The CLE version 40 Rokkor. better than the V4 Cron ?

[f16sunshine]

In the last year I have been intensively culling my gear down.
Looking at a lot of images on line and my own archive on e thing stands out.
Images from the 40mm M rokkor Leica sum micron c40mm lens are some of the most beautiful I come across (the CLE version is in particular).
The drawing and render is smoother and to my eye cleaner as compared to the V4. The slightly closer view seems more natural and calm.
Images have life yet you can still get a nice wide view that seems to match the human FOV perfectly.
The f2/40mm Summicron/Rokkor is simply a better lens for a pictorial view.
Why is the 35mm more highly favored? How did we get here?

Why is it that this lens is not as highly values as the 35mm V4 summicron or even the v3 Summicron?
Is 35mm that much more desirable or have few people given 40mm the chance it deserves?
Is hype the real dictator of value and ultimately $ cost ?
I bought two copies of the M rokkor lens. One for $250 another for $275 which I sold later. They typically sell under $400.
The V4 can go for $2000 at times. Does anything ever make sense in M mount lens value?
I just don't get it. 😱

Your thoughts and images are valued. Thanks!

 

[sanmich]

framelines in the M cameras?
I know this has been discussed at length, and that the later (M6 and down) frames are pretty close to 40, but still...

 

[mfogiel]

I have been thinking of these 40/2 lenses for some time, because I want to cement a good, small lens to one of my cameras, for a fixed "always wear it" rig. C Summicron seems to be favoured for B&W due to lower contrast, but it also flares more. Personally, I crop the 2:3 aspect ratio to 1:1.382, so for me the diagonal comes at 40.5 mm. At this point, indeed a 40mm lens becomes a perfect "normal". Perhaps 35mm lenses are favoured, because they are a bit more "environmental", and the frames are more precise. Mr. Puts reckons the Summicron C in terms of performance comes between the 3rd and 4th versions of Summicron 35. I will probably end up using my Summaron 35/2.8 which is even sharper and not much bigger, but I definitely like these lenses.

Summicron C 40/2

2008070520 by mfogiel, on Flickr

 

[raid]

I like my Summicron-C. I once compared it with the Pentax 43/1.9 LTM. Both lenses did very well.

 

[Gary Sandhu]

The lack of frame lines for 40mm makes it less desirable.

 

[raid]

Use the 35mm framelines. Or use an external finder, if you have to.

 

[helen.HH]

have not tried the 40rokkor, and would Love to....

i very much have Enjoyed the 40 summicron, Wonderfully sharp, Great character , big bang for the Buck
who needs to spend more for a 35summicron unless of course... You must 😉

I don't get too crazy about Framelines, boring as I may seem I generally focus and frame center or off center a tad
thats the important part of the shot for me and a little foot work back or forward
whatever else exists in the frame usually works fine



here is the 40 summicron in a dark pub

a Pint of Guiness ... by helenhill_HH, on Flickr

 

[helen.HH]

the 40 summicron again...

Read me...Drink me by helenhill_HH, on Flickr

 

[mad mike]

@ helenhill--
Your post of the man with the pint of Guinness reminds me of a Guinness advert in
England during a very long hot summer in the mid 1970s. Using a setting very similar to your's it had the slogan "TIME FOR DARK GLASSES"

 

[Bingley]

I've got the CLE version of this lens. I should use it more. I may yet get an M3 and permanently attach the Rokkor 40 to it. In the meantime, I guesstimate coverage with the 35 framelines. Or use it on a Bessa T, as in the recent photo below. BTW, the 35 framelines on the CV 28/35 finder are very close to 40.



Tupper Lake by bingley0522, on Flickr

 

[k__43]

I had the Cron-C 40/2 and I now have the Cron 35/2 V4 .. I actually liked the FOV of 40mm but the wide open performance of a V4 35mm is just better (less flare, coma and more contrast) it's also sharper on film wide open (although I found the corner sharpness of the 40mm better on digital aps-c, but that was maybe my copy or user error).
The ergonomics of the 35mm are better too, the 40mm is even smaller but a bit too small for me.

 

[f16sunshine]

I had the Cron-C 40/2 and I now have the Cron 35/2 V4 .. I actually liked the FOV of 40mm but the wide open performance of a V4 35mm is just better (less flare, coma and more contrast) it's also sharper on film wide open (although I found the corner sharpness of the 40mm better on digital aps-c, but that was maybe my copy or user error).
The ergonomics of the 35mm are better too, the 40mm is even smaller but a bit too small for me.

Actual lens Size is subjective. The CLe 40mm is perfect for me.

Your 40's wide open performance is probably a copy variation.
Both of My M Rokkor lenses were quite sharp wide open. The summicron c version is indeed weaker in regard to controlling flare than the CLE40 or v4 2/35 Summi.
The CLE 40mm was still the best of the bunch in sharpness and contrast/flare resistance.

 

[helen.HH]

@ helenhill--
Your post of the man with the pint of Guinness reminds me of a Guinness advert in
England during a very long hot summer in the mid 1970s. Using a setting very similar to your's it had the slogan "TIME FOR DARK GLASSES"

awhhhh, wish I could have seen the Ad, sounds Quite Fun & Cool 😀

 

[semilog]

Pay attention to what viewers of your pictures notice and tell you. Interestingly, the only lens I've ever used that got much in the way of compliments from non-photographer viewers was a relatively modest 40mm ƒ/2 Minolta Rokkor-M.

-Mike Johnston, On the sharpness of lenses

 

[maddoc]

I also think that the missing frame lines (over-rated, as they are just for guessing anyhow) and the warning issued by Leitz about the Summicron-C (focus problems can`t be excluded on an M-Leica, which is true given the construction of the focus distance transfer using a cam-follower that has to be exactly centered in the top of the flange to work correctly) made this lens less desirable than it`s 35mm Summicron siblings.

For me the 40 mm M-Rokkor is a good substitution for the 35 Summicron lenses and combined with the 28 mm M-Rokkor makes a nice kit.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72704

 

[f16sunshine]

Beautiful sample photos all. Gabor I very much enjoy that shot.
The light on the Umbrella and the woman's hair creating a similar form are really wonderful !

 

[maddoc]

Beautiful sample photos all. Gabor I very much enjoy that shot.
The light on the Umbrella and the woman's hair creating a similar form are really wonderful !

Thanks, Andy !!

 

[KismetSky]

I love my 40mm Rokkor:


Untitled by KismetSky, on Flickr

 

[uhoh7]

40/2 is also a lens the Sony A7s like reasonably well


DSC02488 by unoh7, on Flickr


DSC02346-2 by unoh7, on Flickr

and the Nex 5N liked it fine too:

Ahoy Matey by unoh7, on Flickr

M9 at f/2:

L1001323 by unoh7, on Flickr

 

[mad mike]

Helenhill
Guinness adverts in the British Isles are justifiably famous!
Another one I saw about the same time said
"I've never tried Guinness because I don't like it"