What 35mm?

[shayallen]

I am new to range finders and just got an Leica M7 and 50 F2 SUMMICRON-M BLACK (GERMANY)... I am trying to decide on a 35mm lens to get as well. I am not sure weather or not to save up for another Leica lens or to go with a Voigtlander 35/2.5 that seems to be reviewed very well. there are three different versions of the Voigtlander 35/2.5 lens and I dont know which one to get. I really liked what Sean Reid website said about them but I am not sure which one he was talking about. Any thoughts would be very helpful! thanks

 

[Benjamin]

The Voigtlander lenses are optically great, and the 35mm PII is certainly comparable to the pre-asph Summicron, though the quality of the housing doesn't really get close to the Leica. In short, it won't last as long or take as much hard use. Obviously it all depends upon how much you are likely to make use of the lens, and how much money you're willing to part with.

 

[jja]

Since you are new to rangefinders, my advice is to wait a good while (at least 6 months, if not a year) to get comfortable with what you have. Learn your camera and learn your 50, then you will have a sense if your second lens needs to be a 35, 28, or maybe 75 or 90 (or maybe none at all).

Once you decide on a second lens, and if it is to be a 35mm, I highly recommend the Summicron Asph. I started w/ the Voigtlander, and while it is no doubt a great lens, I have been won over by the contrast, sharpness, smoothness, and color rendition of my Asph. Many users here on RFF love their Zeiss Biogons, UC-Hexanons, Summilux Asphs., etc., etc.--all excellent, excellent lenses that you should consider--but I have found my Summicron Asph. good enough not to be tempted by anything else.

Good luck and welcome!

 

[RichardB]

Advice above is good, wait until you know the limitations of your 50mm and how you like to shoot. You may decide you never want a 35mm.-Dick

 

[tbarker13]

Life is short. Get a 35 and enjoy it.
The CV35 II is a nice lens.

 

[tbarker13]

Funny. I feel more creative when I have at least two lenses🙂

 

[SimonSawSunlight]

get a 35mm f1.2 nokton and something very compact and not so fast.
for example a 35mm f2.5 skopar or an old screw mount elmar 35mm 3.5 or something like that. =)

if you don't want that, nothing wrong with a 35mm summicron!

 

[b.espahbod]

CV is good but if you are serious about 35mm go get a Summicron-M 35mm f/2 (7 element) King of Bokeh and stay with it 😀

 

[shayallen]

Thanks for all the thoughts guy they are very helpful I think I might try to get the cv for now and then sell on ebay in 6 mos. or so then try to upgrade... thanks

 

[ampguy]

Keep your eyes out for this one

Keep your eyes out for this one

the v3 35/2 cron can be found for less than the V4 and not too much more than a CV. I've owned the v4 and asph, and this 6 element design has a lot of optical advantages and is much more compact than the asph version.

Great flare resistance, with 6 elements instead of 7 or 8. Yet, has the signature "glow" and bokeh equal or better than the more modern ones.

Thanks for all the thoughts guy they are very helpful I think I might try to get the cv for now and then sell on ebay in 6 mos. or so then try to upgrade... thanks

 

[shayallen]

What is v3 35/2 cron? sorry I was a nikon digital guy till last week! Now its all on ebay if anyone needs some! 🙂 Where would be the best place to find a v3 35/2 cron?

 

[ampguy]

It's the one before the V4

It's the one before the V4

It's the '70s 35 Cron, when quality still mattered. S/N's are 2,4xx.xxx to 2,9xx,xxx range.

Try keh.com, classifieds here, photo.net, kevinscameras, etc.

What is v3 35/2 cron? sorry I was a nikon digital guy till last week! Now its all on ebay if anyone needs some! 🙂 Where would be the best place to find a v3 35/2 cron?

 

[ampguy]

hood issues

hood issues

The original hood for this lens, which is also used by the 35 pre-asph summilux is about ~$100 by itself, I have it, but find I don't need it, so if you can find a lens without this hood, you can possibly save some here.

