what about the cinderella of 35 crons?

[-vin-]

I'm talking about the second version of the 35mm summicron. Anybody would like to share his experience with this lens?

 

[mr_phillip]

I use the third version, which is optically identical to the second but in a slightly different mount. It's a wonderful lens, especially in black and white. Wide open it has decent sharpness and medium contrast; by f8 it's become extremely sharp with very good contrast. Resists flair well too. It's also beautifully made (much nicer than the over-hyped fourth version IMHO).

 

[-vin-]

I use the third version, which is optically identical to the second but in a slightly different mount.

really? I've just seen a thread with some stunning images (avotius was the author). I'm a lucky guy!
By no means the lens seems to be soft.

 

[Atom]

I recently picked up a third version summicron and enjoy it very much. Found for much less on the used market than the fourth or asph models. Haven't had it long enough to give you my final review but it is quite compact and solid. Mine is from '72 and just spent the last three years in China and seems sturdy as ever.

 

[Rayt]

Between the 2nd/3rd versions and the 7 element 4th version bokeh king I'll have to choose the 3rd version. IQ is not worse than the 4th version but handling is better because the tab on the 2nd/3rd versions sits higher from the flange. I can barely control the 4th version if the camera is in a Luigi half case.

 

[mr_phillip]

By no means the lens seems to be soft.

No, it's certainly not soft. Even wide open it has good sharpness. The contrast is a little lower at the max aperture but still pretty good. Both contrast and sharpness pick up as you stop down (as you'd expect), and by f8 it's an awesome performer.

I've never handled a v2, but the v3 is fantastically well made and I'm guessing the v2 is just the same. I've never understood why the v4 is so prized; the build of the ones I've handled clearly isn't as good as the v3, and I've struggled in the past to tell images from the two apart.

I don't know if there's such as a thing as bargain Leica glass, but at the moment the v2 and v3 35mm 'crons seem somewhat undervalued.

 

[Rico]

v2 is quite rare, and eBay samples in the last two years were worn or excessively priced. As noted, the v3 has the same optical design, and renders very similarly to my v4. I like the v3 so much, I own two. v2 and v3 have superior DOF scale, v4 has easy aperture ring. Would like to try the v2 aperture tab one day...

 

[-vin-]

v2 is quite rare, and eBay samples in the last two years were worn or excessively priced. As noted, the v3 has the same optical design, and renders very similarly to my v4. I like the v3 so much, I own two. v2 and v3 have superior DOF scale, v4 has easy aperture ring. Would like to try the v2 aperture tab one day...

Hi, Rico! Have you got any picture that shows the differences between the 3 and the 4?
Here's the post from avotius. http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58642&highlight=35mm+summicron

 

[like2fiddle]

I have the v2 and like it very much. The one thing I really don't care for is the aperture tab. Regardless of which hand I try to operate it with, I block a finder.