35mm vs 28mm Summicron ASPH

[Clandrel]

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Hi,

 

I have a 35mm Summicron ASPH but have the opportunity to trade for a 28mm Summicron ASPH. My other lens is a 50 Summilux ASPH.

 

How different are these lenses? Fingerprint, pros, cons...

 

I am debating this because I feel the 35mm is a bit too close to the 50 I have.

 

Thanks!

 

/c

[Jeff S]

See this thread.

 

I only own these 3 lenses, 'cause I like each one. 28/50 makes a good combo when I shoot with 2 cameras (M8.2s), while 35 is a versatile one-camera solution...for me.

 

FOV is of course personal to the way one sees...different strokes. Beyond that, I just look at prints. Can't say exactly why, but I slightly prefer prints using the 28 rather than the 35 Summicron asph. I wouldn't want to do a blind test comparison, however.

 

Jeff

[Peter H]

Hi,

 

I have a 35mm Summicron ASPH but have the opportunity to trade for a 28mm Summicron ASPH. My other lens is a 50 Summilux ASPH.

 

How different are these lenses? Fingerprint, pros, cons...

 

I am debating this because I feel the 35mm is a bit too close to the 50 I have.

 

Thanks!

 

/c

 

I have them both and find them both brilliant.

 

My personal preference for most of the time is the 28, but that's more to do with the focal length than quality of image. Since you say you feel the 35's a bit too close to the 50 for you, go for the 28. You will certainly not be disappointed with its quality.

 

The 35 is smaller, especially with the hoods attached, but apart from that I'd say the differences are extremely subtle and difficult to evaluate objectively.

[MarkP]

I very much agree with Jeff although I have a wider array of focal lengths.

Most often for me:

SIngle lens kit: 35 Summilux (or 50 Summilux)

Two lens kit 50 Summilux and 28 Summicron

 

I should add that I love using the 28 which is a glorious lens and a relatively new focal length for me. I would NEVER sell any of these lenses unless it was the only way to feed my starving family.

 

May I advise not selling the 35 to buy a 28 unless you really don't like the lens. Wait till you can get the 28 as well, even if you get the Elmarit (which is an excellent and compact lens).

 

There is a frequently written piece of advice around here which I think is almost always correct: NEVER sell a Leica lens . You will almost certainly miss it and pay that much more to replace it down the track.

 

Regards,

Mark

[lct]

Glad to use those 3 lenses as well. FoV is a matter of tastes but i don't see significant differences as far as IQ is concerned personally. I don't use them on FF cameras though (R-D1, M8.2).

[algrove]

Not meaning to be smart, I just wonder why a 21mm is not discussed when going from 35 to wider?

 

Personal choice I guess.

[MarkP]

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Hi Algrove,

 

good question as I went through dilemma when building up my system.

 

My initial thinking was 35 Summilux, then 21 Summilux, and then 75 Summicron as my first 3 lenses. In my pre-Leica Nikon F3/T days 1.4/35 and then 2.0/24 AI-S were my most used prime lenses. I had found that the 24 was often just not quite wide enough so I went for the 21 Summilux.

 

However the 21 is just too wide for what is my more 'general photography' with a 2 lens kit, although I do use it a lot (especially for architecture). I therefore bought a 28 of which I'm now very fond of, and find it supplements the 50 nicely as I tend to go wide rather than long with lens choice. It is wide but distortion and perspective are easily controlled, and it doesn't need an external VF.

 

I never cease to be delighted with my results from the 2.0/28 Summicron.

For Clandrel, these were shot with the 28 Summilux ASPH on my M9:

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/landscape-travel/192886-ocean-rock-plateau-terrigal.html

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/landscape-travel/192885-scenes-beachside-promenade.html

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/landscape-travel/202173-scooters-king.html

 

Hence my comments above regarding what works for me, and I note Jeff for his 1 & 2 lens kit preferences:

SIngle lens kit: 35 Summilux, or 50 whatever:Noctilux/Summilux/C-Sonnar

Two lens kit: 50 whatever, 28 Summicron (much less likely to take the 50 and 35)

and for 3 lens kit usually : 50, 35 or 28, 21 Summilux

 

Thats not to say that sometimes I may go out with just the 21 or 28 or 75, or any other combination depending on where I'm going. One needs to be versatile.

 

Regards,

Mark

[IkarusJohn]

+1

[SJP]

mmmm, these examples make me rethink buying a M9 at some point. The 28/2 ASPH is so good that it takes your breath away - also on the M8 I might add. It is a lens that paints with light, it does not take "pictures". Still exchanging for a 35 summicron does not really make sense - they will all at least keep their value, if not more.

[menos I M6]

Hi,

 

I have a 35mm Summicron ASPH but have the opportunity to trade for a 28mm Summicron ASPH. My other lens is a 50 Summilux ASPH.

 

How different are these lenses? Fingerprint, pros, cons...

 

I am debating this because I feel the 35mm is a bit too close to the 50 I have.

 

Thanks!

 

/c

 

As always, this is more a question of 28 vs 35, then down to this lens vs that lens.

 

For my personal opinion, getting the chance for a straight swap from a 35/2 ASPH to a 28/2, you should run and get it!

 

The 28/2 is different in optical qualities.

It has more distortion (slight barrel, easy to correct, if you care - I don't).

It has more light falloff.

The samples, I tried all showed a higher resolution across the field for the 35, but this is un scientific.

The 35/2 has a more flat field of focus (it clearly is the better architecture lens).

 

The one and most annoying difference though is, that the 35/2 is much less easy with strong light sources and produces the most ugly artifacts, when shooting with light sources in frame. The 28/2 amazingly reacts in a much more civil manner.

 

I wish, I hadn't sold my 28 Cron.