⭐️ Patreon: Join us today for more videos! From £1/mth - www.patreon.com/mrleicacom ✅ Check price on eBay: (US) ebay.to/3lddUgn (UK) ebay.to/33nxuQK (DE) ebay.to/3ngni4r (FR) ebay.to/30uQbjB (CA) ebay.to/3cUYPgq ▶️ Watch Next: Series 1: Leica M Mount Lens Reviews - ua-cam.com/play/PLQrNLZpnEw8DfKHuqQuz4zsmnpLCqqYSk.html
Hello Matt. This has been a great review. The illustration photos at the end give a lovely plus to the review. I have this lens since a few years, but I have seldomly used it. I'm in France, where these Canon LTM lenses are pretty rare, so my copy was bought from a seller in Great Britain via Ebay. The seller has warned about a "moderate" degree of haze in it. And I was warned on my local forum about the haze problems this Canon 50mm f/1.8 has. Despite this, as I already cleaned some haze problems in various lenses for my reflex cameras before, I proceeded to buy it. This one was another story. The haze is located in the rear lens block, next to the diaphragm. It did not clean, no matter the liquid I used. In fact, the haze this Canon lens has is a form of etching / corrosion of the lens surface. It's in the glass. From what I read, Canon has used a particularly fragile type of glass in here, and this cannot be cured without complete dismantling and repolishing of this lens element. So there is little hope. Sadly, the Canon 100mm f/3.5 suffers from the same problem (don't ask how I know...). You can consider yourself lucky to have a clean copy. On my copy, the haze is clearly visible looking through, and lowers contrast. I was sad to not be able to fully enjoy the qualities of this lens, so I bought a (very) nice Fujinon L 5cm f/2 from Japan. It was rather expensive, but the build quality is outstanding (it is mainly made of brass) and its heavier weight helps balance my Canon camera, when hanging from the strap. On top of that, unlike Canon, the Fujinon has a 43mm standard filter thread, that allows to use commonly available filters straight on. BTW, I'm a newcomer to the rangefinder world, after 3 decades of reflex use, so your channel is inspiring. Cheers.
I've had this lens for a little while now. I'm using it on a Canon P, Canon 7, and Fujifilm X-3. My copy has a light touch of haze which I think is the reason it is so soft and milky wide open. At f5.6 thru f11 it is very sharp and renders very rich colors. That said, overall, I prefer my Jupiter 8 to this lens for everyday use. The Jupiter is sharper and the colors it renders are every bit as pleasing, albeit different, than the Canon. I may bite the bullet and send this lens off for a cleaning, with the hopes it will perform better wide open.
Hi yes my Leica Summarit 50 1.5 had haze. I sent it off for cleaning and it transformed the lens. I would recommend cleaning for sure! The J8 is also nice. I use those too.
I recently won an auction on eBay to get this beauty for £30, and I just receive it tonight. While the glass looks very clean, one of the inner element in the middle is severely hazed, and I still tried it with my Sony fullframe with AWB on. The sharpness is still a bit better than my clean copy of Jupiter-8, both wide open. I bought this just for learning how to fix vintage lenses, and find out how to remove the haze.
Thanks for another great video! Re 50mm screw mount lenses, I recently purchased a Leotax barnac style rangefinder (although it is bigger than the Leica barnacs and bigger than the Nicca barnac-clones also). The camera came with a Tokyo Kogaku Topcor-S 5cm f/2, which I really like.
I have recently acquired a decent copy of this lens, but have yet to try against my F2 Summitar. I will also compare this against my Nikon 50mm f2 S-mount on my S2. May have to throw in the Jupiter f2 for fun. Great video. Always like seeing film examples of results from the lenses you review.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Mint ? CLA'd recently ? £180 inc Delivery. Hopeful as a novice Leica M, Manual focus guy. Voigtlander 35mm 1.2 / 75mm 1.8 user so far amazed at the sharp shots, sympathetic of the error's.
Just got the Version 1 today because of you. You saved me a lot of money, now the M3 will arrive next week. I can’t wait to try it. But it’s mostly possible Than I will get a Summicron In 6 months also 😂😂🤷.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom The lens came today. Very nice from just some random shooting, as good as you said, i.e., very good. I have the same grey weather you have so I am invoking the gods to provide some sunshine. Thanks for the help. Ye knows yer onions.
Oh and the Canon 50/2.2 makes an even more compact kit on a Barnack than a 1.8 and seem to be increasingly commonly available primarily on the Bay from Nippon.
The real name for theLeica thread is just M39. Between 1955 and 1965 in Japan a lot of rangefinder and SLR cameras had threads between 37 mm and 44 mm.. Mind the fact: M39 thread lenses have two different pirches.
I was debating between this lens and the Canon 50mm 1.9 collapsible (the Serenar) for my Leica iiif. I decided to go with the 1.9 collapsible because I wanted to keep the setup small, and similar to the Leica version (ie the Serenar is similar to the Summarit if I recall correctly). So far I have shot only one roll but I am working on shooting another. So far, I really like it, especially the price vs the Leica equivalent.
