cartierbresson Posted May 18, 2015 Share #1 Posted May 18, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm in the market for a sharp 35mm lens for my M6 under $1000 (new/used). Any suggestions? I've only started reading about lenses and it sounds like Leica Summicron and Summilix lenses are generally recommended, but those are well above $1000. Is there an older model of those lenses that you'd recommend that may be in my budget? Should I drop the idea of a Leica and pick a Zeiss/Voigtlander instead? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 18, 2015 Posted May 18, 2015 Hi cartierbresson, Take a look here Sharpest 35mm under $1000. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
TomB_tx Posted May 18, 2015 Share #2 Posted May 18, 2015 Zeiss Biogon C 35mm f2.8 - about $860 U.S. 8 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted May 18, 2015 Share #3 Posted May 18, 2015 I have a Summarit-M 50/2.5 for my M7 and it's a modern designed lens. Perhaps it's possible to find a Summarit-M 35/2.5 under $1000 now when it's replaced with the 35/2.4. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdlaing Posted May 18, 2015 Share #4 Posted May 18, 2015 Voigtlaander 35 f1.4 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cartierbresson Posted May 18, 2015 Author Share #5 Posted May 18, 2015 Wow, three posts, three different recommendations. jdlaing, is the Voigtlaander sharper than the other two? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted May 18, 2015 Share #6 Posted May 18, 2015 Hi Henri. Welcome to the forum. Difficult to find a sharp Leica 35mm under §1K. The Summaron 35/2.8 springs to mind but it is not as sharp as the almost perfect C-Biogon 35/2.8. The latter is very contrasty though. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
iwc852 Posted May 18, 2015 Share #7 Posted May 18, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) Zeiss C-Biogon 2,8/35: even regardless of price one of the best: very sharp, no focus shift, littel to no flare & very compact. Well ahead of the Voigtländer lenses. Same class as Summicron ASPH or Summarit (which would be my 2nd recommendation)... 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
algrove Posted May 18, 2015 Share #8 Posted May 18, 2015 I vote for the Summaron 35/2.8. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted May 18, 2015 Share #9 Posted May 18, 2015 Should be able to get a Summarit F2.5 for around that budget. I have (at the moment) current Summilux, Summicron and Summarit and the F2.5 lens is probably the sharpest of all three (in the centre at least). 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
james.liam Posted May 18, 2015 Share #10 Posted May 18, 2015 Should be able to get a Summarit F2.5 for around that budget. . <US$1,000? I don't think so. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bernie.lcf Posted May 18, 2015 Share #11 Posted May 18, 2015 Well, based on reviews the Voigtländer Color Skopar 35/2.5 P Type (M Mount) is apparently the sharpest in the centre - when pixel peeping. Real life? Probably does not matter much - other parameters might be more important (corners, CA, flare) For below 1000 (new) your choice is pretty much limited to Voigtländer 35/2.5 and Zeiss 35/2.8. The size advantage goes to Voigtländer - it is quite small. If you include second hand lenses, you can look at the Summarit 35/2.5 or the Zeiss 35/2.0. The Zeiss 35/2.0 is not as sharp wide open, the Summarit is a fine lens. I do not consider the Voigtländer 35/1.4 (neither version) a worthy competitor and I find it too difficult to get a decent Summaron 35/2.8. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted May 18, 2015 Share #12 Posted May 18, 2015 A decent Summicron 40 should be in the target price bracket. 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdlaing Posted May 18, 2015 Share #13 Posted May 18, 2015 Wow, three posts, three different recommendations. jdlaing, is the Voigtlaander sharper than the other two? I think it's a toss up. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
madNbad Posted May 18, 2015 Share #14 Posted May 18, 2015 Another vote for the Zeiss 2.8 C Biogon. Small, sharp and in your price range. Images are comparable to my 35 Summicron ASPH. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gberger Posted May 18, 2015 Share #15 Posted May 18, 2015 And still another vote for the Zeiss 35mm f2.8 Biogon. Excellent lens. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted May 18, 2015 Share #16 Posted May 18, 2015 Although I recommended the Zeiss 2.8, I have the VC 35 1.4, Zeiss 35 f2.0, and Summarit 35 2.5. My VC 1.4 is fairly sharp in most pictures, and handles well - like a copy of the old Summilux 35 - but its sharpness varies across the field. (Center is good) I find the Zeiss 35 f2.0 and the Summarit 2.5 about equal in performance, but the Summarit handling is better for me. Overall I like the Summarit best, but a good copy used is a bit more than $1K 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CheshireCat Posted May 18, 2015 Share #17 Posted May 18, 2015 The question is not clear. Sharper at what aperture ? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted May 19, 2015 Share #18 Posted May 19, 2015 Relatively inexpensive but sharp on film is the VC Color Skopar 35/f2.5, if you're willing to consider a brand other than Leica. Older version (screwmount) fits on an adapter ring and can be used just fine on your M6, or you could up the ante and go for a newer version. I've been using one for several years now (after using a 35 Summaron for almost 40 years) and am quite satisfied with its results. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoffrey James Posted May 19, 2015 Share #19 Posted May 19, 2015 The Zeiss 35 2.8 is so sharp that it creates artefacts on my M9, but it is amazing on the MM. The Cron 4 handles better but it is over your budget. The Zeiss is also extraordinary at infinity. All around a remarkable lens. Also no distortion that I can see. Cheshire Cat has a good question. I always shoot at 5.6-8, where lense are at their best. I think Bokeh is the biggest myth in the game. I hope Leica paid off Michael Johnson for creating both the term and the idea that the Cron 4 is the Bokeh king. All nonsense. 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cartierbresson Posted May 19, 2015 Author Share #20 Posted May 19, 2015 Thanks for all your responses. Regarding aperture, I typically shoot on the street at f/8, but sometimes I step out at night and with my Tamron at 2.8 it can be slow, even on high ISO. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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