Biogon Versus Asph Cron....

[cmogi10]

Battle of the titans! The Zeiss Biogon 35/2.0 verse the Leica Summicron 35/2.0 ASPH...One costs multiple times as much, but which one is really better? Or the better question is which one do you prefer and why?

[akptc]

I have the cron in silver 'cause it's way prettier but really want both...

[Keith]

A Zeiss Biogon instead of a Leitz Summicron would be 'foolish!'

(that's why I voted for the Biogon)

[cmogi10]

This is different! They're not just light tight boxes anymore...
Although that doesn't really help my arguement, ah, whatever.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by cmogi10

This is different! They're not just light tight boxes anymore...
Although that doesn't really help my arguement, ah, whatever.

I would seriously choose the Biogon though ... I think Leica lenses no longer have the awe that they once created in the minds of the converted who would pay whatever they asked for them!

ps ... how are you going with your search for the 75 Lux?

[cmogi10]

One deal is in the air...
It's been surprisingly hard though, when I didn't have money for one they seemed to be everywhere, now I have money and no where to be found hah.


O, and until I get a chance to really spend time with the two lenses I choose the Biogon as well. See, I'm not completely blinded by the big L!

[wintoid]

Let biogons be biogons?

[TJV]

Why limit yourself to f2? They make the Summilux for a reason.

I was impressed with the Summicron when I borrowed one but the Summilux is something else.

[kalokeri]

This does never end, doesn´t it?

A discussion like this has become quite boring nowadays. We all agree that Biogon and ´cron asph. are different. So everybody is allowed to use the one he likes better.

Thomas

[shango]

I bought a Biogon this past Tuesday. I'll post when I get some postable shots.

[kinok1]

I just bought an asph 35 cron in silver. As im sure there is little difference in the photographs taken by these two lenses, there is something to be said for the build quality of leica lenses. I own some of the zf zeiss lenses. Great pieces of glass for sure, but they feel a little light. at least compared to the leica glass i have.

And.

Maybe the most important reason to buy leica. You can finally stop wondering whether 'you should have just bought the leica in the first place.'

In my experience at least.

[thafred]

I´d be really interested in compairson pics between the two, showing the "ASPH harshness" and the "biogon smoothness" as the Web rumor goes :-)

I´m thinking bout getting a 35 too, both those lenses are beyond my reach money whise (for now) but from the handling perspective I´d get the Cron Asph. I love smaller lenses (thou the biogon aint big!) and esp. Focus tabs! in fact I can´t live without focus tabs and all my lenses have at least cable binders on them as tabs. that "nipple" thing on the biogon is my biggest concern with that lens...

lets see some pictures people! preferably same subject shot with both lenses of course!

ps. wordpress, if you let yours go for a € grand, I´ll have a talk with my bank manager ;-)

[irq506]

Better in terms of picture qualit or build quality. The latter the Leica.
Zeiss works well stopped down, and has more nutral cast when shooting color. Leica better for everything else.

[irq506]

Originally Posted by TJV

Why limit yourself to f2? They make the Summilux for a reason.

I was impressed with the Summicron when I borrowed one but the Summilux is something else.

FOR SURE! That is one seriously hot lens. You can Hand hold that thing at 4th, the chrome ones are way heavier, but that image is so hot, very clear depth of field.

[cmogi10]

Originally Posted by kalokeri

This does never end, doesn´t it?

A discussion like this has become quite boring nowadays. We all agree that Biogon and ´cron asph. are different. So everybody is allowed to use the one he likes better.

Thomas

Well I'm sorry I forced you to click on this thread and force you to read all the boring answers.

I know the lenses are diffrent, and I'm fully away that they might like one better then the other, I just want to know why because I'm currently torn between them.

Have a nice day
Carl

[ferider]

Carl,

If I were you I would decide based on
similar signature when compared to whatever other lenses
you get/have, and ergonomics. Even more important
since I understand that you are reducing your kit. They must both
feel very different wrt handling.

I would consider the Summilux as well, because it should be the
perfect fit with the 75/1.4, signature and all.

Best,

Roland.

[cmogi10]

Unfortunatly there's no way I would be able to afford one at this point, as nice as it would be.
Yeah, I think once I hold them both side by side and shoot a roll I will know which one it's going to be. I just have to somehow get them to try out.

