Sold the 35mm Summilux ASPH - buy the 35mm f/1.2 Nokton?

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ZebGoesZeiss

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This might be a strange topic, but after having spent the better part of two years putting money away I was able to buy the 35mm Summilux ASPH. It was "sharp" and built nice, but after having spent six months with it, I decided to sell it. There was just something lacking there. Having briefly had the chance to play with the 35mm f/1.2 Nokton, I realize that this lens has "it". It is so creamy in its rendering, that I really want to jump on it. Plenty sharp, but in a smoother way (at least to my eyes).

But the size! It really feels strange putting such a lens on my cameras, but are there any substitutes? f/1.2 isn't the most important issue for me, it is the cream I'm after.

Are there any alternatives, but smaller?
 
ZebGoesZeiss said:
Are there any alternatives, but smaller?
Click to expand...

The Voigtländer Ultron 35mm f/1.7. Small, smooth, sharp and fast enough.

Erik.

3620264398_9baab555c3_b.jpg
 
The Summilux is already sold, and no problems to see it go either. I'm sure a lot of folks like it, but I didn't. I found something "sterile" in the images that I didn't like.
 
Interesting. I'm sure there's sample variation, but the OOF on my 35/1.4 ASPH is very nice, in fact that lens looks more like an older lens than any of my ASPH lenses. If you don't absolutely need the speed, take a look at a 35 Summicron v.1 which I also use. Lower contrast, reasonably sharp and renders beautifully. It is also a lot smaller than the Nokton.
 
Paddy C said:
Would the VC 35mm 1.4 Nokton render similarly to the 1.2?

It is substantially smaller and also less expensive.
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IMO the Nokotn does not render as nicely as the 35mm Summilux ASPH - close, but when I compared the Summilux ASPH, the 35mm Nokton and the UC Hexanon, I sold the Nokton and kept the other two.

The UC Hexanon is a dream lens. I would sell the Summilux ASPH before I let the Hexanon go.

If I were ever to sell the Summilux ASPH, the only other 35mm that would tempt me is the 35/1.2 Nokton - execpt for the size. I understand the OP's dilemma.
 
zeb
i took a similar path, from summicron v3 to summilux asph to summilux pre-asph to nokton 1.2. no regrets, no second thoughts about size etc. the nokton (now coded, modified a bit for the m8) handles very well, day or night.
good luck
rick
 
I have the 35 Nokton 1.2 and have also owned the 35 1.4 classic. There is quite a difference in the rendering. The Nokton 1.2 is worth the "headache" of the large size (small to SLR folk) and weight. Actually, call me crazy, but I like balancing the lens in my hand - its weight helps me with slow shutter speeds, and the ergonomics are fantastic compared to tiny RF lenses with little tabs (please don't yell at me.)
It is a fun lens with a funky personality. Of all my lenses, including leicas, it is my favorite. Everyone will have a different opinion, but $879 brand new does not lie. I've attatched 3 pics all wide open. For the black and white one, I put the camera on the table, guessed at the distance, and let 'er rip.
Stephen.
Stephen.
 

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I am discouraged at the number of people who seem to have not read the original post through...

I think that if you like the look of a lens and if you are prepared to use that lens then you should buy it. As you have pointed out, different lenses will render an image differently. What looks similarly pleasing to me may not "do it" for you, so go with what you know you like!

Consider also that for the value of a 35mm Summilux, you may have a 35mm 1.2 Nokton and something both smaller and also creamy for those times when size is an issue. As "35mmdelux" mentions, a non-Aspherical 35mm Summicron might be worth a look. Either on it's own, or as a suppliment to the Nocton 1.2.

However, creamy rendition does not make good picrtures! A lot of people on here seem to fall in love with some unique characteristic of a lens and think that any photograph exibiting that characteristic is automatically interesting by virtue of this feature alone. Not so! A bland shot with creamy bokeh is still a bland shot. If the size of a lens, or any other feature of a piece of equitpement, prevents you from using your camera in a way that you are comfortable with, then it is of limited photographic value. For example: I love the "look" of the images made by my Canon 135mm 2.0L, but I hate actually pointing it at people and so I hardly ever use it. I am similarly enamoured with certain capabilitities of the f1.0 Noctilux, but I am extremely reluctant to mount it also! While I have these lenses because I can, they are not important pieces of my photographic kit.

I hope that you find what you are looking for. 🙂

Ryan
 
Another common supplement to the 1.2 is the 2.5 PII. Many people seem to enjoy this working combo (I do).
 
I have the 35/1.2 and 35 cron ASPH. I thought for a very long time to sell the 2 to get a 35 lux ASPH. Decided against it as I like very much the character of the 35/1.2.

I had done a comparison of the cron and Nokton, both are pretty close in terms of resolution at f2 except at the corners with the cron being better. The cron sharpen up very well though to f5.6 in which the Nokton seems unable to catch up. That said, the slight deficiency of the Nokton can only be observed by close comparison, not in real photos.

Another characteristic of the cron is the noticeably higher contrast. I guess that what gives the "softness" to the Nokton.

To me these 2 lenses are a fantastic pair. One with absolute performance, contrasty and comparatively small, and the other that gives me low light performance, nice bokeh and less contrast.
 
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