Serenar / Canon 50mm F/1.5 LSM

Standard prime lens • Film era • Discontinued

  • Announced:
  • · November 1952
  • Production status:
  • ● Discontinued
  • Country of design:
  • · Japan
  • Original name:
  • · Canon Camera Co. SERENAR f:1.5 50mm
  • · Canon Camera Co. CANON LENS f:1.5 50mm
  • · Canon Camera Co. CANON LENS 50mm f:1.5
  • Class:
  • · Fast full-frame standard prime lens
  • System:
  • · Canon S (LSM) (1949)

Model history (3)

■Serenar / Canon 50mm F/1.5 LSMM7 - 31.00mS.VII 1952 ●
■Canon 50mm F/1.4 [I] LSMM6 - 41.00m⌀48 1957 ●
■Canon 50mm F/1.4 [II] LSMM6 - 41.00m⌀48 1959 ●

Specification

Optical design:
35mm full frame
50mm
F/1.5
7 elements in 3 groups (Sonnar)
Leica screw mount
46.8° (35mm full frame)
Diaphragm mechanism:
Diaphragm type:
Manual
Aperture control:
Aperture ring
13 (thirteen)
Focusing:
Coupled to the rangefinder:
Yes
1m
Focusing modes:
Manual focus only
Manual focus control:
Focusing ring
Physical characteristics:
280g
<No data>
Accessories:
Series VII
Series VII - Screw-type round

Sources of data

  • Canon lenses. Directions and tables (October 1956).
  • Canon lenses. Directions and tables (January 1955).
  • Canon-Serenar lenses. Directions and tables (October 1952).
  • Canon lenses. The world's finest optics for photography booklet.
  • Canon system of photography booklet (March 1956).
  • Canon General Catalog (March 1955).
  • Canon lenses booklet (December 1954).
  • Canon lenses. Directions and tables (August 1954).
  • Canon lenses. Directions and tables (September 1955).

Manufacturer description #1

A notable achievement in high speed lens design. Seven elements, Spectra-coated, in rigid mount, with a 46° angle of view. Extremely high resolving power and color fidelity. Excellent for "available light" photography without need for flash. Apertures from f:1.5 to f:16, with click stops. Focusing range: 3.5 ft. to infinity.

Manufacturer description #2

A super high speed standard lens originating from the so-called "Sonnar" type and embodying original ideas of Canon's lens designers. This lens has a rare combination of very high lens speed and a remarkable degree of correction of aberration. It produces excellent contrast and shows no decline in resolving powers at full aperture. The lens is at its best when used under poor lighting conditions or at night.

Manufacturer description #3

Canon's proudest achievement in high speed, highly corrected optical design. Seven elements, in non-collapsible mount and non-revolving lens head, with an angle-of-view of 46 deg. Excellent for candid indoor photography, without the use of flash. Extremely high resolving power, and color fidelity. Apertures from f:1.5 to f:16, with click stops. Focusing range from 3 1/2 feet to infinity: metric calibration from 1 meter to infinity. Accepts series VII 40 mm screw-in adapter ring and series VII attachments. Net weight approximately 280 grams or 10.4 oz.

Manufacturer description #4

A standard lens with a large aperture of f/1.5. Production of a large aperture standard lens was considered as a status symbol of a high class camera manufacturer at the time. This lens is developed based on Sonnar 50mm f/1.5 manufactured by Carl Zeiss, following the Serenar 50mm f/1.9 and the Serenar 50mm f/1.8 I. This lens is also available under the Canon brand name. It is an ideal lens for available light photography or for difficult light situations. This lens has excellent resolution and is color corrected to the very fullest extent.

From the editor

Standard lens for the Canon IV-SB, IV-SB2, II-S, II-S2, VT, VT de luxe, L1, VL, VI-T, VI-L, P.

Canon lenses. Directions and tables (September 1955) states that the optical formula consists of 7 elements, while older directions and tables indicate 6 elements.

Other standard prime lenses in the Canon S (LSM) system

■Leica screw mount (10)
Serenar / Canon 50mm F/3.5 [II] LSM • CollapsibleM4 - 31.00mS.VI 1952 ●
Canon 50mm F/2.8 [I] LSMM4 - 31.00mS.VI 1955 ●
Canon 50mm F/2.8 [II] LSMM4 - 31.00m⌀40 1957 ●
Canon 50mm F/2.2 LSMM5 - 41.00m⌀40 1961 ●
Serenar / Canon 50mm F/1.8 [I] LSMM6 - 41.00mS.VI 1951 ●
Canon 50mm F/1.8 [II] LSMM6 - 41.00mS.VI 1956 ●
Canon 50mm F/1.8 [III] LSMM6 - 41.00m⌀40 1958 ●
Canon 50mm F/1.4 [I] LSMM6 - 41.00m⌀48 1957 ●
Canon 50mm F/1.4 [II] LSMM6 - 41.00m⌀48 1959 ●
Canon 50mm F/1.2 LSMM7 - 51.00m⌀55 1956 ●

