Nokton 35mm f1.4 ... SC or MC?

[Keith]

For some strange reason I have an overwhelming desire to start shooting with an unmetered M mount body again ... it seems what goes around comes around!

So the M2 is going to be removed from the cupboard where it's been languishing for a year or two and put back into service. The only 35mm lenses I have are an old 35mm f3.5 Summaron (in near perfect nick I might mention) and a 35mm f1.2 Nokton ... 1st model. The Summaron while nice for black and white is a little slow and the Nokton 1.2 is more of a specialty lens for very low light ... not something I want to lug around for general use and I have developed a real liking for the 35mm focal length over the last year or two. I may even do some (gulp) street! 😱

I can handle the occasional rather jazzy OOF of the Nokton without any problems and I like the small size along with the speed it offers. I'll probably order one from our Bartender in the next few days as his price is considerably better than what I can get in Oz but I'm a little confused about the advantages of the MC lens over the SC. Apparently the MC offers better contrast when shooting black and white which is really all I use these days. Is that it's only advantage or is there other areas where the multi coated lens will be better?

 

[the_jim]

I think it's important to consider what's in-stock and if you're willing to wait. I waited a few months to get the SC, but could've had the MC right away. I imagined that it would do all the things it's supposed to do: give lower contrast, be more prone to flare, exhibit more bloom in the highlights - and it does. Granted, I don't have an MC to compare it against, so I guess I'm still imagining it does these things more, but there you go. If I had it to do over again, I think I might've gone with the MC. The flare and bloom can be a little unpredictable:

[/url] dad by jamesfischer, on Flickr[/IMG]

It's a sharp-enough lens (sharper at 1.4 than my Nokton 1.2 version 1), that's tiny and has tons of character.

 

[the_jim]

[/url] josh by jamesfischer, on Flickr[/IMG]

also have to put up with this kinda weird reflection ring thingy

 

[the_jim]

[/url] jenny by jamesfischer, on Flickr[/IMG]

Jazzy is a very polite way of describing the OOF

 

[helen.HH]

I have the SC version but Would LOVE to try the MC
that probably does not help YOU
but the SC is really Quite Good
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenartemishill/7657285262/] a City that never sleeps... by helenhill_HH, on Flickr[/URL]

 

[helen.HH]

well if You get the MC and want to Trade down the Road....just let me Know 😛
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenartemishill/7504921666/] You are now my Prisoner...Happy 4th 😉 by helenhill_HH, on Flickr[/URL]

 

[Keith]

second thought-- nokton 35/1.2

Try it @ 2.8, it may surprise you. I have the 35/1.2 v1 as well as the Summicron V4, what one does the other doesn't, and vice versa.

I really only ever used the 1.2 on my M8 for a fast 50mm ... it hasn't been used at all since I sold the Leica. It feels decidedly cumbersome on the M2.

 

[Keith]

well if You get the MC and want to Trade down the Road....just let me Know 😛
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenartemishill/7504921666/] You are now my Prisoner...Happy 4th 😉 by helenhill_HH, on Flickr[/URL]

I've also thought about the f2 Biogon Helen ... have you used one of those at all?

The reason I ask is that there's one in the classifieds at the moment which is what started me thinking about a smaller 35mm than the Nokton 1.2.

 

[Vincent.G]

Keith, I have the SC version. I had it twice and sold it twice... Only to end up buying a new one on the third time after selling my 35 lux Pre-asph.

I chose to believe Tom's recommendation that it gives slightly More shadow detail in black and white. 🙂 I don't test lenses scientifically but it Gives me what I Want in real life shooting and i feel that's More important.


Snow Fakes by Vincentの平和、愛および喜び, on Flickr

 

[back alley]

i never found a noticable difference between the 2.
think about the zm 35/2.8...well worth the bucks.

but honestly...i would go for the 40/1.4 and skip the rings of saturn affect of the 35.

 

[Keith]

rings of saturn ?

 

[kokoshawnuff]

The MC was one of my first RF lenses. I didn't shoot it wide open too often, but dont remember getting any of the the rings when I did.

Not wide open, but I got pretty good results on bw film:

 

[pobe]

I've never had the rings show up when my third party screw-in hood is on. My guess is that it's caused by the silver front ring, but I kind of like it and usually shoot without the hood.

 

[Keith]

[/url] jenny by jamesfischer, on Flickr[/IMG]

Jazzy is a very polite way of describing the OOF

This is the main problem I have with this lens and I wish you hadn't posted this pic. That OOF area directly behind the subject is pretty unpleasant to the eye!

 

[Lflex]

I did a few compartive handheld frames with a Summicron v3 and a Nokton SC a while back. You'll notice that the Summicron of 1970's vintage is slightly more contrasty.
http://rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=111893

 

[x-ray]

photo found here: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1496846&postcount=29

it occurs with both versions wide open, and goes away if the lens is stopped down half a stop.

Interesting, the 1968 35 summilux I had did the same thing. It ruined quite a few important images.

 

[Lflex]

Interesting, the 1968 35 summilux I had did the same thing. It ruined quite a few important images.

I haven't seen a cross section of the two lenses but they do share a lot of virtues and vices. Personally I have not seen these circles, but I have seen gulps of coma wide open, just like the Lux:

I don't really mind and the Nokton 35/1.4SC has won over my Summicron as my favorite M 35mm during the past year.

 

[pobe]

I thought the ring flare was caused by the silver ring too. But I found I could still induce the flare with a hood on. Hood/no hood is the same.

Interesting! Are we both talking about screw-in hoods? I guess I haven't used my hood enough to get it. 🙂

 

[Lflex]

A few wide open examples from the 35mm/1.4 SC

 

[helen.HH]

Keith , here is a shot with the 35 Biogon... I just borrowed a Friends while having Coffee
Its seems like a GREAT lens and 'xray' is the KING with this lens...I see his biogon is up for sale in the classifieds

Love its Center Sharpness & 3d pop with Zeiss glass (I have the 50 planar)
though in this shot I find the OOF a tad jarring for my Taste

Latte Time ... by helenhill_HH, on Flickr