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CANON 135mm TELEPHOTO - L39 LTM MOUNT - VERY, VERY RARE!

CANON 135mm RANGEFINDER LENS L39 LTM - MINTY!

1950s - VERY, VERY RARE!

A real time capsule... An amazingly desirable Canon rangefinder lens from the 1950s, offered in stunning condition!

An amazing lens this one, A very very rare lens, even more rarely found in such sublime minty condition. Obsessively kept and offered in near mint condition, it is ready to go to work!

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 one of the very rarest lenses I have ever come across and one of the nicest to use, I have had bigger, and 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 photographer's 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 for its rarity and its astonishing bokeh. It is of course at home not just LTM rangefinders, but with an adapter, on the M series, right up to the M9 and 'New M', Micro four thirds, Sony NEX, even the fabulous Sony A7 and A7 Mkii bodies, 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 £5000+) 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 simply astonishing condition, having very obviously been treasured like a favourite child. I would be very surprised if it has been used more than a few times. The vast front glass is completely unmarked, while the internal optics are as clear as a bell, with no hint of marks or even internal dust. The barrel retains its high polished nickel finish and 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 stopping down from f3.5 to f22 without any fuss at all, opening and closing an iris formed by no less than fourteen blinds, forming the near circular aperture which gives the best rangefinder lenses their legendary Bokeh.

The lens will be supplied with as pictured, ready for you to get to work!

So there you have it, a very rare opportunity to acquire a truly stunning example of this seminal Canon Rangefinder lens in fabulous condition, not one to be missed, whether you want it to use or for your collection!

Of course, equipment of this vintage and in such superlative condition takes us well into the realm of the collectible, so it may be possible to buy this lens, enjoy it, and part with it in the future for the same or more than you paid for it, making it effectively free, Making photography possibly the most partner friendly of all pursuits!

Hopefully, the description and photos will answer any questions you may have, but please feel free to drop me an email if anything needs clarifying further.