@@difool1959 Thanks, yes I bought clean copies but thanks for sharing this for others to benefit from. It's like similar lenses from this period where often a lens has a flaw of some kind on some copies.
Nico Cazals thanks! It’s usually Fomapan 100 for most my photos but from memory some were Pan 400 (blonde girl). Eventually I’ll do a blog post to go with it with high res pics and details linked 👍🏻
Hi Matt thx for this review. Do you think/know of there is a difference of quality between version 2 and version 3 of it. The optic formula seems to be the same.
Hi Matt, I recently purchased one of these lenses, payed less than £200 for it and only problem is some micro dust, no haze or fungus. So far I’m very impressed so now looking for a decent f1.4 and also one of the 35mm lenses. I’m still sourcing filters at the moment but I’m finding that a lot of the sellers are asking top dollars for them ☹️
Geoff Marshall great yes I did the same. I have the 1.8 1.4 and a 35 1.8. Both 1.8 lenses use same hood and filter which helps. Try to get a lens with hood to save cash or just keep looking. That’s what I did.
Matt, another great video. I would love to see you do a review of the Canon P the camera body this lens was actually designed for. There's the 1.8 and there's a much sought after 1.2. I own the Canon P and the Canonet QL17 GIII which are great cameras in their own right. My only M mount camera is the Voigtlander BESSA R2A. Paired with the Voigtlander, vintage Minolta and Konica or 7Artisans M lenses work great for me with this system. The Leica film M mount cameras are simply overpriced right now especially on eBay.
Thanks I have a Canon Model 7 I need to review so that will come in time. I know it is not the P but it is as close as I have. Leica iii cameras still offer fantastic value if you want a Leica. I much prefer mine to the Canon. (and not as a Leica nut.. I back the 'best' camera for my needs).
Actually this lens was not designed for the P. In chrome version it predated the P by many years. A lens designed for the P is the difficult to find 50/2.2, a lens only sold for the first half of 1961. Good luck finding one outside of Nippon.
I had the 50mm 1.8 and I think it's an underated lens. I ended up selling because it's not different enough from my 40mm. Now have the 50mm 1.2 for portraits but for travel the 1.8 would be better. Also have the 35mm f2
Thanks Simon, yes I like the small size for travel but as you say many lenses can do a similar job (see my next video on that topic!.. out today..uploading now!). I have 35mm Canon's to come too. :)
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom can also recommend the 35mm f2... Great quality considering how cheap compared to a leica lens. I had a 35mm 1.8 Before, but it had haze and wasn't great... The f2 I highly recommend for £250 or so
Hey Matt, really appreciate your Channel lately. Can buy a really cheap copy of this for my m240 would consider the 50/1.4 worth a 160€ extra? Best Chris
Hello Matt, I am going to Cuba soon and was wondering if you would recommend the f1.8 or the 1.4 lens? I will be shooting with it on a fujifilm XE1 and mainly as a portrait lens?
I'm looking for a lense to pair with the 50mm f1.4 ltm.i love the vintage swirly bokeh. From what I can tell the f1.8 does not have it, but the 35mm f2 does. Thoughts?
Hello Matt. I just bought my first Leica Barnack and I am thinking to get this lens as my first 50mm to go with it (later I will probably add a collapsible 50mm lens), my question is: does the lens block the viewfinder at all since it is bigger than collapsible 50mm lenses?
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom thank you for your answer. I now saw your video about the Heliar 40mm f2.8 LTM and I think I will make an effort and pull the trigger. My only concern is on how limited it is to use a 40mm lens on a camera that only has a 50mm window for composing. Man, you are consing me money 😆🤣
Hi Matt, thank you for your content! I am in the market to buy this lens for my Canon P. I have the option to get a chrome version which I believe is the first version of this lens. Do you have any experience with this version and would you recommend this version over the ‘normal’ version? Thanks in advance!
Hi Andor, nice! Some say the optics are the same in all versions but coatings will be better in later (black) copies - black should be better imagines, contrast, colours etc.
Nice review of a great lens. Per Kitchingham's magnum opus, your lens (based on serial number) is the penultimate black and chrome version (type 7) issued approximately 1/61 through 12/70, sold concurrently with Canon P, 7, 7s and 7sZ bodies. It even has the correct lenscap (black plastic, earlier versions came with satin chrome caps). In the past a difficulty with using this and many other Canon ltm lenses was the scarcity of 40mm hoods/filters. This has been obviated to some extend by the use of this size on Fuji X10/20/30 lenses. Fuji and aftermarket hoods and filters are now available including a 40mm circular polarizer filter by Marumi, selling for ca. US $40...
Thanks again for your knowledge Adam, sorry I missed some of the comments so going back through them. Yes all my Canon lenses are the black and silver with black plastic cap. So do you mean mine is the v3 (as they call it). It is a clean copy so I guess that makes sense. Thanks. I bought another lens with the hood and then I use it across my 40mm size lenses (and filters camera with the camera you spotted in another comment!) :)
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom But 40mm Canon filters are rare as hen's teeth. The Marumi 40mm UV and polarizer are great news for color shooters, but 40mm filters for black and white film are essentially unavailable. SERIES VI filters are an option, but since the Fuji X10 (X20,x30) digital cameras use 40mm filters and the FUJI LH-X10 lens hood (ca $40) and chinese clones (
Thanks Matt for this review. I have one and I consider buying an Elmar 50mm 3.5... mainly because of aesthetics! How would you compare both lenses in terms of performance and usability?
