C Biogon 35/2.8 vs. 35/2

35/2.8 C-Biogon works well in infra-red. These on the M9.

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No hotspot at f/8.0 🙂
 
All 35mm f/2.8 C-Biogon wide open 🙂

Credit to Tony Rose of Popflash, the highest order of gentleman, selling me all my ZM lenses with the best customer service in the biz.
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I'm fairly confused. How did you managed to get f/2.4 with the Biogon-C? Second Picture with the Girl and last Shot at the shore.

Wrong Exif? Wrong Lens?
 
Apertures are an estimate on digital Leica's, there is no linkage between the aperture and the camera body. Plus it is coded as a Summicron, so the camera wouldn't think the lens can't do f/2.4.
 
thrice said:
.... it is coded as a Summicron...
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Daniel - I'm intrigued by your Summicron f2.0 coding rather than Summarit f2.4. I'm awaiting delivery of a C-Biogon and expected to code it as a Summarit. Did you test the two codes with the C-Biogon? I will mostly use the lens at f5.6 to f8 and could do with some feedback about optimal coding.

Also, can anyone post an image of the C-biogon with lens hood shot from above?

............ Chris
 
thrice said:
..... the exit pupil location looked to closer match the summicron.....
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Daniel - Thanks. The three lens illustrations side by side are interesting to compare; I see your point that the C-Biogon's rear element sits deeper in the 'M' 'throat' than the Summarit's rear element. With an M9, and code-selecting in the menu, I suppose it would be fairly easy to determine the best lens code for the C-Biogon. Alas I'll be using the lens on an M8, but because I'm stitching multiple images together I need good colour correction, and good vignetting correction.

According to Carsten Whimster's code chart :

http://whimster-photography.com/leica_m_lens_codes/index.html

........ we have three likely code options for the Zeiss 35mm C-Biogon; Leicas Summarit f2.5, Summicron f2.0 [Version 4], and Summicron f2.0 [ASPH]. I notice the suggestion to code a Zeiss 35mm f2.0 Biogons as a Leica Summicron version 4. There's no reference to the C-Biogon f2.8.

.............. Chris

EDIT --- I had forgotten that the original poster was looking to use his lens choice for film photography. My apologies if I have made the thread stray too far from those intentions.
 
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Makten said:
... 35/2.8 is..... a stellar little lens which is as good as it gets, except for the lesser speed.
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Ok, it's a week since my previous post, and I had hoped that someone with an M9 and access to studio lighting might test the C-Biogon with menu code selections to determine the optimal coding. But as this thread seems to have reached closure, I'd like to add, for those doing 'searches' about the F2.8 C-Biogon, that my initial tests also suggest that it is an exemplary lens. My very first impression was that good 30 inch wide prints from an M8 with this lens was not in doubt.

My C-Biogon replaces a CV f2.5 Colour Skopar Classic [i.e. LTM] which will be sold. Optically, the Zeiss is a noticeable improvement on [my] CV, although the smaller, lighter, inconspicuous CV has usability advantages that I'll miss. Whilst looking like a design afterthought, the CV knurled focusing screw fits sweetly in the crook of my left index finger to make one finger focusing very quick and easy.

The Zeiss 'focus bump' looks like a nicer design, but I actually find it less efficient for one-finger focusing than the CV. I like the C.V.'s small included screw on hood and hood/lens cap; I think all new lens purchases should include a simple hood and cap, and leave the customer to choose whether or not to pay the extra lens tax for a bigger hood.

The Zeiss hood does not appeal to me because of it's size, and might be superfluous for the lens use I have in mind. I chose the C-Biogon for it's resolution which is aided by excellent flair control, and I'll use the lens without a hood unless I learn otherwise.

Sean Reid, in his endearingly polite way, always comments on the poor Zeiss lens cap design when reviewing Zeiss lenses. Presumably the pinch cap design is so it can be used [in theory] with a lens hood attached, but it was immediately apparent to me that it's a hopeless lens cap for real world use for anyone [as Sean would put it] with fingers larger than a small child's. I would much prefer a small bayonet hood which accepts a conventional pinch style, or slip on cap.

