Old/new 35mm Ultron comparison?

[ferider]

Thanks, guys. And Erik, your photos motivated me strongly to buy this lens 🙂

Thank you Roland. I always enjoy your posts on cameras and lenses - you often add that little bit extra that no one else seems to have illustrated or considered.

I note you say it's technically the best. How do you feel about the more subjective "character"? Do images taken with this lens jump out at you or are easily notable on your screen/print?

I guess what I'm getting at is - does the technical excellence result in a more clinical look over "character" or is the VM35's notable character defined by that very technical excellence?

I know exactly what you mean, JM, but frankly I don't know yet - haven't used it enough for real photos yet. So far, the picture quality feels a little like what the color skopar 28/3.5 has given me - and I love that lens.

For great samples, have a look at Erik's shots taken with the Ultron.

Roland.

 

[rscheffler]

I agree, this is a great lens, especially considering the price. I do however disagree that it's very flare resistant. I've had numerous situations where I've been able to provoke significant flare. It seems most susceptible when the sun is just outside the frame.

I don't use a filter on it and was using the standard, supplied hood, though have since replaced it with a $5 generic 46mm vented hood.

My least favorite aspect of the lens is the lack of a focusing tab. Second least is that in dim light situations it can be difficult to find the correct orientation for mounting it on the camera due to the lack of an easy to feel or see bump or spot to line up with the camera's lens mount release button.

 

[ferider]

I saw your samples on fredmiranda, Ron - thanks for that. Have to see how my sample performs wrt flare in the field ...

 

[ferider]

Leica MP, Ultron 35mm f/1.7, Tmax400.

Erik.
...

Wonderful, as usual, Erik.

Do you know if your hood vignettes with a filter ? Thanks.

 

[Brian Legge]

I'm very curious how it compares to the Biogon 35/2.

 

[ferider]

Flare-test

Flare-test

Output of a simple experiment checking flare resistance. Moving from left to right over our horizon, f16, 1/125, this morning 9am.

Naked lens, no filter, no hood. Same slight level adjustment for all four pictures in post, nothing else. Click on thumbnail for larger picture.

I'd say that's pretty good. Slight contrast reduction when the sun is almost touching the frame, and a faint ghost when the sun is in the frame.

Maybe sample dependent. I know flare in the old LTM Ultrons was.

Roland.

 

[lawrence]

Second least is that in dim light situations it can be difficult to find the correct orientation for mounting it on the camera due to the lack of an easy to feel or see bump or spot to line up with the camera's lens mount release button.

Same with the VM Nokton 50/1.5 -- can't imagine why this was omitted.

 

[Tom A]

I have been using the M-Ultron 35mm f1.7 and shooting it against the Zeiss Distagon 35mm f1.4. There is not much difference! Both are among the best 35's available.
The 35f1.7 "feels" smaller than the Distagon 35 (which is a hefty lens).. I also like the heavy knurling of the Ultron - easy to grip and turn. The Distagon's smoother focussing ring with the "bump" is not as convenient.
In short, both lenses are top class - but the Ultron gets more mileage - mainly because the small er size - and the 46mm filter size.

 

[ferider]

Aperture-independence

Aperture-independence

One thing that doesn't come across in other reviews that I've seen, is how good the lens is already wide open. Below a night landscape with a relevant 100% crop at f1.7, f2, f2.8 and f4.0.

You see slight coma reduction and resolution improvement off center, with increasing f-stops, but so little that the lens is perfectly usable also wide open, even for the pixel peeper, IMO. (click for enlargement)

Roland.

PS: thanks for your post, Tom ! 🙂

 

[zauhar]

Is the lens equivalent to the aspherical screw mount version?

Randy

 

[ferider]

Is the lens equivalent to the aspherical screw mount version?

Randy

Old vs. new:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=152973

LTM lens has 8 elements, 6 groups, min. focus 0.9m, filter size 39mm, VM lens has 9 elements in 7 groups, min. focus of 0.5m, and filter size of 46mm.

Where?

.

Some more pictures, many from Erik here:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=151291

Roland.

 

[kermaier]

Didn't the LTM Ultron 35/1.7 have a 43mm filter thread?

 

[kermaier]

Roland, do you know how the VM Ultron compares, size-wise, to the Summicron ASPH?
::Ari

 

[ferider]

Roland, do you know how the VM Ultron compares, size-wise, to the Summicron ASPH? ::Ari

Sorry, Ari, don't have one. The v3 is much smaller though.

 

[kermaier]

Sorry, Ari, don't have one. The v3 is much smaller though.

I'm guessing even the asph 'cron is much smaller. For the extra 1/2 stop, I probably wouldn't make that size trade-off; but I might for the extra $1000... 🙂

 

[Trius]

Haven't tried it on film yet, but here are some M8 photos. It's sharp! And, to my surprise, I like the ergonomics. Johnson Museum, Cornell (3 of 3) by J. Robert Lennon, on Flickr Johnson Museum, Cornell (2 of 3) by J. Robert Lennon, on Flickr Johnson Museum, Cornell (1 of 3) by J. Robert Lennon, on Flickr Ithaca in light rain by J. Robert Lennon, on Flickr

John - that last shot is delicious.

I need to get down to Ithaca soon for us to have lunch. Maybe we could persuade Mike Johnston to join us.

 

[ashfaque]

@ Erik and Robert: Lovely work from you both. So I'm now tempted to try this. Did you notice any focus shift, vignetting, or distortion? FYI, I will be using them with film bodies only.

Bests,

Ashfaque

 

[johannielscom]

Erik,

I'm impressed with your shots as always, but I notice you do not shoot the Ultron 1.7/35mm on your beloved Barnacks but on the M2 or MP.

It that a size thing? I'd love to see what the Ultron looks like on a Barnack?

 

[johannielscom]

Ah, that explains that! I wasn't even aware of the existence of an M-mount Ultron.

Anybody else that can show me what the Ultron 35mm LTM looks like on a Barnack?

 

[nasmformyzombie]

Is there an optical difference in the Ultron 35mm LTM version and the M mount version?