choices elmar 50m 2.8 / canon 50m 1.4 ltm

[Steve66]

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I am faced wit a choice between these two 60's leenses. I've tried both ..the elmar straight out of the camera produces good colour and wide but I find it a problem in limited light.

 

The canon again with minimal pp work nice colour and wide open lovely oof rendition.

 

The two stops of the canon l see as an advantage in low light but on the other hand there is the 'magic' of the leica.

 

Has anybody had experience or can offer advice?

 

Steve.

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[tobey bilek]

Elmar 50 2.8 is a fine lens, new version being better than old.

 

Do you have some assurance the Canon will focus on the M8? Older lenses may need some adjusting as tolerences have tightened. You will needUV/IR filter for it and then it really should be coded some way. Are the filters available in required size? W/o filter,more colors besides blacks are off.

 

Unfortunately Leica is not a budget camera. I have always been disappointed in every budget solution I Have tried,

[brianv]

I used a Canon 48mm Hot Mirror filter with mine on the M8, found the filter on Ebay. It looks like a rebranded Tiffen made for the first generation Digital cameras and still sold.

 

The Canon 50/1.4 - make sure the glass is cleaned, not etched. Look for marks on he front element, and on each side of the aperture. The lens uses a shim, would not be hard to adjust- but mine is perfect on the M8.

 

The Canon 50/1.4 is unusual in being a wide-aperture 6 element in 4 group Planar formula lens. Canon introduced a high index of refraction/ low dispersion glass that allowed the design. Unfortunately, the glass often reacted badly to lubricants used- so be able to inspect before buying or make sure to have return privilige.

[photoshutter]

Canon 1.4 is much better lens, not too contrasty and very sharp, you can use 6 bit adapter and ir/cut filter with no problem, focus is spot on on my M8, also I modified lens for 70cm close focus.

[jaapv]

Depends on the version of the Elmar. If it is the newest Elmar-M, that is a hard lens to beat quality-wise. Especially for a vintage wide aperture lens.

Anyway these lenses are so different that one could make a case for owning both.

[photoshutter]

Depends on the version of the Elmar. If it is the newest Elmar-M, that is a hard lens to beat quality-wise. Especially for a vintage wide aperture lens.

Anyway these lenses are so different that one could make a case for owning both.

I mean new Elmar-M 50mm, this Canon you can compare with Summilux second version, I have both, new Elmar-M 6 bit and Canon 1.4 with 6 bit code adapter.

[brianv]

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The OP specified the 1960s version of the F2.8 Elmar.

 

These days- finding a later vintage (Black finish as opposed to all-chrome) Canon lens is getting more difficult. I have a clean example of the 50/1.4, but just handled one with an etched front surface. It looks like skin oil etched it- looks like fingerprints on the glass, forever. I've seen the same on front elements of Canonet QL17, probably the same glass. Much worse than 1950s Leica lens coating issues, which can be replaced. Etched glass means having to polish it down, not just removing the coating.