35mm Lens

[3dit0r]

Sorry to bring up what I know is much posted (I think I've read most of them), but I'm coming back to Leica M after a digital spell (sadly my M-gear got stolen a couple of years back and I decided it was time for a change - then missed the Leica way of working too much) and need to choose a 35mm lens.

I loved my summicron iv which got stolen. I can't now find one - what happened to the used market in those two years?! There was tons of Leica glass around then... Oh I guess the M8 came out...

Anyway, what's my best bet to get a similar feel to the cron iv, or better?

I'll consider any 35mm (Leica, Zeiss, CV), but I'd like it to be pretty stellar as it's my most used focal length. Oh, and I can't afford new Leica prices, so only used recommendations, please? It needs to be nice and sharp for landscapes, but with nice bokeh for people wide open...

I had a look at the new biogon and biogon-c lenses which look intriguing. I did like the compactness and focus tab of the cron iv. The biogon-c looks more compact and nice and sharp, but I did use f2 since it was essentially my standard lens...

Should I just wait (and wait) for a cron iv to come up - at the moment I have an M6 body and no lenses to go take photographs with... it's a bit sad!

 

[kywong]

There is a IV being offered in a kit with a M6 panda on photo.net classifieds, not sure if it's sold yet or if he/she would break it up.

Anyway, you're not gonna lose much when you sell an 'cron asph or Biogons if you had bought it second hand so I say why not just go for it, try it out, see if you like it, and keep an eye out for a IV?

To me the asph or Biogon don't have that feel, but that's highly subjective, you can only work it out for yourself. Maybe you'll like the asph or Biogon after you try it.

If it's too much of a hassle buying and selling, go on Flickr, see which one takes photos you like better, and buy that one, don't settle.

 

[35mmdelux]

alot of people want the IV, so no mystery its harder to locate. I would go for the Summicron asph, very robust lens and lowest prices in a long time. great lens.

 

[januaryman]

I'm blown away by the Canon 35/2.0 that I tracked down for months before grabbing one on ebay. I learned of this lens by reading about it here. It is described as being " [FONT=&quot]Leica 35/2 Summicron quality"[/FONT]

 

[tbarker13]

Give some consideration to the Summicron III. Considerably cheaper than the version IV.
I've used both and would argue the III is built better than the IV. And I doubt very many people on this planet could tell the difference between the images they produce. (I just hope my skin doesn't catch fire for writing that last sentence.)

 

[chris00nj]

I'm blown away by the Canon 35/2.0 that I tracked down for months before grabbing one on ebay. I learned of this lens by reading about it here. It is described as being " [FONT=&quot]Leica 35/2 Summicron quality"[/FONT]

I second the recommendation on the Canon 35/2. It's small, light, and sharp. Here is another link which has some more detail and analysis. There is one being sold by the reputable jiri_e right now on eBay. It'll probably go for around $350 +/- $50.


Here's an example at f/2.0:

 

[maddoc]

I had 35mm Summicron-M IV and while it is a nice lens, the build and optical quality is not that good considering the price, IMHO. If I would have to buy a 35/2.0 lens again, it would be either the version III or the ASPH if I wanted a Summicron. Alternatives for me would be a 35mm M-Hexanon (from photos I have seen) or a 40mm M-Rokkor CLE. The latter is outstanding for a fraction of the price of a Summicron-M and the field-of-view quite well matches the 35mm frame lines of the M6.

 

[mfogiel]

Well, if you like sharpness, then the Biogon 35/2 is a great lens, optically it is not clinically sharp at f2.0, which is good for portraits, but from f2.8 on, it is the best lens around no matter how much the Leicaphiles insist. It has incredible flare resistance too. On the other extreme, but this would mean using a substantially bigger lens, the CV Nokton 35/1.2 is a lens with great many qualities, the fastest 35mm made, great sharpness already by f2.0 and a really pleasant bokeh too. If instead, you want a good compromise between sharpness, speed and size, the CV 35/1.4 seems to foot the bill, although some are not happy with the OOF rendering.
Biogon 35/2 @ f2.8

Nokton 35/1.2 @ f 1.2

 

[Todd.Hanz]

Look for a 35/2 asph. summicron used, build is better and more contrast wide open when compared to ver. IV. it's also pretty compact as well, not as much as the ver. IV though.

