Which Summicron 35mm?

[lkwds]

i love the ergonomics of the asph. It is small, but hefty and the focus is like butter.

 

[sanmich]

I have came across some asph 35 summicron in screw thread mount. anyone has anything to say about any "micro front/back focusing" when used with an L39-M adapter? it will be nice if I could use it on a IIIg or should I just go for the m-mount.? what are the pros and cons?

I think the focus goes only to 1m.
a deal breaker if you ask me, unless your main system is LTM

 

[ampguy]

I don't miss < 1m w 35mm so much these days

I don't miss < 1m w 35mm so much these days

A couple of times that extra distance has helped me, when I needed to make a print in 8x10.

If you need to get closer, a 50 or 75 might work better, while keeping space with the subject.

I think the focus goes only to 1m.
a deal breaker if you ask me, unless your main system is LTM

 

[raid]

If the front ring with the serial number is missing on a Summicron, is there a number somewhere else that helps me identify what I have?

 

[inzite]

i think my IV is pretty decent.

 

[varjag]

If the front ring with the serial number is missing on a Summicron, is there a number somewhere else that helps me identify what I have?

It is on the inside of the aperture ring, focus the lens to closest distance to make it visible.

 

[nobbylon]

I just ran a roll off with a pre asph lux, a version iv 'cron and a VC Ultron and will post some shots for comparison later. I like the size of the iv. Really tiny lens.

 

[inzite]

I just ran a roll off with a pre asph lux, a version iv 'cron and a VC Ultron and will post some shots for comparison later. I like the size of the iv. Really tiny lens.

its a wonderful small lens,

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

I just ran a roll off with a pre asph lux, a version iv 'cron and a VC Ultron and will post some shots for comparison later. I like the size of the iv. Really tiny lens.

how compares the pre ashp lux in size to the summicron IV? can you show a pictures with a comparison?

 

[luuca]

summicron v4

 

[Mean Panda]

I voted for PRE-ASPH, because it's slightly smaller. In terms of low light performance, ASPH is a better choice. But I wouldn't limit myself to these 2 lens, there are other great lens out there, like canon 35/2 and hexanon 35/2. Great lens for retro look, and beautiful color.

 

[starless]

Exposing, processing and scanning(printing) your film will have MUCH more of a difference than the lens version.

 

[varjag]

Yet again the v4

 

[raydm6]

v4

v4

Vote for the v4:

 

[varjag]

 

[crist]

what do you think about the 35/f2 V1(wetzlar) 8 element .. is good? very good? amazing?
why is so expensive?
thanks

 

[Doug]

Crist, It is small, silky smooth, beautifully built, has a comfy dished focus tab (with infinity lock) which some like, and a pleasant character. Some may suspect that later designs with fewer elements were simplified to reduce cost.

Optically, it's a symmetrical arrangement of elements rather like a six-in-four Planar with an additional element inserted on either side of the diaphragm. The 35mm f/1.4 Nokton has a similar arrangement. The symmetry should aid close-up performance.

This is the only 35 Summicron I've had, so I cannot compare it to other later varieties... It does have a bit lower contrast than my newer 35s, which may be useful in digital capture. I like it enough to send it to DAG for CLA and 6-bit coding for use with the M8.

Here are a couple shots with it before coding where I later used CornerFix to eliminate the cyan tinge in the outer zones. In the river shot, on the full-size TIFF I can easily distinguish the shapes and some detail in shrubs atop the far ridge.

 

[crist]

thanks Doug

 

[peterm1]

I cannot comment on the aspherical verison but I can say as a long term owner of verison iv that it does warrant its unofficial sobriquet of "bokeh king." When shot wide open its bokeh is soft and rounded and surprisingly reminds me quite a lot of the bokeh produced by the Nikon 180mm f2.8. It has similarly nice characteristics when handling color and tone. (As does the 50mm f2 Summicron.) Having recently started shooting Leica again (having bought an M8 a short time ago) I have to say I love the way Leica glass (especially these two summicrons) seems to render images. Color is nice, tone is nice, bokeh is nice and they are darned sharp even wide open. I have been shooting Nikon glass for several years now and as good as it is, it does not really compare.

 

[Viktor Sebastian]

Exposing, processing and scanning(printing) your film will have MUCH more of a difference than the lens version.

Same goes for digital but the older pre-asph (’70s) do give a very different look. Especially wide open.