I have a new, old lens. It is a Canon 50mm TV f/0.95 lens, in some circles known as the “Dream Lens” because of its dreamy bokeh at f/0.95. The lens dates from the early 1960s, and was the first of the high-speed 50mm lenses.

Originally designed for the Canon rangefinder, Nikon soon jumped into the fast lens arms race with their own fast lens, to be followed by Leica’s Noctilux 50mm f/0.95, which has gone through many iterations. Compared to my “Noct,” this lens is interpretative and far less clinical.

Time will tell, but I think I like my Dream Lens very much.

My lens has been refurbished and converted to the Leica M mount. It’s surprisingly short and wide in design, and mostly covers the lens release button on my Leica 11 MP (I can depress it, but it takes fingernails and a bit of dexterity).

A portrait shot into the Dream Lens (made with my macro probe) is shown below, along with two flower images shot with the lens wide open at f/0.95.