New (Old) Lens - Canon 50mm f/1.5 LTM

[alucard]

So, after much flip-flopping and painstaking researching on the internet, I bought a Canon 50 f/1.5 in LTM mount. The previous 50 I had was a Summicron 50 v3, and I found it too contrasty for my B&W shots. I chanced upon a real deal on evil-bay, with a deep-scratch on front-element Canon 50mm lens. I took my chance and ordered the lens. The seller assured me he'll take back the lens if the scratch effects the photographs.

Here are the tests performed using a borrowed RD-1.

@f/1.5

@f/2

@f/2.8

@f/4

@f/1.5

The lens is clean with no haze or fungus. I really love the muted contrast, OOF areas and the drawing. Finally, I think I have found the lens that will go on my M2.

 

[mckenzy]

congrats on your purchase!

i'm still looking for large aperture Canons... hard to find leh...

 

[YOL925]

The canon 50/1.5 is a Sonnar clone. A very good lens (I have one with mint glass and love it). Try shooting it at 1m wide-open and see if there is focus shift problem. If none, keep it. A great lens for portraiture.

An even cheaper sonnar clone would be this

YOL

 

[alternatve]

The sonner lens design is a real classic and I love the "look" it has. Used to have a J-3 and what a lens it was...

Samuel

 

[tomato]

So, after much flip-flopping and painstaking researching on the internet, I bought a Canon 50 f/1.5 in LTM mount. The previous 50 I had was a Summicron 50 v3, and I found it too contrasty for my B&W shots. I chanced upon a real deal on evil-bay, with a deep-scratch on front-element Canon 50mm lens. I took my chance and ordered the lens. The seller assured me he'll take back the lens if the scratch effects the photographs.

Here are the tests performed using a borrowed RD-1.

@f/1.5

@f/2

@f/2.8

@f/4

@f/1.5

The lens is clean with no haze or fungus. I really love the muted contrast, OOF areas and the drawing. Finally, I think I have found the lens that will go on my M2.

Congratulations! Looks like a winner to me!

 

[benny]

Congrats!! Time to organize photo outing!

Cheers,

 

[benny]

Try shooting it at 1m wide-open and see if there is focus shift problem.

Can elaborate a bit more on this?

Cheers,

 

[alucard]

Can elaborate a bit more on this?

Cheers,

I think he means something like the ZM Sonnar 1.5, whether the focus shifts at close distances. I tried using the scale and paper photographs, but could not see any focussing shift. It was spot-on at all apertures and the closest focussing distance.

 

[halcy0n]

congrats on your purchase!

i'm still looking for large aperture Canons... hard to find leh...

If you are in Singapore, I did see two Canon 50mm 1.2 (I think...) at the second hand store opposite the canteen at Peninsular plaza about a week or two ago.

 

[writing with light]

Hi, just to check, which shop has it?
CamX or PG cameras?

 

[tan131]

Hi, just to check, which shop has it?
CamX or PG cameras?

CamX wld be the shop

 

[writing with light]

Thanks! Nick (the shop owner) is a great guy. =D. Think I'll pop by and ask him about it. heh heh.

 

[YOL925]

Sorry, OT (slightly).

I know russian Jupiter-3 is another sonnar clone, just as canon 50/1.5. I got a copy of J-3 from a RFF member, just for the fun of trying out the sonnar formula. That particular example is in a beat-up condition, with heavily scratched front element. This is a test shot taken with it, wide open:

The scratched front element seems to have no effect on the image quality (guess it can't get softer with even more scratches ) . The focusing accuracy is also spot-on. Not sure how different is its look as compared to other sonnar copies.
YOL

 

[gommy]

Great nice! I have a minty one which I bought but didn't really use it cos was hooked on Nikkor50mmf1.4. Took it out today & love it too I just love the 50mms on the M8.:heart:

 

[YOL925]

This is how that scratched J-3 looks like:

I called it J-3S :bsmilie:

YOL