Suggestions for a compact 35mm lens with character?

[daniel buck]

I have been using my M9 with a 28/2.0 Summicron for a while now, and I'd like to try a 35mm, something not as wide as the 28 but wider than the 50.

I like the 28, it gives very clear and crisp images, but sometimes I get a little tired of that, and would like to supplement the crisp 28 with something else that has a bit of character.

I do have a 50/1.5 Summarit and I love the glares, glows and odd colors that it produces when shot wide open, and an out-of-focus rendering that almost swirls like some large format lenses. I'm wondering if there are any 35mm lenses that might be similar to this? Anything worth looking into? And hopefully something that doesn't block much of the 35mm frame line, that's one thing I don't like about my 28, with the hood it blocks a significant portion of the frame.

 

[Steinberg2010]

35mm summaron - fairly cheap to get hold of by leica standards... Nice classic rendering but watch our for haze...


~S

 

[jsrockit]

Might not be exactly what you are looking for, but maybe the CV 35mm f/1.4 Nokton SC is worth looking into.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

+1 on the Summaron. Get the f/3.5 version, they are tiny. The older screwmount f/3.5 is small enough that with big hands it may be a bit difficult to manipulate. The later screwmount version is in the same helicoid as the M mount lens and is quite easy to use in that regard. If the lens has haze, it is very easily cleaned, if you're up to the task.

Aside from that suggestion, the 35mm Summilux pre-asph is probably the king of character. Once stopped down to f/2.8 its identical to a Summicron but opened up wider and it delivers a very unique glow to the image.

Another option would be the Canon 35 f/2.8, a great lens. Just as big as the Summaron and a tiny bit faster. Flares a lot more easily.

Others you could try:
Nikkor 35mm f/2.5
Nikkor 35mm f/1.8
Komura 35mm
Then there's at least a dozen other third party manufacturers of lenses in Leica thread mount which you could try.
Have fun.

Phil Forrest

 

[daniel buck]

Thanks for the replies, I will look into them!

What about some of the cheaper alternatives, (just looking through ebay right now, seeing what's there) like a Schneider Xenogon 35/2.8, or a Canon 35/2.0 or Jupiter-12? I see several of those for around $100 or so, are they worth checking out, or no?

The older screwmount f/3.5 is small enough that with big hands it may be a bit difficult to manipulate. The later screwmount version is in the same helicoid as the M mount lens and is quite easy to use in that regard.

is there an easy way to distinguish between the older screwmount and the newer screwmount?

 

[Phil_F_NM]

The Schneider Xenogon and Canon 35/2.0 are usually a few hundred more than what you've found. They start around $300 often. The Canon is going to be close to a Summicron with regard to sharpness, but only focuses to 1m. Once I got my M9 I noticed that the Canon had more coma than I wanted so I sold it. Of course, after that I got a Summilux which has MORE coma. Oh well.

I haven't played with the Xenogon but I've heard them compared to older Summarons.

The Jupiter 12 is unique because it is a true Biogon clone. They usually have excellent resolution and extremely low distortion but you have to watch out as the rear element sticks about 25mm into the camera itself. That deep rear element may come into contact with the chamber inside the camera when mounting or dismounting the lens so caution has to be used.

Phil Forrest

 

[Brian Legge]

If you can find a Canon 35mm 2.0 rangefinder lens for 100$, let me know as I'd take it in a heartbeat. 🙂

I'd avoid the J12 personally. I've yet to use one which didn't flare at the slightly sign of light.

 

[Gary Briggs]

Zeiss ikon 35 f2.8 biogon. It is excellent. Not to say it is better than the Summicron, but I could'nt afford that one.

 

[daniel buck]

How does the biogon perform wide open, does it get any hazing around highlights and such?

 

[LAWRIE]

I have a 35mm f2.8 Jupiter lens permanently mounted to my Leica II. At around f8 this optic is pin sharp across the frame with no falloff or vignetting. It is solidly built, economical and really looks "at home" paired with the Leica.

Leica aficionados may turn their noses up at the thought of mounting a Russian lens to their cameras but, IMHO, it is a lens worthy of serious consideration. And yes, the rear element is rather exposed and could be damaged if carelessly handled but hey, we care for our equipment - don't we?

 

[daniel buck]

Lawrie, Phil, and anyone else. Do you know if all Jupiter-12's will physically fit the M9? (not contact the shutter) Or are there certain variations to look out for? For the cheap price of the J-12, I'm willing to pick one up on a whim.

 

[Brian Legge]

If you do have flare issues, you can add a hood. Seems excessive once it has a built in one but a grind has had good luck with one. Adjusting the shimming is also realatively easy with the J12.

 

[f16sunshine]

The Nikkor W 35mm f1.8 has is quite interesting wide open. Tiny also. There are a few around in LTM but not many if budget is an issue. Does not flare much but will glow nicely when at full aperture.

The Jupiter does apparently fit the Leica Digital RF's. I almost bought one from a fellow who was using it with an M8. There is one in the classified right now that looks nice.

From the Nikkor at f1.8

 

[huntjump]

Thanks for the replies, I will look into them!

What about some of the cheaper alternatives, (just looking through ebay right now, seeing what's there) like a Schneider Xenogon 35/2.8, or a Canon 35/2.0 or Jupiter-12? I see several of those for around $100 or so, are they worth checking out, or no?

I have the 35mm f/2 and love it. But as said above, if you ever saw this for $100 and didn't buy it right away you'd be a fool! I think you might be mistaken on the price or which lens you saw for $100, as these generally go for~$500. Definitely worth the $500 in my opinion, a poor mans Summicron. 1m focusing could be an issue.

 

[jsrockit]

He's not mistaken on the price for the 35mm Canon f/2...it's just an auction with 4 days left. By the time it ends, it'll be over $500.

 

[daniel buck]

oh, yea that must be my mistake. I usually only look at the "buy it now" prices (because I can never manage to win a bid, NEVER!) I must have saw that one and thought it was a BIN price. my mistake

 

[semilog]

How does the biogon perform wide open, does it get any hazing around highlights and such?

The 35/2.8 C-Biogon is stunning. Overall, the most well-mannered lens I've ever used. Surgical sharpness, wonderful color, great bokeh. Specular highlights can get a halo, but there's usually a total absence of any veiling or reflections. It has almost no distortion. Rockwell says it excites aliasing from full aperture on his M9, a very strong indication of its performance.

On the M9 it vignettes substantially at full aperture. The vignetting is still there on film, but less assertively so.

 

[daniel buck]

Hm, if it doesn't have much fuzzyness to the highlights wide open, it may not be what I'm looking for. But I may look at it for a more general lens. I do like the Zeiss lenses, I use several on my Canon 1Ds2, and I like them.

The C-biogon, is that in an M mount already? or does it require an adapter?

 

[paulfish4570]

cv 35/2.5 color skopar. small lens. very capable. it's LTM, so an adapter is needed for you.

 

[jsrockit]

cv 35/2.5 color skopar. small lens. very capable. it's LTM, so an adapter is needed for you.

He said with charecter... 😉