Summicron-c 40/2 or CV 35 1.7

[kentan]

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Hello

 

I have a cv 35 f1.7 that I am really pleased with. It has become my standard lens over my cv 28/1.9 and my cv 50/1.5.

I have just bought a summicron-c 40/2 and have tried to find comparison of these lenses on the net without any luck.

 

The summicron-c is in the mail... and I wonder what this forum thinks of these lenses

 

Wonderful forum, with alot of know how...

 

Oh... My camera is an M8....

 

 

Best regards

 

Kenneth

[lct]

I have no experience with the Ultron 35/1.7 sorry but if i could find one i would be curious to compare it to my Summicrons 35 and 40 as the CV 35/1.7 is said to have a smoother bokeh than that of the current 35/2.5.

[roguewave]

I have used both lenses, mostly for open air portraits, not really "street photography". I much prefer the Summicron 40, particularly wide open. It has that Cron glow, with beautiful, smooth transitions to the oof areas & superb bokeh. I use this as my standard lens on my M8 and it's so compact & the build quality is amazing. Not to spoil the party, but the more modern Rokkor version had better coatings & has much better flare reduction. Both are "must haves" for me. Both lenses have a real world look that's easy to appreciate & the cost is a fraction of what the asph lenses fetch.

 

In truth, I'm not a fan of clinically sharp lenses. The imagery is often cool, but has little in the way of rendering anything close to warm & embracing, not to mention how it they show every "flaw" in a face.

 

For a fine example of the 40 Summicron and what it can do, check out the work of Forum member vdb, Virgil DiBiase. He's work is superb, particularly with the Summicron 40.

[Bmorena]

I thought the vc 35 1.7 held up really well against the pre ash crons I had 35 and 40. The minimum focus of the 35 drive me nuts so I sold and upgraded to the 1.2. I also preferred the FOV of the 40 against the 1.7 35 as well.

[WestMichigan]

Please don't take this as my being flippant, but your post seems to state you now own both the CV35 f1.7 AND the Summi Forty.

I am on the mind that all the tools you need to make your choice are already at hand, Kenneth.

Camera? Check. Lens A? Check. Lens B? Check.

Then mount lens, shoot picture(s), switch lens, shoot picture(s), then lather-rinse-repeat :-D

IMHO: The choice to use -or- not use any particular lens is an integral part of being a photographer. Whether any person on a forum (even this fine one) would or wouldn't use any particular lens doesn't make that lens the 'right' lens for you and it doesn't mean it's a 'wrong' lens to use either.

Shoot a few shots of a pet, the scene around you, shoot them again with the other lens. Does physically using the lens feel good to you? Do you like how the images look on your screen or in a print?

You is the operative part of those questions. Not which lens is better. It's which one you like. :-)

Bob in Botswana, Julie in Jutland, or Andrew in America won't know what y-o-u like or don't like.

Note! I happen to like lens comparisons threads on the internet to no frackin end. They have their place, their role, and their utility. But they can't substitute for y-o-u as you make a lens choice.

 

Sincerely

Richard in Michigan

:-)

[kentan]

Thank you for the answers..

 

Yes, I have both lenses, even if I have not received the cron-c 40 yet. I love to read about other peoples thoughts about different lenses, and look forward to test these up against each other....

 

I have read a lot about these two "light tunnels " but have not had the opportunity to look at an comparison together. Was hoping to hear what other think about these to, and am looking forward to test the cron-c.

I went from an Nikon d-200 a year ago, and have not looked back since.... each picture I take is a joy to take... (even if it sometimes had been easier, or even a must to use an Dslr....) My keeper rate is much higher now... partly because I take 1-2 pictures instead of 10....... but I am at least an happy shooter

 

Love the M8.

 

Best regards

 

Kenneth

[WestMichigan]

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Hi Kenneth,

I am a recent convert myself - though I didn't think my slr would be so completely abandoned! I had no ill will towards it and am quite fond of the breed in general. I have just found a lot I like and love in my M8. So far I've ended up shooting almost exclusively with a CV Ultron 28 f1.9 for a couple of different reasons, but I have a Rokkor Forty f2, a CV Heliar 75 f2.5, and an Elmar 135 f2.8, patiently waiting to escape the bag. They made a mass break for freedom yesterday when the dang cat tipped the bag on it's side while I wasn't looking, but no harm done. :-)

 

Richard in Michigan

[scsambrook]

I don't have a 40mm Summicron but I do have a 35/1.7mm Ultron and a 35/2.8 Summaron. Using both on my M8 I can say without any fear of contradiction that at f1.7 and f2 the Ultron has the field entirely to its self. But at f2.8 the Summaron is visibly "crisper". The Ultron catches up around f5.6.

 

I got the Ultron a while back to use on a Bessa R. It works well on the M8 although I use the Summaron more often, partly because it's more compact but mainly because I prefer the results from it. Ultron = very good: Summaron = a teensy bit "better" ( to my eyes). But if I anticipate taking pictures in really bad light then I take the Ultron. And it is VERY quick to focus, which can be handy.

 

Years ago I had a Minolta CLE with the 28, 40 and 90 lenses at the same time that I had an M2 outfit. Maybe I got the ones made when the workers all had hangovers and/or haemmorhoids but none of the three struck me as being particularly brilliant. The 40 just didn't seem to give the same impact on Kodachrome slides as the contemporary 50 Summicron. The 90 was no better than my Tele Elmarit AND it didn't actually focus precisely on the M2. It focussed fine on the CLE though. I thought the 28 was the best of the bunch. It made for a nice lightweight outfit, but the slides from the M2 and its lenses were more to my preference so I sold it. At a loss, off course.

 

Seems that in recent times these CL/CLE lenses have acquired enhanced reputations . . . I'm not convinced they're the "wunderoptiken" so many folks now claim them to be.