35mm Lens Decision

[arnopoon]

Firstly I very thanks for you guys opinions about R2A and R3A. It really helpful for me. 🙂

Then, I have another problem 🙂P) on choosing 35mm lens. I have searched and read several forums and reviews on lens but i still want users in this forum to offer me some more real-life experiences and opinions on the lens.

I am interested in 3 lens (It should be 4 but now excluding Leica 1.4/35 Summilux which I really cannot afford it). They are VC 1.2/35 Nokton, VC 1.7/35 Ultron, and the new ZM 2/35 Biogon.

The price of Nokton and Biogon are very similar here in Hong Kong. I like 1.2 as it offer fast speed and I heard from forums (yes I haven't seen any "real" photos) the boken is very much like (please correct me if I am wrong) the Leica Noctilux 1/50, which, is my favorite lens. The price of Nokton is reasonable (and I would say even "cheap") if compare to that of Leica (1.4/35 Summilux). But do you think the quality differences (such as contrast and sharpness) is acceptable when compare with their price differences? I know it is big and heavy but I just worry whether it will block lots of area in viewfinder if I am using R2A. Is that true? What you guys think about this lens especially you did try it before?

The new ZM lens series comments seems not bad. I don't have any Zeiss lens but I did try using a Contax RTS before. The photo quality is impressive. If I am not choosing 1.2 Nokton then this ZM Biogon should be my lens, because it is Zeiss. I believe Zeiss is serious to quality this time. I really have no idea and not so many chances to test lens. The shops in Hong Kong does not offer good return policy so I cannot return or refund a product easily. Therefore the only way I can do is to listen to the comments of users from all over the world. Did anyone try that on Bessa camera? What do you think if you are going to make decision on either Nokton or ZM?

However, after reading this forum some people suggests 1.7/35mm also perform very well. But once comes to comparison with ZM and Nokton do you think Ultron 1.7/35 still offer same and better quality?

Thanks for reading my long question, and your kindly help 🙂

 

[rover]

My only concern with the Nokton is that it is too big to be used all the time. I too like the images I have seen from it, and you can't beat the speed.

As for the Ultron and Biogon, I think you are choosing from two excellent lenses. I have not seen a lot from the Biogon, but what I have seen I have liked. The Ultron is my favorite 35 (I have a 35 Summicron too). I think the Biogon and Ultron are roughly the same size.

Be confident that which ever you choose, of the three really, you are making a good choice.

 

[JohnL]

I have been through roughly the same decision process just recently, as I am returning to RF photography -- not exclusively but it fills a significant hole that SLRs don't really handle so well. I got a used M7, and for lenses my choice was between 1 Leitz lens for a rather long time, 1-1/2 Zeiss lenses or 3 to 4 CV lenses -- or else go used, which is fine for "extra" lenses, but a bit risky for the basic set, IMHO. After a bit of research, I went CV.
My main priority was for outdoors, so I first went with slower and cheaper lenses: 28/3.5, 50/2.5 and 90/3.5. Then I wanted a fast 35, mainly for indoor and nightime, the faster the better, and my main concern with the 1.2 Nokton was how much of the view it would block.
From the info received here on this forum, with an M camera (not sure about the R2A) it will be something I can live with, especially if I leave the hood off, which I probably will most of the time for this sort of shooting. So its on its way and I should get it in a couple of days!

 

[robert blu]

I'm very happy with the Ultron 35mm/1,7 as visual quality (sharpness, contrast etc). The only (small) negative point for me is the minimum focus distance, 0,9 m which with a 35 mm makes no possible to take details. I m not very expert in RF cameras, I don't know if other 35 can go closer. It is not a problem if you have or will have also a longer lens ( I choiced the 75mm/2,5).
robert