Which '35 M mount and Why?

[mfunnell]

My most-used 35 is the UC Hexanon 35/f2, which I really like for it's size and handling and also it's rendering wide open or nearly so, and when stopped down to f8 or narrower. I'm less convinced, though, at stops narrower than f8 and wider than about f2.8 - the rendering sometimes works for me and sometimes doesn't. I had planned to get a ZM 35/f2 Biogon as an alternative - but an M-Hexanon 35/f2 came my way and I couldn't pass it up. I find the M-Hexanon a good honest performer at all apertures. That leaves me a bit indecisive about which 35 to take along when I want to use one. Often (but far from all the time) it ends up being the UC Hexanon for the ergonomics, but mostly for the occasional "specialness" it can deliver.

...Mike

[raid]

It seems that we have such a poll each three months. My top choice is still the Version 1 Summicron.

[astro8]

Summilux pre-asph....I was quite happy with the Canon 35/1.8 until this seductress came along.

[buzzardkid]

Konica L-Hexanon 35/2.0.

Screw mount lens. 1,000 pcs made in 1996.

I'm not selling it, ever. The prices on the equal-quality Summicron 35/2.0 have risen way beyond 'insane' and nobody seems to appreciate this lens for what it is, there have been several for sale for a long time on eBay while nobody picks them up. I have yet to meet somebody else online who owns one. (anybody here?)

It's a stellar lens and it handles real nice.

[Erik van Straten]

The Summicron version 1. Fits the M2 perfectly.

Erik.

[Gee]

Hmm.. Voted the Lux ASPH
Don't have it, I do have the Nokton 1.2 and the Color skopar 2.5 Both have there good and bad sides.

I guess at one point I will just have to brake down and get the lux asph!

[kossi008]

I voted the 35 mm C-Biogon and that's, in fact, the only 35 I have. I keep thinking about getting an additional CV 35/1.2 or trading the C-Biogon for it's bigger sibling for the extra stop, but I always stay with the 35/2.8 because it's so compact and sharp.

[chrismoret]

The Biogon f2 is almost my standard mounted. Reason for buying? Price-quality ratio. Paying 2400 euro's for a 35mm Summicron or 900 euro's for the Biogon...

[Lflex]

I have a 'Cron v3 and the Nokton SC 1.4 and I am very satisfied with both. If I imagine that they got stolen and I only got enough insurance compensation to buy one, I would take the Nokton and pocket the difference. In this case the Nokton is more versatile with its 1.4 and the size penalty is almost non existent.

[jarski]

dont have a single "cant do without" - lens, but voted Summarit as its small, light and high quality Leica lens.

[Nigel Meaby]

Originally Posted by Gee

Hmm.. Voted the Lux ASPH
Don't have it, I do have the Nokton 1.2 and the Color skopar 2.5 Both have there good and bad sides.

I guess at one point I will just have to brake down and get the lux asph!

Gee I checked your homepage and discovered you are Gustav Larsson who rides for Vacansoleil! Just want to say I'm a keen cyclist and follower of cycling and that was one heck of a performance to finish 31st in Paris Roubaix. I watched it from the comfort of my armchair and I felt every cobble with you!

Welcome to RFF there are plenty of keen cyclists here. There is a bike thread somewhere. I'm sure someone will find it for me.

[Nigel Meaby]

Hmm Helen where did your post go? I was just going to compliment you as that's exactly the type of post I was hoping for with personal opinion and passion for your lens choices. Although I was expecting you to be favouring the ASPH over any other so your choice surprised me, albeit pleasantly

[sleepyhead]

Over the last 20 years I've used (in some cases only briefly) 5 lenses on the Poll list, plus the CV 35/2.5, an old Elmar 35/3.5, the tri-Elmar f/4, a Canon 35/1.8, and a Canon 35mm f/2.

The ones from the list were: CV 1.2 Nokton, Summilux pre-ASPH, Summilux ASPH, Summicron V1, and Summicron V4.

In my experience, they are all more-or-less great and/or very capable lenses. (The Summilux ASPH and the Nokton 1.2 are the overall best optically in IMHO). But I ended keeping the Summicron V4 as the best FOR ME in terms of all-around size, ergonomics, optical and mechanical quality, filter thread size, and price (I got an optically perfect "beater" for a good price).

I actually preferred the Summicron V1 to the V4 (my example of the V1 was extremely sharp in the center of the field, with very pleasing overall imaging character, and the build-quality was better than the V4). But, it was chrome and I wasn't crazy about the "chrome lens on black body look". If I ever in my life find a BLACK PAINT Summicron V1 that I can afford (yeah, right), then I will switch and "be done".

Other thoughts: trading away the Summilux ASPH was painful, as I really loved it (not as big as the 1.2 Nokton), and really lovely images, but ultimately I decided to not have "duplicates" in any given focal length (except 50mm which I just can't help - I got a 28mm Summicron ASPH for it, so that eased the pain.

The CV 35mm f/2.5 is really BY FAR, the best bang for the buck, IMO. Fantastic image quality, and small and great ergonomics. If I ever need to make some lens decisions based purely on economics, then this is the one I would buy.

