LENS TEST: Canon V35 vs. Canon FD vs Leica R

We teamed up with Kingston NY based fellow DPs Ian McGrew and Drew English for a recent lens test, to compare the Canon V35 - modified versions of the original Canon CNE lenses - with Canon FDs (GL Optics Mk IV Rehousing) and Leica Rs (GL Optics MK V Rehousing). Everything was shot wide open on Sony Venice 2 (Open Gate 8.6K).

We made the entire test public and you can judge for yourself how each lens performs:

CANON V35 vs CANON FD vs LEICA R TEST

The biggest surprise to us was, how clean the Leica Rs are. Considering they are vintage lenses from the ‘70s their coating is extremely good and minimally flares with the direct hard sources.

On the flip side the V35s have a very intense, yellow/orange flare that is much more pronounced and consistent between 35, 85 and 135mm. The 24 and 50mm are less bloomy and also have a bit more neutral flare color.

Let us know what you think!

V35 24mm T1.5

FD 24mm T1.5

Leica R 24mm T2.8

V35 35mm T1.5

FD 35mm T2.1

Leica R 35mm T1.4

Yashica 45mm T1.5

V35 50mm T1.3

FD 55mm T1.3

Leica R T1.4

V35 85mm T1.3

FD 85mm T1.3

Leica R 80mm T1.4

V35 135mm T2.2

FD 135mm T2.1

Leica R 135mm 2.8