35mm dilemma (warning: Which lens thread)

[Goldorak]

I think the problem with the Summarit is that it doesn't really make that much sense, if you take into consideration the Skopar pancake or the Biogon/Hexanon/Nokton.

... Unless you want to own a Leica and nothing else, which is perfectly valid.

 

[jonmanjiro]

The OP has narrowed his list down to:

- Voigtlander 35mm skopar C f2.5 PII
- Voigtlander 35mm Notkon f1.4
- Zeiss Biogon 35mm f2
- Pre asph Summicron

So far, besides the lenses in the OP's list we've recommended:

M-Hexanon 35mm
UC-Hexanon 35mm
Canon 35/2 LTM
Ultron 35/1.7
Summicron-M 35/2 v4
Summicron-M 35/2 ASPH
Summarit 35/2.5
Summaron 35/2.8
Summicron C 40/2

RFF at its best 😀

 

[silvalis]

... Unless you want to own a Leica and nothing else, which is perfectly valid.

True, but then why not a 2nd hand cron 😀

 

[nome_alice]

i think the voigtlander ultron 35mm f1.7 is a fantastic lens. it took a while for it to excite me as i'm mostly a 50mm shooter but i've really warmed to the 35mm focal length through using this lens.

i like the size/ergonomics and love the rendering. just get one. don't worry about the brand name.

 

[tom_uk]

... Unless you want to own a Leica and nothing else, which is perfectly valid.

True, but then why not a 2nd hand cron

Perhaps because you want to buy new? Or just because you want to see/handle a lens before you buy it?

My local Leica dealer (Premier dealer) hasn't had a s/h non-ASPH 'Cron ever since the M8 was released. There was a glut of them on the market when the ASPH appeared, and even after that there as a steady trickle, but not anymore. Most film shooters value them very highly, and for M8 users the 35mm (whichever one they've got) is their standard lens.

 

[itf]

I just printed some pictures (b&w) today from a Nokton Classic SC, and I don't know if its the SC bit or just the character of the lens, but the pictures came out really nice. Lower contrast than my 28 skopar, but still punchy. I can't explain, and negative scans don't quite match the prints. I think for the speed, size, look and price this lens is hard to go past, and I had been considering letting go of it because I prefer 28.

 

[gavinlg]

I just printed some pictures (b&w) today from a Nokton Classic SC, and I don't know if its the SC bit or just the character of the lens, but the pictures came out really nice. Lower contrast than my 28 skopar, but still punchy. I can't explain, and negative scans don't quite match the prints. I think for the speed, size, look and price this lens is hard to go past, and I had been considering letting go of it because I prefer 28.

If you do end up letting go of it any time soon, do let me know, as I will be after an SC version if I decide to go that way.

 

[capitalK]

I just printed some pictures (b&w) today from a Nokton Classic SC, and I don't know if its the SC bit or just the character of the lens, but the pictures came out really nice. Lower contrast than my 28 skopar, but still punchy. I can't explain, and negative scans don't quite match the prints. I think for the speed, size, look and price this lens is hard to go past, and I had been considering letting go of it because I prefer 28.

Can you scan the prints? I'd love to see them.

 

[morback]

I just printed some pictures (b&w) today from a Nokton Classic SC, and I don't know if its the SC bit or just the character of the lens, but the pictures came out really nice. Lower contrast than my 28 skopar, but still punchy. I can't explain, and negative scans don't quite match the prints. I think for the speed, size, look and price this lens is hard to go past, and I had been considering letting go of it because I prefer 28.

I'm sorry if I'm making a small detour, but when you say Nokton Classic SC, do you mean the 35/1.4, the tiny thing?

(I'm keeping an eye out for summaron 35/2.8 or nokton 35/1.4 to compliment my c-sonnar)

 

[Doug]

I'm sorry if I'm making a small detour, but when you say Nokton Classic SC, do you mean the 35/1.4, the tiny thing?

I'm sure he is, since the 35/1.2 Nokton doesn't come in SC and MC versions, and isn't called Classic... The only ambiguity might be that there is also a 40mm f/1.4 Nokton Classic SC. 🙂

I have both the 35 and 40 Nokton Classic SC lenses and like them. It's funny how some lenses get bad press the instant of release but then seem to gain respect later on. Like the 50/2.5 Skopar and these two Nokton Classics. But in the cases of the latter pair at least there was the intriguing Single Coated offering that drew some attention away from the initial bokeh complaints.

I'm hearing some praise for the 35/1.4 Nokton here, while Sean Reid's test showed some faults. It is one of those lenses, apparently, that do better in use than on the test charts. It does have a touch of barrel distortion, but then so does the 35/1.4 Summilux ASPH. Some prefer this for non-rectilinear subjects to reduce corner "stretch".

 

[Atom]

I had a version 3 Summicron and sold it. I kept the Summaron 2.8 because of the absolutely lovely images I've made with it. I would like something faster and may pick up the 1.4 or 1.2 some day. Size wise the Summicron and the Summaron were exactly the same, so it really came down to image quality. Going back to the OP, you cant find Summarons new, but I went through a long deliberation on which to keep and came out with the older, slower, and less costly Summaron.

Aaaannd there is one for sale in the classifieds right now in New Zealand!

 

[boy_lah]

I have/had the Cron IV, hexanon f2 UC and the CV Nokton MC. All great lens but i find myself grabbing the cron IV most of the time.

CV Nokton 1.4 MC - a very distinctive look.

Leica Summicron pre-asph IV - all rounder.

The Hexanon 35/2 UC LTM - the 1m minimal focus can be a problem/annoying.

 

[itf]

Sorry, I've been in Tasmania and still not home yet. Yeah, its the 35/1.4 sc that I have and I'm not going to sell it. I'll see if I can scan the prints when I get home.