Old Summicron 35 on R-D1

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ncaleffi

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Hi there, I'm a brand new R-D1 owner. It's my first rangefinder camera ever and it's great. I'm currently using it with two Voigtlander lenses - the Ultron 28/2 and the Color Skopar 35/2.5 pancake; both wonderful lenses. I realized that the 35mm on the R-D1 is a great focal view (for me), and since I would like to try a sharper lens I'be been browsing around for some info on Leica Summicron 35/2 - the pre-aspherical type. I know there are different models (I to IV), and different prices, and would like some suggestions from people using it on the R-D1.

Thanks in advance.
 
The 35/2 IV works well with the R-D1. Good sharpness, reasonable contrast, smooth bokeh. Not sure if it is sharper than the Skopar though. Bokeh is another story.
 
Old Summicron 35 on R-D1

I used a Summicron C40, which fits almost exactly the 35 mm frame lines until I buy an old Canadian Summicron 35 III from 1972. I like it very much because the balance and the weight with the R-D1. And the famous "bokeh". The avantage is you can find a 40 half price of a 35.
 
I use both on my R-D1, the skopar/2.5 and the cron '35/2 IV. I like somehow the 'cron better. Don't know why, it's kind of 'creamer'. Since I got the cron the skopar is collecting dust on a shelf.

cron 35/IV:



Skopar/2.5:

 
Look for a Minolta M-Rokkor 40/2 instead (the later CLE version is multi-coated). This is a wonderful lens, fits the R-D1's 35mm frame lines perfectly, and I doubt the v4 'cron beats it in any dimension. (And the M-Rokkor with be 1/3 to 1/4 the price of the 'cron.)
::Ari
 
The M-Rokkor for Minolta CL looks like the Summicron-C 40/2 for Leica CL: about 125g, monocoated, round focus tab, Series 5.5 filters, sloping focus cam.
The M-Rokkor for Minolta CLE is lighter (about 105g), multicoated, has a square focus tab, a flat focus cam and uses 40.5mm filters.
The latter has a slightly yellowish rendition compared to the Leicas 35/2 IV and 40/2 IMHO. Also my copy does not focus well with both my R-D1 and R-D1s bodies so that i don't use it any more unfortunately. Curious issue given that the Leica 40/2 focusses normally despite its sloping focus cam.
Anyway, the Summicron-C 40/2 is a very good lens as well. Its IQ is close to that of the Summicron-M 35/2 IV and it matches almost perfectly the R-D1's 35mm frame lines at long to medium distance.
Those frame lines are too tight for close-ups with both 40/2 lenses though.
 
I have an RD-1 and a summicron 35. It's an excellent lens and camera combo. I think the 40mm would be even nicer because it would fit the framelines better than the 35mm and has the same classic Leica lens look. Yes, the 35mm lens on the RD-1 can be frustrating with the frameline accuracy.
 
Thanks everybody for the kind and informative suggestions (and to David Ramos Martin for his excellent pictures).

"the 35mm lens on the RD-1 can be frustrating with the frameline accuracy."

Sirius, can you articulate this? Is it referred to the 35 Summicron or are you speaking about ALL the 35mm lenses on the R-D1?
 
I have the Summicron 35 vers. IV. It is an excellent lens. The kind you will not let go once you have it. Yes, other lenses are sharp as well, no doubt. However, the Leica lenses deliver a subtle, but noticeable three dimensional feeling to the images that makes you feel almost like seeing it with the naked eye.
I have also found the 35mm f.o.v very useful with the RD1 crop factor.
If you can afford it, go ahead and treat yourself. I am sure you will not regret it.
I have posted a few 35 cron images here.
 
I finally got a Summicron C 40 for a very good price (for a Leica lens). I tested it one afternoon in a local cemetery, here are some shots for everyone to see:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicolacaleffi/sets/72157625318196393/

I've balanced the settings a little with Epson Photo Raw (a great tool by the way); different results may be obtain with different settings, of course. But, basically, I can say that this lens is exceptional.

5197864526_a47b3d09d0.jpg
 
I had a 35/1.4 SC Nokton which was pretty much a body cap to my R-D1. But ended up trading the lens for a Kowa Six (MF) kit... now in 35mm I "only" have the 35/1.2 Nokton, great lens, but it would be nice to have something compact for when I don't need the speed or the shallow DOF. So I'm taking my time with it and meanwhile keeping an eye on tiny 35mm lenses. Maybe even 40mm, who knows... I also plan to use it on full frame.
 
I have tried many 35mm lenses on it and the "best" to me is the 40mm rokkor. I use it 95% the time on the r-d1. You can't go wrong
 
For walking around all day with the RD1, the Canon 35 2.0 is perfect. Feels like it was made specifically for the Epson.

For targeted magic hour stuff, the CV 35 1.2 is incredible.
 
RollingBall said:
I just wonder, how can one tell which canon 35/2 is ltm on ebay? I see various lenses listed as Canon, 35mm and f2, but am never entirely sure which is ltm, and don't want to buy an slr lens by accident
Click to expand...

I always search for "canon leica" - it's rare that a canon LTM doesn't mention leica in the listing. You get other stuff to (leica-r to canon eos adapters, for instance).
 
yep, I've been trying to find a Canon LTM 35/2 lately, but the ones that appeared here in the classifieds were either sold by the time I saw the ad or there were some complications (outside usa/europe, so I'd have to ship to Brazil, and customs taxes here are heavy..)... I've found what looks to be a BGN Summicron v1 in a shop in europe, though, and I'm pretty tempted, it's below $1k. Saw the Luminous Landscape analysis of 35mm lenses on the R-D1 and the canon really shines. another option would be buying a friend's used 35/1.4 MC Nokton...
 
The old cron and pre-asph lux are great lenses but not quite as good as the latest Zeiss 35/2, cron 35/2 asph, and more so the Summarit 35/2.5.
I recently sold my 35/2.5, and I can tell that even on a R-D1, the difference is visible, there cannot be any confusion. The micro contrast of the Summarit 35/2.5 is far higher (from f/2.5 this lens is sharper than the 35/2 asph!).
While you will be perfectly happy with the old leica 35mm, in terms of sharpness, you could get a different experience with the modern Zeiss and Leica lenses.
The difference is small but quite revealing for the discerning eye.
 
I've had recently the opportunity of trying a Canon LTM 35/2 in an antique camera shop in Buenos Aires. It impressed me. ergonomics are fantastic, really tiny, and I took a few shots inside the shop and some outside. Bokeh is really nice and the lens is quite sharp. The only reason I didn't brought home was the $600 price tag, a bit higher than its market price on the 'developed' countries (on south america imports have a high tax, so local prices tend to be higher).

In this trip I got krosya's 35mm Ultron modified to focus down to .7m, and it's a superb lens. I have using it a lot on the R-D1 and am impressed with how it draws. Beautiful, smooth out of focus rendering and sharp wide open. Also, no flaring so far (and I'm not using the hood). It's really a gem!

I also ended up getting a 35mm Summicron v4, but I bought it online and it didn't come with nor rear nor front caps, so I ended up not using it on the trip to not risk messing up with the glass. In NYC I got the caps and used it on the M4, great lens. Still to use it more on the R-D1, but from a previous opportunity with a friend's v4 I can say it's a tad wider than the Voigtlanders, and bokeh is smoother. But not much smoother than the 35/1.7's, it feels quite close. Haven't used it enough so far to talk about how it draws versus other CV 35s, still starting to use it. But it has a much, much smoother out of focus rendering than the 35/1.4, with less flaring, wider fov, and about same size. But 1 stop slower.
 
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