Jump to content

Help IDing Canon cinema lenses


Recommended Posts

Hi: I just acquired a 35mm f1.8 T2.0 and a 50mm F1.2 T1.4 Canon lens for a song ($400 with shipping). These are in BNCR mount with geared rings incorporated to the focusing mount. They do not say K-35. The serial numbers are 35mm: 12468 50mm: 17078. Both say Canon Camera Co. Japan and CANON LENS on the ring around the front element (which are both sunk well down from the front edge of the aperture mount.

 

I am trying to identify these. Any clue as to where I might find archival info from Canon. Or perhaps my description and pics will strike a bell.

Thanks

post-38299-1235512951.jpg

post-38299-1235512968.jpg

post-38299-1235512979.jpg

post-38299-1235512988.jpg

post-38299-1235513006.jpg

post-38299-1235513014.jpg

post-38299-1235513022.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Can you post some larger images as I can't get beyond the thumbnails.

 

As I understand it and I could be wrong ( Canon have never answered my queries about serial no.s unlike Zeiss ) the K35s start the serial no. with the year of manufacture i.e 78xxxx 81xxxx

 

The earlier K35 Sets had a 55mm the later 50mm. The lenses were derived from the Canon Aspherical still lens and had open apertures ranging from T1.3 to T1.5

 

Other companies may have rehoused the still lenses to BNCR.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Can you post some larger images as I can't get beyond the thumbnails.

 

As I understand it and I could be wrong ( Canon have never answered my queries about serial no.s unlike Zeiss ) the K35s start the serial no. with the year of manufacture i.e 78xxxx 81xxxx

 

The earlier K35 Sets had a 55mm the later 50mm. The lenses were derived from the Canon Aspherical still lens and had open apertures ranging from T1.3 to T1.5

 

Other companies may have rehoused the still lenses to BNCR.

 

 

Thanks, Nick. I'll post some better pics today. I am not so sure about the serial numbers. Attached is a pic of a K-35 18mm with a serial number that starts with a 1.

post-38299-1235581084.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes the 18mm K35s have different serial numbering than the other focal lengths starting with 1xxxx.

I have an 18mm T1.5 with a serial no. 10088 and I am pretty sure it was made in the early '80s while the rest of my set have serial no.s starting 81 which I take as their year of manufacture.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Premium Member

The lenses you purchased appear to have a Mitchell mount (which is why they went for so little). They were more than likely made (or rehoused) prior to the introduction of the K35 series. Although they are comparable in speed, you'll need to check how well they intercut with K35s (if that's your intention), as K35s have a look all their own, differing from 'standard' Canon glass as well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The lenses you purchased appear to have a Mitchell mount (which is why they went for so little). They were more than likely made (or rehoused) prior to the introduction of the K35 series. Although they are comparable in speed, you'll need to check how well they intercut with K35s (if that's your intention), as K35s have a look all their own, differing from 'standard' Canon glass as well.

 

Thanks. Yes, they are BNCR mount. Its too bad Canon, apparently, does not give archival support for its lenses as Zeiss does.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi: I just acquired a 35mm f1.8 T2.0 and a 50mm F1.2 T1.4 Canon lens for a song ($400 with shipping). These are in BNCR mount with geared rings incorporated to the focusing mount. They do not say K-35. The serial numbers are 35mm: 12468 50mm: 17078. Both say Canon Camera Co. Japan and CANON LENS on the ring around the front element (which are both sunk well down from the front edge of the aperture mount.

 

Those are not BNCR mounts, rather they are the older BNC rack over mounts.

 

The rear barrels of BNCR mounts are much shallower so they can clear the mirror shutter or the pellicle.

A BNCR lens will fit on a rack over BNC, but a rack over lens will not fit a BNCR mount camera without damaging the mirror.

Though they might fit a Red.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Whoa Nelly. I am a newbie. So how can I tell between a BNCR versus BNC? Is there a particular measurement that is determinative? If so, what is/are the measured differences and where specifically do you take those measurements? Oh and yes, I do intent to use these on a RED or the Scarlet/Epic this summer. Thanks for your insight and wisdom.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh my! The wiki page says that there is no difference between BNCR and BNC mount. Holy misinformation batman! I did a lot of google research and found one site that explained BNCR has a cone shaped rear. Wow, I have complete set of Super Baltars, and now some Canon's that are BNC mounts, BNCR.

 

OK, so before I start to fret, how easy is it to convert BNC to BNCR? How expensive is it? Does anybody know if the Visual Products BNCR mount for the RED work with BNC mounts as well?

 

Thanks

Link to comment
Share on other sites

OK, well I compared the mounts on my Canon versus my Super Baltars. laying a ruler up against one of the flanges, it is 7/8 inch to the end (end of the metal, not to the rear element) on the Super Baltars. On the Canons, it is 1 3/16 inches. So there is a definite difference there. Does that change whether it is BNC versus BNCR or is the question simply a cone shape or not?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As D Goulder and Leo said these are BNC mount lenses made for non reflex rack over Mitchell cameras. The actual flange is the same between both mounts but as Leo says you will destroy the mirror on a reflex camera with a BNC lens. Check the distance between the VP BNCR flange and the OLPF on the Red One to check clearance.

 

The difference between BNC and BNCR is that the R stands for Reflex and therefore the rear of the lens has to clear the mirror.

 

Yours look like Canon still lenses rehoused to BNC whereas the K35s were designed for film, I would roughly date them from the '60s but Leo would know better. Interesting to see a lens close down to F 28.

 

There is a Canon resource at http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/camera/index.html where they give a history of their Still lenses and you may be able to deduce which were used.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Nick and thanks to all for your advice and observations. I'll check in with VP in compatibility. At least these were cheap. Does anybody care to comment on my Super Baltars? I bought a Mitchell Camera along with the SB lenses and everything says BNCR. Do BNCR mounts all have a cone shaped back?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Nick and thanks to all for your advice and observations. I'll check in with VP in compatibility. At least these were cheap. Does anybody care to comment on my Super Baltars? I bought a Mitchell Camera along with the SB lenses and everything says BNCR. Do BNCR mounts all have a cone shaped back?

 

Here's a 30mm, 40mm Baltr and an 18.5mm Angie in the older BNC rock over mounts:

 

post-7981-1236033261.jpg

 

VS. a Canon K-35mm T2.8.

 

post-7981-1236031985.jpg

 

The BNCR lenses don't always have the conical rear, but you can see that the barrel behind the flange is considerably shorter than the rack over mount.

 

Super Baltars were designed for use on reflex cameras, specifically the mitchell S35R/ Mark II cameras. The Super Baltars have S35R mounts, the BNCR ones use a permanently mounted adapter.

 

Looking on the Canon Museum site, we find the following rangefinder lenses with leica screw mounts to be the only lenses whose specs match your Mitchell mount lenses.

Since Baltars were T2.5, these are faster supplementary lenses.

 

http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/camera/...35/s_35_18.html

 

http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/camera/...85/s_50_12.html

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...
Here's a 30mm, 40mm Baltr and an 18.5mm Angie in the older BNC rock over mounts:

 

post-7981-1236033261.jpg

 

VS. a Canon K-35mm T2.8.

 

post-7981-1236031985.jpg

 

The BNCR lenses don't always have the conical rear, but you can see that the barrel behind the flange is considerably shorter than the rack over mount.

 

Super Baltars were designed for use on reflex cameras, specifically the mitchell S35R/ Mark II cameras. The Super Baltars have S35R mounts, the BNCR ones use a permanently mounted adapter.

 

Looking on the Canon Museum site, we find the following rangefinder lenses with leica screw mounts to be the only lenses whose specs match your Mitchell mount lenses.

Since Baltars were T2.5, these are faster supplementary lenses.

 

http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/camera/...35/s_35_18.html

 

http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/camera/...85/s_50_12.html

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...