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he tries to pretend that he is not like the rest of us...but we know better!
Nokton 35mm f1.4 ... some questions!
- Thread starter Keith
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he tries to pretend that he is not like the rest of us...but we know better!
Lax Jought
Well-known
jsrockit
Moderator
This thread is changing my opinion of this lens... 🙂 Though I think I'd go for the MC version over the SC version this time.
porktaco
Well-known
dear keith
thank you so much for your letter of february 22nd. per your request, here is my "shopping list"; if you should happen to feel the need to sell anything on it, please think of me early in your process:
1. cool sh*t
2. more cool sh*t
3. that other cool sh*t
thanks again for thinking of me
your friend
pork
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Tom A
RFF Sponsor
Keith, I have a lot of 35's (Summilux pre asph, Summicrons (3). VC's (1.2/1.4/2.5). zeiss f2/2.8 and more. The ones that gets the most use are my Nokton 35f1.4's (2 of them, both SC). It is usually on my MP (0.58) and is the first body/lens to be picked for a trip or even just a walk on the beach.
The problem with slight distorsion has never bothered me. It is a street shooting lens and sharp already at f1.4. Bokeh is not an issue for me - thats the fuzzy stuff that is not in focus!
My Summilux pre-asph is a late one (#3.4 something) and it is OK, but it has a dumb aperture ring. With the hood on it - you can barely grab it. At least the Nokton has a couple of "ears" that you can get hold of.
Most likely I could sell of my Leica 35's (though I wont) and not miss any of them too much. The Nokton 35f1.4 is my winter lens and the Zeiss Biogon 35f2.8 is my bright light lens ( about as good a f2.8 lens as ever was made!).
Considering that you can get a Nokton 35f1,4 and a Biogon 35f2.8 for what a used Summicron 35f2 IV or a Summilux 35f1.4 pre-asph costs - no contest in my opinion. I did try the new Asph 35f1.4 II - seems good enough and good close up performance (probably the best 35 for that) - but $4500-5000 good - no way.
Just get the Nokton and splurge on the hood (great bumper too - tried it already and it has the scars to prove it).
I suddenly realized that I have over 1000 shots on the Flickr site for the Nokton 35f1.4 Classic - which proves that I use it a lot!!!!
The problem with slight distorsion has never bothered me. It is a street shooting lens and sharp already at f1.4. Bokeh is not an issue for me - thats the fuzzy stuff that is not in focus!
My Summilux pre-asph is a late one (#3.4 something) and it is OK, but it has a dumb aperture ring. With the hood on it - you can barely grab it. At least the Nokton has a couple of "ears" that you can get hold of.
Most likely I could sell of my Leica 35's (though I wont) and not miss any of them too much. The Nokton 35f1.4 is my winter lens and the Zeiss Biogon 35f2.8 is my bright light lens ( about as good a f2.8 lens as ever was made!).
Considering that you can get a Nokton 35f1,4 and a Biogon 35f2.8 for what a used Summicron 35f2 IV or a Summilux 35f1.4 pre-asph costs - no contest in my opinion. I did try the new Asph 35f1.4 II - seems good enough and good close up performance (probably the best 35 for that) - but $4500-5000 good - no way.
Just get the Nokton and splurge on the hood (great bumper too - tried it already and it has the scars to prove it).
I suddenly realized that I have over 1000 shots on the Flickr site for the Nokton 35f1.4 Classic - which proves that I use it a lot!!!!
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Thanks Tom ... lots of good information there. Regarding a summer lens I have an old 35mm f3.5 LTM Summaron that as long as I use a hood on it is an amazing performer IMO ... I had it cleaned by DAG a while ago to remove the haze which was causing flare and since then it's really impressed me with it's sharpness and lack of distortion.
I think I am actually starting to lean towards the Nokton because of the images people have posted in this thread ... now it's just a matter of do I buy new or wait for one to pop up in the classifieds!
🙂
MIkhail
Well-known
Keith, I think you can only take images from flickr with a grain of sault... There are wonderful photographers there and there are some... less wonderful.
Anyway, here are mine (MC version) - nothing special, just family album snaps:
Generally I like to shoot at speed 1/30 and lower, I don't like excessive sharpness. But it's sharp if I need it to be.
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barnwulf
Well-known
I have a CV 35/1.4 and the Zeiss. I would recommend the Zeiss. Take a look on REID REVIEWS, he tests a lot of lenses and he has a test on the CV. You have to sign up for his website but it's free. The link is http://www.reidreviews.com/reidreviews/ There is a lot of good information there. Jim
sparrow6224
Well-known
Andre
I love your pictures but there is one in the first set, next to last frame in that set, marked "wide open on delta 3200" -- a bunch of folks on a train platform with a McDonald's sign on the right. Are you sure about this? It doesn't look like any 3200 film I've seen (unless it's pulled to 800 or less, I guess) and the focus goes the whole depth of the photo, so it seems unlike it's 'wide open' or the lens has utterly fantastic qualities, like a 30 foot focal plane at f/1.4. But I love the look of the photo so I'd love confirmation on the film most of all, the ISO, and then, less important, the lens.
Thanks,
Vince
I love your pictures but there is one in the first set, next to last frame in that set, marked "wide open on delta 3200" -- a bunch of folks on a train platform with a McDonald's sign on the right. Are you sure about this? It doesn't look like any 3200 film I've seen (unless it's pulled to 800 or less, I guess) and the focus goes the whole depth of the photo, so it seems unlike it's 'wide open' or the lens has utterly fantastic qualities, like a 30 foot focal plane at f/1.4. But I love the look of the photo so I'd love confirmation on the film most of all, the ISO, and then, less important, the lens.
