Zeiss lens for the M9

[vinster]

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After buying my M9 and a new 35mm F2 summicron Im a bit strapped for cash ,but i have the bug for more glass.

At the moment my local shop has the Zeiss 50mm F2 on special offer at £589 also looking at at a wide angle.

How do the Zeiss lens stack up , im a sharpness freak .So any thought on the 50m and which wide angle would you suggest if any.

[kdriceman]

Zeiss M lenses are outstanding and generally very sharp. I have 2: The 50 mm f/1.5 Sonnar and the 21mm f/2.8 Biogon. The Sonnar has a unique signature, and gets very sharp as you stop down. The 21 is very sharp with low distortion also. I really like that lens When I bought each of these I first rented both lenses as well as comparable Leica lenses. While the Leica lenses are just unbeatable and my budget could handle it, I could not justify the price differential (or the wait), especially in the case of the 21.

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[elgenper]

After buying my M9 and a new 35mm F2 summicron Im a bit strapped for cash ,but i have the bug for more glass.

At the moment my local shop has the Zeiss 50mm F2 on special offer at £589 also looking at at a wide angle.

How do the Zeiss lens stack up , im a sharpness freak .So any thought on the 50m and which wide angle would you suggest if any.

 

My immediate suggestion is that you wait a bit and start out with just the 35 for at least a few months. It is a very versatile lens; using it on its own will give you a good feel for using a rangefinder camera and make the most of just one lens. Also, you´ll soon find out what kind of additional focal lengths would be useful for your personal vision, partly by using the frame selector lever on the camera.

 

My second suggestion is that you subscribe to the Reid Reviews site. Sean Reid makes comprehensive tests of, among others, lenses for the Leica M system (Leica, Zeiss, and Voigtländer). Most tests are comparisons of alternative lenses, and thus the information value for a prospective buyer is far, far higher than the subscription fee.

 

Just a few weeks ago, he did publish an extensive review of 50 mm lenses for the Leica, and the Zeiss Planar you mention was one of them, along with the Leica Summicron and Summarit, as well as some Voigtländer ones.

[Double Negative]

I did a full review of the Zeiss Planar T*2/50 ZM and ZM Lenses in general that might be worth checking out.

 

Long and short of it; the Planar is an excellent lens. On par with the Summicron 50mm f/2.

[vinster]

Per i would tend to agree with your comment about using one lens for a few months, but im tempted with the 50mm as my shop has it on special offer for £589 ,xmas coming along so thinking of treating my self again. Would have loved the Leica 50mm F1.4 but after handling and trying it dont think i could cope with the weight, it is one solid lump of metal .I think too heavy for the M9 body.Results blew me away but dont think i could use it long term.The other thing is the cost £2500.

[Guest Lmax]

Add some money for lens-shade. Can't say anything about the 2/50, because I use Summicron. But I gave away my 28- and 35-Leica-lenses, because the Biogon 2.8/28 and 2.8/35 convinced me. All that on film (M3/5/6 and ZI-ZM)! Don't know, if digital cameras afford a precision, that only Leica can manufacture.

 

Best! Lenn

[elgenper]

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Per i would tend to agree with your comment about using one lens for a few months, but im tempted with the 50mm as my shop has it on special offer for £589 ,xmas coming along so thinking of treating my self again....

 

OK, I can see your point (I´m not immune to the Gear Acquisition Syndrome myself... ), and you can always sell one of the lenses with small loss it it doesn´t suit you. FWIW, my present setup with my M9 are the Summicron 35 and 75; together they cover all I need, but I use the 35 far more than the 75, and often leave home with just the 35 on the camera.

 

The 50 Planar should have all the sharpness you want, but it seems to have a rather different character than your Summicron 35 in contrast and general ´drawing´ (these aspects are very intelligently commented on by Sean Reid in that test). That might be a problem if you use both lenses on the same job; it may also be an expressive asset. I recall when I was shooting slide film with Leica R cameras and a Hasselblad; the images had very different character, and my personal favourite was the Leica look; the Hassy was just a bit harsh for my taste.

[250swb]

Just go and buy yourself a new lens, you will learn nothing by not doing something . I only have a 21mm Biogon f/2.8 and it is a very fine lens indeed. The 25mm may be a better 'fit' with a 35mm though if you wanted to go wider. For longer a ZM 50mm Planar for modern characteristics, a Sonnar for the classsic softer look.

