800$ -35 Cron Pre-Asph or Zeiss 35 Biogon or VC 35 1.2??

[35mmdelux]

is the performance of the VC 1.2 so much better than a pre-asph 35 lux?

Yes. As you know the 35 lux pre-asph has a great propensity to flare and its soft wide open (its signature). There are a few good examples but generally a toss up.

I like the compact pre-asph crons, but if I wanted something diff it would definitely be the zeiss.

 

[Ororaro]

35 summilux a "dog" and an "absolute underperformer"?
LOL!

That lens is partly responsible for that fabled "Leica look" that no one can quite explain and now it's become a "dog", suddenly? Especially by a guy with a history of 19 posts vaguely parroting what he's read somewhere on the net?

Gimme a break!

I'm willing to go on a shootout with that lens and win the battle at any time of day! I don't really give a darn about ultra sharpness at f1.4 if there is no soul and modelé and good tonality in a picture. The 35 pre-asph gives me that with each single shot, allthetime!

 

[Didier]

I have a 35/1.4 asph and am looking for another, more compact 35 for the R-D1s. The Summicron 4th easily beats the ZM 35/2 Biogon, CV 35 Nokton and Ultron in terms of compactness. The 35/2.5 W-Nikkor-C I had was not that ergonomic as I would like, and had a somehow strange centric bokeh effect. The Canons 35/1.5, 1.8 and 2 are a tad weak on the contrast side. The Color Skopar 2.5/35 PII or C would be the cheapest alternative but I guess the Summicron will join my bag soon.

 

[venchka]

If it's a compact 35mm/2.0 lens you seek, look at the new Konica UC-Hexanon currently for sale on ebay. BIN price: $870 USD. You won't find a Summicron for that price.

Back on topic:

800$ -35 Cron Pre-Asph or Zeiss 35 Biogon or VC 35 1.2??

That was the original question. I question the $800 budget relative to those 3 lenses. Maybe, on a good day, from an individual, you MIGHT get a v.2 or v.3 35mm Summicron for $800. Maybe. You can easily buy the Zeiss 35mm Biogon with hood from Tony Rose for $800, give or take a quid or two. The 35mm Nokton is $900 and change new. I saw a used one here recently for $650 I think. That was a great price. They are usually more. So, in summary, forget the $800 Summicron unless someone has offered you one for that price. Buy the Biogon new or hold out for a Nokton used. Or visit Matsuiyastore on ebay and buy the brand new, wee UC-Hexanon for $901 delivered to your door.

 

[yerba]

If you do a lot, and I mean a lot of low light shooting, go for the VC 35/1.2. You won't regret it. Otherwise go for the Zeiss. If you're on the budget go for 35/1.7. At least that is what I'd do.

 

[Paul T.]

Crons do go for $800. a V1 was at pnet for $800, and I sold my V2 here for $720 a couple of days ago.

I do agree that in comparison, the Zeiss looks something of a bargain, but the Leica lenses do have the significant advantage of being more compact. However, in future, this might be offset by the fact that, in any FF rangefinder, the Zeiss might exhibit less vignetting - this, I recall, was one of zeiss's design aims, altho only time will tell if this is true, or marketing spiel...

 

[Never Satisfied]

Hi Todd, I have a Gen IV Summicron and the Ultron and few other 35's and the Summicron is a stand alone as far as OOF quality and size are concerned. I'd love a f1.2 Nokton but unless you need the speed it would be a waste. The 'Cron gets my vote. Cheers Andrew.

 

[RayPA]

I have the Nokton, the Ultron, and the CS 35/2.5 (not listed here). The Nokton is the "poor man's noctilux." It's a great lens, worth getting, but It is big. I like it, but it does unbalance the camera a bit. I recommend the Ultron, or the CS 35/2.5 AND the Nokton (for those moments when need a lens to suck some light). 🙂 The C35/2.5 is a nice fit on the RD-1.


🙂

 

[wintoid]

I've got the 40 Summicron, 35 Hexanon, 35 Nokton, and have previously owned the 40 Nokton and 35 summicron preasph. For general purpose use, my favourite is the Nokton! It's also my favourite for low light use. I have decided I don't care that it's big. It's worth it.

 

[cmogi10]

I am 100% sold on the Zeiss 35/2.0 I didn't read the whole thread so If you bought one already I'm sorry but the Biogon is a fantastic lens.

 

[Hacker]

That notion crept into my brain too. Except I had too many 50s & too many 35s. OK,OK, I had NO 40s. 😀

Seriously, it's worth a look. Probably the smallest 1.4 lens around. Certainly one of the least expensive.

