Anyone using the 35mm 1.2?

x-ray

x-ray

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Does anyone have any images, hopefully B&W, shot with the 35mm 1.2 CV at night where light sources such as street light appear in the images? I used the 35mm Summilux 1.4 (1st version) for may years and like an iddiot i sold it. I have now been using a late non ASPH Summicron 35mm for the past ten or so years and wile I like it I feel the need for speed from time to time. I frequently shoot under very dim light and would like to bo back to the summilux or CV 35 1.2. It's not as big a problem using faster emulsions like thirty years ago but still i would like to keep film speed down as much as possible. Anyone have thoughts and experience with the 1.2 Nokton and in particular have previous experience with the 35mm summilux 1st version. too. How are internal reflections that might fprm secondary images? I found this to be a problem with fright sources in the frame with the summilux particularly against black backgrounds when shooting wide open. It would produce and identical image that was inverted. The summicron has never done this to me and want to know if the CV does this.I really don't care for the current ASPH lenses from Leitz and feel the older generation of Summilux is getting overpriced.

Thanks!

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=5045
 
after reading this i put my nokton through a torture test for flare at night (streetlamps dark background) and if i get any interesting results i will post some scans this weekend...
 
The following pics were taken with the 35/1.2 in Russia two years ago.

http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=1923538
http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=1923532
http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=1923508

They don't exactly match your requirements, but they were all shot in relatively low light with the 35/1.2 wide open. It is a great lens IMHO. As you will see, I did not nail the focus every time, f/1.2 is demanding. But I got the images and don't think I would have done better with an f2 lens and 1/2 the shutter speed. All shots handheld at around 1/30.
 
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Chaser:

I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR IMAGES.


Benjamin:

This is what I was looking for. In the second and third shot there are bright light sources. It appears to handle flare quite well. The third shot shows the bright floor lamp in the background and handled the contrast very well. It looks like it handles the flare without being too harsh. A number of years ago I must have had brain damage. I sold my 35 summilux, 50 1.2 noctilux and 90 summicron and now regret it. The 1.2 noctilux is untouchable in price and the summilux 35 non ASPH has gone through the roof in price. I bought my 35 summilux new in 1968 and paid around retail at a little over three hundred dollars. I guess it's all relative with respect to how much our income is today but it just kills me to pay three or four times the price for used that I paid new. This is in the days of buying minty M2 & 3 bodies for around three hundred.

I certainly have no hangups about putting CV glass on my Leicas. I might have to sell my 28mm 2nd version(never liked a 28 anyway) and my 35 summicron (last version non ASPH) to fund a 35 1.2 and 75 summilux. This would be a great combo for my style and subject matter.

One other question, how is the build compared to Leitz lenses? I don't abuse my equipment but I do use it and keep it for years.

Any experience under similar conditions with the Nokton 50 1.5?

Thanks,

Don

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=5045
 
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The build quality is quite solid, focussing is well-damped. The thing is large and heavy, like most super-speed lenses. Some have complained about the part of the VF being blocked, but that never bothered me (and doesn't with the 50/1 either). On an M2, the 35/1.2 blocks about 12% of the lower right-hand corner of the VF. It is about 2cm shorter and about the same weight as a 75 Summilux (which is a heavy lens, because of the speed). The 35/1.2 has a relatively short focus throw (about 100 degrees).

Comparing build quality to Leica is difficult. Part of me wants to say, come back in 35 years, the lens that's still snapping away will probably be the Leica. Some folks have had problems with paint flaking off of their Voigtlander lens barrels; I haven't. And in my experience, build quality on older Leica lenses is superior to the current offerings. I bought a DR Summicron from the 50's that is all brass and just awesome to handle. In contrast, I bought a gently used thoroughly modern 90/2 Asph and the aperture ring was so loose, I had to send it off to Sherry Krauter to be tightened up. The bottom line on the 35/1.2 is that it is a very nice lens; and although it is not cheap, I think it is a great value if you are looking for a fast 35.

I own a Nockton 50/1.5, but I don't shoot often with it. It is a sharp lens and I would describe the flare control as consistent with modern multi-coated glass.
 
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Ok so i finally got some negatives scanned. These are all trix at 400 in xtol 1+2. All are wide open at 1.2. Forgive some of the dust, it is late and i cannot spot another pixel. This should give a bit of an idea of how this lens handles a hard situation. There seems to be a bit of flare but not too much. I will be giving this lens some more test in real world situations...
 
