Canon 85mm f1.5. Original Leica L mount. Released in 1952. This particular lens is an early version manufactured in 1952, belonging to the earlier production batch. It is said that only about 2,000 units of the 85mm f1.5 were produced, including the versions with the Serenar and Canon engravings as well as the later matte finish with black paint. A rare item.
The lens has a 4-group, 7-element design and features coatings in shades of purple and light blue. It was designed by Hiroshi Ito, who also worked on the 50mm f1.2, 50mm f1.4, 50mm f1.8, and 85mm f1.9 lenses. The lens is densely packed with glass, giving it a hefty feel. It features feet scale markings, with a minimum focusing distance of 1m, and has a filter size of 58mm.
As expected of a fast lens, it delivers beautiful, rich bokeh when shot wide open. While focusing can be challenging due to the narrow depth of field, the lens’s unique rendering often inspires photographers to attempt shooting wide open.
The lens alone weighs 754g according to actual measurements, making it a heavy lens. However, for those who prioritize image quality over equipment weight, this lens is truly irresistible.
There are minor scuffs and small scratches associated with hood attachment and general use, but no noticeable deep scratches. The plating shows no signs of corrosion, maintaining a very good condition.
The lens underwent a full overhaul in November 2024. As is typical with this lens, the feel of the aperture and helicoid operation is exquisite, even for a lens of this weight. Focusing through the rangefinder is extremely smooth, making the operation enjoyable in itself. During practical testing, the rangefinder coupling was spot-on.
When shooting wide open, aberrations are noticeable, and at certain distances, the focus might appear slightly off. However, understanding and working with these quirks can add to the enjoyment of using this lens.
There is a single coating blemish on the front element, roughly 1mm in diameter (about the size of a sesame seed), along with some extremely faint cleaning marks on both the front and rear elements. However, there is no haze, and the optics are crystal clear.
Sample images taken wide open are available in the gallery. The rich bokeh beautifully highlights the plane of focus, and the distortion-free rendering typical of a medium telephoto lens creates images with an excellent atmosphere.
Includes the original hood, caps, UV filter, viewfinder, and case.