What about the 60 (Hexanon), 80 (Rollei) and 85 Zeiss? You must add these to your collecttion.

 

[Hacker]

If it's a compact 35mm/2.0 lens you seek, look at the new Konica UC-Hexanon currently for sale on ebay. BIN price: $870 USD. You won't find a Summicron for that price.

Yes, the Hexanon is an utter gem and an over performer. Better coating than the IV and oozes with quality.

 

[BigSteveG]

UC Hex...it's a killer....you can get it BRAND NEW for about that price.

 

[popobsd]

I have the Nokton, the Ultron, and the CS 35/2.5 (not listed here). The Nokton is the "poor man's noctilux." It's a great lens, worth getting, but It is big. I like it, but it does unbalance the camera a bit. I recommend the Ultron, or the CS 35/2.5 AND the Nokton (for those moments when need a lens to suck some light). 🙂 The C35/2.5 is a nice fit on the RD-1.


🙂

Hi RayPA, If you think the Nokton unblance the camera a bit. Use a leicaVit. Perfect! 🙄😎

 

[Turtle]

35 summilux a "dog" and an "absolute underperformer"?
LOL!

That lens is partly responsible for that fabled "Leica look" that no one can quite explain and now it's become a "dog", suddenly? Especially by a guy with a history of 19 posts vaguely parroting what he's read somewhere on the net?

Gimme a break!

I'm willing to go on a shootout with that lens and win the battle at any time of day! I don't really give a darn about ultra sharpness at f1.4 if there is no soul and modelé and good tonality in a picture. The 35 pre-asph gives me that with each single shot, allthetime!

This brings out a number of points:

A person with a small number of posts has simply not been with RFF for long. Its says nothing negative about the value of their views. They might be extremely experienced and creatively brilliant for all we know.....

From a resolution and contrast perspective, the 35 pre asph lux (I have never owned one) seems to be regarded by many users as lacking contrast (flares a lot) and resolution is poor at wider apertures. These are characteristics most often cited as 'problems or deficiencies' with lenses, although some such as yourself are not worried about this. Some are however....many are in fact. All these opinions would seem to be valid to me - a dog vs. diamond!

Personally, I use a biogon. Very happy with it and I would say that if a person is looking for excellent resolution and contrast along with great bokeh and creaminess, this is a great bet. I would not pay the extra for a V4 Summicron simply because I see no point, for me. Whilst not the smallest, it is hardly a giant either.

Worth also considering the CV 35 pancake 2...very good value and great performance by the sound of it. I think it comes down to application. There is no point lugging a CV 35 1.2 about if you are not shooting at 1.2...much better off with something smaller and lighter. If you dont need 1.2 - and you are likely to know if you really need it - then a slower cheaper lens would make more sense to me. The pancake is about 1/3 the size and the biogon about 1/2.

I think an intersting point is that some now swear that the bokeh of the new Summarit 35 is wonderful....better than the 35 v4, where the V4 used is not a whole lot cheaper than a new Summarit when one considers the merits of a new lens and warranty. The 35 biogon has wonderful bokeh IMO but if you want to avoid a sharp contrasty lens you wont get on with it. It is contrasty but somehow is gentle in the process.

 

[ampguy]

Hi Ray

Hi Ray

Hey, I forgot you had a Nokton 35/1.2, black or chrome? I'd love to try that out sometime!

To the OP: I've owned the Cron v4, and the Ultron. The Ultron 1.7 is about 2x the size, and the 1.7 doesn't do much or look that great (at 1.7). Maybe consider a Rokkor 40/2 or CV 40/2 for small sizes, and good IQ. My 35 walk around lens is the 35/2 cron asph, much less distortion and coma and SA, contrast suitable for color, and better resolution than many older lenses.

I have the Nokton, the Ultron, and the CS 35/2.5 (not listed here). The Nokton is the "poor man's noctilux." It's a great lens, worth getting, but It is big. I like it, but it does unbalance the camera a bit. I recommend the Ultron, or the CS 35/2.5 AND the Nokton (for those moments when need a lens to suck some light). 🙂 The C35/2.5 is a nice fit on the RD-1.


🙂

 

[__hh]

That is actually a very wise idea. The R-D1's 35mm framelines are quite generous, and in real-life these framelines are actually better suited to 40mm lenses (at least this is what I've read).

I currently have the 35mm ZM Biogon (and loving it), but am thinking that I might pick up the 40mm f/1.4 purely because of this "generous" R-d1 frameline issue. My R-D1 is on its way, and will let you know how this goes.



Hung

Just to mess with your mind, what about the 40/1.4?


B2 (;->