Canon 35/2 LTM or Voigtlander 35/2.5 Pancake Type I

[lukasdinohk]

I am currently using IIIc with my beloved Summitar most of the time, and I really like the rendition and feel it produces. Recently I am looking into the sea of 35mm lenses, there are a lot of choices, it is very hard to decide which one to get. I picked a fairly cheap Jupiter-12 and a Voigtlander 35mm viewfinder to start with. I am quite happy about it so far, except the aperture ring is a bit fiddly to use. I find out there are two other 35mm lenses which are quite attracting: Canon 35/2 LTM and Voigtlander 35/2.5 Pancake Type I. Both of them match really nice with IIIc from pictures posted by other users on the Internet, but I can't decide which one to choose! Please help me out..

 

[back alley]

both are good...the cv has a more modern, contrasty look to it.
some don't like the bokeh on the canon but it never bothered me.

take a look at the canon 35/2.8 also...one of my favourite lenses.

 

[Monochrom]

Hi, very interesting thread, perhpas you could put some photos to get a better idea of the lenses....

I only can say i had the 35mm f1.8 canon ltm lens, i was very happy about it i used it on a m8 and on film and never let me down....wonder how are the vc and the f2 canon!

Cheers!

 

[anjoca76]

I just picked up a CV 35/2.5 LTM last week because I grew tired of estimating the frame lines with my 40/2 Summicron-C. I really like the 35/2.5 a lot. I got the LTM version in part to use on my iiic, but also because I love the focusing tab on my CV 21/4 and the later versions of the 35/2.5 don't have that.

The CV 35/2.5 has a ton of fans around here, and for good reason. It's very small and lightweight, and is an excellent all-around performer. You can't go wrong with either the CV or the Canon, really. Both are strong choices.

 

[lukasdinohk]

both are good...the cv has a more modern, contrasty look to it.
some don't like the bokeh on the canon but it never bothered me.

take a look at the canon 35/2.8 also...one of my favourite lenses.

Thank you for you suggestion! I will have a look into that as well. How is the performance of that?

Hi, very interesting thread, perhpas you could put some photos to get a better idea of the lenses....

I only can say i had the 35mm f1.8 canon ltm lens, i was very happy about it i used it on a m8 and on film and never let me down....wonder how are the vc and the f2 canon!

Cheers!

Here are some pictures I stole from Nick and Mr Abrahamsson, I hope they won't mind 😛

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickdemarcofoto/8216555130/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickdemarcofoto/8216555012/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rapidwinder/6866449108/

I have heard that the Canon 35/1.8 is a little bit soft, do you find such problem with yours?

I just picked up a CV 35/2.5 LTM last week because I grew tired of estimating the frame lines with my 40/2 Summicron-C. I really like the 35/2.5 a lot. I got the LTM version in part to use on my iiic, but also because I love the focusing tab on my CV 21/4 and the later versions of the 35/2.5 don't have that.

The CV 35/2.5 has a ton of fans around here, and for good reason. It's very small and lightweight, and is an excellent all-around performer. You can't go wrong with either the CV or the Canon, really. Both are strong choices.

I really would like to buy both lenses, if I had enough money.. :bang:

 

[Richard C]

The Canon is smaller and more fiddly than the CV. (Both lenses have seen very little use).

The aperture ring on my Canon is much stiffer than that on the CV and only has click stops at 2,2.8,4,5.6 etc while the CV also click stops at the points half way between.

The focus ring on my Canon is also much stiffer.

As a result I prefer to use the Canon when I am going to leave the aperture at one setting and I am only photographing stationary objects but I find the CV much easier to use when I have to alter the aperture and/or I am photographing a moving object.

 

[back alley]

the canon 35/2.8 is a nice, sharp lens...the chrome version is smaller and is my preference. i like the images from the 2.8 bst of all 3 lenses...they are sharp but lower contrast...more in line with the time of the camera.

 

[PMCC]

The CV 35/2.5 Pancake Type I lacks the focus tab, but has a noticeably shorter focus throw than the CV 35/2.5 "Classic". For me this allows faster handling on the street. Haven't seen these around much lately, but it's a favorite.

 

[raid]

It depends.
CV lenses are modern and sharp and have great color balance. You can't go wrong here.

Canon lenses are classics, and they work well for people who can use them well.
I like using the chrome 35/2.8, but it is not my favorite 35mm RF lens. I prefer the Summicron eight element first version lens.

I recently bought a Canon 35/2, and I like it. It is an excellent lens. Some people hate the OOF rendering for this lens, but this is a personal issue.
The Canon 35/1.8 is also a great lens, but some people say that it flares a lot.

 

[Bingley]

I you're interested in a lens that more closely matches the look from your Summitar, I'd look at the Canon 35/2.8 or the Canon 35/1.8. Both lenses are moderate in contrast; the 35/1.8 is soft wide open and somewhat prone to flare, but sharpens up considerably stopped down and is wonderful with black and white. I've kept the Canon 35//1.8 for use on my IIIc.

The CV Skopar 35 and the Canon 35/2.0 will give you a more modern look. The CV is especially flare resistent, as others have noted, and also is capable of focusing to .7 meter. Both lenses are very sharp. I have the second version of the Canon 35/2.0, and I think it's a terrific lens; I have not found the bokeh objectionable.

If you go to the M-Mount Group on Flickr, you'll see plenty of examples of photos taken w/ each of these lenses. Frankly, if you don't have a strong desire on the modern v. classic look distinction, then I'd make a selection based on price and condition. You really can't go wrong with a good sample of any of these lenses.

 

[raid]

I agree with Steve.

 

[lukasdinohk]

Thank you all for the suggestions! I think I am going to get the VC 35/2.5 P first, seems the price vs quality is really worth, and I just see one on sale somewhere at a right price!