ZM Biogon f2 35mm perfect 35mm RF lens? Show your examples
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uhoh7
Veteran
Here is Puts:
"This is a nine-element lens in six groups. At full aperture there is a fair amount of coma, but hardly any curvature of field. The coma does reduce the overall contrast quite visible. At f/4 coma is gone completely and the lens from there is an outstanding performer. Compared to the Summicron-M 2/35 ASPH the ZM has better curvature of field, but less contrast and crisp definition wide open. Performance on axis is equal between both lenses. This Biogon is a bit overstretched as a high-speed design. The design itself does not support high-speed lenses and it would have been better if the marketing people of Zeiss had restricted themselves to an aperture of 2.8.
The original 35mm lens for the Contarex has an aperture of 4 and was already at that aperture almost diffraction limited. Had this lens been a 2.8 design, it would have much better performance. Stopped down as it is now the performance from aperture 4 is beyond reproach, but at wider apertures it is at the level of the fourth generation of the Leica Summicron 35 lens."
He goes on:
"Wide open the lens records fine detail with smooth delineation of subject outlines form centre to corner. There is hardly any vignetting and stray light is well suppressed. Background unsharpness washes away all detail and holds the major subject outlines, but these are quite blurred. Stopping down to smaller apertures you get outstandingly good imagery with very crisp images and excellent definition of small detail that holds even in specular highlights, giving the images a powerful expression.
Colors are neutral and hold subtle hues quite well.
At closer distances the lens records fine detail with good contrast, but more with finesse than with crispness.
In contre-jour lighting, the Biogon 35 retains the definition of detail in the shadow areas and suppresses halo-ing around highlights very well. Only wide open the edges of tree branches become grey-ish."
Summary: faster than f/4 the asph cron is better. But once you hit f/4 the biogon is superb.
"This is a nine-element lens in six groups. At full aperture there is a fair amount of coma, but hardly any curvature of field. The coma does reduce the overall contrast quite visible. At f/4 coma is gone completely and the lens from there is an outstanding performer. Compared to the Summicron-M 2/35 ASPH the ZM has better curvature of field, but less contrast and crisp definition wide open. Performance on axis is equal between both lenses. This Biogon is a bit overstretched as a high-speed design. The design itself does not support high-speed lenses and it would have been better if the marketing people of Zeiss had restricted themselves to an aperture of 2.8.
The original 35mm lens for the Contarex has an aperture of 4 and was already at that aperture almost diffraction limited. Had this lens been a 2.8 design, it would have much better performance. Stopped down as it is now the performance from aperture 4 is beyond reproach, but at wider apertures it is at the level of the fourth generation of the Leica Summicron 35 lens."
He goes on:
"Wide open the lens records fine detail with smooth delineation of subject outlines form centre to corner. There is hardly any vignetting and stray light is well suppressed. Background unsharpness washes away all detail and holds the major subject outlines, but these are quite blurred. Stopping down to smaller apertures you get outstandingly good imagery with very crisp images and excellent definition of small detail that holds even in specular highlights, giving the images a powerful expression.
Colors are neutral and hold subtle hues quite well.
At closer distances the lens records fine detail with good contrast, but more with finesse than with crispness.
In contre-jour lighting, the Biogon 35 retains the definition of detail in the shadow areas and suppresses halo-ing around highlights very well. Only wide open the edges of tree branches become grey-ish."
Summary: faster than f/4 the asph cron is better. But once you hit f/4 the biogon is superb.
mcfingon
Western Australia
If Zeiss had used the original Biogon design with part of the lens inside the camera lens throat, it could have been more compact, but I guess they thought there were too many problems with hitting bits of the camera. Sigh.
gavinlg
Veteran
Holy Moly that's terrible.
NaChase
Well-known
This is the only shot I have that looks like this. It's a great lens for all actual, non wide-open bright light silliness.
