JamSee
James Craig
Hey,
I purchased my M6ttl just over a year ago, and I've been using a cv Nokton 50mm f/1.5 with it, which I've become rather fond of. However I am starting to feel the need for a 35mm for everyday and some lowlight use.
As a student my budget is pretty low, I'd love Leica glass but even the Summarit-m is too pricey right now. After the sucess I've had with my current Nokton, I'm considdering the 35mm Nokton f/1.2. However, is the Nokton worth that much more than the Ultron or either of the Skopars? And then theres the 35mm Biogon...
Since I really have very little first hand experience of the lenses I'm looking, I'd appreciate it if you guys could lend an opinion in terms of value for money. I'd especially like to hear your opinions on the Summarit-m versus any of the others mentioned.
many thanks,
James.
I purchased my M6ttl just over a year ago, and I've been using a cv Nokton 50mm f/1.5 with it, which I've become rather fond of. However I am starting to feel the need for a 35mm for everyday and some lowlight use.
As a student my budget is pretty low, I'd love Leica glass but even the Summarit-m is too pricey right now. After the sucess I've had with my current Nokton, I'm considdering the 35mm Nokton f/1.2. However, is the Nokton worth that much more than the Ultron or either of the Skopars? And then theres the 35mm Biogon...
Since I really have very little first hand experience of the lenses I'm looking, I'd appreciate it if you guys could lend an opinion in terms of value for money. I'd especially like to hear your opinions on the Summarit-m versus any of the others mentioned.
many thanks,
James.
venchka
Veteran
First you must use the search here
First you must use the search here
If you Search for 35mm lens in the Leica M area you will have enough reading until maybe next year.
Value for money?
1. A nice Jupiter 35/2.8 in LTM and an adapter.
2. Chrome on brass Canon 35/2.8 LTM with adapter. The version that is threaded for 34mm filters. Very small lens. Very nice lens.
3. Cosina/Voigtlander: Any 35mm lens based on budget.
4. ZM 35mm Biogon, Konica 35mm M-Hexanon or 35mm UC-Hexanon, version III Leitz 35mm Summicron and the C/V Nocton. The Nocton is probably the best value for money in a 35mm lens faster than 2.0.
5. Leitz 35mm Summicrons newer than the version III. This is debateable ad nausea. Enough opinons exist pro and con to make the choice of a new Summicron over those lenses in #4 above difficult to impossible.
Why not start at the low end of the price sprctrum. Buy a lens. Use it. Learn it. Know it inside and out. If you like it, keep it and laugh all the way to bank. If you hate it, sell it and move up in price. When you find the perfect 35mm lens for YOU you will know it.
Cheers!
First you must use the search here
If you Search for 35mm lens in the Leica M area you will have enough reading until maybe next year.
Value for money?
1. A nice Jupiter 35/2.8 in LTM and an adapter.
2. Chrome on brass Canon 35/2.8 LTM with adapter. The version that is threaded for 34mm filters. Very small lens. Very nice lens.
3. Cosina/Voigtlander: Any 35mm lens based on budget.
4. ZM 35mm Biogon, Konica 35mm M-Hexanon or 35mm UC-Hexanon, version III Leitz 35mm Summicron and the C/V Nocton. The Nocton is probably the best value for money in a 35mm lens faster than 2.0.
5. Leitz 35mm Summicrons newer than the version III. This is debateable ad nausea. Enough opinons exist pro and con to make the choice of a new Summicron over those lenses in #4 above difficult to impossible.
Why not start at the low end of the price sprctrum. Buy a lens. Use it. Learn it. Know it inside and out. If you like it, keep it and laugh all the way to bank. If you hate it, sell it and move up in price. When you find the perfect 35mm lens for YOU you will know it.
Cheers!
JamSee
James Craig
Cheers for the advice Venchka, had never condsiddered the canon, completely slipped my mind!
just found a few threads very similar to mine, D'oh.
just found a few threads very similar to mine, D'oh.
venchka
Veteran
Search and ye shall find, Grasshopper!
mfogiel
Veteran
JamSee,
I think any lens between a Summarit, Summicron, Nokton 35, Ultron 35, Skopar 35, Biogon 35, Hexanon35 will be fine. For me the best "normal" 35mm is the Biogon, but for instance Sean Reid has tested the new Summarit against the Biogon, Summicron, and Skopar, and the Skopar came first in central sharpness... If you have limited funds get the Skopar, and if you have unlimited funds, get the Biogon. IMHO the Leica lenses have disadvantageous price/performance ratio. I also use the Nokton 35 for low light shots, but at f2.8 and beyond the Biogon leaves it behind quite easily in all respects, so this lens is justified mainly for the low light situations.
