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35 Lux Titanium on M9?


JPH1962

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Hi there

 

Wish you all a happy new 2010 - may luck and health be with you!

 

I have my eyes on a 35 lux pre-asph in titanium finish. It has a very late serial number (374XXXX).

It is known that this lens made in Canada is not a stellar performer fully open (lowcontrast, coma, flare) but performs well once stopped down to at least 2.8.

 

My question: are the very late ones such as this titanium finished 35 lux any better than the early ones? Has there been any change in the optical formula or the coatings?

 

I hesitate on a small one, even with some compromise and a 35lux asph as currently produced.

 

Thanks for your feedback!

 

JPH

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Thanks Jaap - theoretically thats cristal clear! But I heard about different coatings over the jears where this lens was produced.

 

And as the titanium one semms to be of the very late ones I wonder if someone has any info about a different photographical outcome...

 

Well - any input is welcome!

 

rgds

JPH

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Hello JPH,

I recently traded my 35mm titanium summilux pre asph with a number well into the 36xxxxx for a 35 lux asph.

I owned an older 35mm s'lux pre asph with a lower number, but the last 36xxxxx one was very much better, and not comparable.

On the M8 which only uses the central part of the image, results were good wide open and at f2 and f2.8 very good - at 2.8 the difference with my summicron 35mm asph was very small and at f3.5 no great difference at 100%.

I only traded because the image quality of the asph is definitely better wide open.

On the M9 the corners and edges may well disappoint.

maurice

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JP, I found the 35 pre-asph to be a poor performer because of flare from oncoming light.

 

I do a lot of stage photography so this was critical for me. This is the single lens in the Leica arsenal where flare was a problem for me.

 

Depending on the price, this may work for you -- and because prices don't drop, you can always resell the lens at about what you'll buy it for.

 

Using it is the best test possible, of course.

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I have a 35 pre-ASPH f/1.4.

 

As Bill says, it will produce psychotic flare with light just outside the image area. See below.

 

Other than that, I like it for the size and price. Performs (IMHO) equally to a pre-ASPH Summicron at identical apertures.

 

No, the newer ones do not significantly improve on flare or the "dreamy, Leica-glow" imaging at f/1.4. Coma, which produces the "glow" (around cap in center) and the little "wings" on highlights (at right) can't be fixed by coatings.

 

This shot was made without the dedicated lens shade. I may go back and try a shot in the same light WITH the shade, although in this case the light was so close to the frame edge that I doubt the shade will change things much.

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I've been wondering exactly about this as well. I've a copy that starts with a 33 serial number so it's from the 1980s. Is it really going to be worth it to find a 37 titanium version.

Basically the lens flares at f1.4 and that's the real drawback. By f2 it's more or less cleaned up. Will the titanium really improve much on that?

 

And compared to my late production run 35mm pre-asph cron it's a bit softer at f2 and f2.8

But this is less of a concern.

 

If only a) didn't flare as bad B) focused to 0.7 meters c) was code-able, then it'd be my all time favorite lens. Even with these problems it's still something special.

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well, seems after all, that there has been changes over the years - even though one should certainly not expect a totally different lens.

 

I had once tried an older one starting with 319... and liked it very much...the thing is... should i give it a try? I believe I will do so despite the very clear statements regarding lightsources near the frame and the lower contrast wide open. As I look for lenses with a certain character it might fit that ....

 

well - i will think about it... tomorrow...

 

thanks to all for your input!

 

JPH

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