Quick Comparison: 35mm Cron ASPH vs 35mm Nokton CV (f1.4) on the M8

[photogdave]

I used to have a 35-CronASPH, so i know how fantastic that lens is. Of course, there are sample variations, so who knows if this performance is entirely representative.

Don't get me started on sample variations! (Maybe this should go to the cliche thread!)
No two lenses are exactly 100 per cent identical. I'm sure this lens is representative enough for most of us.
What's a photographer to do? Order 20 lenses and test them one by one? "Hmmm. Number four was the sharpest but I feel number 18 was a bit lower contrast."
Make your dealer's life hell? "Remember that sample I bought five lenses ago? Can I have that one again please?"
Unless there is something seriously wrong with the way it focuses, one "sample" should be as good as another.
Sorry for the mini-rant! This is not an attack directed at you CK Dexter. I know you didn't mean to spark my bottled up anger! :angel:

 

[napoleonesq]

My new CV35 1.4

My new CV35 1.4

I just got the new CV35 1.4 a few days ago, and I shot a few pictures last weekend, and I am really happy with it. It feels nice, and I think its pretty sharp. I am not very knowledgeable about the technical stuff, but I think given the price, the built, and size, its a bargain.

 

[dcsang]

<snip>As for bokeh, isn't the reason that the Summicron-ASPH produced round circles because it was wide open at f2? The Nokton was closed to f2 from 1.4, so it has the edges of aperture blades to 'square off' its circles? If the Nokton were shot at 1.4, wouldn't its circles also be perfectly round?

But, at 1.4, i've seen some ghastly bokeh from the Nokton. That was the primary reason i never considered that lens. But, if you treat it as an f2 lens, maybe its value, ironically, increases quite a bit? </snip>

Dexter,

You are correct.
I haven't uploaded the f1.4 shot but the bokeh is circular and, well, let's just say "not pleasing to everyone's palette"

But again, in your second statement, that's exactly how I was looking at this lens - not so much as a competitor or alternative to the Summilux but if it could be used fairly decently instead of the Cron ASPH.

I know it is not a "replacement" for the Cron ASPH but it seems to be a good value for the money.

Cheers,
Dave

 

[Turtle]

I dont think people buy a fast lens to shoot at wide apertures only. Most photographers shoot at the aperture they need to get the effect they want. I would venture so far as to suggest that CV 35 1.4s will on average spend far more time being shot at f5.6-11 than 1.4....just a suspicion. Fast apertures should be an option, but not to the exclusion of other apertures unless the lens is marketed as specialist kit. I would guess that most people want fast lenses for the option of speed/diffused background and not so that they use them only in this domain. Otherwise you have to wonder what they did before they bought their fast lenses....personally I would rather have a lens that does everything I want it to do AND has the option of a fast aperture...otherwise it means carrying two lenses of the same FL on the street and I think that is entering the realm of counterproductivity esp if speed and intuitive shooting is your thing, but I realise others may disagree. If I am shooting with 35mm in such a way that I am faffing between a multitude of lenses I might as well be shooting a larger slower format.

great architecture Matt!

 

[tomasis]

nokton would be great complement to cron asph? or do you have plans to sell cron? It is not that I want to buy

it seems so that Nokton has higher contrast that's why it appears sharper.

It is always easy to judge lenses characteristics if both shot at B&W and adjusted to have similar contrast afterwards if I want to compare some lenses. Of course it has to be 10 different scenes to reveal more of lenses.

Me prefer Cron Asph. More pleasant look.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

interesting test - people were divided here on rff about this lens. one group say it is very bad lens and other thinks its great. imho on f2 nokton wins easily. no glare, it is much sharper, nicer contrast. only thing where it lose against cron is barrel distortion. but it is still 3:1 for nokton. and also nokton seems very compact for 1.4 lens. i wonder if it will win so easy on f1.4 too...

And here's where some people would want to fork the extra $1000.

I think it's a very interesting "preview", and it just goes to show that, keeping S. Reid's (in)famous review in mind, there may be sample variations with CV lenses, a la Canon.

I'm still considering this lens...hmm.

Now, who has f/1.4 shots of this Nokton lens vs. a 35mm Summicron?

 

[ampguy]

The distortion would bother me. Most of my digital p&s's zooms have all had this effect as well at the widest setting, but I can zoom in a bit to minimize the distortion.

 

[dcsang]

The distortion would bother me. Most of my digital p&s's zooms have all had this effect as well at the widest setting, but I can zoom in a bit to minimize the distortion.

yeah.. I can see that - depending on what you're shooting. I think I could let the distortion, at least on digital, slide a bit because if I'm going to shoot interiors/architecture/landscape or such I'm more apt to "screw" the level and go for that wild distorted look with the CV 15mm

We'll see how the lens performs over the course of this coming weekend - against the Cron of course.

Cheers,
Dave