 

Steve

[algrove]

I'll put my 2 cents in here.

 

Settle in with the 35 for the time being. As others have said, see where your personal vision takes you. The "lens is on special syndrome" gets all our juices flowing, I agree, but in retrospect if you did it so early in your RF days, you might feel that the money could have been spent elsewhere on a wider or shorter option.

 

For me, the 50 gets very little use because the 35 is just such an all around performer and covers 75-90% of my needs depending on the day. That being said you might, after some time, want even wider or then again you might want some reach in order to bring subjects in closer.

 

Zeiss

 

I own the 18, 25, 35 and 50/1.5. Love them all and are they sharp as a tack. When I first bought my M9 I bought only Zeiss lenses since I knew from my old Hasselblad days that they are superb lenses. If you have read up on them, you will not find reviewers who dislike Zeiss from what I have read so far. I remember LLoyd Chambers showing a landscape photo on his site comparing the 35 cron and the 35 Zeiss. Actually for him the Zeiss resolved the scene better than the Leica and he called it a bitingly sharp lens.

 

When I go out shooting, as a second lens next to the 35 I seldom choose the 50, but often take the 18 and/or my 75 or 90.

 

You get the point by now with this rambling. Let us know what you do.

Edited November 5, 2011 by algrove
add-on

[htjvan]

Hi, i guess i am the first one replying actually owning the 50mm planar. As well as the 35 cron asph. Yes, the 35 cron is versatile BUT i also do like the 50mm focal more and more.

First i bought a voigtlander nokton f1.1 but i found out you dont actually use f1.1 or 1.4 that often and beyond there was the focus shift issue.

Back to the 50planar: f2 is more then enough for most or all conditions (unless you can own a 50mm summilux). The planar is sharp at f2.0 but not as clinical as the 35cron. But sharp it is, certainly 2.8 or f4 upwards. the other replyer was right that the drawing is different, but in my opinion this is where the planar wins over the cron, it really renders a 3d picture with a beautifull soft coloured background. Add to that the lens is small (same as 50mm cron) and you dont need a hood since the planars coating is excellent against flare. A no brainer i would say. I would only replace mine with a summilux asph !!

 

Cheers

[vinster]

If i could go back a week ,with hindsight i wish i had bought a couple of Zeiss lens the 21mm and the 50mm and still had change.

The Leica 35mm f2 Summicron was a big investment and while i dont regret having it , think i would have preferd the couple of Zeiss lens. I have some stunning results so far with my M9 and 35mm.Tried posting some photos on here with out any joy.I have some on dpreview under vinny on the leica forum if you wan to have a look.

[algrove]

If i could go back a week ,with hindsight i wish i had bought a couple of Zeiss lens the 21mm and the 50mm and still had change.

The Leica 35mm f2 Summicron was a big investment and while i dont regret having it , think i would have preferd the couple of Zeiss lens. I have some stunning results so far with my M9 and 35mm.Tried posting some photos on here with out any joy.I have some on dpreview under vinny on the leica forum if you wan to have a look.

 

Don't knock yourself for having an excellent lens. Listen you can always sell the Leica. If they increase prices after the New Year then if you still want to sell it might be higher than now. In the meantime, enjoy the lens!

[StephenPatterson]

Leica glass is not for everyone, as it is a very big investment. Zeiss makes outstanding lenses, which have some unique signatures, and the prices are about half (or less) of their Leica counterparts.

 

First let me chime in and recommend that you spend several months getting to know the 35 Summicron ASPH before buying another lens. It's a remarkable piece of glass, and getting to know it intimately will pay dividends. You won't do this, but I had to at least put it out there.

 

I owned the Zeiss 50/1.5 Sonnar while waiting on the 50 Summilux ASPH. As soon as the Leica lens arrived the Sonnar was relegated to "back up duty". The Zeiss is a VERY nice lens, with what some have described as a mix of classical and modern rendering, but the 50 Summilux ASPH is quite simply the most stunning lens I have ever owned. I definitely don't find the 50 Summilux ASPH to be overly heavy, but it is a solid, quality built optic.

 

The Zeiss 21/2.8 Biogon may perhaps be the best of the Japanese made M mount Zeiss lenses. It always gets high marks from reviewers, but your 35 Summicron ASPH can produce stunning landscape shots, without the need for an external viewfinder or the 21's natural propensity to exaggerate perspective.

 

Leica is a lifelong journey...pace yourself!!!!

