Canon 'Serenar' 50mm f1.8 and M8 ?

[Guest Ming Rider]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

With my M8 currently being in Solms for a new sensor, I thought I would fill the void with a new lens ready for it's joyous return.

 

It's a Canon 50mm f1.8 LTM, the chrome version around 1953 ish. Serial no. 151566. Bought on ebay for £200 pounds (yep, probably slightly too much but it's supposed to be a goodun. It'll be going back if not).

 

Has anyone used one of these lenses, do you have any pictures taken with it or of it fitted to your M8/M9 and what do you think of it?

 

Does the aperture ring remain stationary when focussing, or does it rotate like the Jupiter 8?

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[Ecar]

Good copies are typically 150-200$, so yes, 200 £ is somewhat expensive, but still a bargain compared to more recent lenses.

It's a nice portrait lens, with low contrast, typical for such an optical design.

 

Fairly soft at f/1.8, gets sharper as you stop down, but don't expect it to become 'clinical': it won't. You may notice some focus shift on M8/9, due to the much tighter tolerances of digital vs. film, but it's not too difficult to compensate once you get accustomed to it.

If you don't like it, the later Canon f/1.4 is worth a try too, although a good copy will likely set you back 4-500$: more modern design, more contrast, but still retains an old-fashioned rendering.

 

I'm currently travelling, so can't post pictures. Will try and do that over the week-end.

 

The aperture ring doesn't move as you focus, and has click stops.

On a side note, I don't think the J-8 aperture ring moves with the focus one either (at least I'm pretty sure it doesn't on my version, but I can't check now) - however the J-8 has no click stops.

 

Hope it helps. Enjoy your purchase!

[Ecar]

As promised, here's a couple of quick (and otherwise very dull...) ones.

The first one was taken with M8 and 1953 Canon 'Serenar' 50mm, wide open @ f/1.8, 1/125s. Lens uncoded. Default conversion in LR3. No PP.

The second one shows the Serenar mounted on the M8. For good measure, this was taken with M9 and 1956ish Nikkor SC 50mm f/1.4.

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[Guest Ming Rider]

Hi Ecar. Wow, thanks for that. The pic of the light is certainly nice and sharp. Did you focus exactly with the RF patch or did you alter the focus slightly (if that makes sense)?

 

It definately looks good on the camera. Mine has been delivered. It's a weighty, well made beast for sure. Just waiting for M8 to come back from Solms any day soon.

[Ecar]

I see what you mean. In this case, I focused using the RF patch, no focus adjustment. My copy of the lens is fine wide open - well, it shows a tad of front focus when the subject is close to the min. focussing distance i.e. about 1m. But again, it's an old lady;)

I wouldn't expect such a lens to be perfect at all distances/apertures. Just play with it (I find that a shelf full of books is a very practical subject for this exercise), learn its quirks and any slight adjustment (e.g., move the camera slightly forward or backwards, as the case may be) will become second nature.

For this very reason, I tend to use one old lens at the time, for several days or even weeks, before I pick another one.

 

Another point: many of these 'fast' old lenses often produce veiling flare - enough to ruin your pictures. Although I found the Serenar to be one of the most resistant in this respect, a hood improves things noticeably. You may want to check out the Heavystar ones on the bay: they are reasonably priced and work as intended. Only drawback is that the color is only black. You should need a 40mm one for the Serenar.

 

Have fun when you get your M8 back.

[CharlesL]

Another point: many of these 'fast' old lenses often produce veiling flare - enough to ruin your pictures. Although I found the Serenar to be one of the most resistant in this respect, a hood improves things noticeably.

 

A consideration that probably applies to the 50mm as I found at issue with the 85/2: Many scenes, including warm late afternoon shots, require the IR cut filter when the lens is on an M8. Otherwise, you get lots of red that is difficult to post-process away. That plus a hood was too much for me to get involved with, so I use the lens for a narrow range of situations.

 

Here's a shot where IR was not a problem.

 

Lily after the rain

[Guest Ming Rider]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Here's a shot where IR was not a problem.

 

Lily after the rain

 

Well, if the shots turn out as well as this, I'll be happy.

[adan]

The Canon 50 f/1.8 LTM was a quite good fast-ish 50 from the era when Leica took a look at the new Japanese competition and scrapped the Summitar for the Summicron.

 

I only used them the couple of times I owned Canon P bodies, and was happy with the results. I have a K'chrome somewhere from around 1982 that looks very like Charles' wet-day lily.