Leica LTM A "Character" 35mm LTM Lens

[presspass]

What 'character' is the OP looking for? I've never been able to define that, or even duplicate it, although I have several of the 'character' lenses mentioned here and elsewhere. Some have softer contrast, some are less sharp wide open, some have oddly-shaped out of focus highlights. Are these indications of 'character'?

 

[charjohncarter]

Here is my f3.5 Serenar (Canon). A little low on contrast, but that is easy with digital post. Wide open it shows no fall off, but it does have a tendency to haze (easy to clean off though).

Tmax400 HC-110h by John Carter, on Flickr

Wide open:

Neopan Acros 100 expired by John Carter, on Flickr

 

[Erik van Straten]

Erik, your image is fine. Your lens is fine. Its a defect free and clean modern look, with no swirl or vignetting etc. But I don't see any distinct character, which is what the OP is looking for, that would identify the image as having been taken with the Ultron. That's all I'm saying. If you find that childish, ok. Whatever.

Tend to agree about character.

Edit: maybe it would help if the OP could clarify in a bit more detail what he means by "distinct rendering quality (or fingerprint, or whatever you wanna call it)".

But Jon, its character is that it hasn't any distinct character. That is a great character - for a lens.



Erik.

 

[raid]

The Canon 35/1.5 and 35/1.8 can flare up, if this is what you mean by “character “.

 

[bayernfan]

The responses thus far have been very entertaining. Perhaps some clarification is in order.

The lenses I cited initially (Summar, Summitar, Jupiter, Sonnar) have a distinctive look at wider apertures that could be described as a departure (deviation) from the real scene. Glow and swirl are the best words I can conjure to describe these attributes. As mentioned above, the aberrations of older LTM-era lenses are what give way to this look.

Is there, for example, a 35mm lens that creates images with the "character" of a wide open Sonnar 50/1.5?

 

[helen.HH]

LTM 35 Ultron




Up Close by Helen Hill, on Flickr



url=https://flic.kr/p/8RpHy2]

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Between Shadow & Light...God and the Homeless by Helen Hill, on Flickr

 

[oldwino]

The Summaron 3.5 has a lovely way of drawing an image. Plus, it looks great on my I and it’s tiny!

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

Jupiter 12 is a 35mm with character in the flawed sense. A friend has a decent copy which produced decent images.

 

[helen.HH]

Miss LTM 35 Canon f2...dubbed the japanese smmicron... Beautifully compact, lovely character




in the early morning rain, waiting on an Eastbound train... by Helen Hill, on Flickr

 

[Calzone]

What 'character' is the OP looking for? I've never been able to define that, or even duplicate it, although I have several of the 'character' lenses mentioned here and elsewhere. Some have softer contrast, some are less sharp wide open, some have oddly-shaped out of focus highlights. Are these indications of 'character'?

PP,

I think a unique signature of sorts.

In my 35/1.8 LTM I would say it is the veiling flair at F1.8.

Many of these old single coated lenses have soft corners.

A 50 Rigid has both remarkable center sharpness, but also soft corners.

A Noct-Nikkor has no light fall off in the corners like a Noctilux, but although the Noctilux has sharper corners, while the Noct-Nikkor has sharpness fall off in the corners.

My definition of character is a unique signature that distiinguishes one lens from another through a recognizable rendering. Of course these "flaws" are most amplified when shot wide open.

Cal

 

[helen.HH]

No lens or camera is Perfect...
it's the Imperfections that sometimes create the real Beauty
It's whatever brings a smile to the Face

 

[rfaspen]

I understood the initial inquiry. Character as in Petzval character 😎

I don't know of a 35 with swirly bokeh, but that kind of character is usually related to low correction of one or more optical abberations.

I wonder what MS-Optical has in that focal length? I know I've seen example images from the Apoqualia 35/1.4 but I can't recall if there was any "character". Maybe track down some images from that and see.

The only 35 I own that has a "look" I can distinguish from my other 35's is the Summaron 35/2.8. I truly love the images I can get with that lens. Mine is the RF version with goggles -- great for my M3 (not working), but klunky for all my other M's. Thus, I don't use it near as much as I would if it were non-goggled. I'll probably get the non-goggled version of this lens eventually.

The 35 that I don't own, but like the images I've seen from it: the Nikkor 35/1.8 that has already been mentioned a few times above. I guess I noticed its unique look too. A little spendy for me when I already have so many other 35's. But, if someone has one they need to get rid of......🙂

 

[dourbalistar]

The more I think about it...there are sooooo MANY GREAT 35s

35 Nokton classic which sooo many people diss, never had a problem

Yes, we definitely have an embarrassment of 35mm riches to choose from, but not all of them are LTM. 😉

 

[helen.HH]

Oooops...got carried away
Apologies

 

[dourbalistar]

Jupiter 12 is a 35mm with character in the flawed sense. A friend has a decent copy which produced decent images.

Colton (Swift1) has a nice review of the Jupiter 12, but I don't think he shoots wide open very often:
https://www.filmshooterscollective....aphy-blog/qoayft3emb5ythxgr1252ippj2ucud-4-16

 

[kuuan]

only have experience with the Canon LTM 1.8/35 and 2/35, the later giving the more modern look, the f1.8 with stronger, individual character.


a sample on Sony A7

Untitled by andreas, on Flickr


all photos taken with this lens, incl. with APS-C sensor Sony NEX5n and Ricoh GXR M:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/kuuan/sets/72157644035549111

 

[Timmyjoe]

Miss LTM 35 Canon f2...dubbed the japanese smmicron... Beautifully compact, lovely character




in the early morning rain, waiting on an Eastbound train... by Helen Hill, on Flickr

Always loved this shot Helen. Just acquired an LTM 35 Canon f2 and having quite a good time with it on an M4.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Jerevan]

I wonder if the original 35 - the Elmar one - is considered to have enough of a look of its own?

 

[WJJ3]

I remember seeing character in some shots from my 35mm f2.8 Summaron that seemed special and unique. Character that I don’t see in my 35mm Summicron. Some images from my W Nikkor 3.5cm f2.5 remind me a bit of the Summaron look...

 

[goamules]

Try some of the early Canons, like the 35/3.2 or 2.8.