Nick De Marco Posted November 13, 2011 Share #1 Â Posted November 13, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) First, I obviously don't need one. I have updated, retraded, streamlined my 35mms. I now have as my main 2 the 35mm Zeiss Biogon-C f2.8 for general purpose, and the wonderful Voigtlander Nokton f1.2 vII for low light/wider aperture. I am very happy with this set up. Happier than I was with either an old pre-ASP summicron and Biogon f2 I sold. So I don't need a 35mm Summicron ASPH. Â But I cannot help wondering.... I know it is a great lens, having used a friend's copy in Italy. The only justification I could make for buying one is that its size means it could be a good all round 35mm, for travel etc., when I din't want to take the Biogon and Nokton together. That's almost certainly not a good enough reason to buy one. But I am very tempted every now and then. Am I missing something, or is this just bad GAS? Is it really worth the extra bucks? If so, why? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 13, 2011 Posted November 13, 2011 Hi Nick De Marco, Take a look here Is the 35mm Summicron ASPH worth the money?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
bocaburger Posted November 13, 2011 Share #2 Â Posted November 13, 2011 I owned one but fortuitously happened on a 4th gen and after using both preferred the older lens. It's smaller and lighter and the performance for my use is great. But you say you had a pre-asph and it wasn't to your liking. This just goes to show that asking others to influence your purchase has major faults. Unless of course you've already made up your mind and will just ignore the responses that don't validate your choice Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick De Marco Posted November 13, 2011 Author Share #3 Â Posted November 13, 2011 I didn't dislike the pre-ASPH summicron. I loved it and it was my one main lens of film Ms for a long time. It ended up breaking, so I traded it in - when I should have paid the cost to repair it. But I don't regret selling it as I am as happy with the lenses I have replaced it with - except the convenient size of the pre-ASPH summicron which was great. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
elgenper Posted November 13, 2011 Share #4  Posted November 13, 2011 First: I do own the Summicron 35 Asph. I´m happy with it, and it is by far my most used lens. But that´s me, and you are you....  .... I am very happy with this set up. .....  See... you´ve answered your own question. If you´re happy as is, why spend all that money? Why take the trouble to learn a new lens (every lens must be ´learned´ to use it to its full potential) instead of shooting with already familiar lenses? Why risk getting a faulty copy (happened to me with that very lens) and wait for it during two looong trips to Leica?  Use what you have, and stop reading tests.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thighslapper Posted November 13, 2011 Share #5 Â Posted November 13, 2011 I'm not a fan of 35 as a focal length but once this lens is on my M9 I struggle to get it off.... Â The images are stunning and show a consistent clarity and sharpness that is astonishing...... Â I am rationalising my lens stockpile but this is one that I will never sell, irrespective of how little I use it ... Â If in the what sounds like unlikely event you get one you will not be disappointed....... Â Mine is second hand although looks mint and came in at a very good price. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted November 14, 2011 Share #6 Â Posted November 14, 2011 Am I missing something, or is this just bad GAS? Â It's just bad GAS. The 35 Summicron ASPH will not do anything for your photography that the lenses you already own can't. Â I've bought and sold three of these lenses in the last ten years. Like nobody ever got sacked for buying IBM, buying a 35 Summicron ASPH is never a poor choice but it's always a lens I've sold without regret when something more desirable comes along. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted November 14, 2011 Share #7 Â Posted November 14, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) None of the lenses you've quoted is sharper than the Summicron asph at f/2 so if you're after sharpness the answer is yes. I'm lucky enough to have softer 35s like Summilux pre-asph, CV 35/1.4 & Summicron v4 but when i want sharpness and/or a 35 matching well other modern Leica's, the asph is my favorite in spite of its more contrasty bokeh. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted November 14, 2011 Share #8 Â Posted November 14, 2011 I have to agree with Ian that the 35 Summicron is a lens that won't do anything for your photography that any other lens that you own can't do. I own this lens and the only reason I put it on the M9 is because it is small and good. Good enough to be on the M9. Â (One comment about the M9. I've been lucky enough and fortunate enough to shoot good glass on the M9 and I've been wanting to say that these lenses have proven to me that the M9 is a fantastic camera. The camera has the ability to differentiate the qualities of all of these great Leica lenses that we all talk about. Of course, the lenses are the best part of the system, but how amazing is that the M9 can hang in there at this level)? Â Anyway, the 35 Summicron is a good lens. It is a much, much better lens than the lenses that you mentioned that you own. But, is it worth the Money. Probably not. Â But, if you have enough money to buy an M9, then the 35mm Summicron probably is worth it. But again, if you have enough money for an M9 and you are considering the Summicron then, you might as well sell all the lenses you mentioned and buy the Summilux FLE because... this is a lens that really is worth the money. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlubis Posted November 14, 2011 Share #9  Posted November 14, 2011 affected by the discussion, just bought mine at Leica Store Singapore previously today. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/166277-is-the-35mm-summicron-asph-worth-the-money/?do=findComment&comment=1843144'>More sharing options...