[Honus]

Carl,

Follow these links for about 200+ samples from each lens:

Leica Summicron 35mm f2.0 ASPH

Zeiss Biogon 35mm f2.0

[alexz]

My vote goes for 'Cron ASPH, at least this is the one I acquired just a week ago from Tony Rose after torning between the choices (Cron vs Biogon) for several weeks.
I had no doubt about optical quality of both, read numerous reviews of both (including Reid reviews for subscibers), but there are several reasons that made me spend nearly twice as much for the Cron as new Biogon costs:
1. From numerous examples by Cron ASPH vs Biogon and Cron v4, I noticed the former one produces more shallow DOF at given apertures and I liked that - appears as some kind of 3D appearance. Both Biogon and Cron v4 tend to go a bit more smoothly into OOF, which sometimes may also appeal, but I prefer that obvious separation that new'Cron ASPH offers. Might be pure aestetic issue.
2. According to several technical reviews, 'Cron ASPH might be slightly fallter in field (i.e. slightly more unifors sharpness into the corners), but yet that might be more academic that practical.
3. Cron ASPH is physically smaller (without hood). Size does matter (to the opposite direction though ) for me, since I tend to go for street shooting with two Ms, one with either 50mm or 90mm, the other will be either 50mm or 35mm.
4. I really like the square hood of 'Cron ASPH - just so sleek and great looking one, not to mentioned more optimized then regular round hoods.

What I'm not sure I'll so happy with - focusing tab. I used to regular camera/lens handing, with my left hand supporting the camera from the bottom with fingers controlling focusing ring and I feel really comfortable this way with my 50mm Summicron. Now, with that tab on 35mm Cron ASPH, it appears I'll have to alter my regular handing to get acustomized to tab (single finger) focusing....
That is somethign that would not probably bother me would I choose Biogon...

[Photon42]

the Biogon, because I have it And I like the name ... angle of live.

Ivo

[Doug]

Alex, maybe you'll come to love the tab... I do. I also like the smaller size of some Leica lenses, but it also goes the other way with such as the 21 and 24, which flare out to a larger filter size at the front than the equivalent Biogons. My old 35 'cron is tiny compared to the 35 Biogon but there's a lot of optical progress between the two. Enjoy your new 'cron ASPH!

[alexz]

Thanks Doug, I actually have to force myself to love the tab, after all I really like the lens, so will probaly just a matter of my adjustment to tab focusing.
Still having troubles to figure a proper handholding the lens to make tab focusing convenient. Which finger ? How the lens should rest in my left hand in order to conveniently focus by a finger in the tab ? Need to figure...

[Eelco Amsterdam]

I dont own a Biogon.
Here 2 pictures with the Leica 35 mm Summicron ASPH.
I like 3D effect. ( prints are much better )
F1000039_2.jpg

F1000023_2.jpg

Eelco

[kalokeri]

Originally Posted by cmogi10

Well I'm sorry I forced you to click on this thread and force you to read all the boring answers.

Well, Carl, I´m sorry, too.

I didn´t mean to offend. I just meant, that´s a very personal decision. Both lenses are very good - as far as I remember all the other threads about this subject nearly everybody agrees with that opinion. Each one has a "personal fingerprint" and feels different when handling it. You have to try out yourself whether you prefer the Biogon or ´cron asph.


Thomas

[x-ray]

Originally Posted by kinok1

I just bought an asph 35 cron in silver. As im sure there is little difference in the photographs taken by these two lenses, there is something to be said for the build quality of leica lenses. I own some of the zf zeiss lenses. Great pieces of glass for sure, but they feel a little light. at least compared to the leica glass i have.

And.

Maybe the most important reason to buy leica. You can finally stop wondering whether 'you should have just bought the leica in the first place.'

In my experience at least.

Build quality is one of the major gripes I have with Leica at the moment. Four recent lenses in the past couple of years with major mechanical issues and my asph summilux wasn't built right at the factory. All four have had focusing mount issues with binding in two, sloppy wobbly focusing mount in one and my asph won't focus to infinity and focus on the film plane id off (confirmed by DAG ). My new A La Carte MP had the shutter fail and the ISO dial was loose from the factory.

The Zeiss lenses may be lighter in weight due to alloys being used but I feel they are better built. No problems at all with my Zeiss lenses or body.