I hope this feedback is of use to someone, the dearth of information about the 35mm C-Biogon on the 'net still baffles me.

............... Chris
 
Chris, I suspect that the "dearth of information" stems mainly from the fact that the owners of the C Biogon 35f2.8 spends more time shooting with it than talking about it!
I have two of them (one user and one back-up). When the light allows it - it goes on to a M. It is a very good lens - no sexy F-stop etc - but it certainly gets the image.
Very flare resistant, compact and sharp, very sharp even at 2.8.
Combine it with a C Biogon 21f4.5 on a second body and possibly a 50 or 75/85 - you can cover most everything!
For the price of a 50 year old Summaron, which it surpasses in image quality - you can get a modern, sophisticated design that runs circles around other lenses.
There are some images on Flickr from the 35f2.8. Look under the tag "Zeiss C Biogon 35mm f2.8".
 
Tom A said:
.....the "dearth of information" stems mainly from the fact that the owners of the C Biogon 35f2.8 spends more time shooting with it than talking about it!....... a modern, sophisticated design that runs circles around other lenses......
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Tom - Thanks. Very curiously, I posted to this thread about an hour before you to give feedback on tests of my C-Biogon which has arrived; strangely, my post has disappeared from the thread, though is listed in my 'Repy to Thread' Review!

I'll try again. From my initial M8 tests, and even with handheld shots, it was apparent to me that good 30 inch prints are comfortably attainable from the combination. The lens is noticeably better than my CV [LTM] Colour Skopar which will now be sold, and yes, if light levels determine that f2.8 should be used I know that f2.8 gives an abundance of resolution. The C-Biogon will be my primary lens, I'm very impressed with the first results with it. [But boy; what a crappy lens cap!].

.................... Chris
 
I get the lens caps with the lenses - promptly loose them. If I am lucky, at home and then Mr B, the cat plays hockey with them until they slide under furniture - were they stay!!
Only lenses that I use the caps with are the 12 and 15 mm Heliars as the front element is right out there. All other lenses have hoods on them, rather than caps.
 
Tom A said:
Chris, I suspect that the "dearth of information" stems mainly from the fact that the owners of the C Biogon 35f2.8 spends more time shooting with it than talking about it!
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Tom, I think you've nailed it. Sometimes I find myself wondering if I shouldn't have gone for the extra stop of the 35/2, but then I take the little 35/2.8 out for shooting again, and all these thoughts vanish into thin air. It is simply a joy to use, and looking at the results brings more joy still...

The ZM lens caps are crappy, though, no argument there. I have found my way to get them off and on even with the hood attached, but it is a clear case of sloppy design.
 
semilog said:
Just pulled the switch on the C Biogon....
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I hope you report back because I've been opening files from this lens and swearing a lot; good old fashioned Anglo Saxon oaths of industrial strength. Don't be surprised if you too are knocked out by the C-Biogon.

I have just read Sean Reid's new article on Reid Reviews [subscription site] where he includes the lens in tests of moderate-speed 35mm lenses on the M9. The C-Biogon excelled, and it's good to now have Sean's very favourable findings to accompany Erwin Puts and Steve Huff's. For those who are interested in coding the lens for M8/M9 use, Sean favoured coding the C-Biogon as a 35 Summicron [non-ASPH], he preferred the less aggressive file corrections for the non-ASPH to those for the current 35mm Summicron ASPH.

.......... Chris
 
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Akiva, the 2600 Spider, a M2 and the ZM 35f2.8 C Biogon, Just the kit for cruising Via Chianti - or Via Veneto - or both. Paperbag filled with Tri X, a suitable companion (preferably one that can unload/load a M2 in less than 20 seconds). What else is needed. OK, i could settle for a Guilietta Spyder, but no compromise in regards to the lens,camera,companion!
 
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