I think any lens between a Summarit, Summicron, Nokton 35, Ultron 35, Skopar 35, Biogon 35, Hexanon35 will be fine. For me the best "normal" 35mm is the Biogon, but for instance Sean Reid has tested the new Summarit against the Biogon, Summicron, and Skopar, and the Skopar came first in central sharpness... If you have limited funds get the Skopar, and if you have unlimited funds, get the Biogon. IMHO the Leica lenses have disadvantageous price/performance ratio. I also use the Nokton 35 for low light shots, but at f2.8 and beyond the Biogon leaves it behind quite easily in all respects, so this lens is justified mainly for the low light situations.
Vincenzo Maielli
Well-known
I own a Summaron 35 mm f/ 2,8 with goggled, very excellent, and the VC Ultron 35 mm f/ 1,7 LTM with 35/135 adapter. Both work very well, but i prefer the Summaron rendition.
Ciao.
Ciao.
Philippe D.
Cheeeeeese
Yes, i love the Summaron too.sitemistic said:
But you can get it without googles too.
For a small budget, i would say look at an f/3.5 Summaron.
and don't tell anyone else, otherwise the prices are going to climb high up the trees.
SolaresLarrave
My M5s need red dots!
JamSee has an M6TTL, and the Jupiter has a long, protracting rear element that would block the meter. Stay away from that one only.
If you want to experience the 35mm field of view, just switch the frame lever... and decide whether you're confortable with it or not. In the meanwhile, have fun shopping!
If you want to experience the 35mm field of view, just switch the frame lever... and decide whether you're confortable with it or not. In the meanwhile, have fun shopping!
mr_phillip
Well-known
The choice is going to come down to budget and priorities. The only thing I'm going to add is that the Voigtländer 35mm Skopar-Classic must be about the best used bargain in rangefinder 35s just now. Mine came from eBay in the UK in mint, boxed condition with the additional square hood and a Voigtländer M adaptor for under 100 Pounds. It runs my V3 Summicron helluva close at all apertures, especially from f4-f11.
Seriously though, any of the 35s listed would be a good choice.
Seriously though, any of the 35s listed would be a good choice.
mr_phillip
Well-known
SolaresLarrave said:JamSee has an M6TTL, and the Jupiter has a long, protracting rear element that would block the meter. Stay away from that one only.
If you want to experience the 35mm field of view, just switch the frame lever... and decide whether you're confortable with it or not. In the meanwhile, have fun shopping!
Sample variation is a big issue with the Jupiters. My (recently sold) late-model black J12 fitted into my M6 (classic) and the camera still metered perfectly. Mind you, it also fit my Canon P perfectly, and J12s aren't meant to fit that camera due to its light baffles.
oscroft
Veteran
My 1987 black one partly blocks the meter cell and it over-exposes by about 1.5 stops (but it varies with focus)
Bob_McBob
My paycheque goes to RFF
What exactly is your budget? I've used three RF 35s: the 35/1.2 Nokton, 35/2.5 Color-Skopar, and 35/2 UC-Hexanon.
The Skopar is insanely good value. It's so tiny it has to have a focusing knob, and it produces wonderful images. You really can't go wrong unless you need more speed. The Nokton is a very special lens. f/1.2 is a dream, and the results are spectacular. Unfortunately, it's also massive for an RF lens -- I find it too large to use as a daily carry. If I were going to buy a Nokton, I would also get a Skopar for general use.
When I had to decide which 35 to get for my R-D1, I ended up with the 35/2 UC-Hexanon. It's tiny like the Skopar, f/2, and spectacularly well-built. At more than the cost of the Nokton, it's certainly not the best value 35 you could buy, but I absolutely love it.
The other option you might consider is the CV 40/1.4. I find the bokeh hideous wide open, but it improves quite a bit at f/2. Another very good value lens from CV.