[Printmaker]

Everyone raves about Zeiss glass but my 21 Biogon went back to the factory for focus adjustment and then a few months later it went to DAG for another focus adjustment. It seemed that my copy could either be adjusted for close focus or to focus perfectly at infinity but not both. It became a "stop down to 5.6 lens" for the last 3 years I owned it.

 

I sold it and bought a used 50 Summicron. I couldn't be happier with my choice. This version of the 50 Summicron (circa 1969) has the perfect blend of large aperture soft micro contrast and mid aperture sharpness. It is a great people lens at 2 and 2.8 and a good general purpose lens at 4-8.

 

My experience with the Biogon has soured me on Zeiss lenses. Even holding a Zeiss lens in one hand and a Leica lens in the other will tell you that the Leica lens has a better build quality. Is this quality worth two or three times the price? Only you can say for sure. But I would rather buy a used Leica lens than a new Zeiss.

 

Here is the 50 Summicron at F2.

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[algrove]

Printmaker-

 

Wow, talk about 3D. There it is. And didn't even have to wear special glasses!

[sblitz]

i have the 21mm biogon and think it is a great lens -- but if i my photography centered around a 21mm perhaps my view would be different. i also have the 35mm summicron and it is also a great lens. point is that you really are better off taking the time learn the camera, the lens and yourself. in the meantime you save some money to buy another leica lens instead.

[brianv]

If you are a sharpness freak, get the aspheric Summilux.

 

I like the Zeiss Sonnars, but I am not a sharpness freak.

 

C-Sonnar, 50mm F1.5, wide-open on the M9:

 

nikki_swing_f15 by zeiss_sonnar, on Flickr

 

1938 Carl Zeiss Jena 5cm F1.5 sonnar "T", wide-open on the Leica M9:

 

nikki_f15, 1938 Sonnar "T" by zeiss_sonnar, on Flickr

 

Orange by zeiss_sonnar, on Flickr

[darylgo]

I've been testing two samples of the 50mm Planar and am also a sharpness freak. At F2 it lacks the bite that f5.6, f8 provide. F11, f16, f4 are very very good, just slightly less sharp than 5.6 and 8. F2.8 is very good and f22 went untested. Over multiple tests I have found that the lens front focuses (both samples) about 4" but this disappears at the closest distance of .7-1m. This focus issue is only relevant at f2 when shooting at 25-30 feet, it is a bigger issue at 5 ft. The 50mm is not as sharp as the 35mm Biogon. Despite it's slight issues it renders beautifully and has very few issues with other optical properties. The 50mm Planar is closer to 45mm, the reviewers indicated 46-47mm as I recall, so it is slightly wider than other 50's, nontheless it will give you a significant perspective change from your 35mm. Build quality is excellent and it balances nicely on the M9. The value for the cost is outstanding. Wide angle suggestions: only one, the 24mm Elmar. Look at Leica's published MTF curves and you will see a very unusual wide angle lens with sharpness all the way out to the edges, sharp at 3.8 with beautiful rendition. This lens has ruined me, all my other wide-angles such as Nikon will never satisfy me again.

[lars_bergquist]

I agree with Per and other posters – learn to know and use your camera and that 35mm lens. Then you can make a judicious decision as to what other focal length(s) you can usefully employ – in contradistinction to what you may want. Remember that the M9, or any M, is a Different Beast indeed.

 

I must agree however that 35 and 50mm are not too close together to be both part of your kit – or even occasionally to ride together in my bag! I bought both a 35mm Summilux ASPH and a 50mm Summilux ASPH long ago in the Film Age. I had problems with focus shift on the 35, so when I knew that the 'FLE' version was coming, I sold my lens and bought the new one. I must say that these are super optics with a stunning depth of detail in the files when I do my part. I regard both of them as 'standard lenses' – the 35 for indoor use and 50 for the outdoors. But learning both lengths is easier when you have something like half a century of photographic experience under your belt, as I had when I first acquired my Summiluxes.

 

The picture was taken across a table with the 35 at full aperture.

 

The old man from the Age of the Cooke Triplet

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[viramati]

If you can tray and find the voigtlander CV nokton 50 f1.5 asph. this is a fantastic lens and can be got hold of for a few hundred pounds and it's hard to tell the difference between it an the lux 50 asph.

here is a review of it

Voigtlander Nokton 50 1.5 Lens Review | STEVE HUFF PHOTOS