Where to buy Canon LTM lenses?

Sound Mind · 03-21-2008

I'm officially new to the vintage rangefinder game, so I have a pretty reasonable question to ask...

Where do I get good Canon LTM lenses? I'm thinkin' all I'd need is probably just a 50mm 1.4 and an 85mm 1.4. And as far as the M39 mount goes, eBay has really got nothing too stimulating, besides the occasional (very expensive) mint Leica lens.

KEH.com hasn't got much, either... no Canons whatsoever in LTM.

David Murphy · 03-21-2008

Just stick around here and watch (and search the older posts on) the Classifieds. You'll see them all if you wait long enough -- even some at good prices. Good luck.

VictorM. · 03-22-2008

Canon rf lenses have become more popular over the past few years as certain members of this site have posted extensively about them. Search ebay using "canon rangefinder", "canon rf' and "leica canon". A lot of patience helps.

ebay seller jiri_e seems to be on a mission to empty Japan of all Canon rf equipment!

Colectable Cameras always has some (http://www.collectiblecameras.com/ca...category_id=90) as does Kevin Cameras (http://www.kevincameras.com/), although prices can seem high.

John Shriver · 03-22-2008

By all reports, you can trust jiri_e's auctions on eBay, and he will also sell directly on a non-auction basis. He seems to have an inexhaustible inventory.

KEH is a fine place to buy any used camera gear.

If you want collector grade gear, there's Kevin Li at http://www.kevincameras.com. He also sometimes has ugly lenses for sale that aren't on his site. (He buys a lot of his inventory on eBay as kinche-l, and takes chances on items that are poorly photographed. The duds he sells cheap, part of the cost of business. But he has plenty of optically fine "duds".)

You won't get a "deal" on the Canon 85/1.8 anywhere. It's a well known and rare lens. There's no 85/1.4, there is a rare 85/1.5 which isn't that great a lens.

Sound Mind · 03-22-2008

A lot of good links here... Thanks guys!

Yeah, I stumbled across jiri_e's eBay stuff. I'm probably gonna end up buying my 7 from him when the time comes. I recently saw a P in really good condition go for a great price, and a 7 in new mint condition is going for a great price, too. I just hope he's got good stuff when it's time for me to buy. lol

Bingley · 03-22-2008

One of the best places to buy Canon rf lenses these days is right here in Classifieds. Keep your eye peeled... there have been some great buys on Canon 50 mm lenses recently.

Jungle Jim · 03-22-2008

I've bought two lenses from Kevin at Kevincameras and all his stuff is described accurately. (Purchased a Canon 35/2 RF and Canon 50/1.2 RF plus a Leica 28mm viewfinder.) He has a 7 day inspection period with a money back guarantee. I've been happy with my purchases from him. Also try Igor Camera. Igor isn't very friendly, all business and abrupt but he has good descriptions and decent pricing. Ships quickly also.

crawdiddy · 03-22-2008

I just checked keh, and that's the smallest inventory of canon rangefinder lenses I've seen there recently. For whatever reason, the market must be too hot. Perhaps the digital fad is about to go bust. I've been expecting it.

saxshooter · 03-22-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by crawdiddy

For whatever reason, the market must be too hot. Perhaps the digital fad is about to go bust. I've been expecting it.

Well, I certainly don't represent the market but I have been getting into Canon RF lenses recently and I've been using them exclusively on digital bodies.

I've bought a couple from the forum, and a few from ebay. Keep your eye open, there are good deals but yes, prices are going up.

raid · 03-22-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bingley

One of the best places to buy Canon rf lenses these days is right here in Classifieds. Keep your eye peeled... there have been some great buys on Canon 50 mm lenses recently.

I want the 50/2.8; I sold mine a while ago for $150, and I wish I still had it.

Bingley · 03-22-2008

"Some day, my lens will come..."

-- Walt Disney

mongo141 · 03-22-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sound Mind

A lot of good links here... Thanks guys!

Yeah, I stumbled across jiri_e's eBay stuff. I'm probably gonna end up buying my 7 from him when the time comes. I recently saw a P in really good condition go for a great price, and a 7 in new mint condition is going for a great price, too. I just hope he's got good stuff when it's time for me to buy. lol

I just looked on KEH and they had 5 Canon LTM lenses.. I just bought a 50mm/1.4 from them they said EXE I would have called it EXE++. look under vintage.. canon rangefinder. Dave

Bill58 · 03-22-2008

I've had my best luck w/ Ritz collectables. Honest, fast service.

laptoprob · 03-22-2008

Do check the classifieds. You can find my Sonnar Canon 50/1,5 there.
In addition to the ad I can ship from the states in july. Or arrange a pickup in New York!

Sound Mind · 03-23-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by crawdiddy

Perhaps the digital fad is about to go bust. I've been expecting it.

I wouldn't call digital a fad, really. It's just a market that's much more advertising-driven than film was, I think.

I actually work for Wolf/Ritz Camera as a salesman, so I see a lot of cameras come and go. And of course, the consistent thing is that the megapixel race is still running strong, and now the optical zoom race is starting to heat up, with Olympus releasing a 20x optical zoom camera this year (and I'm sure the majority of us all use primes, and the idea of a lens with such a zoom just makes us shudder).

Like all easy-to-use technology, it's just fallen into the hands of the wrong people and their desires for convenience over quality has steered the market in a bad direction. Bad direction for photographers, anyway. Everybody wants more megapixels and more zoom, and everybody wanted more sensitivity until it was clear to everyone that ISO 3200 on a tiny, overcrowded sensor is a TERRIBLE idea.

It's just getting harder and harder to find a good digital camera. Because if your camera doesn't read as top-of-the-line on paper, it won't sell. So, at the sacrifice of quality, you, as the manufacturer, need to cram it full of features.

If you want an actually good digital camera, you just have to dig deep in your pockets and buy a Nikon D300 or a Canon 40D or 5D. The prosumer and professional SLR market is something the layperson's plea for "bigger numbers" can't touch.

I'm sure the digital age of photography isn't going anywhere. It's just going to undergo many, many reformations and renaissances.

Al Patterson · 03-25-2008

Has anyone bought the Voigtlander LTM lenses for the Canon? I just picked up a Canon P, now I need a decent 35. I'll check the usual suspects, but I'm wondering if anyone here has used the new glass on the older cameras.

Bill58 · 03-25-2008

I've still got TWO model Ps for sale if anyone is interested

shimokita · 03-25-2008

As per John Shriver above: "You won't get a 'deal' on the Canon 85/1.8 anywhere. It's a well known and rare lens."

There are currently three Canon (L) lenses at Map Camera in Shinjuku (I understand they don't do international orders) as follows:

Canon CANON (L) 85mm F1.8 / Yen 49,980 (~USD 499.80)
470g - Filter 58mm - DxL 63.5x68.2mm

Canon CANON (L) 85mm F1.9 / Yen 25,000 (~USD 250.00) / not sure which version
(I) 605g - Filter 48mm - DxL 57x86.5mm
(II) 410g - Filter 48mm - DxL 55.5x84.7mm

Canon Serenar (L) 85mm F2 / Yen 16,800 (~USD 168.00) / not sure which version
(I) 556g - Filter 48mm
(II) 615g - Filter 48mm

Regards, CLH

venchka · 03-26-2008

Don't overlook Nipon Kogaku Nikkor lenses in LTM.

I would be willing to wager that virtually everyone here has tried at least one Cosina/Voigtlander LTM lens. I have the 75mm/2.5. Alas, I also have the Nikkor 85/2.0 and Elmarit 90/2.8. I fear the little 75mm lens may become expendable.

The classifieds here are your best bet.