CANON RANGEFINDER (by GL OPTICS)

The Canon rangefinder lenses, originating from the 1960s, are renowned for their exceptional optical performance and compact design.

These lenses were designed for Canon and Leica rangefinder cameras, featuring the Leica Thread Mount (LTM). The absence of a mirror reflex system in rangefinder cameras allows these lenses to sit closer to the film plane, resulting in smaller, faster lenses with excellent center sharpness and aberration control. Notable lenses in this range include the legendary 50mm f/0.95 “Dream Lens,” known for its dreamy character and beautiful flares when shot wide open. These lenses are celebrated for their vintage charm, delivering low-contrast images with golden flares, making them a favorite among photographers seeking a classic aesthetic.

28mm T2.9

• Type: Wide-angle lens.
• Use: Great for landscape, architecture, and wide environmental shots.
• Performance: The T2.9 aperture provides decent low-light performance while maintaining a depth of field that is characteristic of wide-angle lenses. The 28mm focal length allows you to capture broad scenes and is ideal for establishing shots in cinematography.

35mm T2

• Type: Standard wide-angle lens.
• Use: Often used for street photography, documentary, and environmental portraits. It’s also common in cinema for its ability to closely mimic human vision.
• Performance: The T2 aperture offers better low-light performance, providing a shallow depth of field for more subject isolation when needed.

50mm T1.5

• Type: Standard lens.
• Use: This lens is very versatile and can be used for portraits, close-ups, and even medium shots. It’s often called the “nifty fifty” due to its adaptability in still photography and filmmaking.
• Performance: The T1.5 aperture is very fast, allowing excellent low-light capability and creating a beautifully shallow depth of field. This lens is ideal for creating a cinematic look with strong subject isolation.

85mm T1.9

• Type: Short telephoto lens.
• Use: Primarily used for portrait photography and close-up shots in cinema. It’s great for creating flattering images with a compressed perspective.
• Performance: The T1.9 aperture allows for good low-light performance and creates a shallow depth of field, ideal for focusing on subjects while softly blurring the background.

100mm T2

• Type: Telephoto lens.
• Use: Suitable for headshots, close-ups, and medium telephoto work in cinema. It’s also used for capturing subjects from a distance while maintaining detail and compression.
• Performance: The T2 aperture provides solid low-light performance while balancing sharpness and background blur.

135mm T3.5

• Type: Telephoto lens.
• Use: Ideal for long-distance shooting, such as wildlife, sports, and events, where you need to get closer to the subject without physically moving.
• Performance: The T3.5 aperture is slower, meaning it’s less suited for low-light situations, but it still provides a good depth of field for isolating subjects against the background.

The Canon rangefinder lenses General Characteristics

• Build Quality: These lenses are typically made with high-quality materials, offering a solid and durable construction, which is especially important for vintage lenses.
• Image Quality: Canon rangefinder lenses are known for their sharpness, contrast, and classic rendering, which can add a unique aesthetic to your images and videos.
• Mount: These lenses are likely designed for Canon’s rangefinder camera system, meaning they use a specific lens mount that may require adapters to be used on modern cameras.

These lenses are cherished by collectors and professionals for their classic look and feel, and they can be particularly appealing for filmmakers and photographers looking to achieve a vintage aesthetic.