CV 35/2 and 21/3.5 Concept M-mount Lenses at Photokina

[bayernfan]

can't say I'm particularly impressed with the sample images from the 35/2 ultron. makes me feel a little better about buying the 35/2 summicron asph.

the 21/3.5 rendering is quite nice, but the 21/4 color-skopar is also fantastic (at least on film).

 

[jonmanjiro]

CV 35/2 and 21/3.5 Concept M-mount Lenses at Photokina

can't say I'm particularly impressed with the sample images from the 35/2 ultron. makes me feel a little better about buying the 35/2 summicron asph.

Hehe that's interesting as my first thought when looking at the sample images was that it looks like it renders a lot like the Summicron 35/2 asph, bokeh included. If that is indeed the case, and it doesn't have the pincushion distortion of the Summicron asph, I will very tempted to pass on my Summicron and get one of these instead. The lighter weight and smaller size will be most welcome.

 

[bayernfan]

Hehe that's interesting as my first thought when looking at the sample images was that it looks like it renders a lot like the Summicron 35/2 asph, bokeh included. If that is indeed the case, and it doesn't have the pincushion distortion of the Summicron asph, I will very tempted to pass on my Summicron and get one of these instead. The lighter weight and smaller size will be most welcome.

There are some similarities in rendering, however, i find the Summicron asph to have a really pleasing transition from "in focus" to "out of focus" which gives the image a truly realistic sense of depth. I don't see that characteristic in these samples. It's more like "this is in focus", "this is out of focus" without that gentle transition.

The concave front & rear elements are also very "summicron". 😉

 

[gavinlg]

Hehe that's interesting as my first thought when looking at the sample images was that it looks like it renders a lot like the Summicron 35/2 asph, bokeh included. If that is indeed the case, and it doesn't have the pincushion distortion of the Summicron asph, I will very tempted to pass on my Summicron and get one of these instead. The lighter weight and smaller size will be most welcome.

I'm inclined to trust you, and I didn't realise the asph Summicron had pincushion distortion (one thing I can't stand in a 35mm lens). I'm eager to see how this little Ultron performs on film - it may very well be my step back in to an M mount camera.

 

[Rayt]

In this test the pincushion distortion of the 35mm Summicron ASPH is very low.

http://www.opticallimits.com/leicam/837-summicron35asph?start=1

 

[jonmanjiro]

In this test the pincushion distortion of the 35mm Summicron ASPH is very low.

http://www.opticallimits.com/leicam/837-summicron35asph?start=1

My eyes agree with KR! 1.5% @ 3 meters. It’s definitely noticeable.

https://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/35mm-f2-asph.htm

 

[Archlich]

There would always be plenty time for double-blind tests once we'd get the lenses in hand.

 

[Yokosuka Mike]

There would always be plenty time for double-blind tests once we'd get the lenses in hand.

The thing is, once we get the lens in hand everyone will lose interest in it. It happens everytime. Look at the Voightlander 40mm f1.2 and 50mm f1.2 threads, before the lens is on the street everyone has all kinds of wild speculation about it, once it's on the street nobody gives a rats a$$ about it.

Time will tell, or not.

Mike

 

[jsrockit]

The thing is, once we get the lens in hand everyone will lose interest in it. It happens everytime. Look at the Voightlander 40mm f1.2 and 50mm f1.2 threads, before the lens is on the street everyone has all kinds of wild speculation about it, once it's on the street nobody gives a rats a$$ about it.

Time will tell, or not.

Mike

I think it's because people either realize that many lens charecteristics don't matter much when it comes to great photos or they expect too much magic from a lens when lenses aren't really magical... Content, framing, and lighting are magical.

 

[bayernfan]

The thing is, once we get the lens in hand everyone will lose interest in it. It happens everytime. Look at the Voightlander 40mm f1.2 and 50mm f1.2 threads, before the lens is on the street everyone has all kinds of wild speculation about it, once it's on the street nobody gives a rats a$$ about it.

Time will tell, or not.

Mike

Ultra-fast lenses like those don't really seem to appeal to the die-hard rangefinder users. I'm talking about users that see the practicality in keeping it small and light and truly appreciate it.

These two lenses, particularly the 35/2 Ultron, are really going to appeal to this crowd and I'm betting we'll see a lot of comparison tests, reviews, etc.

 

[Benjamin Marks]

I dunno. I bought the C/V 35/1.2 v.1 and it is the default lens I use on my M9. I love that lens, even though I have a 35/2 Asph and other fancy optics in the cabinet. It does so much of what I want a lens to do. I do have a lot of lenses, though, and I think you have to use a lot of them before you find one that is your "home" lens, if you know what I mean. I was very hot to get my hands on the 50/3.5 Heliar, for instance, and although everything that was written about its sharpness is true, in my experience, I just don't reach for it as often as my 50/2 Summicron from the 1980's.

Personally, I find the idea of a 35/2 Ultron like the one recently released appealing. It is tiny! If its image quality proves out, I could see picking one up.