The Skopar is insanely good value. It's so tiny it has to have a focusing knob, and it produces wonderful images. You really can't go wrong unless you need more speed. The Nokton is a very special lens. f/1.2 is a dream, and the results are spectacular. Unfortunately, it's also massive for an RF lens -- I find it too large to use as a daily carry. If I were going to buy a Nokton, I would also get a Skopar for general use.
When I had to decide which 35 to get for my R-D1, I ended up with the 35/2 UC-Hexanon. It's tiny like the Skopar, f/2, and spectacularly well-built. At more than the cost of the Nokton, it's certainly not the best value 35 you could buy, but I absolutely love it.
The other option you might consider is the CV 40/1.4. I find the bokeh hideous wide open, but it improves quite a bit at f/2. Another very good value lens from CV.
ktmrider
Well-known
Pick One and Go Shoot
Pick One and Go Shoot
I have been doing photography since 1966 and have been in and out of various systems (Nikon, Leica, Contax, Hasselblad, Canon etc) and it has cost me more money then I care to admit. I have gone back to my college equipment with a Nikon F and Leica M4. I taught my oldest friend how to develope film in 1970 at IU, she is now a staff photog at National Geo (as is her husband) and they use whatever tool works at the moment.
Pick a lens which meets your budget and perhaps your speed needs. Put it on the camera and go shoot. Any lens from a modern manufacturer will exceed your expectations. I don't expect you can see much difference with film choice and technique being much more important. From experience, it is hard to beat the CV lenses.
Pick One and Go Shoot
I have been doing photography since 1966 and have been in and out of various systems (Nikon, Leica, Contax, Hasselblad, Canon etc) and it has cost me more money then I care to admit. I have gone back to my college equipment with a Nikon F and Leica M4. I taught my oldest friend how to develope film in 1970 at IU, she is now a staff photog at National Geo (as is her husband) and they use whatever tool works at the moment.
Pick a lens which meets your budget and perhaps your speed needs. Put it on the camera and go shoot. Any lens from a modern manufacturer will exceed your expectations. I don't expect you can see much difference with film choice and technique being much more important. From experience, it is hard to beat the CV lenses.
tbarker13
shooter of stuff
On a tight budget, the easy choice for me would be the CV 35 PII. Just a great lens at that price.
I use a combination of two 35s, since it is my most commonly used FL on my M8.
The lens that spends most of its time on the camera is that previously mentioned UC 35 hexanon. Such a wonderful build quality and it creates an image very similar to the 35 summicron IV that gets so much attention for its bokeh. I like the hex so much better that I'm planning to sell my cron IV. At $800-900, the UC Hex doesn't really qualify as inexpensive, but it is a beauty.
I also use the 35 Nokton for those situations where that's the only option (i won't employ a flash). It is a great lens, but geez, it is a big one. Not something I like carrying around when I don't have to.
I use a combination of two 35s, since it is my most commonly used FL on my M8.
The lens that spends most of its time on the camera is that previously mentioned UC 35 hexanon. Such a wonderful build quality and it creates an image very similar to the 35 summicron IV that gets so much attention for its bokeh. I like the hex so much better that I'm planning to sell my cron IV. At $800-900, the UC Hex doesn't really qualify as inexpensive, but it is a beauty.
I also use the 35 Nokton for those situations where that's the only option (i won't employ a flash). It is a great lens, but geez, it is a big one. Not something I like carrying around when I don't have to.
KEH
Well-known
A quick question on the Summaron 2.8 for M3. You see this lens quite often, but the goggles are a bit of turnoff. They look like they would remove quite easily - just a couple of screws. Anyone done this?
Thanks in advance,
Kirk
Thanks in advance,
Kirk
dreamsandart
Well-known
And just to throw in another idea here... I got a Voigtlander 3.5/28 a short time ago, always wanted one and its proved to be everything everyone says about it; very compact, great optics, very well made, great price (got mine for about $250, and you can wait and save up for that fast 35).
And would be a good lens to carry around with a 50mm. Speed would be the only issue, but then films rated at 400 are pretty good these days.
And would be a good lens to carry around with a 50mm. Speed would be the only issue, but then films rated at 400 are pretty good these days.
Rico
Well-known
That mod is a no-go if you want assisted focus. The eyes change RF triangulation (compensated in the focus helical). OTOH, the Summaron 35/2.8 has excellent distance and DOF scales: I focus mine by scale all the time.KEH said: