ZM Biogon f2 35mm perfect 35mm RF lens? Show your examples

[_tom]

Wind tunnel tube in the Aerodynamic Park in Berlin-Adlershof.
[Zeiss ZM, Biogon T* 35mm f/2, Kodak Professional TriX]

 

[Richard G]

Great lens, wish it was smaller.

That's one of the big trade offs with the Zeiss lenses. The exception is the C Sonnar which is smaller than the Summiluxes. The C Biogon 35 f2.8, on the other hand, is larger than the version 4 35 Summicron, f2. Still, I love all my Zeiss lenses. I don't have this f2 Biogon, and probably won't be getting it.

 

[MCTuomey]

A few of mine:


20090801-005_edited-1-w by Mike Tuomey, on Flickr


L9990455_edited-1-w by Mike Tuomey, on Flickr


20100325-037-w by Mike Tuomey, on Flickr


NOLA Mar 2011-011-burn-Web by Mike Tuomey, on Flickr


NOLA Mar 2011-007-burn-Web by Mike Tuomey, on Flickr


20100131002_1-1_edited-1-w by Mike Tuomey, on Flickr


20100131002-1_edited-1-w by Mike Tuomey, on Flickr

 

[horosu]

I don't see many complaining about the size of the Summicron 50.

Guess what? The Biogon is identical in size.

It is a fantastic lens, no focus shift, zero distortion, even plane of focus.

I had two and sold them to fund a Summilux FLE, but I'll buy another one ASAP. It's that good!

 

[pieter]

I love this lens on my M8.2.


Sunset 5 by PieterAP, on Flickr


l1004182 by PieterAP, on Flickr

 

[joeswe]

I don't see many complaining about the size of the Summicron 50.

Guess what? The Biogon is identical in size.

It's not that easy. Size is more critical for 35mm lenses than 50mm lenses, because the 35mm frame lines are so much wider. A typical Summicron 50 will not touch the 50mm frame on most cameras, but the similar sized Biogon 35 will surely block part of the 35mm frame. In other words, The Summicron 50 can afford to be the same size as the Biogon 35, but it's not necessarily true the other way round. 🙄
A bit of finder blockage is not the end of the world, but personally I don't like when it when lenses intrude too much into the frame. One reason I sold the CV Nokton 1.5/50. Of course YMMV.

 

[filmtwit]

Not that bad usedin the light of day either.

 

[Richard G]

Beautiful shots on this page. A bigger 35 is not so bad, true, and with a digital M already being bigger the balance feels right. But an M6 and a version 4 Summicron is an astoundingly compact package, fitting right in the hand, unobtrusive slung over the shoulder under a jacket. I've never tried the C Biogon on a film M and would definitely leave off the hood. The larger f2 Biogon I reckon I would prefer to the v4 Summicron for its output, but the size sees me stick with the Summicron.

 

[horosu]

It's not that easy. Size is more critical for 35mm lenses than 50mm lenses, because the 35mm frame lines are so much wider. A typical Summicron 50 will not touch the 50mm frame on most cameras, but the similar sized Biogon 35 will surely block part of the 35mm frame. In other words, The Summicron 50 can afford to be the same size as the Biogon 35, but it's not necessarily true the other way round. 🙄
A bit of finder blockage is not the end of the world, but personally I don't like when it when lenses intrude too much into the frame. One reason I sold the CV Nokton 1.5/50. Of course YMMV.

All you say is true and valid, but please take into account another thing: the complete lack of flare on the Biogon, which entitles it to be used without a hood in any situation, whereas, the Summicrons (pre-asph/asph it doesn't matter, they are all the same) suffer from severe flare.

So the total package of Summi+hood has the same length as the Biogon.

 

[Doug]

M8, south shore of Lanzarote

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I thought there was a "35 f/2 Biogon love" thread. Surprising.

Had it, loved it, but the size bugged me, so I stuck to the "cron". The images have a beautiful rendition:







(all w/the M8)

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

 

[filipperke]

Hello,

I want to see a picture of the viewfinder when the biogon 35 is placed on the M camera, how much is blocked?

Grtz

 

[rolfe]

One from my new to me 35mm Biogon.


West Village Pedestrians by rolfe, on Flickr

 

[segedi]

I want to see a picture of the viewfinder when the biogon 35 is placed on the M camera, how much is blocked?

I honestly never notice VF blockage. Some of my lenses creep in and take up nearly a 1/4 of the VF, but somehow my brain puts it all together. Only notice when asked!

With the hood on, I'd say the lower right 1/4 has some blockage without the hood, still some blockage, as occurs with most of my Zeiss lenses. But like I said, until people ask, I never really notice it.

 

[soultheworld]

heres a low lite shot with my biogon. I had a test against the Summicron ASPH today and i must admit that i do prefer the images of the Zeiss.

 

[dunders]

Biogon 2/35

Biogon 2/35

I love mine: it spends most of its time on my GXR, but I've dusted off the ZM recently, so it will just have to work harder!

Some images here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dunders/sets/72157629018984649/

Paul

 

[dvorak]

I'm new to this lens, and rangefinders in general... but not new to photography. Here's one from my first few rolls with my (new to me) ZM with 35/f2.


I would like to claim I have mad parenting skills, but since the walls are hung with Henri Cartier-Bresson and Ansel Adam... and my boy is busy with a stinking smart phone, I guess I have some "education" still to instill in the boy. Maybe it never stops...

Brent

 

[redisburning]

I tested my new biogon against my planar and have to say both of these lenses are excellent, even wide open and up close, in a way I just havent ever experienced with SLR optics.


Untitled by redisburning, on Flickr

Untitled by redisburning, on Flickr

 

[marcr1230]

Paris - Leica MP/35mm Biogon 2.0, Tri-X