and couldn't really find conclusive answers to my questions.

First and main question, how is this lens for distortion? If I shoot the face of a building directly straight on from 25-50 feet, will distortion be noticeable? Does distortion get worse as you get closer?
I'm not really looking for zero distortion, just want to know what to expect.

Second question, how does the lens handle color? Does have high saturation and high contrast? Does it tend towards a color cast? I like the colors I get from my Canon LTM 50/2.2. Will the 35/2 be similar?

Thanks in advance,

Colton

 

[Phil_F_NM]

You might find the 35/2 has a little more contrast, probably due to more modern coatings and that lens being a bit newer than the 50/2.2. when I had it, I loved my Canon 35/2. I sold it for a Summilux which honestly wasn't better at f2 than the Canon.

Phil Forrest

 

[raid]

Some call the Canon 35/2 The Japanese Summicron.
It is an excellent (small) lens.

 

[Timmyjoe]

Hey Colton,

I used to have a Leica 35mm Summicron ASPH but sold it because I always thought it rendered too "heavy". I shoot mostly B&W film and the Cron was too heavy on contrast. The 35mm f2 Canon LTM on the other hand renders "just right" for my tastes. It's higher contrast than the 35mm f1.8 Canon LTM but not as high contrast as the Cron. Seems "smoother" if that'a a thing.

I've never noticed bad distortion with the lens, but I honestly don't shoot architecture with it. And the little bit of color I've shot with it, I found it rendered very neutral.

I prefer a more neutral look from the lenses on my Leica, not a "modern" high contrast look, or a "vintage" very low contrast look. Found the 35mm f2 Canon LTM to be my favorite 35mm rangefinder lens on my Leicas, as I've never been able to afford the Nikkor 3.5cm f1.8 in LTM.

Hope that helps.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Swift1]

You might find the 35/2 has a little more contrast, probably due to more modern coatings and that lens being a bit newer than the 50/2.2. when I had it, I loved my Canon 35/2. I sold it for a Summilux which honestly wasn't better at f2 than the Canon.

Phil Forrest

Thanks Phil.
I think the 50/2.2 came out in 1961, and the 35/2 came out in 1962, so I imagine the coatings are similar, but I'm just guessing

Some call the Canon 35/2 The Japanese Summicron.
It is an excellent (small) lens.

Thanks Raid

Hey Colton,

I used to have a Leica 35mm Summicron ASPH but sold it because I always thought it rendered too "heavy". I shoot mostly B&W film and the Cron was too heavy on contrast. The 35mm f2 Canon LTM on the other hand renders "just right" for my tastes. It's higher contrast than the 35mm f1.8 Canon LTM but not as high contrast as the Cron. Seems "smoother" if that'a a thing.

I've never noticed bad distortion with the lens, but I honestly don't shoot architecture with it. And the little bit of color I've shot with it, I found it rendered very neutral.

I prefer a more neutral look from the lenses on my Leica, not a "modern" high contrast look, or a "vintage" very low contrast look. Found the 35mm f2 Canon LTM to be my favorite 35mm rangefinder lens on my Leicas, as I've never been able to afford the Nikkor 3.5cm f1.8 in LTM.

Hope that helps.

Best,
-Tim

Thanks for the info Tim. I totally get the "smoother"thing, and that's what I'm looking for. Rich colors, without hard contrast.

 

[dourbalistar]

Colton, shoot me a PM. I'll lend you mine, and you can find out for yourself whether or not you like it. Online reviews, image samples, and written opinions can only tell you so much.

p.s. Not sure if there are any brick wall shots in the Canon 35/2 LTM image thread here on RFF.

 

[Peter Jennings]

In my experience, it’s a mid-contrast lens with neutral colors. It spends more time on my M2 than any other lens. I have plenty of samples from it in b&w on my Flickr page. As for distortion, I’ve never noticed any - but I’ve never tested for it, either. Highly recommended!

 

[Swift1]

Colton, shoot me a PM. I'll lend you mine, and you can find out for yourself whether or not you like it. Online reviews, image samples, and written opinions can only tell you so much.

p.s. Not sure if there are any brick wall shots in the Canon 35/2 LTM image thread here on RFF.

Thanks for the offer. PM sent.
I agree, image samples and reviews will only tell so much. Everything I've seen and read about this lens looks quite good, I just haven't seen much info about distortion.
That thread is great with a lot of good photos, many of them yours

In my experience, it’s a mid-contrast lens with neutral colors. It spends more time on my M2 than any other lens. I have plenty of samples from it in b&w on my Flickr page. As for distortion, I’ve never noticed any - but I’ve never tested for it, either. Highly recommended!

Thank you Peter, good to know.

 

[raid]

M8 with Canon 35/2: Pensacola. Florida.

 

[Bingley]

I’ve had my sample of the Canon 35mm f2.0 for a number of years; I sold other Canon 35s but kept this one. Although I mainly shoot black and white with it, I’ve posted some color photos here which may give you a sense of how the lens renders. I can’t address the distortion question because I use this lens most often for street photography. For color, the lens does not give the desaturated look like you get from the Canon 35/2.8 or the 35/1.8. In that sense, it’s more modern in rendering. But it’s not as contrasty as, say, the CV Skopar 35. I think it hits a sweet spot that would be compatible with the look you’re getting from the Canon 50mm f2.2.

