Considering a not too fast small and very modern 35mm - any recommendations?

[nickthetasmaniac]

[How could I miss that lens...? I'm really attempted and the price seems to be okay. Also as I said for the Skopar, I can live with a focusing pin, I can focus pretty quick with it. Anyone here has some more experience with that lens?

I just purchased the 35/f2 Ultron, having previously used the 35mm Color Skopar II for about five years. So far I really like it. Rendering is excellent, handling is excellent (despite the grumbles about the focussing stick) and build quality is a noticeable step up over the Skopar.

 

[Rob-F]

From personal experience I can recommend the 2.8 c Biogon, and the 2.5 Color Skopar. And I will add the 2.8 Leitz Summaron. I own these lenses and I doubt I'd ever part with any of them. The Color Skopar stays on my Leica IIIc, and is the only 35 I ever need on it. The Summaron has a deeply recessed front element so that I can get away without using a hood. And the Biogon is a very easy lens to shoot with, very ergonomic. I don't find it to be "clinical," just very sharp. If you don't need f/2, these will not disappoint.

 

[krötenblender]

Lots in the thread linked below, if you haven't seen it already. Optically, its as good as a Summicron ASPH IMO. Ergonomics are decent if you like/don't mind focus sticks, and the lens is very small.

https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=167453

Thank you for the link, I hadn't seen it before. Very nice examples from that lens, it's really tempting. I also like the pictures from Yokohama and Shinjuku, you and others posted. Reminded me of previous trips there (great memories of a walk with a few RFFers and also going to Kodoji) - will be there again in May 2020, which is just why I'm already searching for a lens...

What can you say about the need for a lens hood and which ones fit? Don't like the LH-12 really... The Haoge LH-VM13P mentioned in that thread look very good, but it's not available anywhere to me. Maybe if I try directly somewhere in Japan, when I'm there. The LH-6 from the Nokton will not fit because of different filter-thread-size, I guess? I don't like screw-ins, and want to find a bayonet-hood, that doesn't block the viewfinder too much.

 

[jonmanjiro]

Thank you for the link, I hadn't seen it before. Very nice examples from that lens, it's really tempting. I also like the pictures from Yokohama and Shinjuku, you and others posted. Reminded me of previous trips there (great memories of a walk with a few RFFers and also going to Kodoji) - will be there again in May 2020, which is just why I'm already searching for a lens...

What can you say about the need for a lens hood and which ones fit? Don't like the LH-12 really... The Haoge LH-VM13P mentioned in that thread look very good, but it's not available anywhere to me. Maybe if I try directly somewhere in Japan, when I'm there. The LH-6 from the Nokton will not fit because of different filter-thread-size, I guess? I don't like screw-ins, and want to find a bayonet-hood, that doesn't block the viewfinder too much.

I was one of the RFFers on that photowalk. It was a fun day/night 🙂

I don't use a hood on the new Ultron as I prefer to keep the lens as compact as possible when I use it. But flare resistance is very good, so I don't think there's much need for a hood anyway.

FWIW if you really want a hood, the LN-4N hood for the Skopar 35/2.5 II fits (albeit more tightly than the standard hood) the new Ultron, so that's worth considering. Or if purchasing the Haoge LH-VM13P hood from Amazon is an option, there's this (link).

 

[DanskDynamit]

any voigtlander.

 

[krötenblender]

any voigtlander.

Nope... wrong.

 

[krötenblender]

I was one of the RFFers on that photowalk. It was a fun day/night 🙂

Yes, I had that feeling, but wasn't so sure anymore... Sorry.

Did I mention, that I'm in Tokyo again in May (around Sanja Matsuri). 😀 Maybe there are other RFFers, too, then...

I don't use a hood on the new Ultron as I prefer to keep the lens as compact as possible when I use it. But flare resistance is very good, so I don't think there's much need for a hood anyway.

This is mostly also my way of using lenses. But I had some experience with flare on Voigtländers, especially the Nokton 35. I think, I'll wait, until I get a feeling, how well it works.

FWIW if you really want a hood, the LN-4N hood for the Skopar 35/2.5 II fits (albeit more tightly than the standard hood) the new Ultron, so that's worth considering. Or if purchasing the Haoge LH-VM13P hood from Amazon is an option, there's this (link).

I like the look of the Haoge, sadly it's not available anywhere in Germany, but found it on Ebay with worldwide shipping. So, *if* I need a hood, I will get that one.

Thanks to all for your recommendations. RFF is the best place to decide on such things.

So I settled for the new Ultron, just ordered one for a reasonable price.

Regards,
Stephan