verdict on ZM Biogon c 35 mm, f2.8

[davidpg]

Tom and others,
I would be very interested in hearing your opinions on the Biogon 35 mm, f2.8 lens at this point. I know that Tom has posted lots of pictures taken with it, but doesn't seem to have said too much about it yet. Where do you feel that it fits into the world of M-mount 35s? How does it compare to the CV 35, f2.5 or the Biogon 35, f2?

Thanks very much,
David

 

[Tom A]

The Biogon 35f2.8 is a neat lens. I suspect that it outperforms the 35f2 wide open and it is considerably smaller too. Exactly were it fits in to the line, I am not sure, but any new lenses gives us more choices. I did see and handle the 85f4 TeleTessar at Photokina and this lens falls in the same category as the 35f2.8.
The 35f2.8 has a slightly different rendering than the rest of the ZM lenses. Contrast is "snappier" and sharpness is execellent. However, looking outside today, it would have to be used wide-open even with medium speed film!
If your shooting is mostly in daylight and in color, it would be a good choice and coupled with something like the 50f2.0 Planar and a 21f4.5 ZM Biogon - it would be a nice package.

 

[rlouzan]

Tom,

Leonard McComb, used to say that "the eye sees everything as a 35mm at f2.8"😀

Regards,
Robert

 

[Tom A]

Robert. McComb is probably right on that. I find that the quest for faster and faster lenses is somewhat selfdefeating as they get heavy and as with anything, speed carries a penalty in performance.
I suspect that the 35f2.8 Biogon would do most of us well, just as the Summaron 35f2.8 with Leica.
Having been on the "road" for three weeks I carefully considered my kit before going and in the end it became a Bessa R4M for the 21/4.5 Biogon and the Ultron 28f2.0, a MP 0.58 for the 35f1.4 Nokton SC and a M2 with the ZM 50f1.5. About 40+ rolls later I can say that I only missed a longer lens a couple of times and the 35f2.8 would have worked well in about 75% of the shots. Only time it would have lacked speed would have been at Photokina and in some rather dark retaurants in Germany.
My key decision was that the kit had to be able to be carried all day long without exhausting me. Usually the MP and 35 around my neck, either the R4 or the M2 on the shoulder and "back up" in the bag.
Have to start processing this weekend and that will prove if my selection of lenses/cameras was right in the end.

 

[horosu]

I have this lens and I love it. I bought it for its small size, figuring it would make a nice one-lens-travel outfit. It is very sharp.
Later rather than sooner 🙂D) I will take the plunge and buy a digital M-mount , so the 2.8 maximum aperture doesn't bother me at all.

Horea

 

[davidpg]

Thanks very much for those comments!

David

 

[back alley]

check the flickr 35/2.8 group for some great shots.