NEX 7 with C Biogon 35 2.8

[efirmage]

Can anyone comment on this combination? I have only found info on the f/2 Biogon which seems to be OK at f/4 and up.

If anyone has thoughts on it with the 5N that would also be appreciated!

 

[BobYIL]

I have the 5N and the C-Biogon 35/2.8: an excellent combination. I've tested the 5N with the other lenses at hand: 35/2.8 Summaron, 35/2 Summicron V1, 35/2 Summicron asph. and 35/1.4 Summilux pre-asp. At mid apertures all resolve the same at the mid portion of the frame, Summicron V1 has the coolest colors, the warmest is the Biogon.

Borders/corners at f2, f2.8: The best one is the Summicron asph., then comes the V1. The Biogon is sharper in the borders/corners than both Summaron and Summilux.

However, if you're after a 35mm lens sharp from corner to corner with far lower cost than the asph., then get yourself a 35/2 E55 Summicron-R and enjoy it down to 0.30m. Or the Summicron-C 40/2, if 5mm would not be much problem for you.

The sensors and the OLPF's on them do not function like film; oblique rays from rear elements are not "reproduced" precisely as they are by the layers of film due to the several layers of glass until they "fall" into the cells, for the wider lenses even the offset microfocus lenses may fall short to function properly. The 5N (and the other APS-C size cameras) do not have native corrective softwares like digital Leicas or some M43 cameras. The Nex-7 is worse, the XP1 is designed for optimum performance only with its native lenses. So we will either accept some compromises or go with the retrofocal lenses if we want to employ 35mm or shorter lenses on such cameras.

 

[douglasf13]

The Zm 35/2.8 has color shift on both the 5N and 7 (same with the 35/2.) However, on the 5N it is minimal and you'll likely rarely notice it. On the NEX-7, the color shift is quite noticeable.

 

[hoffman]

Is the colour cast just wide open or through all the aperture range.

Brian

 

[efix]

Can anyone comment on this combination? I have only found info on the f/2 Biogon which seems to be OK at f/4 and up.

If anyone has thoughts on it with the 5N that would also be appreciated!

The 35/2 Biogon "OK" at f/4 an up??? I haven't used it on a NEX, so I can't comment, but on the M8 it's one of the finest lenses I ever used. Maybe not as critically sharp as the C Biogon, but certainly sharp even wide open. By f/4 it's simply fantastic, not just "OK"!

Just needed to make this clear 😛

 

[douglasf13]

I've owned both the ZM 35/2.8 and ZM 35/2, and used them both on the NEX-5n and NEX-7. The lenses on their own are very sharp, but it's all about how lenses react with certain sensors (or film.)

On the 5N, they both have slight color shift. If you're picky about color, you'll likely still want to use CornerFix, but it seems that many users don't bother. I just can't stand magenta shift in the corners. Both are pretty sharp, but, apparently due to the angle of light coming from the lenses, the ZM 35/2 performs better at the edges.

On the 7, they both have very obvious color shift that must be corrected, and there is a more noticeable falloff from center sharpness to edge sharpness.

After buying the NEX-7, I sold both of these ZM lenses in favor of the new Sigma 30/2.8. It has no color shift, and it is as sharp or sharper across the frame at all apertures. Best $200 you'll spend on NEX. I still can't quite believe this lens. I certainly never thought that I'd sell 4 35mm rangefinder lenses in favor of it.

If you want to use a 35mm rangefinder lens on the NEX-7 without any color shift, your options are essentially the CV 35/1.2, Contax G 35 and Nokton 35/1.4. The 35/1.2 is very sharp across the frame, but is a large lens. The Contax G is sharp'ish at the edges at f5.6, but doesn't match the ZM 35/2. The Nokton 35/1.4 never really gets super sharp at the edges, even at f8.

 

[hoffman]

Thanks for the information but do the lenses that show noticeable colour shift on the edges at wide open lose the colour shift when they are stepped down on the Nex 7.
The reason I am asking is because I have asked this question before online but never seem to be able to get the answer whether the 35 mm lenses when they are used one or two stops stepped down actually lose the colour cast. The reason why it is important for me is out of my 5 Leica lenses there is only one that will be a problem and that is the 35mm Summicron Asph lens which is an F2 lens but I use it mainly at around F4 to F8 and if at F4 to F8 there is no colour cast it is almost a none problem for me.
I very rarely use the lens for anything other than people and city scenes so even wide open it would not be so obvious on a dark background. I do a lot of black and white too and then it is no problem at all.
Brian

QUOTE=douglasf13;1876601]I've owned both the ZM 35/2.8 and ZM 35/2, and used them both on the NEX-5n and NEX-7. The lenses on their own are very sharp, but it's all about how lenses react with certain sensors (or film.)

On the 5N, they both have slight color shift. If you're picky about color, you'll likely still want to use CornerFix, but it seems that many users don't bother. I just can't stand magenta shift in the corners. Both are pretty sharp, but, apparently due to the angle of light coming from the lenses, the ZM 35/2 performs better at the edges.

On the 7, they both have very obvious color shift that must be corrected, and there is a more noticeable falloff from center sharpness to edge sharpness.

After buying the NEX-7, I sold both of these ZM lenses in favor of the new Sigma 30/2.8. It has no color shift, and it is as sharp or sharper across the frame at all apertures. Best $200 you'll spend on NEX. I still can't quite believe this lens. I certainly never thought that I'd sell 4 35mm rangefinder lenses in favor of it.

If you want to use a 35mm rangefinder lens on the NEX-7 without any color shift, your options are essentially the CV 35/1.2, Contax G 35 and Nokton 35/1.4. The 35/1.2 is very sharp across the frame, but is a large lens. The Contax G is sharp'ish at the edges at f5.6, but doesn't match the ZM 35/2. The Nokton 35/1.4 never really gets super sharp at the edges, even at f8.[/QUOTE]

 

[douglasf13]

Not only does aperture affect the color shift, but focus distance as well. You'll likely have more color shift wide open focused to infinity than stopped down at minimum focus distance with any lens, but it depends on the lens, specific camera, and how sensitive you are to the shift.

I can't speak for your 'Cron, but I'm sensitive to the shift, and there is still color shift with both the ZM 35s on the NEX-7 stopped down, but wide open is worse. I know that there is some shift with the 'Cron ASPH, but I don't know the specifics of it.

You've just got to try it for yourself.

All of this being said, CornerFix is a pretty easy program to adopt into your workflow, if you want to fix these problems. Or, if you have Capture One Pro, you can do it right in the raw converter.

p.s. even my ZM 50/1.5 Sonnar had a little bit of color shift on the NEX-7.

 

[hoffman]

Thanks Douglas for the valuable information.
Brian