Lenses with similar focal length

■Leica screw mount (70)
Chiyoko Super Rokkor 45mm F/2.8 [C] LSMM5 - 31.00m 1947 ●
Chiyoda Kogaku Super Rokkor 50mm F/1.8 LSMM6 - 51.00m⌀46 1958 ●
Chiyoko Super Rokkor 50mm F/2.8 [C] LSMM5 - 31.00m⌀40.5 1954 ●
Chiyoko Super Rokkor 50mm F/2 [C] LSMM7 - 61.00m⌀43 1955 ●
Chiyoko Super Rokkor 50mm F/2 LSMM7 - 61.00m⌀40.5 1955 ●
Cosina Voigtlander Color-Skopar 50mm F/2.5 LSMM7 - 60.75m⌀39 2002 ●
Cosina Voigtlander Heliar 50mm F/2 LSM "Cosina 50th Anniversary, Bessa 10th Anniversary" (600 units)M5 - 31.00m⌀39 2009 ●
Cosina Voigtlander Nokton 50mm F/1.5 Aspherical LSMM6 - 50.90m⌀52 1999 ●
Fuji Photo Film Fujinon 50mm F/1.2 LSMM8 - 63.5 ft. 1954 ●
Fuji Photo Film Fujinon L 50mm F/2 LSMM6 - ?1.00m⌀43 1957 ●
Fuji Photo Film Fujinon L 50mm F/2.8 LSMM5 - ?1.00m⌀40.5 1957 ●
Fuji Photo Film Cristar 50mm F/2 LSM • CollapsibleM6 - 43.5 ft. 1949 ●
Konica Hexanon 50mm F/2.4 LSM (1000 units) • CollapsibleM6 - 40.80m⌀40.5 1997 ●
Konishiroku Hexanon 50mm F/1.9 LSMM6 - 53.5 ft.⌀40.5 1956 ●
Leitz Wetzlar / Leitz Canada Summarit 50mm F/1.5 [SOOIA / 11020]M7 - 51.00mE41 1949 ●
Leitz Hektor 50mm F/2.5 [HEKTO, HEKTORKUP, HEKTOCHROM] • CollapsibleM6 - 31.00mA36 1931 ●
Leitz / Leitz Wetzlar Summar 50mm F/2 [SUMAR, SUMARKUP, SUMARCHROM]M6 - 41.00mA36 1933 ●
Leitz / Leitz Wetzlar Summitar 50mm F/2 [SOORE / 11015] • CollapsibleM7 - 41.00mE36.4 1939 ●
Leitz Wetzlar Xenon 50mm F/1.5 [XEMOO]M7 - 51.00mA51 1936 ●
Leitz Wetzlar Summicron 50mm F/2 [I] [SOOIC / 11016] • CollapsibleM7 - 61.00mE39 1953 ●
Leitz Wetzlar Compur-Summicron 50mm F/2 (150 units)M? - ?1.00m 1954 ●
Leitz Wetzlar Elmar 50mm F/2.8 [I] [ELMOO / 11512, ELMOO / 11012] • CollapsibleM4 - 31.00mE39 1957 ●
Leitz / Leitz Wetzlar Summar 50mm F/2 [SUMUS, SUMUSKUP, SUMUSCHROM] • CollapsibleM6 - 41.00mA36 1934 ●
Light Lens Lab Noctilucent 50mm F/1.2 ASPH. "1966"M6 - 41.00m⌀49 2024 ●
Light Lens Lab Elcan 50mm F/2M4 - 40.70m⌀39 2022 ●
Nippon Kogaku Nikkor-H·C 50mm F/2 LSM • CollapsibleM6 - 33.5 ft.S.VI 1947 ●
Nippon Kogaku Nikkor-H[·C] 50mm F/2 LSMM6 - 31.5 ft.S.VI 1950 ●
Nippon Kogaku Nikkor-S·C 50mm F/1.5 LSM (408 units)M7 - 51.5 ft.⌀40.5 1949 ●
Nippon Kogaku Nikkor-S[·C] 50mm F/1.4 LSMM7 - 31.5 ft.S.VII 1950 ●
Nippon Kogaku Nikkor-N·C 50mm F/1.1 LSM (211 units)M9 - 63.5 ft.⌀62 1956 ●
Jupiter-8 50mm F/2 LSM
akaЮПИТЕР-8 50mm F/2 [П]		M6 - 31.00m⌀40.5 1947 ●
Industar-61[L/D] 52mm F/2.8 LSM
akaИ-61 52mm F/2.8
akaИ-61Л/Д 53mm F/2.8
akaИ-61Л/Д 55mm F/2.8
akaИНДУСТАР-61Л/Д 55mm F/2.8		M4 - 31.00m⌀40.5 ●
Jupiter-3 50mm F/1.5 LSM
