Thinking of buying a Biogon 35/2 ZM

colinh

colinh

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I was considering the Summilux 35 (in a fit of madness) but then it occurred to me that I only really need fast lenses to get narrow depth of field - which I don't get with a wide angle lens anyway. Or to get more light - but then I can shoot a 35 mm hand held with less light than a 90 mm.

So, f/2 is OK.

Then it seems that the Biogon and Summicron are comparable, quality-wise, which, I'm afraid, tends to point to the Biogon.

(No arguments so far from the Zeiss Ikon crowd, I hope :) )

The local shop has the silver in stock for EUR 799 and the black one, out of stock, for EUR 979. Interesting to note the price difference - are the silvers less popular, or what?

I'd want the black one, of course, 'cos I've got a black Leica - and the lens has to colour coordinate with my belt...

colin
 
kbg32 said:
Black Ikons go well with Oxblood shoes as well as black ones.
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Oxblood is a colour? Doesn't it depend on the level of oxidation???

Actually, the silver lens would go well with my black boots, but not so well with the camera. Tis infuriating. Maybe I should ask on the Leica forum - I guess they have more experience with this sort of problem.

;)

colin

PS Can one paint lenses (no, not the glass bit!) oneself?
 
Look at these links:

Biogon Thread 1

Biogon Thread 2

Biogon Thread 3

and the beginning of this link:

Biogon Thread 4

The 35/2 Biogon is a very nice lens. The fit, finish and mechanics are excellent. This lens (and the C-Sonnar) are the only lenses I use that rarely require post-processing contrast adjustments. (My other lenses are Nikkor MF AI and AIS SLR lenses and Mamiya-Sekor M42 lenses.) The Biogin ZM 35/2 is very resistant to flare.

It is larger than the Summicrons. The worst aspect of the lens is the lens cap which is awkward to use. I would not buy the Zeiss lens hood. I'd but a third party hood and a less awkward lens cap.

I think the Biogon 35/2 is a very good value for the money. I recommend it without hesitation.

willie
 
willie_901 said:
Look at these links:

...

It is larger than the Summicrons. The worst aspect of the lens is the lens cap which is awkward to use. I would not buy the Zeiss lens hood. I'd but a third party hood and a less awkward lens cap.

willie
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Thanks for the links.

I actually like the lens cap on my Biogon 25. It's better (IMHO) than the Leica one on the Summicron 50 - which keeps falling off (as I have a filter on the lens).

Since I just throw (actually, put) my cameras in my rucksack, some sort of protection is necessary.

Also, the lens hood is nice. You can put it on, take it off, put it on again. Great fun.

colin
 
I have the 35/2 and find it a truly excellent lens. It is of course quite sharp, but also renders colors beautifully. You'll be quite pleased, I'm sure.
 
leica is not the answer to every lens question.
the biogon is phenominally sharp and less money, new lens for new lens.
 
It might be a good lens but for that kind of money I'd throw down for Leica 35mm V4 or even 35mm V3.
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Why? The Summicron, despite its "bokeh king" rep isn't a great lens wide open. They're the perfect size on an M body, but their performance has been bettered by newer RF lens designs. So if you want better performance with a slight penalty in size, there are better choices now. :)
 
colinh said:
Actually, the silver lens would go well with my black boots, but not so well with the camera.
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Have you seen it on the camera? I can assure you that it will look fine, and you will save yourself €200! :)
 
peter_n said:
Have you seen it on the camera? I can assure you that it will look fine, and you will save yourself €200! :)
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Nah, as someone pointed out off list, they're both available at that price at shphoto. The deed is done and I'm awaiting delivery...

colin
 
35mmdelux said:
It might be a good lens but for that kind of money I'd throw down for Leica 35mm V4 or even 35mm V3.
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I just sold my v4 summicron today. I used it for quite a number of years and never liked the ergonomics. The aperture ring is tough for me to get my fingers on if the hood is in place and I don't want to take it down from my eye. This is generally the way I work with all lenses. A few months ago I deceided to go for a new Biogon and am I glad i did. Not having shot side by side with them but having probably over a thousand plus rolls through the v4 and having a darn good perspective on what this lens is all about I would not even consider the v3 or 4 over the Biogon. Totally disregarding price as a factor the Biogon is equally or better built, 1/3 f stops, nice focusing ring with just a bump of a tab and not just a tab like leica puts on. I personally like a focusing ring big enough to grip and fell in love with the bump of a focusing tab. It's big enough but not too big and the serations on the focusing ring make it easy to grip. The aperture ring is equally as nice and esy to grip with the hood in place and the camera up to the eye. Focus is silky smooth on both but the Biogon has the optical advantage. It has a beautiful silky toneality but is deadly sharp even wide open. The v4 on back to the original v1 that i previously owned are soft at f2 but do improve as they're stopped down. Flare resistance is the best I've seen in any 35mm lens. Modern coatings and improvements in design and manufacturing have made the Biogon the hands down winner in my book. Some complain that it's large but it's almost exactly the same size as the coveted 50 summicron. I also have the 35 asph summicron that I won in a raffle. I have only shot a half dozen or so rolls through it but my first impressionis the asph summicron is no better than the Biogon but is almost three times the cost.

Cost aside I would pick the Biogon hands down on all counts.
 
Go buy it; it is superb!

You could buy from Tony Rose in the USA at $ 800 for a black one. Even with import duty/tax it would be about 1050, which is cheaper than the 979 eauros mentioned is it not (not up to speed on teh Euro/USD)?
 
Hi, I'm a newbie here and I've recently gotten back into rangefinders. And after reading everyone's posts for weeks and looking at many of the pictures in the gallery, I made my decision.

Last night I ordered the Biogon.

All of your discussion has been informative and the pictures inspiring. Thanks a bunch. I'll let you know how it goes.
 
This forum is bad for me. You all keep writing such nice things about the Biogon that I'm tempted to replace my 35mm f/1.7 Ultron with one. And the only thing I don't like about the Ultron is the way it can flare up at modest apertures -- don't get the sun near the frame at f/5.6.
 
jtm said:
This forum is bad for me. You all keep writing such nice things about the Biogon that I'm tempted to replace my 35mm f/1.7 Ultron with one.
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Yeah. This is a major problem. I got into M's this way :(

If anyone at Zeiss is reading this - I'd like a 2% cut on all Biogon 35's sold this week - for starting the thread.

colin


PS. Technically the plural of M is Ms, and that of 35 is 35s. But they look stupid and misleading.
 
colinh said:
PS. Technically the plural of M is Ms, and that of 35 is 35s. But they look stupid and misleading.
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Not at all. They have the look of an educated writer who might possibly have checked out Fowler's Modern English Usage at some time.
 
grainhound said:
Not at all. They have the look of an educated writer who might possibly have checked out Fowler's Modern English Usage at some time.
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"I got into Ms" ? Mrs/Miss/Ms who?

35s looks like a model number.

In a couple of decades it will be "correct".

:)


colin
 
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