the king of 40mm (Leica Mount)

the king of 40mm (Leica Mount)

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crist

crist

Crist
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Jul 19, 2009
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Please tell me what do you think about this lenses and if you have other in mind

40mm Summicron-C 2
40mm Rollei Sonnar 2.8
40mm Nokton 1.4
40mm M.Rokkor 2
 
Isn't in photography the king (at least in part) the one that's faster than the rest? And if it's also sharp wide open? And if it's small? And if no other 40 of any brand offers its speed?

After happily using it for one year wide open and stopped-down, it's "my" king... A marvel... Yet I don't know why it isn't more expensive... For softer bokeh when there are light sources in the background and it's focused close, I use it at f/2... But even at f/1.4 and in those hardest conditions, I don't find its bokeh disturbing: just modern... Sometimes I prefer it at f/1.4...

Cheers,

Juan
 
since i have never used a 40
and would like to be seduced
please post some Pixs of these KINGS flaunting their 'Style'......:p
 
Tough choice ... I had the 40mm C-Summicron and now have the 40mm M-Rokkor CLE and - since recently - the 40mm Rollei Sonnar 1:2.8. I haven`t much experience with the Rollei yet, it is one stop slower the others but a Sonnar-type (the only Sonnar-type lens that I have), can use normal E39 and is not M-mount but a screwmount lens (The frame-lights brought up depend on the adapter used, very very convenient !). The M-Rokkor has the advantage of one stop, is smaller and lighter but uses 40.5 filter (no problem in Japan). The C-Summicron has more "character" but uses hard to find series filter and I had focus-problems with one of my M-bodies.

The Rollei would be "the king" of the 40mm for me if it would be one stop faster ...
 
i have and quite like the cv 1.4.

i have a rollei coming in and expect to love it.
one fast 40 and one slow 40...life is good!
 
Thanks Helen! My short EBL Bessa R4M and my cheap 40 Nokton at f/1.4 made it all: I did just click the shutter...

Cheers,

Juan
 
Juan Valdenebro said:
Isn't in photography the king (at least in part) the one that's faster than the rest? And if it's also sharp wide open? And if it's small? And if no other 40 of any brand offers its speed?

After happily using it for one year wide open and stopped-down, it's "my" king... A marvel... Yet I don't know why it isn't more expensive... For softer bokeh when there are light sources in the background and it's focused close, I use it at f/2... But even at f/1.4 and in those hardest conditions, I don't find its bokeh disturbing: just modern... Sometimes I prefer it at f/1.4...

Cheers,

Juan
Click to expand...

Your opinion does seem formed from reading too many bokeh threads on internet forums as it adheres to the bigger is better mantra. A quick review of the history of documentary/photo-journalism will point to the fact that lens with a maximum aperture of F2 have been more than sufficient to procure the most important historically relevant photographs. Your view also doesn't take into account the technical level of the photographer, as many can procure shots with shutter speeds with F2 that others would need a 1.4 aperture to get. The old adage that its not the camera/lens but the skill of the photographer applies here.

Some of the worlds most influential/prominent documentary/street/photo journalists have carved out careers using lens with only a maximum aperture of F2 or even 3.5. Before digital came into prominence in recent years if you did a survey of Magnum's archive, the total number of photographs that were shot using an aperture of 1.4 would be very small indeed. Whats more, most photojournalists in the day utilised the preferred the coverage of 35mm as opposed to 40mm.
 
I had both versions of Minolta 40 - CL and CLE - both about the same optically, here is a shot from one:
40rok5b.jpg


I now have a CV 40 and I like it too, maybe even more than Minolta. Here is a shot from CV Nokton 40 I have:
Scan381.jpg


Never used a 40/2.8 Sonnar/Rollei , but most photos I have seen from it so far didnt impress me yet, so I hope that someone will post some good ones from it. Pretty lens though.
 
Last edited:
Jaans said:
Your opinion does seem formed from reading too many bokeh threads on internet forums as it adheres to the bigger is better mantra. A quick review of the history of documentary/photo-journalism will point to the fact that lens with a maximum aperture of F2 have been more than sufficient to procure the most important historically relevant photographs. Your view also doesn't take into account the technical level of the photographer, as many can procure shots with shutter speeds with F2 that others would need a 1.4 aperture to get. The old adage that its not the camera/lens but the skill of the photographer applies here.

Some of the worlds most influential/prominent documentary/street/photo journalists have carved out careers using lens with only a maximum aperture of F2 or even 3.5. Before digital came into prominence in recent years if you did a survey of Magnum's archive, the total number of photographs that were shot using an aperture of 1.4 would be very small indeed. Whats more, most photojournalists in the day utilised the preferred the coverage of 35mm as opposed to 40mm.
Click to expand...

Dear Jaans,

Your ideas are a strange mix... I don't form my opinions from internet forums: I formed them when internet didn't exist... I shoot MF and LF 20 years ago, and had my first Nikon before I was a teenager, and I'm a professional photographer, both because I earn money with photography long ago and because I cursed a six-year career on photography... I use fast and slow lenses, and your comments show a lot of imagination to say the least... What I wrote about the lens we're describing, I wrote it because I have used it a lot, and is basically what is a common opinion about it from lots of good photographers around, as you can see from other comments here and on previous threads... Take care!

Cheers,

Juan
 
I've only used the 40mm Summicron-C. I find it close to a poor man's 35 Summicron v4 but quirky with the filters and hood; they're are a bit difficult to find. I'm a step away from either the VC 40/1.4 or the ZM 50/2.0 just to try something new and different; 40 Cron-C has been my stuck on lens for some time so nothing is wrong with it.
 
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