Price/Tech check: Canon 50mm F/1.2 lens, Leica screwmount

Biggles · 03-10-2007

Saw one of these for the first time today, in a camera shop's decorative display case. I think it was on a P.

I was immediately impressed by how stubby the lens looked, front to back; looked to be a good candidate, size-wise, for a travel fifty.

Has anyone ever tried one (with an adaptor) on a Leica CL? Any meter-arm interference? And what should I expect to have to pay for one in the North American market?

Leicabug · 03-10-2007

I bought one for $350 this year from a member of this forum.

Nokton48 · 03-10-2007

$275-ish, very clean, with very slight wipe marks in the rear glass. Might come off.

The Canon 1.2 hood was $90, thanks to Roland's tip-off

Great lens, love it so far, took it out today. Been using it on my Bessa-T, love the results.

Good to have a choice in 50's.

-Dan

raid · 03-10-2007

The selling price depends on the condition of the lens. A 50/1.2 with no cleaning marks sells for $300-$375 in many cases. I sold a couple of such lenses after having each professionally cleaned.

Raid

venchka · 03-10-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by raid

... I sold a couple of such lenses after having each professionally cleaned.

Raid

You didn't offer one to me.

Next time, help a brother out.

Back on topic: By all accounts, a nice lens. One of the very few 50mm lenses I could be tempted to add to my 50mm lens collection. One sold for $275-$300 (can't remember for sure) in Austin, TX last summer.

raid · 03-10-2007

I would buy the lens from a reputable person here or at PN or nelsonfoto so that returning the lens wouldnot be a problem.

Wayne, I sold the two lenses before you announced to all of us your wishes.

Raid

Biggles · 03-10-2007

Good intel. Thanks, gents.

ferider · 03-10-2007

Like the others said - many samples tend to fog which means you have
to disassemble/clean it every 6-12 months (not difficult), and adjustment is
frequently off. Best to buy from someone you know has used it successfully.

To your other question, I had it once on the CL and it fits the mount -
no problem with the meter cell. But the CL's EBL is too short to focus
the beast successfully at close distance.

What else: you need thin filters, normal filters will vignette at f5.6.
When you put the filter on be careful, some touch the front element. I use
Hoya HMC, they work.

Original hood is hard to find and easily worth more than US 100 in good
condition. A good and cheaper hood instead is the Olympus 55/1.2 hood.

Great portrait lens wide open and sharp closed down a bit.

Roland.

Biggles · 03-11-2007

Thanks for the insights. I had figured focusing it on a CL would be tricky at short ranges, opened up.

How does it compare, size-wise, front to back, with the Canon 50mm f/1.4? I've still never seen one of those in person, but from pictures, the 1.4 seems taller.

Basically, I'm looking for a short-barrelled non-collapsing travel fifty that's faster and cheaper than a modern Elmar and doesn't have an infinity lock.

ferider · 03-11-2007

Some camera porn:

The 50/1.4 (here with filter and 48/49 step-up ring) is a little longer,
but feels much more compact.

The Nikkor 50/1.4 is shorter and generally smaller than both:

Price-wise a bit more expensive, closer to US 400, unless you are lucky
on RFF, pnet, or the bay. All three lenses have infinity locks, but they
can be taken off.

There is also the Canon 50/1.5 which is even smaller than the Nikkor.

If you want a small, fast normal lens, consider the CV 40/1.4. Works
real well on the CL.

Best,

Roland.

Biggles · 03-11-2007

Thank you very much. I already have a 40mm Summicron, and love it for its size, crispness, and bokeh. Looking for a fifty that's smaller than my Summilux; something I can get in and out of a parka pocket on the CL. Damned Summilux is the size of a Zuiko 100/f2.8.

Don't like the Nikkor's out-of-focus at all, based on pictures I've seen here.

Hadn't seen the infinity lock on the Canon 50/1.2. Camera was resting at an odd angle in the display case, though.

Maybe I just need a jacket with bigger pockets.

RichC · 03-11-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biggles

Hadn't seen the infinity lock on the Canon 50/1.2. Camera was resting at an odd angle in the display case, though.

It's a neat, rectangular clip. Easy to disable non-destructively: jam it open with a bit of rubber from a pencil eraser.

Biggles · 03-11-2007

Doh.

There's no substitute for actual handling.

Terao · 03-12-2007

It's fairly chunky weight-wise for a travel fifty, easily my heaviest lens. There are recent threads in both the Canon and Epson R-D1 forums discussing this lens, including Mr Sweeney's hardcore transplant surgery