Thanks,
Vince
sparrow6224
Well-known
Tom -- I seem to remember that at one time you were a fan of the CV 35mm Ultron. Besides being bigger and heavier, how does it compare with the 1.4 Nokton in image quality?
Thanks
Vince
Thanks
Vince
jsrockit
Moderator
This may be true regarding image quality, but something to keep in mind is that the Zeiss (f/2) is like twice the size of the CV.
Tom A
RFF Sponsor
Vince, I still like the Ultron 35f1.7 for its image quality, but I have problems with the ergonomics. The "tapered" look makes it difficult to grab the aperture ring in "haste". I keep it for use on the LTM cameras (Leica,Bessa R/Canon's). Image is good, but I do prefer the Nokton 1.4.
One alternative that has been mentioned is the 40/f1.4 - best bang for the bucks.I have that one in both MC and SC version - the difference, at least in bl/w is subtle - but it is a hell of a lens. Dont really know if it is better than the 35f1.4 - but it is pretty close. I usually file down the claw so that I get 35 frames and use the inside of the frames as a gauge. Rangefinders are not precise framing cameras anyway - you want 100% accuracy - get an old Nikon F.
Of course, there are the Canon 35f2's and Nikkor 35f2.5 in LTM - but the prices are getting close to what you pay for a 40/1.4 and the 35f1.4's - the latter are modern optics, using state of the art glass and design. Technology has advanced in the last 40-50 years in this aspect. It is actually difficult to find a "bad" lens among todays offerings - it all depends on how much do you want to spend and what do you expect from it. For all practical purposes - they are all good.
In using the 35f1.4 extensively - I have so far not come across a single image that I have had to reject due to the lens performance - but then that goes for all the rest of the newer lenses. They all do what I expect them to do - give me pictures.
sparrow6224
Well-known
I have found the 35/2.5 Skopar to be tremendously sharp and contrasty and just a delight in image quality but am hankering after something faster but not substantially larger. Sounds like the 35/1.4 is for me. I must say if I do go for a 40mm sentimentally I'd want the Summicron-C as the CL with that lens was my first adult camera and that lens had some wonderful characteristics. Ifyou or someone else venerable testifies the CV 40/1.4 is better than that Sumicron I might reconsider..... I mean, keep an open mind right?
Vince
Vince
mathomas
Well-known
An example of circular flare on my Nokton SC (with hood attached). I think I've seen it one other time. Pretty tough shooting conditions, though.
Lax Jought
Well-known
I've had some circular flare in my photos as well, I'm not sure if it's the lens or the UV/IR filter. Here's one where the entire photo is caught up in the flare due to the sun shining through in the top left hand corner, you can see the edge of the flare peeping through in the bottom right hand corner:
L1006298 by thelateshowwithsanjuro, on Flickr
L1006298 by thelateshowwithsanjuro, on Flickr
sanmich
Veteran
Keith
You already have a low light 35mm which may be a compromise for general use in terms of distortion, ease of use and size.
If you want a cheap but excellent, really small 35mm for daytime, I would advise the cs 2.5. IQ not very far from the best names around for much, much less money.
I have the KM and won't sell it anytime soon, just because it's so difficult to find...
I guess it's as good as the Biogon (at last for my needs) but I much prefer the Konica build over the ZM.
You already have a low light 35mm which may be a compromise for general use in terms of distortion, ease of use and size.
If you want a cheap but excellent, really small 35mm for daytime, I would advise the cs 2.5. IQ not very far from the best names around for much, much less money.
I have the KM and won't sell it anytime soon, just because it's so difficult to find...
I guess it's as good as the Biogon (at last for my needs) but I much prefer the Konica build over the ZM.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
That circular flare is a worry .... I've had a few shots ruined this way with my 50mm f1.2 Canon which does it certain lighting conditions wide open.
I notice a 35mm f1.4 Nokton appeared and disappeared very quickly in the classifieds while I was out today! 🙁
If I do get one I'd prefer used because if I don't like it I can pass it on for minimal loss.
I notice a 35mm f1.4 Nokton appeared and disappeared very quickly in the classifieds while I was out today! 🙁
If I do get one I'd prefer used because if I don't like it I can pass it on for minimal loss.
Lss
Well-known
I have seen at least a dozen Nokton images with the ring flare by several posters, but I have never experienced it myself. Based on your comment it would only happen wide open, am I right? What about hood, filters, any difference between MC and SC? I'm trying to understand what I'm doing "wrong" as I have never experienced this problem myself.
I typically have a hood and/or a filter on the lens. I use M8/R-D1/film. I have the SC version.
punkromance
Poor art student
Another vote here for the Nokton 40/1.4
Absolute beast of a lens, made me buy back into the M system after selling my R3a a while back. The 40mm FoV is a slight pain. In real world terms it's almost identical to the 35, but still...
I was really disappointed at how the 35/1.4 rendered. If the images turned out the same as they did from the 40 I'd have snapped one up in no time.
I think the price is a big reason a lot of people in Leica land disregard it, but don't be fooled.
Absolute beast of a lens, made me buy back into the M system after selling my R3a a while back. The 40mm FoV is a slight pain. In real world terms it's almost identical to the 35, but still...
I was really disappointed at how the 35/1.4 rendered. If the images turned out the same as they did from the 40 I'd have snapped one up in no time.
I think the price is a big reason a lot of people in Leica land disregard it, but don't be fooled.
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