Which 35mm M lens?

[Bradford]

I'm also looking for a 35mm lens, though I plan to use it mainly closed down to F/8 or so and zone focused.

Does something equivalent to F3.4 Elmars exist in 35mm? (with similar performance)

Old Summarons look interesting, but those are 60+ year old lenses by now.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Don't forget the 40mm f2.8 Heliar. Very small and it works with a 35mm finder.

gelatin silver print (heliar 40mm f2.8) leica lll

Utrecht, 2022

 

[Erik van Straten]

gelatin silver print (summicron 35mm f2 8 elements) leica m2

Zwolle, 2009

 

[Freakscene]

I have an early Silver Pre FLE Summilux ASPH in the serial number range which has shown to be free of focus issues on digital cameras, I bought new in 2006 or so. I use it almost always wide open, thats why I have a 1.4 lens. I have a v /c 35mm Ultron II I am not impressed with this lens at all. My Summicron ASPH flared easily so I sold it, I have a 35mm Summaron F3.5 in LtM, its very clean, no haze and is outstanding with M2 as well as M10-P and Type 246. The Summaron gives that classic look on the 246. In conclusion, after trying various 35mm lenses, the Summilux made the most sense for me and I don’t find it too large to carry on camera all day.

All 11874 and 11883 Summiluxes have focus shift. It is inherent in the design. It’s why Leica designed the FLE version.

 

[LCT]

All 11874 and 11883 Summiluxes have focus shift. It is inherent in the design. It’s why Leica designed the FLE version.

I would not generalize. My 6-bit coded 11874 Summilux has no more focus shift than my FLE copy.

 

[qqphotos]

I'm also looking for a 35mm lens, though I plan to use it mainly closed down to F/8 or so and zone focused.

Does something equivalent to F3.4 Elmars exist in 35mm? (with similar performance)

Old Summarons look interesting, but those are 60+ year old lenses by now.

There's the Voigtländer 35mm f/3.5 which is extremely tiny. I played with one the other day and found it pretty nice. Performance more like a modern lens than vintage. 35 mm/1:3,5 Color Skopar asphärisch - Voigtländer

 

[38Deardorff]

I'm also looking for a 35mm lens, though I plan to use it mainly closed down to F/8 or so and zone focused.

Does something equivalent to F3.4 Elmars exist in 35mm? (with similar performance)

Old Summarons look interesting, but those are 60+ year old lenses by now.

60+ years old...you say that like it's a bad thing. Both the Summaron (3.5 & 2.8) are great lenses & so is the under- appreciated tiny Elmar 3.5 cm.
I haven't used the new Voigtlander, but I did own the 40mm. Sharp, but i found the character too modern for me.

 

[LCT]

I'm also looking for a 35mm lens, though I plan to use it mainly closed down to F/8 or so and zone focused.

Does something equivalent to F3.4 Elmars exist in 35mm? (with similar performance)

Old Summarons look interesting, but those are 60+ year old lenses by now.

My Summaron 35/2.8 does very well with modern cameras (M11, MEV1) but it is in pristine condition hence not inexpensive. I got a CLA'd copy for € 1,400 in 2025. For less expense with a bit more contrast, the Biogon 35/2.8 is faultless.

 

[Freakscene]

I would not generalize. My 6-bit coded 11874 Summilux has no more focus shift than my FLE copy.

I’ve measured it. Focus shift is a property of the design, not the implementation.

If you can show that it’s different between black and chrome lenses and that the shift is the same in the 11874 as the FLE, please do; it would make a great post here at RFF.

 

[LCT]

I’ve measured it. Focus shift is a property of the design, not the implementation.

If you can show that it’s different between black and chrome lenses and that the shift is the same in the 11874 as the FLE, please do; it would make a great post here at RFF.

