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Which 35mm lens is the best for M?


minibus

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'Photo quality' is too subjective. Some people like the quality of older lenses for example.

 

I have a Voigtlander Skopar on my M2. It's excellent quality and one of the less expensive options available. It's also a small and light lens. Nothing to fault.

 

The lens I'd like to buy is the Summicron asph, which is a legendary lens (but high contrast so could be too much on an M9 in harsh lighting).

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Interesting comparison of 35mm Leica M lenses here...

 

Although the cheapest, it seems there is a strong case for the Summarit over its more glamorous cousins..

 

The Leica 35 Summarit Lens Review | STEVE HUFF PHOTOS

 

Ken Rockwell: "I wouldn't buy one of these. For less money you can get a used 35mm SUMMICRON lens of whatever vintage you like, including the current ASPH, or get a 1960's SUMMARON f/2.8 which ought to do about the same thing for a whole lot less.":D

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'Photo quality' is too subjective. Some people like the quality of older lenses for example.

 

I have a Voigtlander Skopar on my M2. It's excellent quality and one of the less expensive options available. It's also a small and light lens. Nothing to fault.

 

The lens I'd like to buy is the Summicron asph, which is a legendary lens (but high contrast so could be too much on an M9 in harsh lighting).

I have them both. The Summicron asph holds the highlights far better than the Color Skopar. (nice little lens though, great value for money) I think the Suummicron 35 asph is simply the best 35 for general photography. Period.
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Hi There

Well, if you really need the fast aperture, then the 35 1.4 summilux is a no-brainer . . but it's expensive, and the current model suffers from focus shift . . . all the rumours suggest a newer model with a moving element some time.

 

If you don't need the speed, then I can only speak of the current summicron asph and the lowly summarit. I've had both of them, but I liked the summarit so much better that I sold the summicron - of course, it's a matter of taste, but I found the cheaper summarit to be a little gentler in it's drawing, and it's a tiny lens and lovely to use.

 

heplful? probably not, but you did ask!

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A fond remembrance, given Jaap's recommendation...

 

A couple of decades ago when I bought my first M, I asked the elderly Hungarian owner of the small Leica shop in my area (east US)... about the best lens(es) to buy. He was a lifelong Leica (and Rollei) user.

 

I had come prepared, reading up on all I could get my hands on. No matter my comments or questions, all he would utter...in his very thick accent...was "Summicron." Well, what about 28 vs 35 vs 50 vs 90, I asked. "Summicron." But, I read that....(multiple comments). "Summicron." But, don't you think... "Summicron." Then he narrowed it down..."35 Summicron start."

 

I bought a 35 Summicron.

 

Since then I've added and changed lenses, venturing into Summiluxes, etc. But, I've never forgotten his voice, or his admonition. And, I've never gone without the 35 Summicron in my arsenal. Although I have changed some versions here and there...now using the asph.

 

Jeff

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  • 4 weeks later...
According to diglloyd a pid site the 35 f 2 Zeiss m. If you need low light a 35 lux asph chrome and titanuim seem to have less focus shift.

 

I've always wondered why I never saw it on my chrome lux asph. I did a test and could only *just* see a little softening at MFD on the intended plane of focus at about 2.8 (compared to 2.0 and 4.0) all other apertures appeared equally sharp in the plane of focus. Here are my test shots, I handheld all of these and think I may have misfocused ever so slightly on the f/5.6 shot, if I did a controlled test with a tripod I assume they would all be even closer.

whole shot

f/1.4 crop

f/2.0 crop

f/2.8 crop

f/4.0 crop

f/5.6 crop

 

If people hadn't told me about the supposed focus shift with the 35 lux asph, there's a snowball's chance in hell I'd ever have noticed it.

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I would definitely recommend the 35/2 Summicron Asph. It is stunningly sharp, has great contrast and a beautiful out of focus rendering.

 

Keep in mind that a new 35 Summilux is about to come out, and that it will certainly be an outstanding lens, designed along the lines of the newer Summilux lens principles.

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Please know there are many black versions of the 35/1.4 asph that do not have significant focus shift. I'm happy to say I own one, and it is my most use lens on the M9. The focus shift that is measurable using fine ruler testing between 1.4 and 4 is absolutely too small to ever render any shot I've taken at any aperture out of focus. (It's so small that the increaed depth of field stopping down covers the shift handily). I'm pretty sure that most 35/1.4 asph lenses are like mine, but for sure there are enough with larger shift effecting image quality that you should plan on testing one you buy and have a return policy. Once you have one like mine, you'll see it's worth the trouble. Now, if the new version reported to be coming solves this for all samples, great, and if it draws in some way that people like it "more" than the current version, even better, but I can't see giving mine up, it's just that good.....Peter

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Please know there are many black versions of the 35/1.4 asph that do not have significant focus shift. I'm happy to say I own one, and it is my most use lens on the M9. Now, if the new version reported to be coming solves this for all samples, great, and if it draws in some way that people like it "more" than the current version, even better, but I can't see giving mine up, it's just that good.....Peter

 

Exactly the same experience with mine. Most used lens on M9. If there's a focus-shift, let's say I haven't seen it. I can't see myself giving it up even if the rumored new one shows theoretical improvements. If you can afford it and all the talk of focus shift makes you nervous, I'd recommend you buy it from someone who you can return easily. But, do try it out if you can afford it.

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