40 summicron-c or 35 UC Hexanon?

[existrandom]

dear folks,

i am thinking to rationalise abit of my lens outfit (and GAS urge), your advices and on-hand experience are appretiated!🙂

i had used 40 summicron-c w/ a CL, but somehow i cannot adapt to the handling of the camera. it doesn't "feel" right and sure as my M4 does, then i sold it.

thus the frameline issues come in, which i don't accomodate well. many times i found myself picking a 35 or 50, leaving the 40 home.

i have, on the other hand, a Canon 35/1.8 LTM, that works well w/ M4. the combo produces many of my pics, having a lovely smoothie character. the only thing that bug me at times is its longish focus throw.

SO, i've been thinking to sell the summicron-c (maybe the Canon, too?) to help finance a 35 UC-Hexanon. i consider it a better deal for me than the leica offerings of the same focal length. And both, as i learnt, share similar picture chracteristics.

what would be your take?
anything to share in terms of focal length choices, or the real life handling of the 3 named lenses?

of course i want to buy them all & try them out one against one, but then it wouldn't be much fun, i reckon.

cheers!

 

[awilder]

I'm biased towards the 35/2 UC as I sold my Summicron ASPH after I got one. The UC performs somewhere between the ASPH and V4 Summicron so if you don't care as much for the 40, sell it and the 35/1.8 and you won't be disappointed.

 

[RayPA]

I don't know the 35/2 UC. I know the M-Hexanon 35/2, and that's a nice lens. Would I trade a 40 'cron and a Canon 35/1.8 for it? Hmmmmm. 😉




.

 

[wintoid]

So you're going for a similar look to the summicron-c but with the focal length of the Canon? Sounds reasonable, although I'd say this is a small change to your setup.

FWIW I have the Summicron-c (recently) and the M-Hexanon 35mm (which I don't think is the same design as the UC). I'd say they are comparable quality with a slightly different look, and I don't seem to have any problems using the 40mm with 35mm framelines.

In your position, I'd go out with the M4 and Summicron-C for a few days, and see how I got on. Framelines are only an approximation anyway.

 

[venchka]

I can't comment on the 35mm UC-Hexanon's image quality yet. I just got the lens and my first "get acquainted" roll of film is still in the camera. Build-fit-finish-size-handling of the Konica lens is, in awilder's words, "jewel like." If the pictures are half as good as the other qualities of this lens, it is a keeper!. The lens is very compact. Larger than my old all chrome Canon 35/2.8 and shorter than my Nikkor 50/1.4. Both the 35mm UC-Hexanon and Nikkor 50 share 43mm filters. All things considered (pending images), a very nice lens for less money than either of the Leica 35mm Summicrons. YMMV.

 

[existrandom]

hi all,

thanks for the quick replies! helped me alot to make sense🙂 i have 50 M-Hexanon, and used Konica's 24 and 40 of AR SLR lens before, they never failed in my limited experience... i forgo the SLR format but i missed them, thus the query

wintoid, yes it is a small change, but many times i got hung up in such small things, it all went fine when i have only one camera and one lens only:bang: as adviced, i will take the summicron-c out and see

awilder, you seems to have settled on a tough choice for many others, do you have any images taken by UC Hexanon to share? i have not come across them often, except scarcely on Japanese sites

venchka, would you mind telling where you got the new toy? i spoted a ebay seller selling old stocks it at US900, you think it is a good deal? would love to hear your on-hand report, too

again, thanks!

 

[dreamsandart]

For a 'Summicron' the ASPH version is just a bit too large for me. Why I settled for a 35 Summilux aspherical - if I'm going to go bigger, may as well go a little bit bigger again - and the more traditional sized 35 Summicron pre-ASPH

As for the Hexanon-UC - Its got just about everything going for it. Its a really beautiful lens, nicely finish black paint, mechanics are smooth and well made, short focus throw you mention, optically its on par with the 4th version Summicron with maybe a bit better flare control.

The only reason I sold mine was I decided the 1 meter close focus was limiting, I also wanted my 'travel' lens to have 39mm filters and take the 13352 polarizing filter/hood, and I sold my Leica tread mount cameras.

If you find one and get it I don't think you'll be disappointed.

 

[awilder]

Here are a couple of shots: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40442

 

[awilder]

Here's another link: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39184

 

[Gid]

This is a great lens. It is permanently "glued" to my M8. I bought mine new from Japan (matsuiyastore - great service). Price was around $900.

All the Equinox shots are taken with this lens as are quite a few of my PAWs - see links below.

 

[existrandom]

thanks everyone's replies
i plunged and is selling the canon 35 and summicron-c on the auction site... must be the heat of summer
now wish me luck

lee