Favorite 35mm lens under $1000

[Ccoppola82]

35mm samples

35mm samples

https://flic.kr/p/VownPt
https://flic.kr/p/Vowo84


A couple with the Summaron from the other day on HP5@800
https://flic.kr/p/Vowq9Z

https://flic.kr/p/VkPhCG

https://flic.kr/p/VowoUe

https://flic.kr/p/VkPigL

https://flic.kr/p/VkPowq


above on Nokton 35mm 1.4 SC on hp5 @ various ei

https://flic.kr/p/VkPj6m

https://flic.kr/p/Vowwj4

Last 2 are the Elmar. The bike is hp5 I believe and the skyway is Fp4

Hope this gives you a visual of their character a little bit.

 

[anorphirith]

voigtlander nokton 1.2ii, great character, i just wish it was lighter

 

[Yokosuka Mike]

voigtlander nokton 1.2ii, great character, i just wish it was lighter

I'm with you on this one. My favorite 35mm of all 35mm lenses.

 

[Talus]

35mm Summicron v2 or v3.

This. I got a 35 Zeiss Biogon and had to send it back for the dreaded barrel wobble and the focus ring had tight and loose spots. So far every experience I've had with lenses always points back to Leica glass.

 

[blan01]

vm ultron f1.7 and zm biogon f2
If you don't mind the weight, ZM 35 1.4

 

[airfrogusmc]

How about under $100? A Jupiter 8 or for a 35mm lens a jupiter 12.

 

[markjwyatt]

My favorites are

Zeiss 50mm f1.8 Ultron
Zeiss 50mm f2 Sonnar

Close 2nds:
Schneider Kreuznach 50mm f1.9 Xenon
Schneider Kreuznach 35mm f2.8 Curtagon

EDIT: (non-Leica M-mount lenses to be clear, M42, Contax RF, 2@DKL respectively)

 

[markjwyatt]

How about under $100? A Jupiter 8.

A very nice choice. I actually ended up with two.

 

[bayernfan]

I am a big fan of the Summaron 35mm f/3.5. Not very fast, but very easy to carry around. The optical quality is second to none.

Leica M5, Summaron 35mm f/3.5 (latest M-version), 400-2TMY.

Erik.

Agreed. And they're still surprisingly affordable.

I absolutely love Mr. Myazaki's Perar Triplet 35/3.5 pancake. It fits perfectly on the front of my M-A making it darned near pocket sized. Ergonomically it is a bit quirky, and it isn't terribly sharp in the corners until f5.6, but it is so small and light I forgive it for its small imperfections.

I prefer to call it "character." 😀

I really like this lens on small bodies. Ultimately, I think it was a mistake not making it LTM mount. It would be quite amazing on a Barnack.

 

[steveyork]

I remember the day when $1,000 bought you a new 35mm Summicron. Not any more. Makes me feel old. 🙁

 

[olifaunt]

The 40mm 😉 M-Rokkor f/2. Close enough to 35mm for most purposes.

 

[splitimageview]

My favorites are

Zeiss 50mm f1.8 Ultron
Zeiss 50mm f2 Sonnar

Close 2nds:
Schneider Kreuznach 50mm f1.9 Xenon
Schneider Kreuznach 35mm f2.8 Curtagon

EDIT: (non-Leica M-mount lenses to be clear, M42, Contax RF, 2@DKL respectively)

Not 35mm focal lengths, and won’t work natively on Ms, other than that, nice glass!

😀

 

[splitimageview]

Nikkor 35/2.5 LTM, very nice copies are generally under $400, renders similarly to the 35/2.8 Summaron. Oddball filter size but works with A36 filters.

 

[Archiver]

I only have the CV 35/1.4 and 35/1.2 v1, and I prefer the f1.4 version because it is much smaller and lighter, and is easier to focus. The images from the f1.2 v1 are great, though. Lots of character and lovely rendering.

I did have a CV 35/1.7 LTM for a week, and I LOVED the way it handled and rendered, but it backfocused on my M9 and it couldn't be calibrated, so back to the shop it went. If I could find a good f1.7 LTM I'd grab it with both hands. Wide open, it had a lovely creamy look, and when stopped down it was sharp but still organic, and it made subtle sunstars on the pinpoint highlights. On the M9 it felt so good, unlike any other lens I've tried. Man, I loved that lens.

A few years ago, I shot with the Zeiss Biogon 35/2.8 for a day and really enjoyed it. It handles beautifully and the sharpness and rendering is excellent. Perhaps a little clinical, but that's fine if that's your bag.

 

[splitimageview]

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

$1000 would require sellers who don’t have a clue. 🙂

Such a deal *is* possible, similar things have happened to me over the years...

 

[Fuchs]

Budget conscious:
1. Jupiter 12 35/2.8
2. CZ 35/2.8
3. Summaron 35/2.8
4. CV 35/2.5
I stayed with the Summaron and a V.2 Pre-asph Summilux.

 

[bayernfan]

I guess we should add the new Voigtlander 35/2 Ultron-M ($800) to the list. A lotta bang for the buck, and pretty awesome performance (if you don't mind heavy vignetting).

 

[jonmanjiro]

I guess we should add the new Voigtlander 35/2 Ultron-M ($800) to the list. A lotta bang for the buck, and pretty awesome performance (if you don't mind heavy vignetting).

Heavy vignetting to one is

A touch of vignetting is a pleasant thing, I think.

to another 🙂

There's so many good 35mm lenses under $1000 these days, its hard to choose!

 

[Erik van Straten]

One of my favorites too is the uncoated, nickel LTM-Elmar 35mm f/3.5. Can be had for EUR 400. Watch out for scratches. It should be cleaned for fog, but man, then you'll be surprised. No flare. You hear me? No flare, an uncoated 35mm of 80 years old ... and very sharp and zero distortion.

Leica M2, Nickel Elmar 35mm, 400-TMY, printed on ADOX MCC 110.

Erik.

Leica MP, same lens:

 

[oldwino]

One of my favorites too is the uncoated, nickel LTM-Elmar 35mm f/3.5. Can be had for EUR 400. Watch out for scratches. It should be cleaned for fog, but man, then you'll be surprised. No flare. You hear me? No flare, an uncoated 35mm of 80 years old ... and very sharp and zero distortion.

Leica M2, Nickel Elmar 35mm, 400-TMY, printed on ADOX MCC 110.

Erik.

Eric,
You prefer the Elmar to the Summaron f3.5?