Thanks Denis, have you seen my Elmar video (and the sharpest 50mm lens video)? It's a strong performer no question! I use the Canon if need a fast lens and the Elmar for everything else. Both have there place. The Canon 50/1.4 is also great (see that video).
Thanks and many thanks for your Patreon support!! :) Yes of course.. I think this was a rare period when I dusted off the M240! I thought I should try to share FF examples but see Flickr and you will see CL samples too.
I've bought 2 in the past and both have been sent back due to haze. I finally bought the 1st version, which is all chrome, as it seems less susceptible, and I'm happy with it. They're very solidly built lenses.
hello Matt , i have already a Leica 50mm F/2 summicron M mount ( not collapsible ) and trying to survive some gear acquisition syndrome , i need your advice : is it worth to buy this canon 50mm F/1.8 ? i am not professionnal ( just hobby ) . thanks for your help . daniel from france
Thanks Jaime, yes I think as people started to find this lens during lockdowns people have been buying up the clean ones. Keep looking, you'll find one.
Thanks Matt, nice video. Would be nice to see a comparison of the lens with the Summicron, from the artists POV. And of course, the comparison to the 1.4. I have recently acquired both Canons, with a Canon P and learning to use the combo. Cheers
Thanks Gregory, the advance of the Summicron, especially the later models like the version 5 I show is it focuses at 0.7m which is much better for me vs 1m. Leica will be better in all regards, sharper, build, flare, contrast, but for 10x more you would expect it. I actually worked backwards and owned Leica first but for many this Canon 50mm is a great starter lens for a Leica camera (or other).
@@gregorydaskos1229 Thanks and yes agreed.,. though for the money you should save up and treat youself to a Leica iii camera.. They are absolute beauties, great value and will hold their value. (See the Leica iii videos if tempted!) :)
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Have to partially disagree with you Matt. In my experience the Canon 50/1.8 is sharper than the Leitz 50/2 SM lenses it was concurrent with (Summitar and Summicron v1 (collapsible). I cannot evaluate the rigid chrome v2 (came as dual range), but it was only issued in ltm in small numbers so very expensive. Of course the later Summicrons i have (v3 and v4) are better and focus to 0.7m.
I've bought 2 of these in the past and both have had to be sent back due to haze. I finally bought the 1st version, which is all chrome, as it's apparently less susceptible, and I'm happy with it. They're very solidly built lenses. I must admit, it's a real struggle to find affordable LTM/LSM lenses. If anyone has any more suggestions that would be helpful!
Tove great to hear your patience paid off. I will do a post for Patreon soon sharing some tips on eBay buying and how to find things that ‘aren’t listed’.
Hello Matt, I've bought a Canon 50mm LT f1.8 Lens but it is all in metal (no black). Is it the same as this one or is it different ? Thank you in advance.
Interesting Lens. I wonder how does it compare to a Leica lens. And I've heard that these lenses tend to have haze and fog sometimes. So be careful if you buy one. I have one 50mm for my M Cameras which is enough you me personally.
Alexander Kirsch thanks yes a few people said to me their lens had haze. Leica is of course better but you pay extra for that fact. I like the small size and weight of this lens vs Leica.
Do you know of a good video for cleaning these lenses? I’ve just been given the Canon P with light meter. The f1.8 35mm, f1.8 50mm, f2 100mm and a funny Hanimar f3.5 50mm which appears to only have an. aperture ring no focus. The camera is very tidy the lenses are all great except the beginnings of fungus in them all I’d love to clean them. Any pointers ? Cheers Craig
Hi Craig, sorry I don't. I'm sure there are some but for a proper 'deep' clean I send my lenses away as i'm not skilled enough to do it myself. Great bundle you got and I hope you get them sorted.
These used to be given away practically free with Canon rangefinder cameras. If you shoot digital and pixel-peep, of course the 1000 pound Leica Summicron is "better." If you shoot digital and make prints, or shoot film, then scan, then make prints, you'll never see the difference. This lens is the great unsung bargain of the Leica rangefinder world. Used examples, of course, often have fog, but it's not expensive to have them cleaned.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom The Canon older 50/1.5 is an excellent clone of the prewar Zeiss Sonnar 50/1.5 , albeit more costly than the 1.8, but cheaper than the other 1.5 Sonnar clone the Nikkor 1.4, but unfortunately the Canon lacks the Nikkor's close focus capability.
Hi yes I have it and this review will come too :) Both are great.. It depends a lot on copy variation but my J3 is a great copy. Visit MrLeica.com for written review and samples in the meantime if you want.
I picked up the first version which is all chrome and it is similarly sharp and lovely, but it seems like it's maybe not coated or the coating isn't quite as good because it is prone to flare. Still a wonderful lens, though, and shockingly sharp at f2 for such an old lens.
