Which 35 to "dump"?

[Juan Valdenebro]

Keep the CV 1.2 for special moments: it's the different one... Sell the other two and get a Biogon C 2.8 for top image quality daylight shooting.
Cheers,
Juan

 

[Ronald M]

Summicron ASPH

 

[Ansel]

Summicron ASPH

+1. Sell the lot and get the Summicron ASPH. Sublime lens. You will not regret it.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

To OP: with a Summicron only, you would lose one and a half f-stops compared to the Voigtlander, quite a difference in shutter speeds in low light, and you'd also lose the wonderful bokeh the f1.2 has, not to mention that it's able to defocus background a lot more than the Summicron at any focused distance... Every lens has limits, but the Voigtlander is perhaps the most complete 35 ever... If you want to be able to do less things, then sell the f1.2... It's a bit big, but not too much: my 90 Summicron is two or three times bigger and heavier, but its glass size produces a nicer image than smaller lenses...
Cheers,
Juan

 

[kingqueenknave]

... one of the advantages of the Summaron is that deep recess the front element is in ... much better protected and shaded than any of the others so it's much more practical when actually taking photos

I have a hard time believing any of these lenses walk the line of impracticability when "actually taking photos." Still, I'd ditch them all and purchase a Summicron.

 

[bonatto]

Never tried the 1.2 CV, would like to. The Summaron is unique and is staying in the kit. The Zeiss I had and sold, don't miss it. Given your kit, the Zeiss is right in between and could go. The one stop difference from the Summaron shouldn't get in the way during daylight, and F2, at night, is pushing it on 400 film, so selling all to go to a Summicron, or sell both ends and keep the Zeiss seems to thin your versatility.

 

[Rayt]

Over the years I have owned all three and would keep the Zeiss based on performance. I didn't like the CV at all except at f1.2 when the look was unique. The Summaron is a very very nice lens, sharper than its cousin the Summicron but f2.8 was too limiting as I do a lot of low light.

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

I see zeiss has less votes overall 🙂

I would dump 35 f1.2, how many special moments you can have. I always wanted to try Nokton but I am not sure I would carry it everyday due its size. So zeiss for color, modern rendering and summaron for old school look on B&W.

 

[asiafish]

Sell them all and get the Summarit 35/2.5 AND HAVE CHANGE. The Summarit is a fantastic little lens, with probably the best bokeh available at 35mm (just not much of it).

35mm is also my favorite focal length. I have 5 50mm lenses, but haven't wanted or needed anything other than the Summarit at 35mm. It is easily my most-used lens on the M5 and my digitals.

 

[shadowfox]

Unless you have a string of memorable images taken using the CV at f/1.2, I'd dump the big lens.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Another way to see it:
The only lens among those three than can be absolutely necessary, absolutely decisive, is the 1.2, because of its speed... Now, if you're not sure about what to dump, it's clear you're not in love with any of them in special... Why don't you sell the Zeiss and the Leica and try another 35, maybe a small one? You'll have fun and will have the fastest one and a compact one...
Cheers,
Juan

 

[menos]

Sell all three of them, buy yourself a Konica UC-Hexanon 35/2 and film or travel expenses from the money you have left over from the sale.

 

[raid]

Size and weight do make a difference when you need to reduce both for a trip. I am now preparing for a trip, and I will most likely replace the CV 50/1,5 with a smaller and lighter lens to make carrying a small camera bag more manageable in the trip.

In your case, you may want to think about this issue too.

 

[semilog]

Dump the Summaron.

The Biogon has the best flare suppression, color, and overall sharpness of the three.

The Summicron has a bit of 2nd order pincushion distortion. Unlike the Summicron or any other 35 you've mentioned, the Biogon has essentially no distortion at all.

The Nokton has a unique look and lets you shoot in the dark.

 

[Cyriljay]

Ideally, I'd say dump them all for a Summicron, but I'd say your best bet is keep the Zeiss, if you have to keep one. Sounds like its the best compromise. For me personally, I shoot the 35 the most in low-light situations, so my 35 Skopar had to go, but in the same situations i don't think I could deal with carrying around something as big as the 1.2.

My advise is similar as above

Get rid of all and get a good 35mm Summicron Asph . I have one and it was my first lens for M6 . Then I bought 50mm and 90mm Cron which saved all my time without waisting time and asking around questions but to keep on doing photography.😀

 

[MCTuomey]

Dump the lot and buy a Summilux 35/1.4 ASPH FLE!!! You'll have to chip in some extra moolah on top of the sale proceeds but the FLE is the one 35mm lens to rule them all 😀

+1 I didn't have enough for the FLE but managed to get the non-FLE ASPH. As much as I like the Biogon 35/2 I've used for awhile, I may sell it for lack of use. I like the summilux 35 more than I thought I would, should have bought one earlier. The summilux doesn't reinforce the Kodachrome look of M9 files like the Zeiss does (those zeiss colors) and doesn't have the biogon's noted lack of imperfections, but it renders truly beautifully to my eye, the only 35 i need.

 

[semilog]

Dump the lot and buy a Summilux 35/1.4 ASPH FLE!!! You'll have to chip in some extra moolah on top of the sale proceeds but the FLE is the one 35mm lens to rule them all 😀

Actually, I like the rendering of the pre-FLE better. And I like the 35/2.8 C-Biogon even better than that.

(I'm on my second copy of both lenses, which says something about how much I like them.)

A really under-appreciated 35 is the Leica Summarit f/2.5. IMO it may have the best rendering of any Leica 35 ever made. Very, very close to the C-Biogon with a higher price, a smidge more distortion, and a bit less vignetting. I could shoot with that lens for the rest of my life and be happy. Wonderful glass.

There are SO many great 35's in M-mount.

 

[MCTuomey]

Actually, I like the rendering of the pre-FLE better. And I like the 35/2.8 C-Biogon even better than that.

Agree - none of the 35's i've used come as close to the rendering style of the pre-FLE summilux as the c-biogon.

 

[CK Dexter Haven]

Sell all, and get a 35/2 ASPH. Don't worry about the 'latest' version.
It does 'classic,' it does 'modern.' The one lens i miss from my Leica days.

 

[semilog]

Sell all, and get a 35/2 ASPH. Don't worry about the 'latest' version.
It does 'classic,' it does 'modern.' The one lens i miss from my Leica days.

A valid approach. I'll say it again: the are a lot of phenomenally good 35's in M-mount.