Richard G
Veteran
Here's the 35 C Biogon picture I remembered.
Which 35mm M lens?
- Thread starter mrtoml
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38Deardorff
Well-known
Since it hasn't been mentioned, if i were after a faster 35mm my choice would be the steel-rim Summilux reissue...
yossi
Well-known
Hmm.. howcome no one mention this superb 35mm lens: Leitz Summaron 35mm f2.8 (my favorite 35mm lens).
A lens test report published in the Viewfinder magazine showed that the Summaron lens' overall performance is better than the famous 8E Summicron & the V4 "Bokeh King".
Of course this is a 1958-lens. To find one in perfect condition is not easy and it may cost more than £1000. Still..
A lens test report published in the Viewfinder magazine showed that the Summaron lens' overall performance is better than the famous 8E Summicron & the V4 "Bokeh King".
Of course this is a 1958-lens. To find one in perfect condition is not easy and it may cost more than £1000. Still..
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Rayt
Nonplayer Character
I shoot b/w and prefer a vintage Leitz lens. If I shot color then the Zeiss 35/1,4 Distagon would be my choice.
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Freakscene
Obscure member
How come? Because @mrtoml asked about 35s in the context of wanting a ZM 35/1.4.
yossi
Well-known
"Any others I should be looking at? It will be a general purpose lens.
Beemermark
Veteran
I have a couple of the Zeiss lenses. Great lenses but big, oops I mean huge. My 35 Summicron (V3 or V4 I forget) tends to stay on my camera 75% of the time. Second is the V5 50mm Summicron. I don't do long. Have way too many 21mm to recommend one, but the very first 21mm SA is a jewel.
Freakscene
Obscure member
I do not think of an f2.8 as general purpose. I guess no-one else did either.
The Summaron is very nice, but they are overpriced, particularly given than an increasing number of them are developing serious optical problems. They were built mechanically so that they would last forever, but the coatings, lubricants and glass types don’t last as long as their workings, sadly.
skahde
V for Victory!
The Distagon 1.4/35 has a reputation for highest optical quality combined with mouthwatering rendering but considering it as a general purpose lens I would realize that after a few times carrying it I would start to ask myself if I could achieve similar results with a more compact setup and just put my relatively cheap Ultron 2/35 on my M4. It can do wonderful things too. But my general purpose may not be yours.
ellisson
Well-known
I have never used the Zeiss Distagon 35 1.4 lens but have read much about its sharpness and rendering. I could imagine someone considering it a general purpose lens as much as others preferring the smaller and lighter Zeiss Biogen C 35mm 2.8 lens as general purpose lens. I use the Leica Summaron 35 f2.8 for film work because of its small size and weight on long outings. Attached are some landscapes with that lens. I bought it about 15 years ago for good price. I have not used it much if at all on digital. On an M11, I use the most recent Summilux M 35 mm 1.4 asph FLE reissue with a close focusing distance of 1.3 feet. Here, after the summaron images, is a film image with the Summilux 35 1.4mm lens before I had an M11.
[/URL]
Ohio Farmland
Leica M5 Summaron 35mm f2.8 Kodak Porta 160
Ohio Farmland
Leica M5 Summaron 35mm f 2.8. Porta 160
One with the Summilux 35 f1.4 asph FLE version II lens, M6, Ilford XP2 film:
Uphill
[/URL]Ohio Farmland
Leica M5 Summaron 35mm f2.8 Kodak Porta 160
Ohio Farmland
Leica M5 Summaron 35mm f 2.8. Porta 160
One with the Summilux 35 f1.4 asph FLE version II lens, M6, Ilford XP2 film:
Uphill
mrtoml
Mancunian
I used to have the Summaron 35/2.8 many years ago. It was indeed a fantastic lens. I would buy one, but as Freakscene says they are overpriced these days.
mrtoml
Mancunian
Thanks for all the great replies.
As I think I said above I have used the Zeiss 35/2.8. I may well get another one, but from what I have read the 35/1.4 is a rather special lens holding up to the 'lux without the massive price tag (although it is still not cheap).
I also don't think that I will notice the weight given that I am used to lugging around much heavier gear such as medium format and DSLRs. So for me the 35/1.4 could be a walkabout lens on my M10M with the bonus of the extra 2 stops, nice rendering and super sharpness.
I also have the Biogon 28/2.8 and Planar 50/2 if I want something lighter, but for me the weight isn't the primary issue.
yossi
Well-known
Someday people may consider the newly minted 35mm f1.2 Noctilux a general purpose lens. Well it is not that heavy. 😉
Godfrey
somewhat colored
I don't need another 35mm lens, but if I were going to buy a new lens now, and had the money, I'd buy that new Noctilux 35/1.2.
... But that's a good bit to spend.
I can't see any reason why it wouldn't be a great "general purpose" lens if my experience with Leica lenses is of any value. 🤔
G
... But that's a good bit to spend.
I can't see any reason why it wouldn't be a great "general purpose" lens if my experience with Leica lenses is of any value. 🤔
G
mrtoml
Mancunian
Godfrey
somewhat colored
yup ...
The vast majority of the time, the LTM Voigtländer Color-Skopar 35mm f/2.5 that I keep on my Leica IIIc as my "standard lens" is fast enough and a great "general purpose" lens. I'm one of those photographers who normally shoots at f/4 to f/8 with almost any focal length. 😉
The big plus, to me, of the new Noctilux 35mm is that with the digital M bodies, it focuses closer than .7m and you can use Live View to be sure you have the critical focus set correctly.
G
das
Well-known
As an aside, it bugs me that the ZM 35mm f/2.8 "Biogon" is not even close to resembling the original "Biogon" design. If one really wants a true "modern" Biogon, the VC 35mm f/2.5 comes close. 🙂.
Freakscene
Obscure member
LCT
ex-newbie
If you look for a fast and sharp 35 and the size and weight of the ZM 35/1.4 are not a problem, why not choosing this lens? Too expensive? If so, did you think of the Nokton 35/1.5 asph? Similar IQ and size as the current Summicron with the added benefit of f/1.5 and a 0.5m MFD it is perhaps the best modern 35/1.4 (35/1.5) available below 1,000 GBP. Couple of snaps at f/1.5 and f/2.8 attached.
Harry the K
Well-known
A customized quotation from a Bob Dylan song:
Zeiss and Voigtlaender know what you need, but Leica knows what you want.