This is probably just me, but I HATED the Canon 35mm F/2. I thought the bokeh was intolerable, the weird filter size and ergonomics were just nails in the coffin for me. And didn't focus particularly close if I remember correctly.

[Jubb Jubb]

My 35mm Summicron IV is the best lens I have ever owned.
It is very very sharp...

[zuiko85]

I have a CV 35mm f2.5 PII. Why? It fell in my lap for a good price from a neighbor I trusted. He said the lens was too 'clinical' for him.

Retired and limited income narrows lens purchase options considerably. Just don't have the worries over whether this Leitz or that Ziess is a 'better' lens. I would like a 50mm lens to round out my RF setup. I'm going to look at modest f2.8 FSU glass.

[Red Rock Bill]

The first version Wetzler is the only 35 I own.I bought it 25 years or so ago on consignment in a shop in Santa Fe.I didn't know at the time exactly what I was buying.I needed a 35 for my M2.At the time I was shooting Tri-x and all was well. Today I use it on my M8 and all is still well....and yes it goes back on the M2 as I am still shooting film from time to time.....this is a wonderful lens without harshness (hope I'm making sense) I had Sherry give a once over a couple of years ago.A well deserved tune up. Regards,Bill

[Phil_F_NM]

Currently the only 35mm I have is a very early V2 Summilux (with infinity lock.) It became my most used and also my favorite lens over the last few years. The one I miss is my old UC Hexanon. If I ever get rid of the 'Lux, I'll be replacing it with a UC Hexanon for sure.

Phil Forrest

[srtiwari]

Originally Posted by buzzardkid

Konica L-Hexanon 35/2.0.

Screw mount lens. 1,000 pcs made in 1996.

I'm not selling it, ever. The prices on the equal-quality Summicron 35/2.0 have risen way beyond 'insane' and nobody seems to appreciate this lens for what it is, there have been several for sale for a long time on eBay while nobody picks them up. I have yet to meet somebody else online who owns one. (anybody here?)

It's a stellar lens and it handles real nice.

Yes, I do own one- Black. It is an incredible lens- a "sleeper" in these days of insane prices.

[Johann Espiritu]

I have both the Nokton 1.2 and 'Cron ASPH, and greatly love both of them - especially how different they are. If I had to have one, it would be the 'Cron (as I use it more, and it is easier to handle). I've also has a Color Skopar "Classic", which I sold after I got the 'Cron ASPH.

Some samples from both lenses:

Summicron on M7:


Art Connection by The Johann Espiritu™, on Flickr

Summicron on M9:


Loot by The Johann Espiritu™, on Flickr

Nokton on M7:


Marga by The Johann Espiritu™, on Flickr

Nokton on M9:


Bunny [+Honey] by The Johann Espiritu™, on Flickr

(All M9 photos processed with Silver Efex Pro 2)

[buzzardkid]

Made my move to see if there's any possibility to shoot a Summilux or Summicron in the near future... (see sig)

[teddy]

Leitz Summaron 35/2.8, wide open. Arista EDU 100. Adonal 1/100 @ 60 mins.


Summaron 35/2.8 - because it's very sharp wide open, it gives extended and lovely tonality in black and white. Colour work has a very nice "vintage" look. It has no chromatic aberrations and this is extremely important for my colour photography. It's a legendary lens - small, compact - great focus tab. It has an edge over the Summicron in my opinion.

[rommelgc]

over the years, i've tried several 35's ... the pre-ASPH 'lux is definitely a keeper ... and it is on one of my camera bodies always. small and fast.

i had bad luck with the Biogon 2/35 ... it is longer than the 'lux, longer still with the metal hood. i also had the barrel wobble, i don't think the wobble affects image quality though. and worse of all the helicoid dried up on me making focus using a one or two fingers impossible.

[Harry Lime]

Summilux-M 1.4/35 ASPH

The best all around lens I have ever used. It's been welded to one of my M bodies ever since I bought it about 8 years ago.
I really don't know what I would do if something happened to it, especially in light of what the new one costs. I paid $1800 for mine, as a dealer demo unit.

- Razor sharp even at f1.4, but far from clinical.
- Medium contrast, but good micro contrast. The faintest touch of glow.
- Incredibly versatile. Neither too wide nor narrow.
- The size is perfect, especially if you dump the square hood. I replaced mine with a screw in hood from Contax, that I cut a vent in to.

Close second:

Summicron-M 2/35 (v4)
Just makes great pictures, especially in b/w. Performance at f2 is surprisingly strong.
Love the compact size.

[Moriturii]

Accidently got my hand on two Cron v4's.

I didn't used to like 35mm, I thought it was somewhere in between 28 and 50, a sort of a no-mans-land, but this lens is looovely.

[mfogiel]

The answer is obvious - Nokton 1.2. It is the only 1.2 lens to start with, and it also has several other desirable traits: very sharp from f2.0 on, very flare resistant, medium contrast ( thus very much suited for b&w), very high build quality,great bokeh, reasonable price. The negatives: slight distorsion and relatively big size and weight . This lens balances perfectly on Zeiss Ikon, which is my favourite low light combo.


20099003 by mfogiel, on Flickr