Summicron 35 v4. Briefing please

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Bobonli

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I have an opportunity to by a 35 Summicron version 4 from the late 90's. I've read the description of this at cameraquest.com but other than that I don't know a lot about the different versions of this lens. The newer ASPH is out of my price range.

What should I know about the characteristics of this lens before I close the sale? Any known mechanical or optical issues with the series, generally? Prone to flare or crappy bokeh?

Based on the description I've been given, the specimen is in excellent condition and recently CLA'd.

Thank you.
 
It's a lovely lens and very compact indeed, however I don't think it's particularly good at f2.0 as it loses quite a lot of contrast and there's some vignetting. So my recommendation is to look on it as an f2.8 lens and to use f2.0 only if you really have to. Yes, the bokeh is very nice at f4 or thereabouts but if you want a lens that's a lot cheaper and actually better at wider apertures, go for the Voigtlander Ultron (although it doesn't handle as nicely).
 
Small and very portable for an f2 lens; high micro-contrast, not so high resolution, when compared to modern lenses. Bokeh is so-so.

It is very good wide open when used close up, for portraits, and such.
 
For the period it was considered the Bokeh King. This means it out of focus area is behond reproach. Some have said that the V.3 is as good. Others have said that the Summilux of the same period was not as good. Either way if you are using it with film, which is what I will assume from your question, its only drawback is the user not the lens.
 
There will never be agreement on what's actually good or bad bokeh. It's almost like arguing over which flavor of ice cream is best. (It's chocolate chip, by the way)

I've used the lens. It was nice. I had no qualms using it wide open - but then, I'm seldom after absolute sharpness.
If it were me and I wanted a 35/2 Leica, I'd go for the V.3 summicron. I couldn't tell much difference between it and the V.4 when I had them both briefly.
Still, the v.4 is a fine lens. You just get to pay a bit more of a premium because of its impossible-to-prove title of Bokeh King.
 
I used the 35f2 V4 for decades. Good lens - and , yes - if the fuzzy stuff a.k.a Bokeh is important it is good there. The Zeiss 35f2 is a better lens - though bigger. The 35f2.8 C Biogon is dramatically better, but a stop slower.
The pre-Asph Summilux 35 is equally as good for Bokeh - and you gain a stop.
Mechanically. the 35f2 V4 is good. It can have problem with the aperture ring and also the front element assembly can come loose. Neither problem is frequent and if the lens has been recently CLA'd - it should be OK.
Check that the aperture clicks are working properly (no "over run" at f2 or f16). Try to get it with hood too as it is one of the best hoods around, small and compact.
As for overall performance, you wont find much difference between a v3 and a v4. It was (and is) very much the classic Leica 35f2.
 
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I have encountered one anomolous "feature" with this lens. The front lens group can be over-tightened. This causes the front hood to sit crooked when mounted. Likely not a problem if you, as I do, use a round vented hood. But it may be an issue when using the rectangular hoods. It's reported to not be a major issue - that is the fix is a relatively simple one. However you may wish to insure your lens isn't in need of it.
 
recommendation

recommendation

If your cron front end loosens, while it appears you can just turn it to tighten it, it should probably be sent to a qualified repair person as the threading/coupling is supposed to be cemented in place.

Always mount/dismount these lens by the base, never the hoods.

The V3 is just as good, but slightly less contrast with color. Also V3 uses a different hood, the clamp on lux hood, rather than the notched rectangular hoods.


dof said:
I have encountered one anomolous "feature" with this lens. The front lens group can be over-tightened. This causes the front hood to sit crooked when mounted. Likely not a problem if you, as I do, use a round vented hood. But it may be an issue when using the rectangular hoods. It's reported to not be a major issue - that is the fix is a relatively simple one. However you may wish to insure your lens isn't in need of it.
Click to expand...
 
I wouldn't rule out the latest ASPH

I wouldn't rule out the latest ASPH

With the price the V4 (Bokeh King) is often getting these days, a patient shopper (I check Craigslist frequently) might get a newer 35 ASPH for less.
 
I have this lens. It is indeed a classic fine lens with loads of character. In keeping with its classic (albeit optimised) double guassian design, it isn't at its best technically wide open at 2.0, although one can take fine pictures at this aperture in the right circumstances. It becomes truly wonderful in the f2.8-f4.0 range imo, with f3.5 perhaps being its ultimate performance point for smooth transitions from sharp-oof rendering. It is probably outclassed these days on that measure by the biogon-c, which nails this at f2.8 and the summarit 35 which already hits it at f2.5 (and of course the aspherical 35 summilux that is another story altogether). But there is still a fantastic 'charm' factor to this lens that defies easy explanation. Perhaps its the crushed lower midrange that makes its tonal presentation (hence black and whites in particular) so subjectively pleasing? not sure..
 
I second tele players comments. I also hunted on our version of Craig's list and got an asph summicron 35 for the going rate of a V4 here. I actually like the fact that it is a bit bigger, hate the hood though. Anyway if the price is right you can always buy it and if you do not like it sell it later a no (or very small) loss.
 
In that focal length, the zeiss ZM Biogons should also be in the running. There are threads here that rave about, both, the f2 and the f2.8 versions. I have the C-Biogon, and love its size,ergonomics, and the Image quality. And, most of all, even new, the Zeiss will cost less than a used Leica Summicron.
 
I use this lens almost all the time -- it's the only 35/2 I have. It's wonderful -- rendition, contrast, bokeh are all as I would want them, but perhaps even better than this I find it to have almost perfect ergonomics. It is fast and intuitive to use and every scrap of design -- including the hood -- seems honed to achieve these objectives. A classic.
 
The Zeiss glass is very nice, but for me they have a more modern look and have more contrast. The ASPH Cron is similar in these regards, and the both the ASPH Cron and the Zeiss glass seem better suited for work in color IMHO.

I own a 35/2.0 V.4, and I find it well suited for the B&W work that I do. Optically the aforementioned glass has higher performance and is sharper, but the personality of the 35 Cron V.4 performs well in B&W where sharpness and high contrast isn't everything.

While the 35 Lux has similar performance and is faster, the smaller 35 Cron has better/faster handling for a different kind of speed that makes it a great street shooter if 35 is your FL. I'm surprised no one else mentioned this. Also blocks the least amount of VF. About perfect on a 0.72 M-body.

The demand and inflated price makes it a no brainer to try if you get it at a good price because it is a lens that is very easy to resell.

Cal
 
For its size, it cannot be beat. That is all it has over other lenses. However, like others have said, it's great for BW.
 
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