Canon 50/1.4 LTM worthy of consideration

[janrzm]

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Hi

 

For the last week or so I've been taking a really good look at this lens on the Leica M Monochrom, M9 and Film M's.

 

I've done a User Report for anyone that's interested - The Japanese Summilux – Canon 50mm f/1.4 LTM

 

There are many images and info in the report and here are a couple of samples from this very capable lens.

 

Leica M6 - Fuji Astia 100F

 

Leica M Monochrom

 

Leica M9

 

Cheers, Jason.

[tappan]

Hi Jason,

Very well done indeed!

Thank you,

Mark

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[farnz]

With respect, there's something wrong with your depiction of the type 1 schematic: it's clearly not 4 components and 6 elements. It's difficult to tell whether the third element from the left is solid or an air gap but if it's solid then the three cemented elements form a group (or "component") and the formula is 4/8. If it's an air gap then there's an additional group and one less element and the formula is 5/7.

 

Either way, the optical designs for type 1 and type 2 are not the same.

 

Pete.

[janrzm]

With respect, there's something wrong with your depiction of the type 1 schematic: it's clearly not 4 components and 6 elements. It's difficult to tell whether the third element from the left is solid or an air gap but if it's solid then the three cemented elements form a group (or "component") and the formula is 4/8. If it's an air gap then there's an additional group and one less element and the formula is 5/7.

 

Either way, the optical designs for type 1 and type 2 are not the same.

 

Pete.

 

Hi Pete

 

The schematics are straight from original Canon Catalogues, I've not drawn them up.

 

I think the third element from the right is definitely an air gap, looking at it closely though from the right the 2nd group looks like it contains 3 elements which would still give 7 in total.......??

 

Cheers, Jason.

[farnz]

Thanks, Jason, it's good to know that I appear to have the correct number of fingers although odd that the Catalogue would have miscounted.

 

Pete.

[TomB_tx]

Thanks Jason - nice pictures and write-up. I've been experimenting with a later T2 for the past year, and have generally been pleased, especially with the small size for the speed. I also have a 50 1.8 from the same era, and overall like it better than the 1.4 - so it is also worth considering. (The 1.8 stays on my IIIf most of the time.)

[farnz]

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... (The 1.8 stays on my IIIf most of the time.)

Tom,

 

Does it obscure much of the viewing window? I have a Canon 50/1.2 but I don't use it on my IIIf for this reason (although I accept that the f/1.2 is larger than the f/1.8).

 

Pete.

[janrzm]

Tom,

 

Does it obscure much of the viewing window? I have a Canon 50/1.2 but I don't use it on my IIIf for this reason (although I accept that the f/1.2 is larger than the f/1.8).

 

Pete.

 

It would be interesting to know, I know the f/1.2 is larger as I've used one, the 50/1.8 I'd just always assumed to be almost the same as the 50/1.4

[TomB_tx]

The Canon 1.8 blocks much less of the viewfinder than the 1.4, but more than a Summitar because of the diameter of the focus ring. Here are comparisons:

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I'll try to get some "through the viewfinder" shots to illustrate.

[TomB_tx]

Here is a comparison via quick iPad shots. The 50 1.4 Canon:

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and the 50 1.8 Canon:

The Summitar barely is visible on the bottom of the finder, so I didn't bother with it.

[farnz]

Thanks, Tom, that's really clear and helpful.

 

Pete.

[satijntje]

What stands LTM for???

[farnz]

"Leica Thread Mount". It's also sometimes called LSM (Leica Screw Mount) or L39 (because it's 39 mm).

 

Pete.

[Ecar]

Thank you, Jason. An interesting article - and some great images.

I own this lens and agree that it's an excellent performer - particularly if it's clean and properly adjusted (ditto for the 50/1.2).

If you like the Sonnar look - and manage to get hold of one at a reasonable price - I'd suggest you try the (earlier) Canon 50/1.5 as well.

 

Also, perhaps this thread would be better suited to the Lens sub-forum?

[janrzm]

Thank you, Jason. An interesting article - and some great images.

I own this lens and agree that it's an excellent performer - particularly if it's clean and properly adjusted (ditto for the 50/1.2).

If you like the Sonnar look - and manage to get hold of one at a reasonable price - I'd suggest you try the (earlier) Canon 50/1.5 as well.

 

Also, perhaps this thread would be better suited to the Lens sub-forum?

 

Thanks Ecar,

 

I have a small list of lenses to search out when I'm in Japan, the 50/1.5 is one of them, thanks again.

 

Jason