Night Photos: CV 35/1.4 with MP and ISO400 OR Hexar AF (35mm/2) with ISO 1600

Night Photos: CV 35/1.4 with MP and ISO400 OR Hexar AF (35mm/2) with ISO 1600

  • Buy CV 35mm/1.4 to use with TriX 400

    Votes: 17 53.1%

  • Bring Hexar AF and load with ISO 1600

    Votes: 15 46.9%
  • Total voters
    32
F

fixbones

.......sometimes i thinks
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Mar 31, 2009
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Which is better if i need to take night/low light shots during my travels.....

Buy a new CV 35mm f1.4 SC to use with my MP loaded with TriX 400 B & W

OR

Bring an extra camera, the Hexar AF and load with TriX pushed to 1600 ??
(If i buy the CV 35mm f1.4, the the Hexar AF will have to find a new home)

Share your opinion.
 
The 35mm 1.4 Nokton has a bad rep but I am a big fan. I don't have many examples scanned and available to show but I regularly use it at night with neopan 400 rated at box speed. You will probably be using some low shutter speeds but I find I can go down pretty low with a rangefinder.

Why not consider the nokton and neopan 1600? That is a favorite combo of mine for night shots. Some examples:

http://www.flickr.com/search/?ss=2&w=9286123%40N04&q=Nokton+neopan+1600+-lina&m=text

Here is one with 400 iso neopan:

3860555648_e4bbb74669.jpg
 
I'd sell the Hexar AF and get a CV 35/1.4, as I'd rather carry one more lens than one more body (and lens). I'm also a big fan of the CV 35/1.4. If you haven't already, check out this thread.
 
fixbones said:
I know the CV 35mm/1.2 is a superb lens but i am not considering it due to the size
Click to expand...
i ALSO WAS ATTRACTED TO THIS LENS.
But once I got it, I could not be more pleased.
3815827894_5d0843d3c7.jpg


I actually just traded this lens for a black one so I could be stealthy.
 
The Hexar AF is a sweet camera but up against the MP forget it. For these requirements Id go with the 35mm/1.4.
 
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I am a 1.2/2.5 combo user and prefer their characteristics to the 1.4, although its size and quality for price is great. You just can't displace bigger aperture. So I would get the 1.4, partly because I also don't place much value on the AF.
 
If you work professionally, having two systems gives you a safety margin. If you photograph for pleasure, a 35/1.4 probably makes more sense than grainy ASA 1600 pictures. As for the 35/1.2, while it may be an excellent lens I see in it only a roughly half stop advantage over the 35/1.4.
 
I have both the Nokton and Hexar, both great lenses, and I like Neopan 1600.

However, on a trip involving planes I never take anything faster than 400 ISO. To be safe with airport scanning. So my nod goes to the Nokton.
 
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The Hexar AF has worked well for me with night shots, but honestly-- I would get a new lens to simplify things.
 
Seems like most are not keen to bring an extra body just for lowlight.

i agree that the 35/1.4 is quite a bit smaller than the hexar af.....
 
it all depends on you I guess. For me, while the 1.4 would be nice, if I already had the hexar, I'd probably just go with that.
Of course, I'm also perfectly happy w/ Hp5+ @ 1/10 sec f/2 hand held for night shots if i'm under streetlights... so the hexar would be enough for me.

-Brian
 
35/1.4 all the way.... a small and quite good performing lens. This one could be your only lens for any trip. Just bring 400ISO film (BW and color) and you are set. :)
 
If the only reason you want to use 35 as low light solution, sell it to someone who will use it as it was intended. My vote was for what I would do. 400 works okay in low light for me... I would rather take another camera I already had rather than buy a new lens I didn't need.
 
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