35/2.5 C ergonomics?

[kipkeston]

I'm getting my first CV lens this week. I know it's a popular lens and I'm wondering how you like its ergonomics in general and by comparison. Is the little metal tab easy to use? I've never used a lens with a little metal tab before. How about changing aperture? Any tips?

 

[Bingley]

It's a fantastic lens to use. Very fast focusing, and I happen to like the little metal tab. No problems w/ the aperture ring; some folks find the placement of the aperture ring on the 35 Ultron annoying (I don't), but I have not read any complaints about the aperture ring on the skopar.

 

[brachal]

I find this lens to be very easy to use. I like the metal tab; it's a little different, but you'll get used to it quickly. Changing the aperture is straightforward, with good clicks at the stops and half-stops.

 

[Papercut]

I use the CV skopar a lot. Generally it's very easy to use. My only complaint is that it is quite small and with my thick fingers (think about as far from 'concert pianist fingers' as you can get and you're close), sometimes ... well, it's sometimes just a tad too small if I'm having an un-dextrous moment! 🙂 Otherwise it's very easy to use.

 

[rbsinto]

I've got a CV 35 in Nikon S mount, and while it takes nice photos, I'm not particularly happy with its ergonomics. I believe the oversized plastic ring that latches onto the lens was the after-the-fact solution to a design flaw which resulted in the aperture and focusing rings being too close together, causing apertures to be accidently changed while focusing.
I would have preferred that the aperture ring be closer to the mount where it is less likely to be accidently changed .
Additionally, the detents for the aperture settings are not very "strong" (for lack of a better word) and move very easily when the front end of the lens is touched.
I like more things than I dislike about the lens, but like virtually everything about the CV lenses for Nikon rangefinders, it has the feel of too little thought or care in its conception, planning and production, unlike all the effort being put into the Leica rangefinder program.

 

[minoltist7]

very small lens and almost instant focusing, due to short throw and convenient tab. I like it very much.

 

[pvdhaar]

As others already mentioned, the tab is brilliant. It's much faster focussing than lenses without. The tab is what allows it to be so compact for what it does.

It's a perfect match with the CV25/4 Skopar, as the colour rendition and contrast are the same. You can shoot alternating between both Skopars, and you'd only see a difference in angle of view..

Coincidentally, it's built in almost the same housing as the 25/4. The only thing the 25/4 has over the 35/2.5 are the focus clicks. I'd have loved to have them on the 35 as well.

 

[kipkeston]

Ok I just got it. It's a very charming lens. Very tiny. But of course I bought it because it's maybe the sharpest 35. How do you use the tab? one finger or two?

 

[kipkeston]

My god I love this lens. I think I prefer it for black and white over the biogon. In fact I'm thinking of giving the biogon to my brother. This lens is fantastic! My only regret is 2.5 but I'm learning to work around that.

 

[oscroft]

My god I love this lens. I think I prefer it for black and white over the biogon. In fact I'm thinking of giving the biogon to my brother. This lens is fantastic! My only regret is 2.5 but I'm learning to work around that

It's good, isn't it? 😀

 

[kipkeston]

It's good, isn't it? 😀

It is. I'm pretty floored. This is my second RF lens. The biogon was universally accepted as being excellent, and I bought into the whole, the lens doesn't make a difference, it's 99% you. So I really didn't expect the skopar to look any different. But it certainly does and it's gorgeous in tri-x. I'm pretty surprised people don't talk about it more in the "35 versus" threads.

 

[yanidel]

The 35 Skopar PII was my first lens and 10 lenses after this is still the best. Great sharpness and contrast. As for the tab, it works but I sometimes my fingers don't find the tab or are not sure about which side of the curve it has grabbed. I would prefer a ring but it is a minor issue.

 

[kevin m]

And it's small, which is a huge plus when using RF's, I think. 39mm filters rule! 😀

 

[Tom A]

The 35f2.5 PII is one of the "sleepers" in the 35 focal length (by any manufacturer). When the design of it was underway I was asked about the ergonomics and we spent a couple of hours at the factory fine tuning it. The "ears" on the aperture ring were necessary as the lens is so shallow that it would be difficult to grasp a ring and the focussing tab had to be made quite small as it would otherwise interfere with the aperture ring.
The optical formula on this lens is the same as the previous versions, the "pancake" LTM and the "classic" LTM. The PII version is usually on one of my M2's as a "walk about" lens (one camera/one lens) and its performance is quite execptional, particularly when the price is taken into account.
The first version with the 52mm filter and large diameter barrel is probably the best "quick" focus lens for 35. It has a very short throw (large diameter) and you can go from close focus to infinity incredibly fast.
The formula is also extremely flare resistant and often I just take a M2, the PII - no hood and it will comfortably fit in a pocket!

 

[mcvr]

One thing I didn't like about my PII was the shiny silver hood bajonet. I thought about buying the hood, but as it is too expensive in Europe I did not. And finally I'm glad I didn't - I just bought a 39mm - 49mm filter adapter and the lens looks really good now with an all black front!

 

[kevin m]

I was asked about the ergonomics and we spent a couple of hours at the factory fine tuning it. The "ears" on the aperture ring were necessary as the lens is so shallow that it would be difficult to grasp a ring and the focussing tab had to be made quite small as it would otherwise interfere with the aperture ring.

Well thanks for your input, Tom! The 35/2.5 PII is the first "no excuses" VC lens I've owned. It has a very modern signature, the build quality is first rate and the ergonomics are flawless. As you said, it's a perfect "walk-about" 35. 🙂

 

[Santafecino]

I love the lens. However, the included circular shade is inadequate with a filter. The accessory shade (LH-2) obrtudes into the viewfinder of my M5. With all that, a great lens.

 

[pphuang]

I had the PII, just a marvelous lens and great to carry around, but like some others, it was just a little too small for my fingers and a little fumbly, so I eventually sold it, but it seems that most people do not have the same problem...