Rangefinder Cameras and Lenses of the 1950's and 1960's / CANON Wide-Angle lenses

CANON RANGEFINDER - the speed 35mm's
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Canon lens catalogue 1958

COPYRIGHT (ALL PICTURES AND TEXTS by FRANK MECHELHOFF 2005 (you may use single copies for private use only)
Questions and contact: fmechelh "at" web.de

http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/index-frameset.html?Lens-LSM-Wide.html
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34011 (Patents)

CANON 1:1.8 35mm (1956)

US-Patent No: 2854890 Filing date: Jan 4, 1956
Deutsche Patentschrift DBP1095539 (Anmeldetag 7.Jan 1956)
made of 6 glass-types non-high-refractive glass (1.575-1.6987)
Lens introduced Apr. 1956 (Miyazaki's Japanese-language book about Canon rangefinders)

1956 W-Nikkor 3.5cm f/1.8 Design by Hideo Azuma., 8,000 made
US patent No: 2896506 Filing date: Jun 5, 1956
made with 5 glass-types incl. high-refractive (1.6206-1.785)
http://www.nikon.co.jp/main/eng/portfolio/about/history/nikkor/n03_e.htm

CANON 1:1.5 35mm (1958)

Patent number: 2926564 Jiro Mukai Filing date: Jul 31, 1957
made of 8 different types of glass incl. high-refractive glass (1.5927-1.744)

Canon

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2717

1958 Leica Summicron 2.0/35mm http://www.leicagallery.com/summicron35mm.htm

1961 Leica Summilux 1.4/35mm Midland (Ontario) Design Mandler made in Canada
41mm filter

US Patent 2975673 filed 26. Aug. 1959
7 elements/ 5 groups made of 5 types high-refractive glass (1.70444-1.7899)

http://www.leicagallery.com/summilux35mm.htm

http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=009dPk

Michael Darnton, Sep 30, 2004; 08:04 p.m.

I had a 35/1.5. It was a bit of a dog wide open, and I traded it for a 35/1.4 RF Summilux. Which was worse wide open. But the Summilux was nicer, overall. I wouldn't get another of the Canon, and I do really like Canon RF lenses. My 85/1.5 Canon is much better, by the way.

Al Kaplan - Miami, FL , Sep 30, 2004; 08:56 p.m.

The 35 RF Summilux was a dog, very soft at f/1.4 and vignetted badly!

Al Kaplan - Miami, FL , Sep 29, 2004; 10:45 p.m.

I used to have Canon 1.8/35one back in the 1960's. It was better than the 35/1.8 Nikkor and probably as sharp as the 8 element first version 35/2 Summicron, with maybe a bit more contrast than the 'cron.

CANON 1:2.0 35mm (Apr.1962)
The "Summicron" is the Leica f/2-class lens in 35, 50 and 90mm with highest reputation for performance and all-purpose usage among Leica-owners. The name Summicron has some legendary sound. This lens by some photographers was sometimes called the "Japanese Summicron". For some reasons it could be seen as regression, because Canon already made a 1.8/35 in 1956 (which was together with the Nikkor the fastest at this time, and an excellent lens) and, 1958, an 8-elements 1.5/35 which again was the fastest wide-angle of that time. Oppinions about quality of the latter are divided, some say "speed" was seen more important as contrast and sharpness at design, like it was with the 0.95/50...

Anyway, in April 1962 the 2.0/35 came out and replaced both in production - with 7 elements/ 4 groups a derivation if the 1.8/35, but sharper and more contrasty in the center. And from the formula, very similar to the - later! - 7 elements Summicron design...

Canon 2/35 von 1963	Leitz Summicron 2/35 (pre-Asph) von 1979

Canon Lens 2.0/35 an einer Canon 7 Ragefinder

Furthermore black, small, and lightweight - just a handfull glass and alloy. Finally without "infinity lock". Looks like a Mini-SLR-lens, but disappears in a trouser pocket. The unimpressive outline doesn't hide the excellent working. Not cheap. Rare and sought-after. Whoever owns one don't give it away untill he gets something better. This is - 40 years after debut - available but costs much more.

Note, I don't talk about the Voigtländer Ultron RF 1.7/35 as better. I use them both. The Ultron is sharper, but not to an noticable extend in most sitautions. The Canon is more contrasty and color saturation is more naturally (this with a mono-coated lens!). The Ultron is a sharper in very small details, but comperativly dull. Probably it can be expected to be better wide open. But I use my 35mm's closed to f/8 for landscapes as well - as "sunny day lenses". The Canon 2/35 also harmonizes with the Snapshot-Skopar 4/25 and Heliar 4.5/15mm. If you take these two lenses with you and the 1.7/35 you will detect the Ultron pictures as the most dullest. Beside is the Canon more compact and handy as the "big" Ultron

Examples (klick for max. resolution; scanned 13x18 cm prints):

*Canon 2/35 RF (1963)*	*Voigtländer Ultron 1.7/35 RF (1999)*

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