Opinions about 35mm f2.4 Summarit-m Asph

[valdas]

Going through local classifieds I came across a reasonably priced Leica 35mm f2.4 Summarit-m Asph (around 800 EUR). Is it worth this money? My only current M glass of this focal length is Nokton 35/1.4. I am happy with it except for barrel distortion (which rarely bothers me, I have to admit), but maybe an addition of this slower but also very compact lens is something worth considering?

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Going through local classifieds I came across a reasonably priced Leica 35mm f2.4 Summarit-m Asph (around 800 EUR). Is it worth this money? My only current M glass of this focal length is Nokton 35/1.4. I am happy with it except for barrel distortion (which rarely bothers me, I have to admit), but maybe an addition of this slower but also very compact lens is something worth considering?

I have the 50mmf2.4 Summarit, and it is incredible, Extremely sharp, high resolution, and very smooth bokeh that is better than the current 50mm Summicron.

If the 35mm is equally good, and the reviews I have seen say it is, then it is worth the money.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

It is not distortions free lens.

 

[Archlich]

Certainly a good solid lens, but competition is stiff. I compared the Summarit 35/2.5, its predecessor (believed to be optically identical), to the CV 35/2.5 side by side several years ago. Couldn't tell much difference.

Plus that there's a new contender on the block now that is the CV 35/2 Ultron.

 

[valdas]

It is not distortions free lens.

No, not completely free, but what I have seen in reviews it’s minimal and not comparable to Nokton 35/1.4.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

No, not completely free, but what I have seen in reviews it’s minimal and not comparable to Nokton 35/1.4.

I gues 2.4 is very improved after 2.5 then. Mine 2.5 distortions are visible comparing to Jupiter-12.

 

[valdas]

I gues 2.4 is very improved after 2.5 then. Mine 2.5 distortions are visible comparing to Jupiter-12.

Well, I’ll probably pass it anyway, I hope my Summicron 8 el. replica will arrive one day...

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Well, I’ll probably pass it anyway, I hope my Summicron 8 el. replica will arrive one day...

You'll have newer, smaller, faster lens for less!

 

[cboy]

If youre happy with the distortion of the nokton then i doubt the summarit will bother you. The summarit will have less distortion than the 8 element summicron. It also has a good blend of sharper modern optics, but not purely clinical rendering so has best of both worlds. The smoother bokeh is also a benifit

 

[Toastybunzz]

I just picked up one of these today, for $650 I couldn't pass it up. Just from the very non scientific tests I've done between it and my Ultron 35mm f2, the Summarit looks really nice. I never noticed how much the Ultron vignettes wide open until I tested it back to back. You may lose a half stop in aperture but with the reduction in vignette they feel pretty similar speed wise.

I had the 7artisans 35mm and it looked amazing with b&w film but it didn't do well with color, the distortion was pretty bad, the flaring was horrible and the build quality wasn't very good. The Ultron was better in every way, I just miss the focus tab (the stick is okay), the build quality is loads better (better than the Summarit IMO) but the slightly swirly OOF sometimes isn't that flattering. The main reason I wanted to try something else was the Voigtlander just has a little too much contrast. Hopefully the Summarit's contrast is smoother with pushed b&w film and takes some of the edge off of my M10's digital'ness. It's looking good so far though.