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Canon LTM 50mm 1.4 M39
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 07, 2015 10:39 pm    Post subject: Canon LTM 50mm 1.4 M39 Reply with quote
Hi! Im very curious about this lens, there is very little info about it on the web. I can only really find one that is on steve huffs blog. If anyone have it or have used i would love to know how it performs.


PostPosted: Mon Dec 07, 2015 10:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
The Canon LTM lenses are excellent as a group and the 1.4/50 is one of the best. It was called in its time the Japanese Summilux so search for that if you can't find anything else on the net, although I have been able to find information searching under 'Cannon LTM 50mm f1.4'.

It is very sharp, even wide open and doesn't go all dreamy like the LTM 1.2/50 and .95/50 lenses and the bokeh is smooth and not distracting.

I had one for years but sold it. I have been unhappy about that sale for some time so I bought another that just arrived two days ago. Here are a pair of test shots...






PostPosted: Mon Dec 07, 2015 11:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Nice shots.


PostPosted: Tue Dec 08, 2015 1:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

canon 50/1.4 ltm by unoh7, on Flickr

very good lens, common, many were made. They can get hazy but they are easy to clean. Many people have them. Try this search and you see many comments:

https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=canon+50/1.4+site:rangefinderforum.com&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

Canon made two high end 50s at this time, the 1.4 and the 1.2, and they are very different. The 1.4 is optimized for sharpness across the frame, while the 1.2 may actually be sharper in the center but falls off alot at the edge (on Full frame).

Here is the 1.4 on the M9 at f/4

Sisters by unoh7, on Flickr

You can get to the full via flickr. Note the edges.

Here at 1.4:

L1041985 by unoh7, on Flickr

another wide open:

L1001683 by unoh7, on Flickr

now back to around F/4:

L1001696 by unoh7, on Flickr

and one at f/5.6:

L1041991 by unoh7, on Flickr

There are two "types" but optically they are identical, and near identical in build. It's a double gauss.

Why is it the "Japanese Summilux?" Well because the Leitz Summilux v1 is alot more money, still around 1500USD today, and this lens is down to around 250USD or even less and the design is somewhat similar. The Leitz is a better lens, both optically and in the build. Today it has a real clone, the CV 50/1.5 which is actually a little better, and is maybe the most popular 50mm on rangefinders on the ground today, since it is quite affordable and well built. The latest Summilux the 50 ASPH, is in another league entirely, as sharp at f/1.4 as these lenses are at 5.6, at least in bench tests by Erwin Puts. It costs about 2300USD.

Now, it should be said, you won't get these results with a Sony A7, which also hates the 50 Lux ASPH. The centers will remain good but the edges are not great on the stock sony. A Kolari A7 will shoot it pretty well, here a few shots, but I don't have any thing handy with edges from that camera, nevertheless you get some idea of the bokeh, these are WO:


Crossed Skis by unoh7, on Flickr


Watch by unoh7, on Flickr

Nikon RF at the same era had a 50/1.4 Sonnar optimized for close in shooting, but across the frame it was nothing like this, which is funny because at other FLs they really had some strong technical lenses. But they redesigned that lens in the 60s, with the "Olympic" version, a double gauss, which will easily compete with this lens. That lens was tweaked and reissued for the Millennium S3 2000:
https://www.cameraquest.com/NRFS3%202000.htm

It is reputedly a very strong lens. Smile

The little Canon 50/1.8 LTM is about 110USD and is also good.


PostPosted: Tue Dec 08, 2015 2:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
It was the highest performing standard lens for the Canon rangefinder system at its time, that's all you need to know, you can find many examples on rangefinderforum.
Go just for it (preferably the v2 version with scales in both metres and feet) if the price is right and the condition is good too (they can vary quite a bit). It is not that rare so it is reasonably priced.
If you intend to use it on an (unmodded) Sony FF mirrorless and shoot landscapes as well, it is not optimal as it never really sharpens up at the edges. However, for portraits and other stuff it works great, especially if you like the way it renders colors and bokeh or the way it flares.

I also tried the even more common Canon 50/1.8 LTM and I would say that the 1.4 is quite a bit better overall and worth the extra expense. But the character is a bit different so can see why some still like the 1.8


PostPosted: Tue Dec 08, 2015 3:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
It's a good lens.
I went for the 50/1.2, I don't regret it one bit.


PostPosted: Tue Dec 08, 2015 6:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
It is a good lens. MFD is 1m. Size and weight is good with a7.
Cheap option for summilux but not a replacement.

I use 50/1.8 ltm for size and weight if low light is not required. then 50/1.2 ltm when I need more light.


