Is the 35mm Summicron f2 ASPH worth the money?

[Nick De Marco]

Thanks for all the replies and advice
I went to a dealer today who had a chrome ex-deom one, never used and fully guaranteed, but about £100 off lowest new price. Tried it out and bought it, after getting another £50 knocked off. Still very expensive, but decided it was a beautiful lens, perfect for al round walkabout etc., you only live once, and if I need the money I will be able to sell it without making much loss.

Looking forward to using it a lot very soon. Haven't had the chance to use it much yet, but on very quick first test it looked great, and very sharp at f2. Reminded me of my 28mm Summicron f2 ASPH, the only other modern Leica lens I have: very sharp, even wide open, and quite contrasty, but good colour rendition and even though sharp doesn't have the rather boring flat look of some modern lenses.

I don't know whether I shall use it mainly on my M9 or MP 0.58 yet. Will try with both for some time, but I often like a 50 on the M9. It's chrome and my M9 is black, but still looks OK. On the Chrome MP it looks stellar....


Leica MP .58 with Leica 35mm Summicron ASPH by nickdemarco, on Flickr

 

[helen.HH]

I love Helen's work with this lens. Not just this image, but others, too. I tend to like the images from this lens most on film (like Helen's), but not nearly as much on digital. Thus, for me (as digital only M user), the lens loses some appeal. For you, it's a mixed matter, as you have so many M bodies, film and digital.

😉...😉...😉... 😀..... - Love Ya - Thanks- H

 

[Nigel Meaby]

No not the Bio 35mm, since that didn't came out as a very good lens in tests, but I have the best Biogon around (at least that is also what is generally stated here and on other sites): the 25mm

I'm not sure which tests you are referring to there Ronn? I can't fault the 35 C-Biogon. It's probably the best all round 35mm lens ever produced.

To quote Tom A when talking about the C-Biogon and the 25mm Biogon: "I would not sell the 25 Biogon if I were you. It is one of the few lenses that rivals the 35f2.8 C-Biogon in performance!"

 

[ChrisN]

I think my copy is certainly worth what I paid for it in 2006, despite some very fine scratches on the coating of the rear element.

 

[Nick De Marco]

Agree with Nigel. The 35 Biogon-C is a fantastic lens. I also rate the 25mm f2.8 as one of the best n its range. Buying the 35 Summicron was not because I have a downer on the Zeiss. I certainly don't and I shan't sell it. But the extra stop, whilst keeping the same compact size, and I think being ever so slightly sharper, makes it a very nice all purpose lens - whereas I see the Biogon-C as a 'daytime lens'

 

[helen.HH]

http://kpmg0072.home.xs4all.nl/200%20asa%20film/test%2030%20LeicaM2.jpg[/url]

Very Kind .. Thx much Ron !!!
Looks like You & the Asph are Doing GREAT -
Best - H