My lenses are both black and behave the same way re focus accuracy but i did not measure anything and i'm not interested in such comparisons sorry. As far as my copies are concerned, all i can say is i would not have bought the FLE is i knew how well my coded 11874 behaves but YMMV. 😎

 

[boojum]

I had a CV 35mm 1.7 Ultron fall into my lap. Another redheaded stepchild in that it is ignored more than noticed. I like how it works, here shown on an M8.2. It does well on the M240.

I am not saying it is the best 35, but that itis a pretty good one.




M2419848 M240 + CV 35mm f/1.7, f/5.6 by West Phalia, on Flickr

 

[Bill Blackwell]

FWIW, the 35mm Zeiss Distagon f/1.4 is currently on sale at B&H (black) for US$1,670. That's less than I've ever seen for a new copy.

Leica M-P 240, Zeiss 35mm Distagon ZM

 

[Archiver]

@boojum Funny, but I was looking at my Ultron 35/1.7 LTM just yesterday. It's a very enjoyable lens for many reasons, including the light weight and low profile, the feel in the hand, the rendering and sharpness. Mine has to be fixed because I tried to adjust the wobbly focus ring and now it is even more loose, but it's an excellent lens. Too bad that many copies suffer from hazing from lens cement outgassing.

@Bill Blackwell The Distagon 35 is a true endgame 35. Lately, I've been looking at photos taken with the Thypoch Simera 35, then I think why the heck do I need another fast 35 when I've got the Distagon? The only advantages of the Thypoch are slightly lower weight and size, and the much closer minimum focus distance.

 

[boojum]

@boojum Funny, but I was looking at my Ultron 35/1.7 LTM just yesterday. It's a very enjoyable lens for many reasons, including the light weight and low profile, the feel in the hand, the rendering and sharpness. Mine has to be fixed because I tried to adjust the wobbly focus ring and now it is even more loose, but it's an excellent lens. Too bad that many copies suffer from hazing from lens cement outgassing.

@Bill Blackwell The Distagon 35 is a true endgame 35. Lately, I've been looking at photos taken with the Thypoch Simera 35, then I think why the heck do I need another fast 35 when I've got the Distagon? The only advantages of the Thypoch are slightly lower weight and size, and the much closer minimum focus distance.

Mine was overhauled by a master lens mechanic before it came my way. A double blessing. I have some other 35's but somehow this is usually the one chosen.

 

[boojum]

@boojum Funny, but I was looking at my Ultron 35/1.7 LTM just yesterday. It's a very enjoyable lens for many reasons, including the light weight and low profile, the feel in the hand, the rendering and sharpness. Mine has to be fixed because I tried to adjust the wobbly focus ring and now it is even more loose, but it's an excellent lens. Too bad that many copies suffer from hazing from lens cement outgassing.

@Bill Blackwell The Distagon 35 is a true endgame 35. Lately, I've been looking at photos taken with the Thypoch Simera 35, then I think why the heck do I need another fast 35 when I've got the Distagon? The only advantages of the Thypoch are slightly lower weight and size, and the much closer minimum focus distance.

I shoot color and really like the Thypoch colors in the two 50's I have, Simera and Eureka. Nice cine colors. Not too saturated, Goldilocks. The first is M9 and the second M240, each with the Simera 50 1.4.


A bit off-topic but Thypoch interests me enough that their Simera 35 could tug at my purse strings.

L1003703 by West Phalia, on Flickr

M2400261 M240 + Thypoch Simera 50mm f/1.4 @f/2.0 by West Phalia, on Flickr

 

[Streetmaniac]

Has anyone compared the leica 35mm summicron asph v1 with the leica 35mm 2.4 summarit asph ? I got a leica m4-p recently and wanted to pair it with one of both. The price difference is not huge (around 400 euros). I like the weight of the summarit a lot and a bit morr light on the lens is to me not super important since i mostly shout between f4 and f11. How is the image quality compared ? How is the handling ? Is the focus tab on the same level of accuracy and speed to achieve focus ? If the whole experience and image quality of the summarit is not comparable i will pay a bit more and accept the weight of the sunmicron.