35mm lens choices...

[rich815]

Some of you may have seen my post on the Leica list and on Photo.net asking for suggestions and comments on which 35mm lens to get and use with my Leicas to match or come close to the look I get with my 50 Summicron DR (which I consider to be bliss for my personal choice of a "classic" B&W look: excellent sharpness without too much contrast). The consensus came down to the 1st version 8-element 35/2 Summicron (which go for over $1000) or the 35/2.8 Summaron (which I'm considering). Recently Mike Johnston had an article in the British mag Black & White Photography where he touts the virtues of the VC 35/2.5 Color Skopar PII for a perfect "classic" B&W look. So now I'm thinking of the PII perhaps.

Any thoughts people can share on the PII perhaps in comparison to the 50 DR?

Also, the 35/1.7 Ultron has me piqued as well, first, for the bit of extra speed, the ergonomics look like they more resemble my 50 DR (I have the 40/1.4 Nokton and the ergonomics of the PII looks identical and I'm not all that thrilled with the feel of the 40/1.4 in feel and usage) and also people mention the Ultron to have less contrast than the PII.

Comments and thoughts about the PII and the Ultron welcomed, in particular how they work for B&W and how they might resemble the look of the 50 DR...

 

[Fred]

Rich,

I've got the Ultron and like the reults it gavs me. I'd almost forgotten how much I liked this lens. I tend to use a used cron most of the time these days.

Gallery shot http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=10717&ppuser=1521 was shot with the Ultron and it managed to get the detail in the darker areas better than I'd have thought.

The PII is allegedly a very fine lens also but is a tad more contrasty as you say.

 

[back alley]

i guess it depends on what you mean by classic.

to me, classic is good sharpness & low contrast.
this leaves the cv 35/2.5 out as it is a very high contrast lens.

the photos from the canon 35/3.5 look to me to be out of the 40's or 50's, they are such low contrast but i'm not too sure about the sharpness yet.

anyway, the cv 35 is a very good lens, really sharp but very contrasty.

joe

 

[raid]

I love my first version Summicron 35/2, but I also very much like my Canon 35mm/1.8. The latter is smaller, lighter, costs less, and does not have goggles.

 

[GeneW]

Another thumbs-up for the Ultron. It's a very fine lens.

Gene

 

[ChrisN]

Is the 35/2.5 Color Skopar PII much different from the 35/2.5 C? I have the C and love the contrasty results.

 

[rich815]

Thanks for the replies so far people. So, anyone out there who has used the Ultron and the PII and can comment? People talk about the PII being "contrasty" but how much so compared to the Ultron? Is the Ultron not that contrasty overall (knowing how contrast can vary from wide-open and then stopped down). How about anyone who has used the 35/2.8 Summaron?

 

[richard_l]

How about anyone who has used the 35/2.8 Summaron?

Popular legend to the contrary, the 2.8 Summaron as well as the 3.5 Summaron are very crisp and contrasty, even wide open. They don't have that "classic" faded old magazine clippings look unless they are messed up (haze, fungus, coating deterioration, etc.).

 

[Nikon Bob]

A good condition 35 f3.5 summaron is a good performer. The shot is C41 Kodak B&W with yellow filter stopped down to f8.

Bob

 

[dostacos]

Some of you may have seen my post on the Leica list and on Photo.net asking for suggestions and comments on which 35mm lens to get and use with my Leicas to match or come close to the look I get with my 50 Summicron DR (which I consider to be bliss for my personal choice of a "classic" B&W look: excellent sharpness without too much contrast). The consensus came down to the 1st version 8-element 35/2 Summicron (which go for over $1000) or the 35/2.8 Summaron (which I'm considering). Recently Mike Johnston had an article in the British mag Black & White Photography where he touts the virtues of the VC 35/2.5 Color Skopar PII for a perfect "classic" B&W look. So now I'm thinking of the PII perhaps.

Any thoughts people can share on the PII perhaps in comparison to the 50 DR?

Also, the 35/1.7 Ultron has me piqued as well, first, for the bit of extra speed, the ergonomics look like they more resemble my 50 DR (I have the 40/1.4 Nokton and the ergonomics of the PII looks identical and I'm not all that thrilled with the feel of the 40/1.4 in feel and usage) and also people mention the Ultron to have less contrast than the PII.

Comments and thoughts about the PII and the Ultron welcomed, in particular how they work for B&W and how they might resemble the look of the 50 DR...

if you are in the Los Angeles area anytime soon I will loan you my 35/2.5 Color-Skopar

Dan

 

[peter_n]

Is the 35/2.5 Color Skopar PII much different from the 35/2.5 C? I have the C and love the contrasty results.

I understand that all the CV 35/2.5 lenses are optically the same Chris - the C, the PI and the PII.

 

[raid]

I agree. The 35mm/3.5 Summaron is an excellent performer. I have started to use it more often than I used to before.

 

[RayPA]

Hi Rich,

I have the CV 35/2.5 Color Skopar (not the PII) as well as the CV 35/1.7. I'd be willing to loan you either for a day or two.

🙂

 

[furcafe]

3 more possibilities: the Jupiter equivalent of the 35/2.8 Biogon, the 35/2.5 w-Nikkor in LTM, & the Canon RF 35s (35/2, 35/1.8, etc.). They're not Leitz lenses, but are more likely to have the old-school look than any of the CV products & will still be less expensive than the 35/2 Summicron.

 

[BrianPhotog]

3 more possibilities: the Jupiter equivalent of the 35/2.8 Biogon, the 35/2.5 w-Nikkor in LTM, & the Canon RF 35s (35/2, 35/1.8, etc.). They're not Leitz lenses, but are more likely to have the old-school look than any of the CV products & will still be less expensive than the 35/2 Summicron.

True. When I want loads of buttery tonality I use my J8 instead of CV 50/1.5 Nokton. The sacrifice is some sharpness and contrast.

If I remember correctly though, many modern RFs (including the Bessas) can't use the 35mm Jupiter because the base sticks so far into the body?

 

[rich815]

Thanks again for the further replies and offers of lending lenses. Ray being you are so close I may take you up on that---perhaps we can meet in the city or someplace near you for shoot one afternoon. Also, looks like I might have to revisit the use of my 35/3.5 Summaron as I have never felt it was all that contrasty of the lens---contrary to reports here and elsewhere. Might have to try it again in different situations.

Having fun this last weekend with my Canonet QL G-III I find that its 40/1.7 lens gives me very much the rendition I'd like to find in a 35mm for my Leicas. Oh well, nice to have such a great selection of new and old lenses and cameras to have fun with.

 

[wilt]

Like the look of the the MC Minoxar 35/2.8 on the Minox 35 GT-E. Would gladly transplant it to the Leica.