The Canon 35mm f1.5, a fast wide-angle lens from Canon. Leica screw mount. It was introduced in 1958 and seems to have remained on sale until around 1971, yet it does not appear on the market very often considering that production period.
The lens was designed by Jiro Mukai. It has an optical formula of 8 elements in 4 groups. The helicoid has a distance scale in meters. Amber-colored coating.
The Canon 35mm f1.5 is said to be the world’s first photographic lens to achieve 35mm f1.5. Unlike the Summilux 35mm f1.4, its appeal lies in its crisp rendering even wide open.
There are surprisingly few fast vintage 35mm lenses for Leica that can be used with rangefinder coupling, so this is surely a lens that many people have been curious about.
Some Canon 35mm f1.5 lenses are known to have less-than-ideal rangefinder coupling, but this example has been carefully serviced, and both the rangefinder coupling and focusing are stable.
The rear element of this lens protrudes quite far. When placing the lens down, we recommend setting it upside down.
There are a few extremely tiny spots of black paint loss on the front edge of the barrel and the helicoid ring, but no other visible scuffs or scratches. Overall, the exterior is in exceptionally beautiful condition.
Fully overhauled in May 2026. Thanks to careful servicing, both the aperture and helicoid operate very smoothly. The handling is free from the rattly feel often found in Canon lenses, and the movement is pleasantly smooth. Rangefinder coupling is also spot-on.
The glass shows very slight coating deterioration on an inner element, and just a trace of fungus marks on the rear element. There is also some clear balsam separation around the edge of an inner element, but all of these are only barely visible when held up to a strong LED light, and should have almost no effect on actual images. There is no haze in the glass, which is clear and bright, and the coating remains on all surfaces. The results of our test shots were also excellent.
Wide open, it delivers a gentle rendering while still retaining good resolution, with a beautifully soft look toward the edges and in the foreground and background. Stopped down, the image becomes sharply defined all at once.
Comes with the genuine W-50 hood, UV filter, front and rear caps.