Thanks Sean, yes it is the sharpen at f2 that has impressed me the most for the cost and I like the small size. Yes my copy handles bad flare well vs. some of my other old lenses.
It is probably more common in general with vintages lenses but try to find a clean copy. I will do a post on Patreon soon on how to find hard to find vintage gear easier.. especially lenses.
I absolutely love your videos , but on the other hand I absolutely hate you for all your Leica treasures Canon 50 f1.8 M 39 version I - distance scale in only feet or meters ? anyway only one version II - distance scale in both decimal & Imperial for all them chaps who have this lens and a wee bit of haze , or even more , the good news is that it can be removed by someone who knows DIY equals ruining the lens the same with young/ish technician the bad news is that it will come back in a year or two the problem is the glass formula sometimes it can stay clean for yonks , sometimes not and there is no cure on HP5 light haze does not matter cheers !
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▶️ Watch Next: Series 1: Leica M Mount Lens Reviews - ua-cam.com/play/PLQrNLZpnEw8DfKHuqQuz4zsmnpLCqqYSk.html
I have picked one for 50€. So well made. Built for eternity!
Congrats! I bought a second one too
I just picked this lens up, a pristine copy. Wow. W O W! Very fun lens to shoot with. I love it.
Congrats Ellen!! Yes an amazing lens :) :) Enjoy!
Hello Matt. This has been a great review. The illustration photos at the end give a lovely plus to the review.
I have this lens since a few years, but I have seldomly used it. I'm in France, where these Canon LTM lenses are pretty rare, so my copy was bought from a seller in Great Britain via Ebay. The seller has warned about a "moderate" degree of haze in it. And I was warned on my local forum about the haze problems this Canon 50mm f/1.8 has. Despite this, as I already cleaned some haze problems in various lenses for my reflex cameras before, I proceeded to buy it. This one was another story. The haze is located in the rear lens block, next to the diaphragm. It did not clean, no matter the liquid I used. In fact, the haze this Canon lens has is a form of etching / corrosion of the lens surface. It's in the glass. From what I read, Canon has used a particularly fragile type of glass in here, and this cannot be cured without complete dismantling and repolishing of this lens element. So there is little hope. Sadly, the Canon 100mm f/3.5 suffers from the same problem (don't ask how I know...).
You can consider yourself lucky to have a clean copy. On my copy, the haze is clearly visible looking through, and lowers contrast. I was sad to not be able to fully enjoy the qualities of this lens, so I bought a (very) nice Fujinon L 5cm f/2 from Japan. It was rather expensive, but the build quality is outstanding (it is mainly made of brass) and its heavier weight helps balance my Canon camera, when hanging from the strap. On top of that, unlike Canon, the Fujinon has a 43mm standard filter thread, that allows to use commonly available filters straight on.
BTW, I'm a newcomer to the rangefinder world, after 3 decades of reflex use, so your channel is inspiring. Cheers.
Sorry to hear and thanks, sadly my lens is the same now. Lots of RF info on MrLeica.com if you follow there
Sorry to hear and thanks, sadly my lens is the same now. Lots of RF info on MrLeica.com if you follow there
Thanks Matt .... I just found a mint silver version with original filter for my Leica IIIf. A VERY nice partner. Thanks again for your information!
Nolan Snook great find, happy you found it. You will love that setup 👌🏻
Enjoy!
Thanks again Preston!
I've had this lens for a little while now. I'm using it on a Canon P, Canon 7, and Fujifilm X-3. My copy has a light touch of haze which I think is the reason it is so soft and milky wide open. At f5.6 thru f11 it is very sharp and renders very rich colors. That said, overall, I prefer my Jupiter 8 to this lens for everyday use. The Jupiter is sharper and the colors it renders are every bit as pleasing, albeit different, than the Canon. I may bite the bullet and send this lens off for a cleaning, with the hopes it will perform better wide open.
Hi yes my Leica Summarit 50 1.5 had haze. I sent it off for cleaning and it transformed the lens. I would recommend cleaning for sure! The J8 is also nice. I use those too.
I recently won an auction on eBay to get this beauty for £30, and I just receive it tonight. While the glass looks very clean, one of the inner element in the middle is severely hazed, and I still tried it with my Sony fullframe with AWB on. The sharpness is still a bit better than my clean copy of Jupiter-8, both wide open.
I bought this just for learning how to fix vintage lenses, and find out how to remove the haze.
Look out for a video I have coming that compares both mentioned lenses in a side by side test. Great price and worth cleaning.
Thanks for another great video! Re 50mm screw mount lenses, I recently purchased a Leotax barnac style rangefinder (although it is bigger than the Leica barnacs and bigger than the Nicca barnac-clones also). The camera came with a Tokyo Kogaku Topcor-S 5cm f/2, which I really like.
Thanks D, ah yes the Topcor is a great lens! I have it :) .. I need to make a video for it still. Congrats!
Nice. I may have to get this for my M3.
Great lens on the M3!
