Old Canon 50mm f0.95

[Toby]

I've wondered about this "dream lens" for a long time, and finally, after making some extra money shooting a documentary around the Arctic Circle, decided to pull the trigger. Only had it a couple of days now, but it is certainly a unique lens with a very strange bokeh. It is surprisingly sharp in the center, and actually does exceptionally well correcting lateral CA, though there is a bit of longitudinal CA--no surprise there--but not bad at all. Vignetting wide open is quite low. Here are a few first test shots for "bokeh" quality--hope to do more comprehensive testing in other situations soon. As usual I have processed these adding a bit of microcontrast and some sharpening to bring out the texture of the bokeh, but these are not heavily processed. It ain't the new $8000 Noct, but it is a pretty impressive piece of glass that has a lot of character.

[Erik Lund]

Congratulations!Truly busy Bokeh - Wow  What camera are you using it on?
I was looking at this lens several times back when I was shooting Leica M

[Toby]

Sorry forgot to mention--Sony A7RII. The flange distance is maddeningly short.

[Erik Lund]

Thank you! Enjoy 

[Birna Rørslett]

I once had one of these 0.95 Canons and remember it was doubly soft, not only the images it delivered, but the front glass itself became easily scratched.

Impressive looks, though.

[Nikfuson]

Interesting rendering. Busy but with character as you say. As with a lot of older lenses with "temperament" one has to pay attention to the background. Treated the right way beautiful, characteristic images can be obtained.
Thanks for sharing this 

[Akira]

Truly intriguing images from the lens in the hands of the knower.

If I remember correctly, the rear element is partially cut for the cam to push the roller of the rangefinder.  But I don't see any affect of the cut-out.

Thank you for sharing!

[Erik Lund]

The TV version did not have a cut out for the rangefinder roller

[Toby]

The TV version did not have a cut out for the rangefinder roller

Thanks for that info! I do not see any effect of the cutout in terms of effects on out-of-focus circles, which I would have expected. Rotating the lens (which I can do in the mount that I have) shows no difference in circle of confusion shapes.

[Erik Lund]

Interesting,,, For the Noct Nikkor the OOF,  out of focus highlights are completely reflecting the rear element, exactly at the surface of the glass, that is also why it is painted black and round along the edge, to hide the cut out for the stop down aperture leaver on the camera when shooting wide open.
Same for 50mm f/1.2 btw I adapted it for Leica M and as long as the tap for the roller is not hitting the glass, there is no effect on OOF highlights,,,

This obliviously is dependent on optical design, so my guess is that there is an obstruction somewhere that causes the OOF to behave differently, Leica M Noctilux also don't show this,,,

[Toby]

I once had one of these 0.95 Canons and remember it was doubly soft, not only the images it delivered, but the front glass itself became easily scratched.

Impressive looks, though.

Actually in head-to-head comparison with my Nikkor 55mm f 1.2 it holds its own--as sharp or slightly sharper in the center wide open, holding the sharpness pretty well to the edge of frame (but not the corner, where it is abysmal). It does have slightly less contrast, but actually controls CA slightly better than the Nikkor. Also significantly less vignetting wide open than the Nikkor. Of course this is not really a fair comparison, given the difference in flange distance--the Nikkor with its flange distance of 46.5mm can't pretend to compete againsy a rangefinder lens with a flange distance of 28.8mm. I think the illusion of softness in this lens has to do with the unique "smeary" look of OOF structure. It is neither smooth as in modern lenses, nor sharply defined "nisen" (two lines in Japanese) bokeh, as exemplified by the Trioplan. BTW the Nikkor 55mm f1.2 has really lovely bokeh. Here is an example. Very different from that of the Canon 0.95.

[Toby]

Interesting,,, For the Noct Nikkor the OOF,  out of focus highlights are completely reflecting the rear element, exactly at the surface of the glass, that is also why it is painted black and round along the edge, to hide the cut out for the stop down aperture leaver on the camera when shooting wide open.
Same for 50mm f/1.2 btw I adapted it for Leica M and as long as the tap for the roller is not hitting the glass, there is no effect on OOF highlights,,,

This obliviously is dependent on optical design, so my guess is that there is an obstruction somewhere that causes the OOF to behave differently, Leica M Noctilux also don't show this,,,

The other fast lens with a rear element cutout is the famous Tomioka designed M42 55mm f1.2--branded Tominon, Chinon, Cosinon, Yashinon, etc. As far as I know, it also doesn't show any change in the OOF shapes.

[Dr Klaus Schmitt]

Congrats Toby, some nice results you got!!

[rosko]

Amazing bokeh(s) !

I like particularly the third shot.

Thanks for sharing,

Francis.

[John Geerts]

Actually in head-to-head comparison with my Nikkor 55mm f 1.2 it holds its own--as sharp or slightly sharper in the center wide open, holding the sharpness pretty well to the edge of frame (but not the corner, where it is abysmal). It does have slightly less contrast, but actually controls CA slightly better than the Nikkor. Also significantly less vignetting wide open than the Nikkor. Of course this is not really a fair comparison, given the difference in flange distance--the Nikkor with its flange distance of 46.5mm can't pretend to compete againsy a rangefinder lens with a flange distance of 28.8mm. I think the illusion of softness in this lens has to do with the unique "smeary" look of OOF structure. It is neither smooth as in modern lenses, nor sharply defined "nisen" (two lines in Japanese) bokeh, as exemplified by the Trioplan. BTW the Nikkor 55mm f1.2 has really lovely bokeh. Here is an example. Very different from that of the Canon 0.95.

Indeed, the bokeh of the 55/1.2 is lovely.

Very interesting series with the Canon 0.95