Yikes: Canon 50/0.95 on R-D 1!

[Mackinaw]

This wouldn't surprise me. However, note that if the lens-to-film distance is slightly off, it wouldn't result in the whole image being reduced in sharpness -- it would simply result in the plane of best focus being slightly displaced from what you intended.

This is what I meant to say, that the plane of focus isn't where it's supposed to be.

I can tell you that my Canon 50/1.2 is sharp when it's on my Leica MP, but is slightly unsharp when on my Canon 7 or 7s and totally unuseable on my old Canon III-A (terribly fuzzy). It definitely pays to have these classic, high speed lenses adjusted to the camera they'll be used on.

Jim Bielecki

 

[Wimpler]

I am still offering my canon 50mm f0.95 in good condition for only $550. Original, non_TV version, original mount (canon 7). Email me at wim_abbeloos@hotmail.com for more informaton.

 

[Will]

Wimpler,

How long have you been selling that? Your price is reasonable (for a clean lens), re-post a tread in the 35mm classified and with 5 or 6 pics...

...then it would be gone in 60 seconds

can tell you that my Canon 50/1.2 is sharp when it's on my Leica MP, but is slightly unsharp when on my Canon 7 or 7s and totally unuseable on my old Canon III-A (terribly fuzzy). It definitely pays to have these classic, high speed lenses adjusted to the camera they'll be used on.

Refer to the above, JLW, did eastcamtech check the new mount with a film camera (ie, a M...)???

 

[Wimpler]

I'v been trying to sell it for 2 months. I've had a few answers from scammers and people trying to rip me off, and a few answers from people who were interested but couldn't convince their wifes, ... That kind of thing. Original price I offered it at was $700, has gone down to $550... I'd keep the lens if I had a leica or the canon 7 to use it on...

 

[Will]

I'v been trying to sell it for 2 months. I've had a few answers from scammers and people trying to rip me off, and a few answers from people who were interested but couldn't convince their wifes, ... That kind of thing. Original price I offered it at was $700, has gone down to $550... I'd keep the lens if I had a leica or the canon 7 to use it on...

Wimpler, I have a user-condition Canon 7s, the pervious owner(s) have even stratch a number on the bottom of it. I would like to let go of it, to finance my lens' conversion to M Mount, would you be interested?

Please PM me, but please note that I won't be able to send you photos within these two weeks. I am in China rightnow :bang: , need to get my job and life sorted (in Hong Kong).

 

[JohnL]

Another consideration is that on an RD-1 which has crop factor of 1.5x (IIRC), you are using only the sweet spot in the centre of the lens. One should expect some softness at the edges of the full 35mm frame with a lens this fast wide open. Also possibly some vignetting. Having said that, I do note that many people speak well of this lens at full frame, while others not. There is no doubt that wide open the DOF will be very narrow, and this requires very good RF calibration, so it seems likely that in many cases those with bad experiences have something slightly out of whack.

 

[SteveM(PA)]

Man jlw, are you taking pictures all the time with this setup? I think I would have to quit my job and snap every new perspective I can find in the world. I totally dig it, and hope you'll post more stuff : )

 

[ljsegil]

Simple question: After the conversions, is your lens still usable with the Canon7 or any other LTM screw mounts?
LJ

 

[jlw]

Simple question: After the conversions, is your lens still usable with the Canon7 or any other LTM screw mounts?
LJ

No, it isn't -- the lens is now M-mount only.

The 50/0.95 never did fit on any other LTM camera, because it doesn't use a screw mount. The diameter of the rear element is so large that it almost completely fills the 39mm mount diameter; there wouldn't have been enough room for a thread thick enough to support the weight of the hefty lens.

Instead, the Canon 7 and 7s have a special external flange on the outside of the body's mounting ring; this flange was used for mounting this lens and the Mirror Box 2 reflex housing. The lens engages this flange via a rotating breech-lock ring controlled by the 'ears' that project from the sides of the lens.

Converting the lens involves removing the breech-lock flange, drilling and tapping holes into the main body, drilling and countersinking matching holes in a Leitz screw-to-bayonet adapter, and attaching the adapter to the lens with machine screws.

The converted lens is so large in diameter that it blocks the lens-release pushbutton on some M-mount cameras. (It's not a problem on the R-D 1 because its lens mount is on a raised step; you can just barely squeeze your finger in behind the lens to press the button.) To deal with this, the man who converted my lens re-attaches the ring that carries the 'ears,' and modifies it so that pressure on one of the ears pushes down on the bayonet latch so the lens can be removed from the camera.

I suppose it would be possible to reverse the conversion process by unscrewing and removing the M mount and reinstalling the original breech-mount components, but it's not something you'd want to do as an everyday operation.

 

[jlw]

Man jlw, are you taking pictures all the time with this setup?

Not all the time -- I just use it in situations in which I think it might have potential. It's big and heavy enough that I tend not to bring it along unless I'm pretty sure I'll get some use out of it.

Glad you like the results. I like them, too -- I really should try to create more opportunities to use it.