Sevilla by bingley0522, on Flickr

Scooters, Alfas, and antipasti by bingley0522, on Flickr


Conversation by bingley0522, on Flickr

 

[Bingley]

Footnote: I agree with Peter Jennings’ assessment above. And, needless to say, the 35/2.0 is very sharp... nice bokeh too.

 

[Ste_S]

Anyone shot the later (P era) Canon 50mm 1.8 ltm alongside the 35mm f2 and 2.8 ?

Quite pleased with how the 50 1.8 renders colour, and would like to get a similar 35mm. Pricing for the f2 and 2.8 versions seems broadly similar.

 

[Bingley]

Anyone shot the later (P era) Canon 50mm 1.8 ltm alongside the 35mm f2 and 2.8 ?

Quite pleased with how the 50 1.8 renders colour, and would like to get a similar 35mm. Pricing for the f2 and 2.8 versions seems broadly similar.

Yes, I had both the 35/1.8 and the 35/2.0 for awhile. Kept the latter, in part bc it handles flare better. The 35/1.8 gives a much more vintage look, both in terms of contrast and color saturation. This can result in lovely color images, but the lens flares badly if you point it at a light source, like a window or an open door. I don’t think the look of the 35/1.8 is all that similar to that of the 50/1.8, even though they’re from the same era. Look at Dante Stella’s article on Canon lenses for Leica cameras. The 50/1.8 is an excellent all round lens that handles flare better than the 35. There photos on my Flickr taken with all of these lenses if you want to see samples.

Sorry... I misread your post. You were asking about the Canon 50/1.8, not the 35/1.8. I think the short answer is that the 50/1.8 is very compatible with the 35/2.0. The look of the 35/2.8... not so much. The 35/2.8 is an older design and while it has its charms (and is tiny), it renders color in a mch more desaturated, pastel like way compared to the 50/1.8. If you want a Canon 35 that matches the look of the Canon 50/1.8, look for the Canon 35/2.0.

 

[Ste_S]

@Bingley Thanks, 35 f2 it is. I very much like the colour rendering of the 50 1.8, it’s just ‘right’ as opposed to something like Nikon F mount lenses which I find can be too contrasty and saturated at times. For example I daren’t run Ektar through Nikkor glass as the results tend to be a bit full on

 

[kuuan]

looking at my samples I just was about to say that it is pretty much distortion free:


Untitled by andreas, on Flickr

the one above taken with Sony A7, here all my photos taken with this lens: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kuuan/albums/72157644114143659/page1

but then I realized that the sample above is somewhat cropped and so are all distortion free samples.
If I remember right I must have corrected their distortion and that may have been the main reason for the slight crops

here 2 un-cropped photos taken with Sony A7 and these do show some distortion:


Untitled by andreas, on Flickr


Untitled by andreas, on Flickr

hopefully I shall find the time coming days to make a few shots to show better just how much distortion there is

 

[Swift1]

M8 with Canon 35/2: Pensacola. Florida.

Thanks Raid, those look great.

 

[Swift1]

I’ve had my sample of the Canon 35mm f2.0 for a number of years; I sold other Canon 35s but kept this one. Although I mainly shoot black and white with it, I’ve posted some color photos here which may give you a sense of how the lens renders. I can’t address the distortion question because I use this lens most often for street photography. For color, the lens does not give the desaturated look like you get from the Canon 35/2.8 or the 35/1.8. In that sense, it’s more modern in rendering. But it’s not as contrasty as, say, the CV Skopar 35. I think it hits a sweet spot that would be compatible with the look you’re getting from the Canon 50mm f2.2.

Sevilla by bingley0522, on Flickr

Scooters, Alfas, and antipasti by bingley0522, on Flickr


Conversation by bingley0522, on Flickr

Thanks Bingley. Your color film shots with the Canon 35/2 show the color qualities that I am looking for, and have a similar feel to what my 50/2.2 gives.
Here's an example from my 50/2.2 that I think shows its color qualities well.


Untitled by Colton Allen, on Flickr

 

[Swift1]

looking at my samples I just was about to say that it is pretty much distortion free:


Untitled by andreas, on Flickr

the one above taken with Sony A7, here all my photos taken with this lens: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kuuan/albums/72157644114143659/page1

but then I realized that the sample above is somewhat cropped and so are all distortion free samples.
If I remember right I must have corrected their distortion and that may have been the main reason for the slight crops

here 2 un-cropped photos taken with Sony A7 and these do show some distortion:


Untitled by andreas, on Flickr


Untitled by andreas, on Flickr

hopefully I shall find the time coming days to make a few shots to show better just how much distortion there is

Thank you Andreas.
Your last shot shows a bit of barrel distortion. If that's the worst it gets I can certainly live with it

 

[Swift1]

Thank you everyone for your help.
Last night I bit the bullet and ordered myself a nice looking Canon LTM 35/2. Hopefully everything works out with it.
Will keep y'all posted...

 

[Bingley]

Congrats and good luck with it... I plan to shoot with mine on Sunday...