akaЮПИТЕР-3 50mm F/1.5 [П]		M7 - 31.00m⌀40.5 1948 ●
Industar-26M 50mm F/2.8 LSM
akaИ-26м 52mm F/2.8
akaИНДУСТАР-26м 50mm F/2.8 П		M4 - 31.00m⌀40.5 1954 ●
FED 50mm F/2 LSM • Collapsible
akaФЭД 50mm F/2		M6 - 41.00mA36 ●
Jupiter-17 50mm F/2 LSM
akaЮПИТЕР-17 50mm F/2 П		M5 - 41.00m⌀40.5 1953 ●
Steinheil Munchen Quinon 50mm F/2 LSMM6 - 30.60m ●
Tanaka Kogaku Tanar 50mm F/2.8 LSMM4 - 33.5 ft. 1954 ●
Tanaka Kogaku Tanar 50mm F/2.8 H.C. Close Focus LSMM4 - 31.5 ft. 1955 ●
Tanaka Kogaku Tanar 50mm F/2.8 H.C. Close Focus LSM BlackM4 - 31.5 ft. 1957 ●
Tanaka Kogaku Tanar 50mm F/2 H.C. LSMM6 - 31.5 ft.⌀40.5 1956 ●
Tanaka Kogaku Tanar 50mm F/2 H.C. LSM BlackM6 - 31.5 ft.⌀40.5 1957 ●
Tanaka Kogaku Tanar 50mm F/1.9 LSMM6 - 30.60m⌀40.5 1959 ●
Tanaka Kogaku Tanar 50mm F/1.8 LSMM6 - 30.60m 1960 ●
Tanaka Kogaku Tanar 50mm F/1.5 H.C. LSMM7 - 32 ft. 1957 ●
Teikoku Kogaku Zunow 50mm F/1.1 [I] LSMM9 - 53.5 ft.⌀54.5 1953 ●
Teikoku Kogaku / Zunow Opt. Zunow 50mm F/1.1 [II] LSMM8 - 53.5 ft.⌀54.5 1955 ●
Tokyo Kogaku Topcor-S 50mm F/2 Type 2 LSMM6 - 41.00m⌀40.5 1958 ●
Tokyo Kogaku Topcor-S 50mm F/2 Type 1 LSMM6 - 43.5 ft.⌀40.5 1957 ●
Tokyo Kogaku Topcor 50mm F/2.8 LSMM5 - 33.5 ft.⌀34 1958 ●
Tokyo Optical Topcor 50mm F/1.5 LSMM7 - 43.5 ft.⌀40 1954 ●
Tokyo Kogaku Topcor 50mm F/2 LSMM6 - 53.5 ft.⌀40 1954 ●
Tokyo Kogaku Topcor-S 50mm F/2 "Panda" LSMM6 - 41.00m⌀40.5 1957 ●
Tokyo Optical Simlar 50mm F/1.5 LSMM7 - 43.5 ft.⌀40 1950 ●
Voigtlander Nokton 50mm F/1.5 LSMM7 - 51.00m 1953 ●
Yashica [Super-]Yashinon 50mm F/1.8 LSMM6 - 53.5 ft.⌀43 1959 ●
Yashica Yashikor 50mm F/2.8 [II] LSMM5 - 40.90m⌀40.5 1959 ●
Yashica Yashikor 50mm F/2.8 [I] LSMM4 - 33.5 ft.⌀40.5 1959 ●
Yasuhara 50mm F/2.8 MC LSMM4 - 30.80m⌀35.5 2001 ●
Zuiho Honor 50mm F/2 LSMM6 - 43.5 ft. 1959 ●
Zuiho Honor 50mm F/1.9 LSMM? - ?3.5 ft.⌀43 1959 ●
Nicca 50mm F/2.8 Type 2 LSMM4 - 33.5 ft.⌀40.5 1958 ●
Nicca 50mm F/2.8 Type 1 LSMM4 - 33.5 ft.⌀34.5 1958 ●
Taylor-Hobson Anastigmat 50mm F/2 LSM • CollapsibleM6 - 43.5 ft. 1951 ●
K.O.L. Xebec 50mm F/2 LSM • Collapsible
akaSun Xebec 50mm F/2 LSM		M6 - 41.00m 1942 ●
Phenix 50mm F/2.8 MC LSM (500 units) • CollapsibleM4 - 30.70m⌀35.5 1999 ●
Lomography x Zenit New Jupiter-3+ 50mm F/1.5 LSMM7 - 30.70m⌀40.5 2016 ●
Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 50mm F/2 T LSM • CollapsibleM6 - 31.00m ●
Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 50mm F/2 T LSMM6 - 31.00m ●
Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 50mm F/1.5 T LSMM7 - 31.00m ●

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