I have recently acquired a decent copy of this lens, but have yet to try against my F2 Summitar. I will also compare this against my Nikon 50mm f2 S-mount on my S2. May have to throw in the Jupiter f2 for fun. Great video. Always like seeing film examples of results from the lenses you review.
Thanks David, I plan to include more film samples in future videos, is the plan! Yes once you(we) start testing 50s it’s an endless quest ha.
I'm using the Canon Serenar f1.9 Leica body style '49' version and that's a nice lens Matt.
Nice! Thanks for the info!
I’ve just picked up one off eBay, I’m looking forward to putting it through it’s paces on my M240. Nice review thanks
Thanks Alan, I hope you get a nice copy.. mine is sharp wide open
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Mint ? CLA'd recently ? £180 inc Delivery. Hopeful as a novice Leica M, Manual focus guy. Voigtlander 35mm 1.2 / 75mm 1.8 user so far amazed at the sharp shots, sympathetic of the error's.
@@alanplatt888 if as described that sounds about right price wise.,
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom It's a Wow from me. In good nick & Sharp.
Just got the Version 1 today because of you. You saved me a lot of money, now the M3 will arrive next week. I can’t wait to try it. But it’s mostly possible Than I will get a Summicron In 6 months also 😂😂🤷.
Great less until you can save for a Leica..and when you own both you will still like it. Get a modern Leica if you want it to look different to this.
Yes, a nice lens. I have one on the way from Japan. US$160 plus postage US$30. A good buy for around US$200. Great revue, as usual. Cheers.
Thanks Zoltan! Yes great little lenses.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom The lens came today. Very nice from just some random shooting, as good as you said, i.e., very good. I have the same grey weather you have so I am invoking the gods to provide some sunshine. Thanks for the help. Ye knows yer onions.
@@zoltankaparthy9095 ha thanks! I try! (Yes do a sun dance) :)
Oh and the Canon 50/2.2 makes an even more compact kit on a Barnack than a 1.8 and seem to be increasingly commonly available primarily on the Bay from Nippon.
Thanks Adam! Is the 2.2 sharp? I do love small so I could be tempted :)
P.s. Canon L3? Testing has commenced:) Great camera!
Very well done. I much enjoyed this review.
Thank you Henry! This is actually the first video of 2 today so stay tuned! :) ..uploading as I type!
The real name for theLeica thread is just M39.
Between 1955 and 1965 in Japan a lot of rangefinder and SLR cameras
had threads between 37 mm and 44 mm..
Mind the fact: M39 thread lenses have two different pirches.
Thanks, many call it L39 ..or LTM
I was debating between this lens and the Canon 50mm 1.9 collapsible (the Serenar) for my Leica iiif. I decided to go with the 1.9 collapsible because I wanted to keep the setup small, and similar to the Leica version (ie the Serenar is similar to the Summarit if I recall correctly). So far I have shot only one roll but I am working on shooting another. So far, I really like it, especially the price vs the Leica equivalent.
Hi Jim! Sorry I missed this. I think the 1.9 is well regarded as having more character. The 1.8 is more common.
Yes - the size difference is obvious with 1 cm Leica M rear cap... 🙂
Yes it's a nice small size (but sadly hard to find without haze these days)
You seem to have misunderstood my sarcasm. I thought it would be better to compare both lenses without the rear cap... 🙂
This is one of my favorite lenses! The good thing is they are very common and fairly cheap.
Thanks! Cheap yes, common.. if you live in Japan yes.. but not in Europe. Only 1 listed for sale on eBay when I looked!
but take care a lot have haze due to glass deterioration over age, not cleanable. that's the weakness of this lens.
@@difool1959 Thanks, yes I bought clean copies but thanks for sharing this for others to benefit from. It's like similar lenses from this period where often a lens has a flaw of some kind on some copies.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom USA prices are higher as well.
Nolan Snook thanks Nolan, I think Japan is the place to be for these!
Nice video Matt. If possible that would be great to display the film stock used on each picture sample.
Nico Cazals thanks! It’s usually Fomapan 100 for most my photos but from memory some were Pan 400 (blonde girl). Eventually I’ll do a blog post to go with it with high res pics and details linked 👍🏻
My first lens i used on my Leica very nice images on a digital camera
Thanks! I've used it quite a bit since buying it, mainly for film as I like the sharpness but as you say it works great on digital too :)
Hi Matt thx for this review. Do you think/know of there is a difference of quality between version 2 and version 3 of it. The optic formula seems to be the same.
Maybe better coatings, contrast in later version
Hi Matt,
I recently purchased one of these lenses, payed less than £200 for it and only problem is some micro dust, no haze or fungus. So far I’m very impressed so now looking for a decent f1.4 and also one of the 35mm lenses.
I’m still sourcing filters at the moment but I’m finding that a lot of the sellers are asking top dollars for them ☹️
Geoff Marshall great yes I did the same. I have the 1.8 1.4 and a 35 1.8. Both 1.8 lenses use same hood and filter which helps. Try to get a lens with hood to save cash or just keep looking. That’s what I did.