I really considered this lens as the speed is very attractive, but after reading this lens test: http://www.imx.nl/photosite/japan/voigt1235.html I decided against it. According to Puts the performance wide open is "just acceptable". Anyone who owns this lens refute this finding? Its really hard to tell from web jpegs just how good or bad it is. I want an ultra fast lens but not so much as to sacrifice good performance.
 
rich815 said:
I really considered this lens as the speed is very attractive, but after reading this lens test: http://www.imx.nl/photosite/japan/voigt1235.html I decided against it. According to Puts the performance wide open is "just acceptable". Anyone who owns this lens refute this finding? Its really hard to tell from web jpegs just how good or bad it is. I want an ultra fast lens but not so much as to sacrifice good performance.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I don't buy Mr Puts' review. He's a full-blown perfectionist splitting hairs are the limits...plus some people are unsure of his impartiality given his long relationship with Leica.

One fellow who I do trust as impartial is Tom Abrahamsson - he shoots with with best tool for the job and is not beholden to any manufacturer. His opinion of the 35/1.2 was that there was no visible difference between it and the 35/1.4 'lux (pre ASPH I presume) when both are wide open. If money is no object, buy the 35/1.4 Asph...otherwise you'll be hard pressed to go wrong with the Voigt. I have one and have never been displeased with results from it.
 
The wide-open performance of CV 35/1.2 might be "just acceptable", but as it's the only 35/1.2 in existance.. well, duh. Any comparison of it to a slower lens is not scientific.
 
I like the 35/1.2 lens and the images it produces on B&W film. The images that I posted links to above hold up when printed full frame to 9x12 on 11x14 paper. Without question, you want the best tool you can afford for the job at hand. I have the expensive Leica glass in 50mm format beacuse that is the lens length I use the most. So: a high speed kit for me is: 24/2.8 (L), 28/1.9 (f2, really C/V), 35/1.2 (C/V), 50/1 (L), 50/1.4 Asph (L), 75/1.4 (L). And this series of lenses produces images that I've loved. Least favorite of the lot: 28/1.9 which I will upgrade to the 28/2 Asph when I saved my shekels. And don't get me wrong, I still like the 28, but I think the 35/1.2 does better contast-wise in low light. Now with these lenses I've taken pictures on the street at night with no flash, at wedding parties under summer candle-light with no flash, in poorly lit museums like the Hermitage (in winter - overcast skies to begin with St. Petersberg) with no flash and in dimly lit NY apartments with no flash. In all of these situations, I have been shooting hand-held or braced on a door-jamb at shutter speeds (1/8, 1/15, 1/30) that probably have more of a determining effect on the output, all things considered, than the quality of the glass being used. I have a sneeking suspicion that anyone using the above lenses who can't produce a good image shouldn't blame the glass ;-)

Oh, BTW, I had the same reaction to the hexagonal highlights in image no. 1 above; seems like this might have been stopped down one or two clicks? Nice snaps. BTW.
 
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x-ray said:
Thanks again for the great information. I tend to side with you guys who really shoot with the CV 1.2.

Now I'm curious as to how much this beast will cut into my .85 viewfinder area.

Thanks,

DD

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=5045
Click to expand...


I use a 0.85 mag m6ttl and the Nokton cuts in about to the edge of the 135mm framelines but it only takes up a smallish cut of the bottom right quarter of the viewfinder. It is about the same size in the VF as a jupiter 9.
 
I appreciate everyones help. It's a tough decision since I don't think I can part with my 4th generation 35 summicron. It's just so small and makes fantastic images. I'm selling off some surplus goodies like my 28 elmarit and will have the bucks in a few days but have to make the decision on this or save more $$ for a asph summilux.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=5045
 
Finally deceided today, I purchased a new Nokton 1.2 35mm from popflash. All the reports and images have been a great help. I'll let you know how I like it in a couple of weeks. I've been cleaning the photo closet and garage and raised enough for some new toys. Today I received a mint 75 summilux and this weekend I will have the Nokton. I will be packing my MP, 35 1.2 and 75 1.4 to go to Mardi Gras at the end of the month and capture some more images of the dark side of life. I deceided to only take those items plus my Moskva for kicks.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=5045
 
I'm impressed! I shot a roll of delta 400 with the Nokton 35 this week and I'm absolutely knocked out. The sharpness at 1.2 is excellent and the flare control is outstanding. I was totally amazed at how sharp the lens is even wide open.Not only does it perform extremely well it's built like a tank. I owned the original version 35 summilux back in the 60's and 70's and was leaning tword another one but thanks to the greatadvice and images that you shared with me I deceided to take the chance on the CV. I'm glad I did. I now have the 15 LTM, 25 Nikon S, and the 35 1.2 and can say everyone is a winner.

I'm really looking forward to running it through the paces at Mardi Gras this year and will post a few images in my gallery when I return.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=5045
 
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