Nikkor or Voigtlander

[Alpsman]

Der Nikon RF friends!
I'm in a misery. My dealer offers two different 35/2,8 lenses.:bang:
A used Nikon 2.5/3.5cm W-Nikkor condition B/A the one with the outer apperture ring and the coarsed focusing ring
and a
brand new Voigtländer SC-Skopar 1:2.5/35

Question: Which one has the better optic quality?

Greetings: Dieter

 

[Mudman]

Probably the voitlander, though the nikkor has a fun vintage vibe to it wide open. Swirly bokeh.

 

[uhoh7]

Well, even Rockwell seems to be aware of the Nikkor:

"This old lens' performance can exceed modern SLR lenses. This is because rangefinder lenses are designed without the compromise of having to avoid the flipping SLR mirror. Rangefinder lenses can get much closer to the film if the designer wants them to.

This 3.5cm lens is one of the good ones that was over-designed for its era, so it still performs wonderfully today."

And there is quite a nice article at the 1001 Nikkor site:

http://www.nikkor.com/story/0037/

 

[BillBingham2]

Better is a releative word. My bet is that the CV might test better in the measures they print in reviews and magazines, but the Nikkor might have a look to it you might like.

I grew up on Nikkor glass and love the rendering of several of them above the more perfect glass. That said my favorite lens of all time is the CV 25 Snap-Shot.

If I was shooting scientific or industrial illustrations I'd go CV, other than those I'd go Nikkor. But that's me.

Either way they are both fine lenses.

B2 (;->

 

[Alpsman]

Thank you all for quick answering.

BillBingham2 wrote: "If I was shooting scientific or industrial illustrations I'd go CV, other than those I'd go Nikkor."

This is a very good tip for me. Mostly I shoot architecture and documentary. I dont need any style, look or bokeh, just clean sober sharp contrasty pix.

Greetings from breakfast: Dieter

 

[JustPlainBill]

Hi,
I bought a 35mm f2.5 Nikkor in LTM as a wide angle lens for my first Leica, a IIf. Mounted it in a screw to bayonet adapter when I upgraded to my M4 and M2. Now more than fifty years after buying it on closeout, my 35 mm f2.5 Nikkor continues to take sharp pictures, so I never felt the need to try the Voigtlander lens
JustPlainBill

 

[uhoh7]

Thank you all for quick answering.

BillBingham2 wrote: "If I was shooting scientific or industrial illustrations I'd go CV, other than those I'd go Nikkor."

This is a very good tip for me. Mostly I shoot architecture and documentary. I dont need any style, look or bokeh, just clean sober sharp contrasty pix.

Greetings from breakfast: Dieter

Keep in mind the Zeiss ZM 35/2 goes used in good condition for 600USD and prices are falling. This lens is one of the best 35s in the world, and for landscape or architecture it's way ahead of the CV 35/2.5, which I own and know well. The CV is a great little lens and good value for sure. The Nikkor has a great reputation, and I would love to try one. 🙂

 

[jonmanjiro]

Der Nikon RF friends!
I'm in a misery. My dealer offers two different 35/2,8 lenses.:bang:
A used Nikon 2.5/3.5cm W-Nikkor condition B/A the one with the outer apperture ring and the coarsed focusing ring
and a
brand new Voigtländer SC-Skopar 1:2.5/35

Question: Which one has the better optic quality?

Greetings: Dieter

Hi Deiter,

Optically speaking, the SC-Skopar 35/2.5 is probably a better lens than the Nikkor 35/2.5 but the difference isn't that much, and the Nikkor is still a very decent lens. If you're going to shoot a vintage Nikon rangefinder camera, why not go all the way and put a vintage Nikkor lens on it too?

Keep in mind the Zeiss ZM 35/2 goes used in good condition for 600USD and prices are falling. This lens is one of the best 35s in the world, and for landscape or architecture it's way ahead of the CV 35/2.5, which I own and know well. The CV is a great little lens and good value for sure. The Nikkor has a great reputation, and I would love to try one. 🙂

The Zeiss ZM 35/2 can't be attached to a Nikon rangefinder camera though 😉

 

[lxmike]

would the dealer let you try both, say shoot a roll or two with each, it might help or indeed you could buy both😀

 

[Alpsman]

Ah, what a pity! My dealer also offers a Zeiss 35mm. Now I have three lenses to choose from :bang:

jonmanjiro wrote: "If you're going to shoot a vintage Nikon rangefinder camera, why not go all the way and put a vintage Nikkor lens on it too?"

Thoughts like these flashed through my brain. But I use a few different camerabrands, Nikon is just one of em. What if I mount a Zeiss? Am I the same sinner than mounting a CV? No. I dont habe any problems mounting "foreign" lenses on my Nikon RF. I still do so, because there is a 25mm & a 12mm CV lurking in the bag.
Besides I am a user, not a collector.
If I only could afford I'll buy all three.

Greetings from rainy Austria: Dieter

 

[jonmanjiro]

> A used Nikon 2.5/3.5cm W-Nikkor condition B/A the one with the outer apperture ring and the coarsed focusing ring

FWIW this version of the W-Nikkor 3.5cm F2.5 is the final version, and is quite rare. Its also ergonomically an easier/nicer lens to use than the previous and much more common W-Nikkor 35/2.5 version and the SC-Skopar 35/2.5 (I've owned all three at some point).

What is the 35mm Zeiss lens your dealer has in stock that will fit on your Nikon RF?

Greetings from rainy Yokohama!

 

[Alpsman]

would the dealer let you try both, say shoot a roll or two with each, it might help or indeed you could buy both😀

Nah, he wont lend Lenses 😡

 

[Alpsman]

FWIW this version of the W-Nikkor 3.5cm F2.5 is the final version, and is quite rare.
What is the 35mm Zeiss lens your dealer has in stock that will fit on your Nikon RF?

Greetings from rainy Yokohama!

Yes, the offered Nikkor is the final version.

And yes, the Zeiss have a Contaxmount so it will fit; it is from 1940.
He also have two 21mm Biogon with Contaxmount and I cant afford them :bang:

At least it is not smowing here: Dieter

 

[Fraser]

> A used Nikon 2.5/3.5cm W-Nikkor condition B/A the one with the outer apperture ring and the coarsed focusing ring

FWIW this version of the W-Nikkor 3.5cm F2.5 is the final version, and is quite rare. Its also ergonomically an easier/nicer lens to use than the previous and much more common W-Nikkor 35/2.5 version and the SC-Skopar 35/2.5 (I've owned all three at some point).

What is the 35mm Zeiss lens your dealer has in stock that will fit on your Nikon RF?

Greetings from rainy Yokohama!

If it's the version that looks exactly like the 1.8 then that is a scarce lens they normally sell for the same price as the 1.8. I like shooting vintage nikon on my vintage nikon so I would go with the nikon lens unless it was something like a 2.5cm!

 

[Roger Hicks]

I'd back the CV on the grounds that it's newer: lubricant less dried out, less haze. If both are pristine and smooth I'd find it hard to believe that the Nikkor was better (I've never had one, but I have had and still have the CV). But some might prefer the look of the Nikkor.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Alpsman]

Now I've made my decision - I bought the CV-lens.
Because it is cheaper, it is 50 years younger, it is brand new.

Thanx to everybody for your input.
Greetings from rainy Austria: Dieter