Matt, another great video. I would love to see you do a review of the Canon P the camera body this lens was actually designed for. There's the 1.8 and there's a much sought after 1.2. I own the Canon P and the Canonet QL17 GIII which are great cameras in their own right. My only M mount camera is the Voigtlander BESSA R2A. Paired with the Voigtlander, vintage Minolta and Konica or 7Artisans M lenses work great for me with this system. The Leica film M mount cameras are simply overpriced right now especially on eBay.
Thanks I have a Canon Model 7 I need to review so that will come in time. I know it is not the P but it is as close as I have. Leica iii cameras still offer fantastic value if you want a Leica. I much prefer mine to the Canon. (and not as a Leica nut.. I back the 'best' camera for my needs).
Actually this lens was not designed for the P. In chrome version it predated the P by many years. A lens designed for the P is the difficult to find 50/2.2, a lens only sold for the first half of 1961. Good luck finding one outside of Nippon.
@@AGL93311 Thanks Adam, and the 7 was made for the 50/0.95 wasn't it?
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Essentially, with its longer EBL. Telling that you can only mount it on a 7 series.
Adam Lang thanks, good info 👍🏻
I had the 50mm 1.8 and I think it's an underated lens. I ended up selling because it's not different enough from my 40mm. Now have the 50mm 1.2 for portraits but for travel the 1.8 would be better. Also have the 35mm f2
Thanks Simon, yes I like the small size for travel but as you say many lenses can do a similar job (see my next video on that topic!.. out today..uploading now!). I have 35mm Canon's to come too. :)
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom can also recommend the 35mm f2... Great quality considering how cheap compared to a leica lens. I had a 35mm 1.8 Before, but it had haze and wasn't great... The f2 I highly recommend for £250 or so
Simon Kimber thanks, yes I looked at them but I have a clean 35/1.8 and a 2.8 so decided against it. I hear they are excellent though 👌🏻
Hey Matt, really appreciate your Channel lately. Can buy a really cheap copy of this for my m240 would consider the 50/1.4 worth a 160€ extra? Best Chris
Hi thanks, if you don’t mind a bit bigger the 1.4 offer more - sharp and vintage glow options
I just today bought a very fine iiic (1950) and the 1.4 50mm canon. We'll see how it goes.
Terry Allen great setup, congrats! I was using that lens on a iiig just last weekend! 👍🏻
Hello Matt, I am going to Cuba soon and was wondering if you would recommend the f1.8 or the 1.4 lens? I will be shooting with it on a fujifilm XE1 and mainly as a portrait lens?
Hi, the 1.4 will give you more wow photos. The 1.8 is smaller.
I'm looking for a lense to pair with the 50mm f1.4 ltm.i love the vintage swirly bokeh. From what I can tell the f1.8 does not have it, but the 35mm f2 does. Thoughts?
Yes the 50 1.4 ans 35 1.8 offer a more vintage vibe. See the 35mm video for samples...and 50 1.4 video.
Hello Matt. I just bought my first Leica Barnack and I am thinking to get this lens as my first 50mm to go with it (later I will probably add a collapsible 50mm lens), my question is: does the lens block the viewfinder at all since it is bigger than collapsible 50mm lenses?
Nice! Slight blockage but I never notice
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom thank you for your answer. I now saw your video about the Heliar 40mm f2.8 LTM and I think I will make an effort and pull the trigger. My only concern is on how limited it is to use a 40mm lens on a camera that only has a 50mm window for composing. Man, you are consing me money 😆🤣
@@Guairenito it’s one of my most used lenses now! ..and sorry :)
Hi Matt, thank you for your content! I am in the market to buy this lens for my Canon P. I have the option to get a chrome version which I believe is the first version of this lens. Do you have any experience with this version and would you recommend this version over the ‘normal’ version? Thanks in advance!
Hi Andor, nice! Some say the optics are the same in all versions but coatings will be better in later (black) copies - black should be better imagines, contrast, colours etc.
Nice review of a great lens. Per Kitchingham's magnum opus, your lens (based on serial number) is the penultimate black and chrome version (type 7) issued approximately 1/61 through 12/70, sold concurrently with Canon P, 7, 7s and 7sZ bodies. It even has the correct lenscap (black plastic, earlier versions came with satin chrome caps).
In the past a difficulty with using this and many other Canon ltm lenses was the scarcity of 40mm hoods/filters. This has been obviated to some extend by the use of this size on Fuji X10/20/30 lenses. Fuji and aftermarket hoods and filters are now available including a 40mm circular polarizer filter by Marumi, selling for ca. US $40...
Thanks again for your knowledge Adam, sorry I missed some of the comments so going back through them. Yes all my Canon lenses are the black and silver with black plastic cap. So do you mean mine is the v3 (as they call it). It is a clean copy so I guess that makes sense. Thanks. I bought another lens with the hood and then I use it across my 40mm size lenses (and filters camera with the camera you spotted in another comment!) :)
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom And the availability of a new polarizer is great news.