Monz
Monz
Monz
Monz
BLKRCAT
75% Film
kiemchacsu
Well-known
Then you have a Leica Summicron. LOL
Biogon 2/35 ZM at f/5.6
At f/2
and, at f/6.8
At f/2
and, at f/6.8
uhoh7
Veteran
I do lust a bit for the new ZM 35/1.4 which is off the hook at high speed, and everywhere else. Too big, but not too heavy.
I will just have to muddle through with this thing, here at f/4:
Checkin it by unoh7, on Flickr
I will just have to muddle through with this thing, here at f/4:
Checkin it by unoh7, on Flickr
lynnb
Veteran
Doug, I really like #1 and #2. Lots of other good samples in this thread. Makes me want an M-mount just to use this lens! I remember Amy Medina (DangRabbit) posted impressive samples with this lens and her M8.2. a few years ago.
Is this lens available in other mounts? I have LTM and M42 bodies - the nearest seems to be the 35mm Flektagon 2.4/2.8 but that's obviously a different lens.
Is this lens available in other mounts? I have LTM and M42 bodies - the nearest seems to be the 35mm Flektagon 2.4/2.8 but that's obviously a different lens.
Antielectrons
Established
Size and ergonomics are a negative for this lens in my experience, at least on my M4. Much prefer the smaller summicrons.
I love my zeiss lenses for hasselblad but they just dont do it for me on 35mm rangefinders.
I really wish they would address the size and ergonomics issues in future releases.
I love my zeiss lenses for hasselblad but they just dont do it for me on 35mm rangefinders.
I really wish they would address the size and ergonomics issues in future releases.
For RF lenses, small size is a Leica thing, otherwise small lenses tend to be slower. Zeiss has a different design philosophy, avoiding aspheric surfaces for one, and that has consequences in size and weight.
There's a 35mm f/2 Zeiss Distagon for several SLR mounts, though obviously it has different optical construction. I have 28 f/2 Distagon ZK, 50 f/1.4 Planar ZK, and 85 f/1.4 Planar ZK for Pentax SLR, and they show the Zeiss brilliance, but they're larger/heavier than similar Pentax lenses. I think they're only for Canon and Nikon mount these days but there are used lenses out there in other mounts... including Pentax screw mount (ZS?) and IIRC Olympus OM.
Thanks Lynn!
There's a 35mm f/2 Zeiss Distagon for several SLR mounts, though obviously it has different optical construction. I have 28 f/2 Distagon ZK, 50 f/1.4 Planar ZK, and 85 f/1.4 Planar ZK for Pentax SLR, and they show the Zeiss brilliance, but they're larger/heavier than similar Pentax lenses. I think they're only for Canon and Nikon mount these days but there are used lenses out there in other mounts... including Pentax screw mount (ZS?) and IIRC Olympus OM.
Thanks Lynn!
lawrence
Veteran
Antonio, Lisbon. May 2015. Tmax 100 in Xtol 1+1.
Roman Bridge, Allariz, Spain. June 2015. Foma 100 in Xtol 1+1.
Bille
Well-known
Looks like a perfectly well-behaved lens. I´d prefer one with stronger signature though. Say pre-asph Summilux or the 35 Noktons.
Anyone have a few samples at f2?
Anyone have a few samples at f2?
raid
Dad Photographer
I just bought such a lens
I just bought such a lens
I bought a Biogon 35/2 (black) with its hood.
It will complement my pre-asph Summilux and the first version Summicron.
Raid
I just bought such a lens
I bought a Biogon 35/2 (black) with its hood.
It will complement my pre-asph Summilux and the first version Summicron.
Raid
horosu
Well-known
Here are two of them. I had this lens twice and it really was impressive. I think it is, by far the most versatile+best lens for rangefinderphotography. I also love the C-Biogon, but the size of bigger brother (35/2) was just perfect for my hands. Besides, the price is almost the same and you get one extra stop. I foolishly sold it to buy a Summilux 35 and now I think about doing the reverse 🙂).
On the M9
On film
On the M9
On film
whitecat
Lone Range(find)er
It's the best lens I own.
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