The Zeiss Biogon 35mm

[Ara Ghajanian]

I'm torn between a Summicron M 35mm and a Zeiss Biogon 35mm.

I can't seem to find any Summicron 35's out there lately and I really want to get this focal length to complete my kit. I can get the Zeiss for about $850 from KEH in LN- condition. I know I can't go wrong with that lens (I have a Blad with a Zeiss lens and a Rollei with one too and I love the quality), but I've always had my heart set on an all Leica kit.

Someone help me decide.

By the way, where is the Zeiss Biogon made? Please don't say Japan.

 

[troym]

By the way, where is the Zeiss Biogon made? Please don't say Japan.

Japan.

And it's a fantastic lens.

 

[Atom]

Pick up a Summaron. I got one in amazing condition for about $450 on the used market here in NYC.

 

[Jamie123]

I can get the Zeiss for about $850 from KEH in LN- condition.

By the way, where is the Zeiss Biogon made? Please don't say Japan.

$850 at KEH for a used one?? It only costs $697 new at popflash.com.

AFAIK most ZM lenses including the 35mm biogon are made in Japan.

 

[cpborello]

35mm Biogon

35mm Biogon

I can get the Zeiss for about $850 from KEH in LN- condition.

You can get it new from Tony at Popflash for about $150 less than that.

 

[lic4]

I'd buy the zeiss even if summicron was cheaper; that's how much i've come to appreciate it.

 

[Turtle]

I have no idea where my Canon 135 f2L was made. Its as good as any Leica glass end of story. My Zeiss ZM lenses are spectacular, Japan or not. Remember, you are paying about a third the price for a ZM35 biogon as compared to a 35 asph Cron. There seems to be much consensus ont he fact that optically they average out as equally good overall. Thats saying something.....Speak to Xray if you are considering an old 35 non-asph instead of the Biogon as he has experience with lots of Leica glass and uses and prefers the Biogon. My biogon is wonderful, even wide open.

 

[sam_m]

By the way, where is the Zeiss Biogon made? Please don't say Japan.

Everything except the 15 and 85 are made in Japan. The 15 and 85 are made in Germany, due to their more complex designs, I believe.

 

[Doug]

I'm torn between a Summicron M 35mm and a Zeiss Biogon 35mm.
...but I've always had my heart set on an all Leica kit.

Ara, this is clearly an emotional issue, and I'll buck the trend of other advice by suggesting you may need to do the Leica thing and satisfy that craving.

I have an older 35 'cron and the new Biogon-ZM (bought new from PopFlash), and I can't say that one is overall better than the other; they're just different. The Biogon is an amazing modern lens without the harshness modern lenses often show. Technically it's the better performer, but there's just something delicious about the old Summicron that's hard to describe.

Here's a couple with the Summicron...

 

[Monz]

Hi Ara, I was recently in the same dilemma as you: 35mm 'cron or 35mm Biogon. After doing a bit of research and reading various threads on the siubject on RFF, I eventually picked up a used Biogon. It is a superb lens. Here are some examples of photos taken with it...

The Reader
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=65172&ppuser=1882

Shared brolly
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=65461&ppuser=1882

Law of Turds?
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=65171&ppuser=1882

All the best.

--
Monz

 

[Avotius]

Yes its made it japan, get over it. Its a great lens, a very different character then the summicron, but a good value over the summicron too. In my personal opinion I still prefer the summicron asph over the biogon but thats just me. If you have to have that all important made in germany thing on your lens take a look at the asph elements in leica lenses then look who makes them.

 

[Noserider]

Umm, who does make them? Nikon?

 

[x-ray]

The Biogon, no question. I even like it over my asph summicron. It's close between the asph summicron and the Biogon but the Biogon is smoother in tonality and possibly a hair sharper at f2. tonality and flare are very strong points with the Biogon. It's a more classic looing image with modern contrast, sharpness and flare controll. Leica did a great job with the asph but flare is a serious issue particularly without a hood.

The Biogon is a clear winner over all non asph summicron 35's and even if the Biogon was more expensive then the leica 35 I would buy tge Biogon.

Tony at Popflash is the man!

 

[Turtle]

... take a look at the asph elements in leica lenses then look who makes them.

[Sharp intake of breath] Thats it. Write your will, tell your family that you love them. Barricade the door and dont eat anything someone else has tasted it an hour beforehand 😱

The uproar over Rushdies knighthood was nothing.

 

[Turtle]

Umm, who does make them? Nikon?

Elves. But you can only see them if you believe!

Seriously, I would guess Hoya? they make loads of glass for various manufacturers. Holga?😀

Rgds

 

[Ara Ghajanian]

I'm sold

I'm sold

Great advice from everyone, thanks a million!

After seeing the price for a new Biogon at Popflash, I can't imagine spending a dime more for a used Leica lens, especially with all the praise you all have given the Biogon.

How can KEH charge $150 more for a used version of this lens? They're usually decent with pricing, but this is way out of line in my opinion.

I'll be ordering the Biogon today. My kit is finally complete. Now I'll just start saving up for my M8... bahahahahaha!

 

[Xmas]

Canon 35mm f/2 or J12 f/2.8.

One is a stop faster and does not flare, should be able to get either resonable

Noel

 

[GrahamWelland]

How can KEH charge $150 more for a used version of this lens? They're usually decent with pricing, but this is way out of line in my opinion.

Zeiss seem to have dropped their prices on many items including lenses and viewfinders. Significantly on some items.

Popflash is also offering good deals vs other suppliers such as B&H on these too.

 

[Avotius]

[Sharp intake of breath] Thats it. Write your will, tell your family that you love them. Barricade the door and dont eat anything someone else has tasted it an hour beforehand 😱

The uproar over Rushdies knighthood was nothing.

I know 😀 im boned

but if im going down im taking someone with me!

so to quote Putts:

"The two aspheric surfaces were grinded and polished mechanically on a spherical glass surface. This method was an improvement on the original manually grinded aspherics, but still quite labourious, with a high rejection rate. The second version, recomputed in 1994, employed a new press-molding technique, in combination with Hoya glass. Leica has been heavily involved in the invention and development of this technique. "

 

[Santafecino]

Here I am feeling very inferior with my CV 35mm f/2.5 Classic, which does beautiful pictures, but only cost me about $250-300. Sigh. And my other 35mm is a Jupiter-12, which makes beautifully smooth pictures on my Kiev. It was $70 with shipping. Sigh. How can I ever catch up? Do I need to?

I think I'll put any spare cash into another M5 body and leave it at that.