Adam Lang yes thanks for that. It will be useful for that type of photography 👌🏻
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom But 40mm Canon filters are rare as hen's teeth. The Marumi 40mm UV and polarizer are great news for color shooters, but 40mm filters for black and white film are essentially unavailable. SERIES VI filters are an option, but since the Fuji X10 (X20,x30) digital cameras use 40mm filters and the FUJI LH-X10 lens hood (ca $40) and chinese clones (
correction: 48-52 step up ring.
Any comments on the Canon 50mm f/1.4, I’m trying to decide between the two :)
Yes.. my advice is watch the 50 1.4 video :)
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom oh, did see that one yet 😅 of course I will :)
@@NuralIdrisoglu no problem! :)
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom I watched a bunch of your videos and ended up getting the 1.8 🥳 shot 3 rolls so far and I’m very happy with it ☺️💜
@@NuralIdrisoglu hello, great, yes it’s a really good performer I think and a nice size, congrats!
Thanks Matt for this review. I have one and I consider buying an Elmar 50mm 3.5... mainly because of aesthetics! How would you compare both lenses in terms of performance and usability?
Thanks Denis, have you seen my Elmar video (and the sharpest 50mm lens video)? It's a strong performer no question! I use the Canon if need a fast lens and the Elmar for everything else. Both have there place. The Canon 50/1.4 is also great (see that video).
Will do, thanks. So many lenses with good reasons to buy them 😅
@@denisdubot3009 Yes now you feel my pain! Haha :)
Great review! Did you shoot it on the CL?
Thanks and many thanks for your Patreon support!! :) Yes of course.. I think this was a rare period when I dusted off the M240! I thought I should try to share FF examples but see Flickr and you will see CL samples too.
These lenses are very nice, I have several. But have you ever seen one without some haze?
Thanks Jon, yes mine don't have haze but I did look to buy clean copies.
I've bought 2 in the past and both have been sent back due to haze. I finally bought the 1st version, which is all chrome, as it seems less susceptible, and I'm happy with it. They're very solidly built lenses.
hello Matt , i have already a Leica 50mm F/2 summicron M mount ( not collapsible ) and trying to survive some gear acquisition syndrome , i need your advice : is it worth to buy this canon 50mm F/1.8 ? i am not professionnal ( just hobby ) . thanks for your help . daniel from france
Hi Daniel, unless you want a lighter cheaper second lens I would say no. Get something different like 5cm f3.5 Elmar for a super small setup
I've been cruising Ebay and it's tough to find this lens without haze in the middle element.
Thanks Jaime, yes I think as people started to find this lens during lockdowns people have been buying up the clean ones. Keep looking, you'll find one.
Thanks Matt, nice video. Would be nice to see a comparison of the lens with the Summicron, from the artists POV. And of course, the comparison to the 1.4. I have recently acquired both Canons, with a Canon P and learning to use the combo. Cheers
Thanks Gregory, the advance of the Summicron, especially the later models like the version 5 I show is it focuses at 0.7m which is much better for me vs 1m. Leica will be better in all regards, sharper, build, flare, contrast, but for 10x more you would expect it. I actually worked backwards and owned Leica first but for many this Canon 50mm is a great starter lens for a Leica camera (or other).
..f1.4 video to follow.. and a Canon Model 7 video at some point!
Matt Osborne thanks! Looking forward to these! I do not own a film Leica, Canon P will do the job, as well as a couple of OMs.
@@gregorydaskos1229 Thanks and yes agreed.,. though for the money you should save up and treat youself to a Leica iii camera.. They are absolute beauties, great value and will hold their value. (See the Leica iii videos if tempted!) :)
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Have to partially disagree with you Matt. In my experience the Canon 50/1.8 is sharper than the Leitz 50/2 SM lenses it was concurrent with (Summitar and Summicron v1 (collapsible). I cannot evaluate the rigid chrome v2 (came as dual range), but it was only issued in ltm in small numbers so very expensive. Of course the later Summicrons i have (v3 and v4) are better and focus to 0.7m.
Great video !
Thanks Marlon! :)
I’ve found it far more economical to use a 40-43 mm step up ring with 43mm filters, than to pay the going price of Canon 40mm filters.
Good idea! Yes I enjoy step rings too :)
I've bought 2 of these in the past and both have had to be sent back due to haze. I finally bought the 1st version, which is all chrome, as it's apparently less susceptible, and I'm happy with it. They're very solidly built lenses.
I must admit, it's a real struggle to find affordable LTM/LSM lenses. If anyone has any more suggestions that would be helpful!
Tove great to hear your patience paid off. I will do a post for Patreon soon sharing some tips on eBay buying and how to find things that ‘aren’t listed’.
Elmars are fantastic lenses and generally affordable. If you dont mind the slower aperture.
Hello Matt, I've bought a Canon 50mm LT f1.8 Lens but it is all in metal (no black). Is it the same as this one or is it different ? Thank you in advance.
It seems that one of the difference is that the full metal lens goes to 16 and the black one until 22 diaph.
Silver ones are the earlier ones
Ah ok super cool so hope I did the right choice! Thank you @@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom
Does this mean you will do a video on the Canon 35mm f1. 8 ltm?
