Please advice: Which 35mm on Leica M?

Tom:

You posted that you use the 40mm 1.4 a lot lately. Does this lens give double lines in the OOF parts ? If so can it be avoided. I see some really beautifull shots with the lens but also some not so good. Is this in your opinion part of the package when deciding for this lens? Also, does the sc version result in a bit less contrast = less harsness?

Thank you, Roel




For sale:
Chrome Canon 135mm F3.5 LTM (Very nice)
 
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Tom A:

Size is relative to the user. My hands are not particularly large but in my personal style of shooting I adjust aperture while the camera is to my eye rather than taking it down. I used the v4 summicron for years and found with the hood on it was difficult to get my fingers on the aperture ring and adjust f stops. I also seriously dislike the focusing tabs and the variation between tabs on various Leica lenses. My personal preference is a focusing ring with serations that I can grasp easily. The variations in size and design between various Leica lenses is also an issue. I use a variety of focal lengths in my documentary work and find the variation from my 21 Elmarit convex focusing tab compared to the v4 concave focusing tab and the sharp edged concave tab on my asph summilux 50 to de a major annoyance and distraction. The aperture rings are all different as well. If you own all new genration lenses or all lenses from a single generation there is more consistancy but if you own a variety of lenses from different generations there is no consistancy between desigh, opperation and feel. Every Leica lens that I own has a different focus tab, ring etc. and aperture ring design. With Zeiss every lens that's out has a uniform design in focusing ring, bump and aperture ring design and placement. For my style of shooting and my personal taste I find there is much more desirable. Consistency is good in my book. I do not find the Zeiss large at all. In fact i like tha larger size and find lens changing easier and general opperation easier. I think most people would only say the Biogon is too large if they feel the 50 summicron is too large. I still have and will continue to own and use Leica glass but have added the 25, 35 and 50 Planar and could not be happier with their ergonomics, build and optical performance.
 
Doug, I have 1 of the 4cm/2.8 Zuikos (came w/a Leotax body I purchased) &, per Tom A's post on "weird Japanese optics," it's a typical good-quality 1950s lens, but has nothing exceptional about itl other than its rarity & focal length. The 1 notable thing about it is that it is very small & low profile, similar to the Chiyoko (Minolta) 45/2.8 Super Rokkor, if that's important to you. AFAIK, the Zuiko was sold as a lens by itself (along w/a special 40mm finder), unlike the Super Rokkor, which was made for the Minolta LTM RFs.

Doug said:
Hi Roland -- Wow on the $900 BIN for the 40 Zuiko from Kevin! Looks to be one from the 1950's supplied on a non-Olympus Leica-like body.
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In real terms the 35 biogon and 50 planar are exactly the same size mounted. They are pretty well the same weight too..similar to the 50 cron as Xray says..

The 35 biogon is about 1cm shorter than the 50 Asph Lux but far lighter. Compared to brass based 50 asph luxes , the biogon is very light (half the weight).

While I have not shot at wide open (yet - its a pig for me to develop film here so I have not done tests only real shots), I have shot at F2 and two thirds (all ZMs have third F stops) and the resulution near the edge of the frame (which was point of focus) was exceptional with very smooth run out of focus.

35 Biogon is a 43mm thread if that helps make the decision!
 
OK. I have (finally) made up my mind as to which lens it will be. I'm going for the nokton 40mm 1.4 SC. This weekend I will go to Barcelona and I like to try the new FL there. If all goes well I will have the 40/1.4 SC before I fly to Barcelona. This will give me a nice opertunity to shoot the lens.
In the mean time I will keep my eyes open for a good quality Summaron (not available here at this moment). And will give the Summaron a try when available. I can then see what I prefer myself based upon my actual findings.

Any suggestions for a B/W film that will fit the character of the lens? I was thinking of a film with some grain to help 'soften' the sharp/hashy image a bit.

Thanx everybody again for your constructive contributions. And by al means keep this thread alive with your visions and experience. I will be back with my findings of this lens.

Roel


Ps If anybody knows a nice Camerashop in Barcelona with some RF passion, please let me know. Furthermore any tips on photographic must do/see/shoot opertunities in Barcelona are welcome (perhaps more on PM basis to not interfere with this threads subject.)
 
Roel said:
OK. I have (finally) made up my mind as to which lens it will be. I'm going for the nokton 40mm 1.4 SC.
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Good pick, Roel (I hope). I made the same choice on Monday, looking for a fast moderate wide angle.

Roland.
 
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