Noob ~35mm lens choice help

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matt352

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Hi. I'm new here and would like to ask for some advice. Yesterday, I purchased a beautiful and recently CLA'd M4-2 on the auction site and it should be arriving to me later in the week. Over the next month or so, I would like to find a lens for it. Seems sensible, oui?

The thought is I'd carry the M with me regularly and use it mainly for street photography -- which enjoy quite a lot, as well as for live music in pubs and other people-y low-light situations where something small, quiet, inconspicuous and with capability for <1m close focus is appreciated. With this in mind, I felt inclined toward a ~35mm length lens. Film preference is B+W 90+% of the time. Budget maxes out around $400 USD or so. Keep in mind I live in Canada, which can mean exchange rates and border tariffs, but also that I have access to new CV's through BigCameraWorkshops(.com) in Burlington, Ontario. I'm also more than willing to be patient and vulture about auction sites and webforums to find a previously loved 'it'.

From reading a number of the great threads on here, each one professing each and every lens to be great or even "the best," below is a list of lenses I'm so far considering.

CV 35/2.5 Pancake
CV 35/1.4 Nokton (pref. SC)
CV 40/1.4 Nokton (pref. SC)
40/2 Summicron-C
40/2 Rokkor
ugly yet functional 35mm Summaron or Summicron

Knowing my budget, situation and intended use, which one do you think would work best for me? Are there others I should consider? With thanks in advance, [FONT=&quot]Matt[/FONT]
 
there is nothing like the summicron-c. I have some really expensive lenses and the c is a constant reminder that price doesnt mean a whole hell of a lot. that lens will always be in my top 3. I wish there was a 50mm sumicron that looks like it. The 70's version is close but its just not the same...
 
How about almost any Canon LTM 35mm lens? Start with the oldest, all chrome, 34mm filter size, tiny, f/2.8 gem. You can go up the budget scale from there. They are all good.
 
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For your style of shooting - low light in pub's and the music scene - I would go for the Nokton 35f1.4. MC or SC is not really important - both will do a very good job. The alternative is the 40f1.4 Nokton with the filed down "claw" to show the 35 frames. It is very good at tight shots in the 0.7 -1 meter range too.
The Summicron 40, the VC 35f2.5 etc - would be limiting when it comes to "ragged edge" shooting. One stop speed gain can make all the difference here.
Check on Flickr for samples of shots with the lenses you are contemplating - even though they are smallish digital files, they do show a bit of the out of focus rendition, overall sharpness etc.
I like the Canon's too (have the 35f1.8 and the 35f2 - both very good lenses - but no match for modern optics and coatings). Your budget would seem to carry a new 40f1.4 or a used 35f1.4 Nokton. Either one would be a good choice.
 
I don't have a lot of cash lying around to try this lens and then try that lens. After careful consideration of my budget I decided to buy a new Zeiss Biogon 35mm f/2. I spent a lot of time on Flickr and Googling reviews. I would have bought a new Summicron if I had the money but a new Biogon was a close second.

I have put through 6 rolls, mostly B&W that I haven't developed yet. The two colour rolls have come out really nice.

3167387379_0071a1bed7.jpg
 
The Biogon 35mm f2.0 is a great lens, but in this case it would be too slow and it is not within the buyers budget of US$400 anyway.
 
Tom A said:
The Biogon 35mm f2.0 is a great lens, but in this case it would be too slow and it is not within the buyers budget of US$400 anyway.
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Well if he thinks he can get an "ugly" Summicron in his budget he should be able to get an ugly Biogon as well.
 
I personally use my Ms the same as the OP, and I find no problem working with f/2 lenses the vast majority of the time. I used to have a Noct many years ago and while the speed was intoxicating, focusing errors were an issue.

For me, f/2 is is a happy compromise between raw speed and usability. I shoot nighttime street scenes regularly with no issues.

My strong recommendation is for the 40/2 Summicron-C.
 
Ken Ford said:
For me, f/2 is is a happy compromise between raw speed and usability. I shoot nighttime street scenes regularly with no issues.

My strong recommendation is for the 40/2 Summicron-C.
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agreed. Ive worked in the dark for many many years and Ive always looked at anything faster than f/2 as effect, not as an aid to getting a shot I couldnt get at f2. The depth of field becomes so shallow that it can work against you the same way lack of light can in some circumstances. Its nice to have a fast lens, but there isnt alot that you are going to get at 1.4 that you couldnt have squeked at f2. In a bar, there is a much bigger difference IMO between 2 and 2.8 than there is between 2 and 1.4.

I should probably add, this assumes you are shooting black and white negative...
 
Matt: Except for the 35mm Nokton, I either have, or have had, all the lenses you mention. For a single "go everywhere & do everything" lens, I would take my 40mm Nokton with bayonet lug filed to bring up the 35mm frame, as Tom said.
 
Get a "real" Zeiss 5cm 1.5 Sonnar [pre-war] and have Brian Sweeney convert the lens to LTM. Brian recently had such a lens on sale for $325 or so. There is nothing like the real thing.
 
I'll agree that f/2 should be fast enough. The CV "pancake" and the Leitz Summaron are ruled out, being slower. One other lens you might consider is the CV Ultron 35/1.7. I've just got one and already like it. It's not exactly inconspicuous, though.
 
Welcome to RFF Matt. Would go for the 40 summicron or M Rokkor if I were you. They have a certain look that is very special. My friends always pick out pictures taken with the 40 summi. It is not as fast as the Nokton, but that can be solved by pushing your film when in a pub or at a concert. No pictures to show you as they all have friends/family in it and I prefer not to post those. With the right light you really get a kind of 3d look to the pictures.

Not sure whether it is already sold or whether he wants to send things abroad, but http://link.marktplaats.nl/217984796 has a 40 summicron for sale in The Netherlands for EUR 225 which is less than 400 USD and actually should leave you money to buy a 40mm viewfinder in case the 35 mm frames do not work for you. I suggest not to file the cam, because it hurts resale value and flipping through frame lines is also not that much of a hassle.

Good luck with your choice
 
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venchka said:
How about almost any Canon LTM 35mm lens? Start with the oldest, all chrome, 34mm filter size, tiny, f/2.8 gem. You can go up the budget scale from there. They are all good.
Click to expand...

I just picked this up and can also vouch for it. Great, small lens.
 
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