Aizat Mazlan correct! ..and many others :)
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom nice! I've been on the fence about getting it. But they are quite hard to find now.
Aizat Mazlan I think my video on it could tempt you but yes not so common. I had 2 so sold one recently.. just keep watching eBay 👍🏻
Interesting Lens. I wonder how does it compare to a Leica lens. And I've heard that these lenses tend to have haze and fog sometimes. So be careful if you buy one. I have one 50mm for my M Cameras which is enough you me personally.
Alexander Kirsch thanks yes a few people said to me their lens had haze. Leica is of course better but you pay extra for that fact. I like the small size and weight of this lens vs Leica.
In my experience this lens is better than my copy of the concurrent 50/2 collapsible Summicron (v1), and worse than my V3 and V4.
Thanks for the video. In the same pictures (digital) what camera did you use ? Just wanted to check if you used the M (full frame)
Raymond Lay hi yes on M too. Red top girl shot with M240 👍🏻
Raymond Lay ..I think almost all m240 for digital. I use 35mm more on CL.
Thanks for that.
Raymond Lay I will do a follow up blog post with full res example photos embedded that also link to the camera details. MrLeica.com
Sounds interesting... Will it fit Russian rangefinders like Zorki?
Of course! :) I have FED, Zorki, etc too and my Zorki C is almost identical to my Leica iiia
Do you know of a good video for cleaning these lenses? I’ve just been given the Canon P with light meter. The f1.8 35mm, f1.8 50mm, f2 100mm and a funny Hanimar f3.5 50mm which appears to only have an. aperture ring no focus.
The camera is very tidy the lenses are all great except the beginnings of fungus in them all I’d love to clean them. Any pointers ?
Cheers Craig
Hi Craig, sorry I don't. I'm sure there are some but for a proper 'deep' clean I send my lenses away as i'm not skilled enough to do it myself. Great bundle you got and I hope you get them sorted.
do you know if it can be used on canon EF mount with a adapter
Canon mirrorless yes, DSLR no (as I understand). I couldn't use with my old Nikon DSLR*
These used to be given away practically free with Canon rangefinder cameras.
If you shoot digital and pixel-peep, of course the 1000 pound Leica Summicron is "better."
If you shoot digital and make prints, or shoot film, then scan, then make prints, you'll never see the difference.
This lens is the great unsung bargain of the Leica rangefinder world.
Used examples, of course, often have fog, but it's not expensive to have them cleaned.
Although I like the Canon 50mm f1.4 a tiny bit better.
@@scottparis6355 thanks, the 1.4 will follow too 👍🏻
Thanks yes I was very impressed for the price and like the small form factor too!
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom The Canon older 50/1.5 is an excellent clone of the prewar Zeiss Sonnar 50/1.5 , albeit more costly than the 1.8, but cheaper than the other 1.5 Sonnar clone the Nikkor 1.4, but unfortunately the Canon lacks the Nikkor's close focus capability.
@@AGL93311 thanks, I have a J-3 sonnar clone and the Nikkor Ltm is on my list. I have it but on the Nikon S2. (Where no close focus).
Nice, could you test the Pentax 43mm L39?
K Roadster thanks! I don’t have that lens I’m afraid but if I get one I will no problem 👍🏻
Hi Matt, have you ever used the jupiter 3 50mm f1.5?. It is comparable with this Canon in IQ?
Hi yes I have it and this review will come too :) Both are great.. It depends a lot on copy variation but my J3 is a great copy. Visit MrLeica.com for written review and samples in the meantime if you want.
I picked up the first version which is all chrome and it is similarly sharp and lovely, but it seems like it's maybe not coated or the coating isn't quite as good because it is prone to flare.
Still a wonderful lens, though, and shockingly sharp at f2 for such an old lens.
Thanks Sean, yes it is the sharpen at f2 that has impressed me the most for the cost and I like the small size. Yes my copy handles bad flare well vs. some of my other old lenses.
Many Canon LTM 50mm f1.8 lenses for sale seemed to contain internal haze. Is this normal for this lens?
It is probably more common in general with vintages lenses but try to find a clean copy. I will do a post on Patreon soon on how to find hard to find vintage gear easier.. especially lenses.
The earlier version, in chrome, seems to be less susceptible to haze.
Tove thanks. I think I’ve been lucky with my copy.
I absolutely love your videos , but on the other hand I absolutely hate you for all your Leica treasures
Canon 50 f1.8 M 39
version I - distance scale in only feet or meters ? anyway only one
version II - distance scale in both decimal & Imperial
for all them chaps who have this lens and a wee bit of haze , or even more , the good news is that it can be removed by someone who knows
DIY equals ruining the lens
the same with young/ish technician
the bad news is that it will come back in a year or two
the problem is the glass formula
sometimes it can stay clean for yonks , sometimes not and there is no cure
on HP5 light haze does not matter
cheers !
Thanks Winnie, haha sorry for that! Yes a great little lens if you have a clean copy (especially) :)
can it be set to zone focus with this 59mm lens?
There is no 59mm but yes any lens can be zone focused on any camera
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom sorry the 50mm.and thank you. I just purchased the lens.