Leica LTM Yashinon LTM 50mm 1.8? Looking for a new LTM 50mm

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
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Forest_rain

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I'm thinking about picking up a Yashinon 50mm 1.8 in LTM. Found it on craigslist locally. Not much info about this lens, but I need a new 50mm since my current one has haze, and I want to swap them out and try to find the sharpest one.

Looking at some Yashinon LTM images, some of the images appear a little soft. Maybe it depends on the lens model. Some photos on flickr look OK.

Is this lens good compared to the Canon 50mm 1.8 LTM?

Are there any other 50mm LTM lenses I should keep my eye out for, that I can find for a reasonable price?

Also, if I buy another Canon 50mm 1.8, how much should I expect to spend? Is $150 + shipping the standard amount if the lens is in good condition/haze free?
 
The Yashinon should probably be a fantastic optic. If I recall correctly, they were made by Tomioka for most of their run. Your Canon is a VERY good lens though, so you're just chasing GAS at this point. The Yashinon won't be much better if at all. Put that money into getting your Canon cleaned, not replacing it with another lens that may have its own unknown issues.
As for the sharpest one, you need to find a Canon 50/1.4, which will be only marginally better than your 1.8. Seriously, the difference between the lens you already have, when in good condition, and any other 50mm LTM you can find is almost nil. You can put that Canon against a collapsible Summicron and not know the difference.
Phil Forrest
 
Phil_F_NM said:
The Yashinon should probably be a fantastic optic. If I recall correctly, they were made by Tomioka for most of their run. Your Canon is a VERY good lens though, so you're just chasing GAS at this point. The Yashinon won't be much better if at all. Put that money into getting your Canon cleaned, not replacing it with another lens that may have its own unknown issues.
Phil Forrest
Click to expand...

OK, fair enough. I'll go ahead and use cerium oxide to polish the rest of the residue off and see how it goes.

Should arrive in a few days. I'm just worried about it changing the lens optic slightly, if it changes the shape of the lens element slightly, it might cause distortion if I polish off the haze.
 
The 50mm Yashinon in LTM is an excellent lens, it is rare when compared to the lens it was fashioned to look like, the later made two tone and very common Canon 50mm f1.8

It came on the Nicca made Yashica YF that was sold in 1959/60 and at blowout prices at the end, as people wanted SLRs in that era as the latest and the greatest newest camera.

As Phil said, Tomioka made that lens..Tomioka had a good rep as an independent lens maker that stands to this day.
 
Cerium oxide takes a long time to cut glass, if you're using a soft applicator. It can be very quick if you're using a convex surface to cut yoour own telescope mirror, but that is another forum.
Your lens looks like it was flooded, as it has what looked like water spots. Before doing the abrasive polish, try other easily available cleaners, such as white vinegar. If your lens was flooded, you may have mineral deposits on the lens and vinegar could help remove them. Also try hydrogen peroxide. After that, go to the cerium oxide, applied with either a cotton swab or your finger in a rubber glove. Hopefully you have gotten the element out of the lens. If you do this in the lens, you risk getting some of the polish in places which it shouldn't be. Get a set of good lens spanner wrenches, you will bugger up llens retaining rings until you do.
Best of luck.
Phil Forrest
 
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