ferider said:
Interesting ... it doesn't look completely spherical either.
But then, the 37/1.7 Ultron front element is not convexo-concave, either ...
The C/V 35/1.7, alike the ASPH. Leica 35/2, isn't a Gaussian type either.
On the Schneider website there used to be a ray-tracing software for free download, but I cannot find it anymore. Anyway, the second diagram looks hand-drafted for me. The first diagram looks exactly like the ones published by Canon, or the one in Hooper's article for LHSA.
The Canon 35/2 isn't just quite in fashion at the moment, as it was 2 or 3 years ago.
The question is, for what use the lens. Yes, it may be harsher at f/2 than it's predecessor 35/1.8, but some might welcome it for better contrast, or detail resolution in shadows wide open. Lack of sharpness in the edges is clearly visible at f/2, which is not so clear with the f/1.8 because of "overall softness". It's not a cheap edition of the 4th ed. Summicron 35/2 - although very similar from arrangement of optical elements. After all it was released 18 years earlier, quite some time in lens development. This isn't a lens to use wide open if possible, but very strong from f/4 onwards and has still a great ratio performance : size (weight). A strong buy for a backpacker, traveller lens in screwmount. And just in case you urgently need it, you can use it at f/2. Moreover, I found the backlite flare less anyoing than with the CV 35/1.7, and even more predictable than with the CV 35/2.5.