When Mr. K started releasing his C/V lenses, they conspicuously did not duplicate Leica's speed offerings. That appears to be over for now.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

As long as K is not duplicating Leica prices it is ok. 🙂

 

[Erik van Straten]

I hope that the small focusing handle (stick) of the 35mm f/2 can be removed and that it is possible to focus with the ring only. The stick will damage other gear in your bag.

Erik.

 

[Archlich]

I hope that the small focusing handle (stick) of the 35mm f/2 can be removed and that it is possible to focus with the ring only. The stick will damage other gear in your bag.

Erik.

I'm pretty sure plenty of forum members have the LTM CV 21/4, 25/4, 28/3.5 and 35/2.5 with the same knob. Many Miyazaki lenses (the 17, 21, 24, 28/2, 28/4, 35/3.5 and the 35/1.4) also come with a similar knob, albeit somewhat more frailly built. Personally I've been using the CV28 for years and it's the first time I know the tab might cause potential damage to other gears. How so? Looking at the photo of the lens mounted on a M10 in the previous posts, the knob doesn't protruded beyond the camera body at all. I'd also make sure the camera sits in its own pouch or (when in a camera bag) compartment - why would anyone do it otherwise and let the camera bump directly into other gears anyway?

 

[rfaspen]

I hope that the small focusing handle (stick) of the 35mm f/2 can be removed and that it is possible to focus with the ring only. The stick will damage other gear in your bag.
Erik.

I'm glad someone brought this up. I can't see in any of the pictures on the Cosina website (pictures of the lenses themselves) if that awful stick is still present (as it was on the prototypes).

I am super interested in both these lenses but that stupid stick is a deal breaker. If they have a "half moon" focus tab (a la Leica), I will almost certainly get both.

 

[Erik van Straten]

I'm pretty sure plenty of forum members have the LTM CV 21/4, 25/4, 28/3.5 and 35/2.5 with a similar tab. Personally I've been using the 28 for years and it's the first time I know the tab might cause potential damage to other gears. How so? It doesn't protruded beyond the camera body. I also make sure the camera sits in its own pouch or (when in a camera bag) compartment - why would anyone do it otherwise anyway?

When you are in a hurry and take the lens from the body to put it in your bag, I am sure the stick will scratch a front lens of another lens that for some reason has no cap on it or it will damage the finish of another body or something else. That is the reason why my Color Skopar 28mm f/3.5 is still mint: I've never used it.

There is no problem as the stick can be removed: on the Color Skopar 28mm f/3.5 it can't. You can not focus this lens without the stick.

When you can focus this Ultron 35mm f/2 with the thin chrome ring and it is possible to remove the stick there is no problem.

Erik.

 

[Archlich]

When you are in a hurry and take the lens from the body to put it in your bag, I am sure the stick will scratch a front lens of another lens that for some reason has no cap on it or it will damage the finish of another body or something else. That is the reason why my Color Skopar 28mm f/3.5 is still mint: I've never used it.

There is no problem as the stick can be removed: on the Color Skopar 28mm f/3.5 it can't. You can not focus this lens without the stick.

When you can focus this Ultron 35mm f/2 with the thin chrome ring and it is possible to remove the stick there is no problem.

Erik.

Personally I just can't...identify with the scenarios you described. Maybe it's because all my lenses have either a cap or a filter on. Maybe each of them gets a separate pouch/compartment. Maybe I naturally cradle the knob between my index and middle fingers so it's not poking around. Maybe I handle gears with caution. Maybe I had just been lucky...

If the knob's such a unforgiving design, the dozen of lenses mentioned above must had been causing havoc in someone's gear bag all these years, no? I also fail to see why the half moon tab, with two rather deep (which makes the tab as comfortable as it gets) and sharp (sometime it even hurts) protrusions, wouldn't cause as much damage to other gears in a collision as a single knob? It would be nice if more forum members could shed light on this.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I'm glad someone brought this up. I can't see in any of the pictures on the Cosina website (pictures of the lenses themselves) if that awful stick is still present (as it was on the prototypes).

I am super interested in both these lenses but that stupid stick is a deal breaker. If they have a "half moon" focus tab (a la Leica), I will almost certainly get both.

I'm not sure why Cosina has to solve some of us problems.
Why it has to be in the bag like wild mushrooms is not clear to me.
Don't pretend to be old time professional, who has dropload or cameras and lenses in one dusty Domke bag.
It is 2018 and right now two M in my Domke bag separated by divider.
And lens pouch cost next to nothing.

I just can't imagine what someone still puts all of the gear in single space.
It is gross and unmature. Sorry for HO.

As for stick itself. It is Cosina tradition. My Ultron 28 1.9 has it. And so is original Skopar 35.

 

[jsrockit]

I love the sticks...

 

[Huss]

The thing is, once we get the lens in hand everyone will lose interest in it. It happens everytime. Look at the Voightlander 40mm f1.2 and 50mm f1.2 threads, before the lens is on the street everyone has all kinds of wild speculation about it, once it's on the street nobody gives a rats a$$ about it.

Time will tell, or not.

Mike

Why do you say that? Those lenses are very popular and have been sold out!
It think they just recently have become available again.