PostPosted: Tue Dec 08, 2015 2:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
it's a very good lens, quite sharp from wide open. It can glow just a bit wide open, specially with electrical lights which it doesn't like all that much, it is a fairly old lens after all. I like the images it produces, specially the colors.

wide open on NEX5n:
Untitled by Andreas, on Flickr

and on Sony A7
Liz by Andreas, on Flickr

and stoped down a bit, pardon me for the 'subject', it's to show the colors Smile
cleaning and cutting of a pig by Andreas, on Flickr


PostPosted: Tue Dec 08, 2015 6:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thanks for the helpfull images and advice everyone! It think this is the 50mm i've been looking for, but saying that would anyone we so kind of getting me some raw files at 1.4 that i could play around with? Would be so very very kind!
Here is a great site https://www.wetransfer.com/plus/24?trk=SplashPage

uhoh7 wrote:


very good lens, common, many were made. They can get hazy but they are easy to clean. Many people have them. Try this search and you see many comments:

https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=canon+50/1.4+site:rangefinderforum.com&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

Canon made two high end 50s at this time, the 1.4 and the 1.2, and they are very different. The 1.4 is optimized for sharpness across the frame, while the 1.2 may actually be sharper in the center but falls off alot at the edge (on Full frame).



You can get to the full via flickr. Note the edges.



There are two "types" but optically they are identical, and near identical in build. It's a double gauss.

Why is it the "Japanese Summilux?" Well because the Leitz Summilux v1 is alot more money, still around 1500USD today, and this lens is down to around 250USD or even less and the design is somewhat similar. The Leitz is a better lens, both optically and in the build. Today it has a real clone, the CV 50/1.5 which is actually a little better, and is maybe the most popular 50mm on rangefinders on the ground today, since it is quite affordable and well built. The latest Summilux the 50 ASPH, is in another league entirely, as sharp at f/1.4 as these lenses are at 5.6, at least in bench tests by Erwin Puts. It costs about 2300USD.

Now, it should be said, you won't get these results with a Sony A7, which also hates the 50 Lux ASPH. The centers will remain good but the edges are not great on the stock sony. A Kolari A7 will shoot it pretty well, here a few shots, but I don't have any thing handy with edges from that camera, nevertheless you get some idea of the bokeh, these are WO:


Nikon RF at the same era had a 50/1.4 Sonnar optimized for close in shooting, but across the frame it was nothing like this, which is funny because at other FLs they really had some strong technical lenses. But they redesigned that lens in the 60s, with the "Olympic" version, a double gauss, which will easily compete with this lens. That lens was tweaked and reissued for the Millennium S3 2000:
https://www.cameraquest.com/NRFS3%202000.htm

It is reputedly a very strong lens. Smile

The little Canon 50/1.8 LTM is about 110USD and is also good.


PostPosted: Tue Dec 08, 2015 8:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Lightshow wrote:
It's a good lens.
I went for the 50/1.2, I don't regret it one bit.


It's a very interesting comparison, and the 1.2 is not much more money today.


Canon 50/1.2 LTM by unoh7, f/2ish

Close range in the center frame it's really good:


L1041894 by unoh7, on Flickr

here at f/4:

L1041901 by unoh7, on Flickr

What you can see below, again at f/4, no edges:

Driveway by unoh7, on Flickr
Compare that to the 50/1.4 at f/4 and it's a stark contrast.

However the lens can does things the 1.4 cannot:

Arch by unoh7, WO

Dead Beds by unoh7, F/2ish

Note the central frame is really crisp. Smile As a portrait lens, no contest, to my taste the 1.2 is better. But as a general 50, again no contest the 1.4 is alot better Smile


PostPosted: Fri Nov 18, 2016 8:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
on Sony NEX5n:

[url=https://flic.kr/p/oDCwzw]
friends[/url] by andreas, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/ot7HHu]
Untitled[/url] by andreas, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/pVwbYr]
Untitled[/url] by andreas, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/qegRDS]
Gothic Lolita[/url] by andreas, on Flickr

on Sony A7:

[url=https://flic.kr/p/FtRD89]
portrait[/url] by andreas, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/FS4fmw]
Le Dat[/url] by andreas, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/ECPJoc]
Untitled[/url] by andreas, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/MNmba6]
Untitled[/url] by andreas, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/NSseZ5]
at the happy death party[/url] by andreas, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/NNiKdf]
Untitled[/url] by andreas, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/HRzsGa]
Untitled[/url] by andreas, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/GTeegs]
Untitled[/url] by andreas, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/G3hgSb]
selling Bun[/url] by andreas, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/GDeF5q]
Dinh Cau[/url] by andreas, on Flickr


PostPosted: Fri Nov 18, 2016 9:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
It depends on what format you use. The Canon 50mm f/1.4 TV lens in C-mount performs better than the LTM on smaller formats.

From A7 II



PostPosted: Mon Apr 23, 2018 10:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
One other review of Canon LTM 50 1.4, on digital camera. Hope it can be interesting for someone


PostPosted: Mon Apr 23, 2018 6:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Nice job, not sure what the Anime has to do with the lens.


PostPosted: Tue Apr 24, 2018 1:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I guess they wanted to be trendy.

Back to the lens; still has the off-colors of most of these early lenses. Not a fan.
I just sent one that I received from Japan for a CLA with Youxin Ye. Plan to use it on a Monochrom or B&W film. That seems its best application. From what I've seen, the 50 Rigid handles color with better fidelity. Probably the best of all these optics of that era.
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