sell Nokton and Biogon for 35 Cron ASPH ?

[bonatto]

similar to what I did. no regrets. The summicron Asph is a small jewel. Get it in chrome and you can even use it as a makeshift boat anchor its so heavy!

 

[semilog]

There are plenty of non-Leica lenses that have lasted just as long (some were dirt cheap too). Leica lenses are expensive for other reasons besides quality.

Bingo.

My Nikkor AIS lenses are 25 years old or older and function as new, with nary a CLA and these lenses were used for sports and PJ -- NOT treated gently. I seriously doubt that my 35 Summilux ASPH could stand up to that kind of abuse so well.

 

[Krosya]

I wouldnt, but you may think different. Depends on what you like, really. IMO there is no lens out there that has look of a CV 35/1.2. Its a superb lens that is one of a kind. And you Biogon should be pretty much a close match to a Cron Asph. Other than a smaller kit I dont see the advantage. Nothing against Cron, really, but CV is just such a special lens.

 

[MCTuomey]

the only 35 that'd make me swap the ZM 35/2 and VC 35/1.2 would be the Summilux ASPH FLE. at 2-3x the price i wouldn't/couldn't do it, so yeah, i'd keep what you have.

 

[ramosa]

I haven't used the Biogon or the Nokton, but have some experience with the Cron ASPH--and wasn't overwhelmed by it. I loved the size and ergonomics, but its images didn't have the character I was looking for. I found the character I wanted with the Lux 35 asph v1, and if I didn't have the money for that lens, I could have pondered the Lux 35 non-asph or the Cron 35 v4. I am a big proponent of making do with fewer lenses and, thus, would never want more than one lens at one focal length. (In fact, I have four lenses, but will get down to 2-3 at some point ... as soon as I get some time to list some items.)

 

[fotomeow]

dont do it. Would be one step forward, but 3 steps back.

 

[Richard G]

Another no vote. That said, I just bought a recent Leica lens, the 28 2.8 ASPH, and it is sharp, surprisingly so. But who cares about that in the end? For architecture perhaps. The two f2s in consideration are so close, and then you lose the Nokton. Not worth it.

 

[LCT]

Among those four lenses (CV 35/1.2, CZ 35/2, Cron 35/2 v4 and Cron 35/2 asph), the Cron 35/2 asph is the second smallest in size and the sharpest at f/2, mainly on edges and corners. Compared to my Lux 35/1.4 FLE, i can hardly tell a difference at f/2. The character of the lens is very close to the latter's i.e. a very sharp and contrasty lens which won't be the best fit for portraiture of your mother in law. My favorite for mine is the Lux 35/1.4 pre-asph but this is another story.

 

[Tzelet]

I found the character I wanted with the Lux 35 asph v1, and if I didn't have the money for that lens, I could have pondered the Lux 35 non-asph or the Cron 35 v4.

Not sure what "character" you were looking for. Those are three wildly different lenses.

If you don't need the speed, I would do it.

 

[Tzelet]

the big difference between leica lenses and other lenses...is that leicas need to be cla'd more regularly...

Sure, once the Zeiss stops wobbling.