spylaw4 Posted November 14, 2011 Share #10 Â Posted November 14, 2011 The 35/2 ASPH is probably, no definitely, one of my two favourite lenses. It's small, sharp and renders wonderfully. I won't part with it, and it will get even more use on the GXR-M. Â @Nick: I find that I'm not using the Nokton 1.2 enough to warrant keeping it, excellent lens that it is. I think I was suffering from GAS when I bought it! YMMV but I find that f2 is enough overall. Â @dlubis - where were you focusing when you took that shot? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted November 14, 2011 Share #11 Â Posted November 14, 2011 Shaking blur due to focusing on the Leica invoice. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spylaw4 Posted November 14, 2011 Share #12  Posted November 14, 2011 Shaking blur due to focusing on the Leica invoice.  £2k is not that expensive as new Leica lenses go! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlubis Posted November 14, 2011 Share #13  Posted November 14, 2011 The 35/2 ASPH is probably, no definitely, one of my two favourite lenses. It's small, sharp and renders wonderfully. I won't part with it, and it will get even more use on the GXR-M. @Nick: I find that I'm not using the Nokton 1.2 enough to warrant keeping it, excellent lens that it is. I think I was suffering from GAS when I bought it! YMMV but I find that f2 is enough overall.  @dlubis - where were you focusing when you took that shot?  ask my iPhone... hahaha... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted November 14, 2011 Share #14 Â Posted November 14, 2011 ask my iPhone... hahaha... Â Can't you set a macro mode? Better still, buy a DLux5! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick De Marco Posted November 14, 2011 Author Share #15  Posted November 14, 2011 Thanks for all the replies and advice I went to a dealer today who had a chrome ex-deom one, never used and fully guaranteed, but about £100 off lowest new price. Tried it out and bought it, after getting another £50 knocked off. Still very expensive, but decided it was a beautiful lens, perfect for al round walkabout etc., you only live once, and if I need the money I will be able to sell it without making much loss.  Looking forward to using it a lot very soon. Haven't had the chance to use it much yet, but on very quick first test it looked great, and very sharp at f2. Reminded me of my 28mm Summicron f2 ASPH, the only other modern Leica lens I have: very sharp, even wide open, and quite contrasty, but good colour rendition and even though sharp doesn't have the rather boring flat look of some modern lenses.  I don't know whether I shall use it mainly on my M9 or MP 0.58 yet. Will try with both for some time, but I often like a 50 on the M9. It's chrome and my M9 is black, but still looks OK. On the Chrome MP it looks stellar.... Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/166277-is-the-35mm-summicron-asph-worth-the-money/?do=findComment&comment=1843959'>More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted November 14, 2011 Share #16 Â Posted November 14, 2011 ... ready for the next GAS attack...; anyway, Cron 35 asph is such a wonderful lens that buying it is hardly a mistake, GAS or not...(even more in chrome...); I simply forgot my other 35s from the first time I used it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thighslapper Posted November 14, 2011 Share #17  Posted November 14, 2011 First, I obviously don't need one  ... and within 24hrs you have bought one ....  You are a man after my own heart Nick...... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenPatterson Posted November 14, 2011 Share #18 Â Posted November 14, 2011 With a new 35 Summilux coming I was thinking about selling this lens, but honestly such a nice balance of size, speed, and price (for a Leica lens) that I will keep it. Â Well done!!! (and yes, it does look great on the MP). Â Stephen Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NZDavid Posted November 15, 2011 Share #19 Â Posted November 15, 2011 The 35 'cron ASPH is a modern classic, a beautiful lens. Zeiss is excellent, too -- do you still need both? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick De Marco Posted November 15, 2011 Author Share #20  Posted November 15, 2011 I certainly don't 'need' both. But I only bought the Zeiss very recently - as I wanted a small walk around lens to accompany the CV 35 f1.2v2 which is lovely but big. I exchanged it for the Biogon 35/2 which was just slightly too big for an everyday lens (for me). I would lose a lot of money if I sold the Biogon-C now, I guess about £200, as they don't hold their value in the same way as Leica does. So I don't 'need' it, but it's a great lens, and I would throw money away selling it, so I guess I should hang on to it right now, and for those moments I want to go out with 2 35's one on each M etc (!) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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