Good Luck,
Todd

 

[loneranger]

Konica 35 UC Hexanon, but hard to find.

 

[WDPictures]

You could get into a FSU lens (Jupiter-12) at that FL cheap & quick while you search for your perfect lens. Just a thought as I like to use new gear soon after purchase, some shooting better than none. My CV 35/1.4MC is pretty nice and small, tough decision btwn SC or MC...

 

[f16sunshine]

+1 for the ZM Biogon 2/35. It is the last lens I would ever let go. Every RFer should have one. Yes, a bit larger than the 35 Cron Asph but, 1/3 the price and with that Zeissy microcontrast I'm hooked on.

 

[capitalK]

Zeiss Biogon 35mm f/2 was my choice when I was in your situation. Sometimes I wish I had spent the extra money on a Summicron but most of the time I just enjoy what the Biogon can do.

 

[sojournerphoto]

2/35 Biogon - mine is stuck to the front of my ZI (not literally). I'v also got a Color-Skopar 2.5/35, but it's not as crispy at large apertures.

Mike

 

[notturtle]

I love my 35 f2 biogon and sometimes wish for something a touch smaller (this also makes slipping it into my fave bag easier), but have no complaints at all about the performance. It has a very pleasant look to the images too. Manhy lenses are superb and I can only comment on this one.

I almost always shoot smaller than f2 and so would keep the F2 lens but might add something smaller for when the light is better. A CV pancake or summarit, or even the 35 2.8 ZM sounds the ticket in which case.

 

[Ben Z]

It's all very subjective and personal, so the best thing if possible is to try a few (many online dealers have a 2-week no-commitment period, you just have to consider 2-way shipping like a rental fee). I've got a 35/3.5 Elmar in LTM, a Summicron-III, a Summicron-IV, and at one time had a Summaron 2.8 and a Summicron-ASPH. I'm sure there are significant differences in performance, especially close-up and wide open, but at the moderate distances and middle apertures I shoot 90% of the time, I found surprisingly little variation. If I had to choose between the 2 Summicrons, I'd keep the III. It's built like a little tank, the IV less so. KEH usually has samples of both. Not as cheap as you can sometimes get on eBay, but there's that 2-week inspection plus another 2 months of warranty after that.

 

[venchka]

No it's not

No it's not

Konica 35 UC Hexanon, but hard to find.

I know eactly where mine is. Semi-permanently attached to Bigfoot. 😀

 

[Rico]

I own a 'cron 35 v4 and a brace of v3. The v4 has nicer handling (aperture ring), but the v3 is better built. All of them are shelved in favor of a Summaron 35/2.8. Just received the correct hood (ITDOO), so my regression is complete. 🙂

For a modern choice, the CZ CB35/2.8 ZM looks great.

 

[meven]

I used to have the Summicron IV and the Summaron 2.8, I now have a Summicron ASPH (the ltm limited version) and a Nokton 1.2 and I am extremely happy with both of them.

I do not regret selling the IV but I do regret selling the Summaron, it was (and still is) a great lens.

 

[kermaier]

The Konica UC-Hexanon 35/2 (LTM) is a great lens. I've never had a 'cron v4, but the reputation is that the UC-Hex has very similar imaging properties. The UC-Hex is fantastically well-made and beautifully finished. The only thing to think about with the UC-Hex is that it only focuses down to 0.9m, as opposed 0.7m with the 'cron. Prices run $800-$1200, varying just because there are so few on the market at any one time.

The Summaron 35/2.8 is also a great lens -- I use it more often than the UC-Hex, which I generally pull out only when I want a (slightly) more modern (contrasty) look, or when I think I'll need the extra stop. I'm currently using the LTM version, but I'll replace it with the M-mount version when it comes back from a CLA. Prices run $500-$750 depending on condition (1/3 to 1/2 the price of a v1 'cron).

The Minolta 40/2 M-Rokkor is also a great lens, by reputation similar to the 'cron v4 as well. Very lightweight and compact. Build quality is good, but not up to the standard of the UC-Hex (or the Summaron). And you have to contend with the frameline selector issues on Leica M bodies. Prices run $250-$400 depending on condition. The M-Rokkor is definitely the performance-to-price ratio winner by a wide margin.

I have all 3 of these lenses, and the one I use most is the Summaron, followed by the UC-Hex (but only because it feels nicer to use than the M-Rokkor).

::Ari