The Canon 100mm F2 Serenar dates back to the late 50’s / early 60’s. It is a LTM lens (M39 screw mount) and is focus coupled - meaning it works on a Leica M. The 100mm Serenar has a Planar design, so to a certain extent, it is akin to mounting a Contax 100mm f2 Planar on a Leica M9. Having a Planar telephoto lens on the Leica M9 was too tempting to pass up!

The Canon 100mm F2 Serenar is a large lens by rangefinder standards, perhaps a smidgen larger than a Leica 90mm F2 Summicron-M APO. The lens was built before the days of double helicoids, so when focusing the aperture ring turns with the lens body. Also the lens mounts with a ~15 degree cant towards the viewfinder; supposedly allowing the photographer to see the focus distance easier without completely pulling the camera away from their eye and looking down. Also, like the Nikon 105mm F2.5 P.C. (also made in a M39 LTM mount), the focus ring seems to turn forever. Going from infinity to the minimum focus distant is almost a complete revolution.

The 100mm Serenar’s build quality is wonderful. As one would expect from a 1960’s vintage lens, the lens is metal, with more metal and some added metal for extra measure. Add a black lacquer finish with some matte finish silver bits, and it is a classy looking lens (as lenses go). My lens could benefit from a CLA; the focus ring is smooth, but on the stiff side. The lens performs wonderfully, so I am hesitant to send it off for servicing. The old adage comes to mind - “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”

Being a screw mount lens, a M39 screw mount adapter is needed. I opted for a Voigtlander 28/90. The lens is in near new condition, and finding a 50 year lens in that grade is not easy. “Good” condition 100mm Serenars are around $700‘ish. Prices are high, but given the runaway Leica prices the last couple years, the Canon may be a bargain depending on one’s reference point.

So lets cut to the chase - is the lens sharp? Yes - both at F2 and stopped down to F8. Resolution and detail in the Leica M9 files is stunning. Bokeh? Good - cleaner than a Leica 90mm F2 Summicron-M Pre-ASPH and no objectionable color fringing in the bokeh. Contrast? Lenses from this time period are known for lower contrast, and the Canon certainly fits that profile. With some levels or curves edits, adding the contrast in post-processing is easy. Overall, its bokeh and color rendition have some of the modern Canon fingerprint. The Canon 100mm Serenar has some 3D merits. Netting a 3D effect also depends on lighting, and given the right conditions the Canon 100mm F2 Serenar is quite capable. For the sake of this article, the 2nd image on the right illustrates the Serenar’s 3D potential at F2.

Earlier this year I also had a Zeiss 85mm F2 Sonnar ZM. In terms of build quality, the Zeiss was sublime, but its optical performance was somewhat underwhelming given its $3k+ price tag. Choosing the Canon 100mm Serenar over the Zeiss ZM is a no-brainer. After trying the Nikon 105mm F2.5 P.C. and Canon 100mm F2 Serenar, I am truly amazed at how good these lenses are. It proved (to me) that lens quality (at least in the 100mm category) has not changed much in 50 years. There is something wonderfully pleasing about the Leica M9’s simplicity and mechanical nature. Adding the Canon 100mm F2 Serenar enhances the nostalgic feel. Just knowing there is a 50 year old lens on the Leica M9 is “cool”. And the fact that it is a good lens is all the better.

Would I recommend the 100mm Serenar to a Leica M9 newbie? “Ahhh helllll no!” Shooting 100mm F2 on a rangefinder takes practice. Knock on wood, my Canon 100mm F2 Serenar and Leica M9 are a well calibrated pair and the keeper rate has been around 80-90% at F2. But even with those odds, I tend to shoot F2.8 for some added leeway. The 100mm F2 Serenar’s long focus throw takes some patience as well. Lastly, using 90mm frame lines for a 100mm focal length can be hit-or-miss at times. I tend to shoot on the loose side, leaving room for cropping and final composition during post processing.

The pictures on this page have all had their color edited one way or another. I do like the semi-aged look; part of the look is via Alien Skin’s Exposure 3.0 using the “669 - Creamy Blown Highlights+” filter (images #3, #4 and #5 on the right). The filter adds a 70’s film vibe in terms of color and contrast. The portraits illustrate the Serenar’s bokeh; I love the micro-contrast in the 2nd image’s bokeh. The black and white city-scapes had their mid-tones lifted, and the black point was set higher to add some contrast back to the images. Those two pictures were shot in a 1:00 afternoon sunlight (partly over-cast), so the light was not that great.

The Canon 100mm F2 Serenar falls short of the Contax 100mm F2 Planar, but 100mm Serenar is good a lens, and as Leica M portrait lenses go, this one is likely to be here for awhile.