35 Summicron - different versions?

[Tim]

Does anyone have any real idea how the different versions of pre aspherical 35 'crons compare?
Reading CameraQuest the implication is that they improved marginally version to version, an opinion also backed up in Bower's book.
And in a couple of posts at various forums there seems to be a body of opinion that says in ways the pre-asph 'cron is 'softer' or 'nicer' than the asph version.
Erwin Puts has a review of the CV 35 Ultron where he says it is broadly comparable to the pre-asph 35 'cron.

Now I'm just more confused than when I started looking for info!

I have the 35 Ultron, Great lens, but having seen the size of the 'cron I am lusting after smallness - (That brings up an interesting point in itself. Most times blokes are braggin "Mine's bigger than yours" - except in anything technology based, where they brag about how much smaller their's is.......) - Plus there's a bit of Leica lust in there as well, I admit it. The Leica lenses I have and the ones I have fondled, I mean handled, are just soooo smooth and nice.

So - anyone have real world experience with the CV 35's compared with various models of 35 'crons?

Confused.

tim

The Leica lenses are just too damn exensive to go out and buy just to try.

[rover]

Tim I sold my Ultron to finance a 4th generation Summicron. It is a wonderfully compact, sharp lens. That said, the Ultron is an excellent lens too. I think the sharpness of the lenses is comparable, but images from the Summicron have a different look to them. I was sold by seeing images posted here and elsewhere. Have a look at Todd Hanz's gallery for some excellent 35 Summicron photographs.

Note too that you loose some compactness with use of the lens hood. For the 35 'cron it is a little rectangular thing that is best just left on the lens. They sell a cap that fits over the hood. Know too that the 35 'cron is notorious for having a front retaining ring that is held in place by glue, 4th version and the aspherical current one. With heavy handedness working the hood and filters this seal does break and the ring rotates. It does not necessarily effect the alignment of the elements or the image quality, but is an issue for such an expensive lens. Easy to fix though.

[FrankS]

Crazy glue?

[rover]

Apparently not, the stuff they use doesn't hold!!!

They just don't make um like they used to.

[Paul Belgium]

Tim, i had the VC 35/2.5 classic and the leica 35 last pré-aspher. lens, i took slides with them and i saw no difference at all! The VC is a wonderful compact, cheap and splendid lens and you loose just 1/3 stop, i had no experience with the ultron 1.7.