What is v3 35/2 cron? sorry I was a nikon digital guy till last week! Now its all on ebay if anyone needs some! 🙂 Where would be the best place to find a v3 35/2 cron?

 

[jja]

Uh oh, Amguy, let's not confuse the new guy!

While the v.3 Summicron is certainly a great value and a great performer, you cannot objectively say that "this 6 element design has a lot of optical advantages" over the the asph. version (at least that is what your statement implies). In fact, the point of the Asph. design is that it holds "optical advantages" beyond all previous versions. In the end, however, it is up to the shooter to decide the look he/she is after. I have owned a CLA'd v.2 Summicron (6 elements like the v.3) concurrently with the Asph., and I liked the look of the asph. better.

 

[jenik]

If you are willing to compromise a bit on the 35 mm, consider the 40/2 Summicron-C. Cheap (relatively) and amazingly good.

 

[ampguy]

well here are some facts then

well here are some facts then

1. The V3 Cron makes as good or better photos than the Cron ASPH to my eyes.

2. The V3 has lighter optics than the Cron ASPH

3. The V3 has smaller optics and package size than the Cron ASPH

4. The V3 has fewer optical elements to cause internal reflections, weight, opportunity for mis-alignment, etc.

5. The V3 can be found for less than an ASPH.

So what are the objective advantages of the ASPH? Well, for a '90s lens, while getting bigger and heavier, it did not get too much worse than the originals. And I have taken thousands (maybe tens of thousands) of photos with these lenses.

Uh oh, Amguy, let's not confuse the new guy!

While the v.3 Summicron is certainly a great value and a great performer, you cannot objectively say that "this 6 element design has a lot of optical advantages" over the the asph. version (at least that is what your statement implies). In fact, the point of the Asph. design is that it holds "optical advantages" beyond all previous versions. In the end, however, it is up to the shooter to decide the look he/she is after. I have owned a CLA'd v.2 Summicron (6 elements like the v.3) concurrently with the Asph., and I liked the look of the asph. better.

 

[jja]

"...to my eys." Thanks, that was my point exactly.

 

[aldobonnard]

hi,
you have got the top in terms of body and optics, so the ideal would be to stay with Leica, their 35mm are without a shadow of a doubt a generation ahead. I mean they have no flaw. Contrast, resolution, subtle tones, flare resistance, flatness of the field, even from center to corners, and value for money (yes, really). I have used voigtlander's (1.2 and 1.4) and left them, did not suit my needs (especially bokeh-wise, terrible).
Sure...Leica's come at a price...unless second hand.
However, first of all, probably best is to follow the previous advices, see what kind of picture you like to take, in what conditions (ex: low light), and that will guide you to decide which is best for your needs.
Both voigtlander and Leica lenses have their own character; I personnally use different lenses depending on the body (film/digital), the subject, the conditions, and/or the type of film.
Possibly, a cheap option is the new summarit 35mm 2.5. It is a better performer than the summicron IV, but still follows the same optical design which will guarantee you the legendary leica feel of the summicron IV. It opens only at f/2.5 but that's not far from f/2, and with B&W film you have all the required latitude to compensate.

 

[loneranger]

To 'my eyes', the UC hexanon beats them all in terms of bokeh, sharpness and overall character. Kind of hard to find though.

 

[Pablito]

CV is good but if you are serious about 35mm go get a Summicron-M 35mm f/2 (7 element) King of Bokeh and stay with it 😀

Serious? You are not any less serious about your photography if you choose the CV lens. Some of the greatest photographers in the history of the medium chose less expensive equipment quite simply because it was less expensive and there was little or no compromise in quality.

The Voigtlander lenses are optically great, and the 35mm PII is certainly comparable to the pre-asph Summicron, though the quality of the housing doesn't really get close to the Leica.

I have both the Summicron and the CV; the lens barrel on the Summicron and its overall build is not great. The focus on the Summicron is very stiff and I've sent it both to Leica AND Sherry Krauter to be relubed. Sherry told me the problem is just poor quality control in manufacturing. At least she did not charge me since she was not able to improve the problem (unlike Leica, which of course charged plenty).