35 1.4 - whats the consensus - upload some photos please

[maggieo]

My 35/1.4 was one of the lenses tested by Sean Reid (the objectively worst of the lot, it seems) and his test confirms my initial impressions of the lens- it's an odd duck, with genuinely poor performance on center (with some focus shift thrown in for spice) between f2.8 and f5.6, but sharp on center on either side of that.

The corners are soft and the lens draws with a character all its own and it is up to the photographer to decide if that type of drawing is something attractive or not. Speaking only for myself, I find the lens to make very pleasing, if idiosyncratic, pictures, and as such, I expect to use it for a good long time. But it is very much a YMMV proposition, as it is not a classically perfect lens.

It has made some of my favorite photographs, but it is a problematic lens to work with and requires extra attention.

Here are some of my photographs made with it.

 

[meven]

Hexar RF & CV 35 1.4 SC

That's a stunning shot Matt!!!!!

Max

 

[raid]

The only problem is that it's rarer than hen's teeth

Hans,

This type of lens used to be readily offered on ebay. The 35mm/2 is more expensive as it is viewed as the better lens. I like what I get in results from the 35/1.8. The lens is small and light, and the optics are just right for my needs.

 

[raid]

And it has a 180-degree focus throw and an infinity lock. But it has its place.

A longer focus throw also implies finer focusing capabilities. 😀

 

[back alley]

That's a stunning shot Matt!!!!!

Max

i guess even a 'bad' 😉 lens can take a good shot.

 

[Tom A]

I concure with Xray on the 35f1.4 VC becoming a "cult" classic! See what happened to the pre-asph Summilux 35. Not too many years ago you could not sell or trade one in as "it is not that good and everybody wants the Asph 35/1.4". Now you pay fantasy prices for it!
The 35f1.4 VC has "character", not clinically sharp and it has some interesting rendition of reality. I find it very pleasing, but I agree with Sean Reid, it is not a lens for copying flat surfaces on to film. It is a street shooters lens.
Time has precluded my testing it further, but with the NHS crowd gone and the local swapmeet over, I should be able to do some "set ups" in the next while. I also want to shoot it against my pre-asph Summilux as my impression is that it very much mirrors the performance of that lens.
I might even run it against my Canon 35f1.8 and the Nikkor 35/1.8 to see how well it does.