Favorite 35mm lens under $1000

[adamr1699]

I'm sure it's been asked before but anybody have some favorite 35mm m mount or ltm lenses under or around 1000usd? I'm looking at the goggled summicron v1, it's a little over budget, I've had one before and really like it. Any other ideas? Any favorites?
Thanks!
Adam R.

 

[jsrockit]

My favorites were:

Zeiss 35mm 2.8 C-Biogon
Leica 35mm Summaron 2.8
CV 35mm 1.7 Ultron

 

[Phil_F_NM]

UC Hexanon.
V2 Summilux.
3.5cm f/1.8 Nikkor

All of these can be found for under $1000 with some looking and patience.

Phil Forrest

 

[lawrence]

• Biogon f2
• Ultron f1.7
• Summicron IV (I think this is within budget but not sure)

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Lux 35 is closer to 2K USD by now. Crons are at 1.5K USD and higher. But some sellers are still unaware, waiting is possible.
Also, old Leitz glass and bodies are one big lottery due to the age and use.

Safest and less expensive bet is CV 35 2.5 and Zeiss 35 2.8, IMO.

 

[jammcat]

Canon 35mm f2 LTM
CV Nokton MC 35mm f1.4

Both are great lenses, low-profile, and about half the price or less than your target price.

 

[infrequent]

UC Hexanon.

Doubtful the UC Hex can be found for less than $1000 these days.

 

[kermaier]

If you're considering the Summicron v1, and if you can live with f/2.8, go for the Summaron instead. Same body as the v1 'cron, and it's a great performer for 1/3 to 1/2 the cost.

If you want a fast 35mm, there's also the Canon 35/1.5 - usually 1/2 the price of a vintage Summilux.

These days, my favorite 35mm is a 40mm - the M-Rokkor 40/2 or the Rollei Sonnar 40/2.8, depending on whether I think I'll need the extra stop and whether I need across the frame performance.

 

[michaelwj]

I picked up my 35 summilux pre-asph for A$1500 at a local dealer - which is about US$1100 atm. The glass was great but it needed a service, it was a bit stiff. I waited for a year before I got the service done, it worked - and works - just fine.
Avoid "buy it now" on eBay, and wait for the auctions if eBay is your thing.
Otherwise, I'd hunt for a v2 or v3 summicron. The v1 summicron is collector territory now, forget it.

My above thoughts are based on the fact that I like a 35mm to be f/2 or faster and with a tab, which eliminates the CV and ZM lenses. I also don't like the nubbin on the ZM lenses, or the 1/3 stops.

Edit - forgot about the CV 1.4/35...

 

[Fraser]

I paid around £250 for my pre asph 35mm Summilux about 12 years ago!
I think if you are patient you could probably find a real user Summicron v4, on a budget why not just get a 40mm Summicron or even less Canon 35mm f2.
All good all my favourites.

 

[ktmrider]

Zeiss 35f2.8 C-Biogon-perhaps the sharpest 35mm made today. Voightlander 35f2.5 for $429 from Cameraquest. Used 35f1.2 for $800 from The Photo Village so take your pick.

My opinion is most Leitz products are way overpriced.

 

[Bingley]

I love my Canon 35/2.0. The Voigtlander Skopar 35/2.5 is also really good. I also agree with the suggestion to consider a 40, such as the Minolta Rokkor 40/2.0 made for the Minolta CLE. All are well within your budget.

 

[Daryl J.]

I love my goggled 3.5/35 Summaron on the M3.
I also love my 1.4/35 Nokton Classic SC which, in my hands, comes very close to the vaunted pre-ASPH Summilux.
But I balance the vintage character of the Summaron and journalistic character of the Nokton Classic with a 35mm Summicron ASPH.

If I were to buy a lens today for b&w and color film as well as digital, it would be the 2.8/35 C Biogon. And I would have no other 35mm lenses in M mount.

 

[Timmyjoe]

I love the way my Nikkor 3.5cm f1.8 lens in Nikon mount renders on B&W film, and I'm told it was also available in Leica screw mount. So if I could find one, that would be my favorite Leica mount 35mm lens for under $1000.

Best,
-Tim

 

[WJJ3]

Summaron f2.8!

But yeah, if you can spend up to a thousand dollars on a 35mm lens I suggest saving a little more and getting a Summicron

 

[iaeaix]

UC Hexanon.
V2 Summilux.
3.5cm f/1.8 Nikkor

All of these can be found for under $1000 with some looking and patience.

Phil Forrest

These 3 are all fantastic!
But I never had luck to get any one of them under 1000US$


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[adamr1699]

If you're considering the Summicron v1, and if you can live with f/2.8, go for the Summaron instead. Same body as the v1 'cron, and it's a great performer for 1/3 to 1/2 the cost.

If you want a fast 35mm, there's also the Canon 35/1.5 - usually 1/2 the price of a vintage Summilux.

These days, my favorite 35mm is a 40mm - the M-Rokkor 40/2 or the Rollei Sonnar 40/2.8, depending on whether I think I'll need the extra stop and whether I need across the frame performance.

I actually just picked up a copy of the Rollei 40/2.8 Sonnar. I really love the way it handles, (and just finished first few rolls so we'll see how I like the shots.) But I plan on using it on my M2, which obviously doesn't have the 40mm framelines, how do you do framing with those lenses?

 

[kiemchacsu]

I am always enjoy thoughts about lenses recommendation, even this kind of topic has been repeated zillion times.
I currently have 35/2.8 and 35/2 IV. -the- Summaron is really best bang for the buck.
Sample: amount of details below is really amazing
The 35/2 IV of course is preferable (mainly due to 1 stop faster) but I don't think you can get it under $1,000


Hang Thiec street by Trung Nguyen, on Flickr

 

[Rico]

My three Summicrons live on the shelf because I prefer the Summaron 35/2.8. 🙂

 

[taomei]

I use this combo quite a bit with an LTM adapter that sort-of brings up the 50mm framelines. There's enough room even with wearing glasses to approximately use the full 35mm frame minus 1-2 line-widths to get framing.


Pikes Place Addendum by Letao Tao, on Flickr


Extinct Storefront Detail by Letao Tao, on Flickr

I actually just picked up a copy of the Rollei 40/2.8 Sonnar. I really love the way it handles, (and just finished first few rolls so we'll see how I like the shots.) But I plan on using it on my M2, which obviously doesn't have the 40mm framelines, how do you do framing with those lenses?