summicron 40 vs summicron 35

T

triplefinger

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I keep mulling the purchase of a summicron 35(pre-asph) even though I own the summicron-c 40.

question is... how different are they? does anyone have thoughts or tests?

thanks, mike
 
The 40 rokkor/C have a very similar footprint to the 4th version 35mm summicron. The angle of view is pretty close as well, unless you just gotta' have the 35...keep the 40 and spend you $$$ on something wider or longer. I owned a 35 4th version that was stolen and I cannot tell the dfference in my 40/2 rokkor and that lens, same contrast , great bokeh and 3D effect.


Todd
 
yes, one was made for the Leica CL and one for the Minolta CLE, I think the Rokkor was multi coated.

Todd
 
triplefinger said:
and the rokkor-c and the 40mm cron-c are the same, yes?
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Basically. Like Todd said the Rokkor is Multi-coated, the cron single-coated. Also, filters for the Rokkor are easier to find, the cron is a weird series 5.5,
while the Rokkor is 40.5mm. And, usually, the Rokkor is a bit cheaper.

Roland.
 
If you have and enjoy a 40mm 'Cron already, then I'd say the 35 would have a hard time offering you anything unless you really want the Asph look I wouldn't, but that's a very personal taste preference that no one but you can answer. Yes, I know you said pre-asph. But that's why I said only it would offer anything different enough to consider... ;)

That said, I ended up selling my 40/2 and replacing it with a 50/2 collapsible 'Cron and a Serenar 28/3.5 because those angles seem to work better for my eyes than the 40mm FOV did. For me 40 was neither fish nor fowl and just didn't please my eyes.

I have a sneaking suspicion that renting/borrowing a few lenses might prove to be helpful to you.

William
 
I sold my 40, although I was very pleased with the image quality, for a 35 summicron. I just didn't like the field of view. It's too in the middle for me and I tend toward linking wider lenses or faster lenses. So a 40/2 doesn't do a lot for me. Image quality wise there is no way a 35 should go for twice or more the price of the 40 but it does and I took the hit.

I also like the notched focusing tab on my 35mm summicron much better than whatever that thing is on the 40mm summicron.
 
and the rokkor-c and the 40mm cron-c are the same, yes?
Click to expand...

yes, one was made for the Leica CL and one for the Minolta CLE, I think the Rokkor was multi coated.
Click to expand...

Basically. Like Todd said the Rokkor is Multi-coated, the cron single-coated. Also, filters for the Rokkor are easier to find, the cron is a weird series 5.5
Click to expand...

There seems to be a bit of not quite right information stated above. The first thing to realise is that there are 2 Rokkors. One of them the Rokkor-C (Labelled Rokkor-M) was made for the Leitz Minolta CL and is identical in every respect to the Summicron-C apart from that it takes 40.5mm filters. The second Rokkor is the Rokkor-M that was made for the CLE. Its this version thats the Multi-coated version and is easily idenifiable by having a different Tab (more squared off) and no serial number on the front ring. I will try post some pics to show the differences.

The Summicron-C will "just " accept 39mm filters. "Just" in that only a couple of threads screw in before it stops but it does seem to hang on firmly.
 
Hmmm...this means I can get a CL and 40mm 'cron or Rokkor for half of a 35 'cron.

Hmmm... fov vs. practicality/cost. There is quite a focal length separation between 40mm and the actual 52.x (or is it 53.2?) mm of the "50" 'cron. But in wide-angle terms, 40mm and 35mm is still a discernable difference when you're talking close-range.

Hmmm...
 
the cv 40/1.4 seems to me to be a 'long' 40, that is, leaning towards the 50 end of things.
i don't remember what the 40/2 is like but i should know more by the end of the week, possibly.
 
gabriel, i would highly recommend the cl with any 40.
i may have a 40 summicron for sale soon as i do not fancy the idea of owning 2 40mm lenses.

joe
 
triplefinger said:
is there a way to convert that series 5.5 to a screw mount? a step up ring?
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As Todd says, I can find no discernible difference in the quality of the 40 versus the 35 pre-asph.

That is NOT a dig against the pre-asph 4th (which does have very pleasing bokeh ), but rather praise for the 40 cron/rokkor (I refer only to the CL rokkor, never owned the CLE rokkor).

As for filters for the cron-c, I just have a regular B+W uv 39mm filter on it, screwed in enough not to bind (no adapter of any sort). It seats quite well, no worries.

cheers
 
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Having used both the CLE's Rokkor 40/2, and the Summicron-M 35/2 (Canada), the only significant difference in day to day work is the convenience in bringing up the related frame lines, and the very slight difference in field of view.
The 40 works very well for me, and it's easy to learn where the picture is in relation to the 50mm framelines on the M4-P and other similar viewfinders.
I supplement the 40 with a 28 and don't want for other lenses often.
 
Hmmm...this means I can get a CL and 40mm 'cron or Rokkor for half of a 35 'cron
Click to expand...

More like a quarter to a third of the cost actually.

There is a forum member at the moment with a Multicoated CLE Rokkor with hood for $220 US. You cant get into Leica M quality for any cheaper than that?!
 
triplefinger said:
Thanks everyone. I am a fan of the 40mm, I also have the CV 40/1.4

this conversation has quelled the need.
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If you ever do feel the need for a really fine 35, you might consider a Summaron 2.8 or 3.5. It's one of those great Leica lenses, like the Elmar, which usually get passed over in favor of the faster Summicron.

40 is my favorite focal length, but occasionally it's nice to have the field of view of the 35.

Richard
 
I would look at the 40mm lens in the light of the rest of the lenses you either own or wish to add to your equipment. I have the Summicron 40/2,and I find it very sharp and also contrasty compared to older lenses. The 28mm is a great lens to have beside your 40mm lens. Maybe the 25mm/4 lens too, but I would not go wider.

Raid
 
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