It is of course well known, that Canon, began as an effort to create a Japanese camera equal to the Leica and that the early Canon designs borrowed very heavily from their German inspiration. Although they began by using Nikkor lenses, Canon eventually started producing their own, and if this example is anything to go by, the heritage is more Leica than Nikon. This staggering little lens is sharp even wide open, a characteristic Leicas are famous for, and a real boon, if you are like me, using your lenses on a digital body in stopped down mode.
This is a rare lens and just incredible to use. There are bigger, much more complicated lenses, but when it comes to just simply creating the image, this stunning lens does what only the very best do, it becomes your eye, the camera itself disappears and it gets you right into your subject, rather than creating a barrier to it.
Today it is sought after both for its rarity and its astonishing bokeh. It is of course at home not just LTM rangefinders, but with an adapter, on the Leica M series, right up to the M9, M240 and M10, Micro four thirds, Sony NEX, Micro Four Thirds, the Fantastic full frame Sony A7, A7ii and A9 series and other mirrorless digital bodies from Fuji and Samsung, all offering a perfect symbiosis of old and new!
The digital renaissance of LTM lenses means that demand has never been higher and is rising rapidly, so now really is the time to bite the bullet and acquire one of these incredible lenses while you still can. This is the sort of lens you wish they made today, (I know Leica Do, but only for internal organ money) from a time when Canon was establishing itself and creating a world class product was more important than an extra 0.1% on the bottom line.
This particular example is in stunning condition, having very obviously been very carefully cared for. The front optic, resplendent in its deep blue coating, is completely unmarked, there is not even any dust visible when the lens is held up to daylight. The barrel retains its black finish with almost no sign of use. All markings are present and enjoy excellent contrast. The lens head unscrews and refits perfectly and without fuss.
Mechanically, the focus movement is nicely balanced, incredibly so for such a vintage lens, the aperture stops down from f3.5 to f22 without any fuss at all, opening and closing an iris formed by no less than fifteen blinds, forming the near circular aperture which gives the best rangefinder lenses their legendary Bokeh.
The lens will be supplied with caps, ready for you to get to work!
