The seemingly never-ending search for a 35mm

[philipus]

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I received a lot of help in this thread, which prompted me to look further into alternatives for a 35mm lens. I mainly use 50mm but will eventually get something like a Summicron, however at the moment I need to look for less expensive alternatives.

 

I'm now considering the CV Skopar 35/2.5 and the Summaron 35/3.5. Both seem to cost more or less the same used.

 

I've read comments that the CV is sharper but that it has quite a lot of DOF at 2.5. From what I've read, the converse seems to be the case with the Summaron.

 

Which one should I get?

 

Many thanks in advance

Philip

[jaapv]

I have the Summaron and like it - but I had the CV and it is considerbly better. I sold the CV and got the Summicron C 40 - even better- a lot

 

Get a Summicron, any Summicron or for the modern look a Summarit ...

[kanzlr]

how can the Skopar at f2.5 have more DOF than the Summaron at f3.5?

[01af]

How can the Skopar at f/2.5 have more DOF than the Summaron at f/3.5?

He didn't say it had.

[kanzlr]

I've read comments that the CV is sharper but that it has quite a lot of DOF at 2.5. From what I've read, the converse seems to be the case with the Summaron.

 

no, but he said he read comments that suggest so.

 

CV ... lot of DOF at 2.5 ...converse...Summaron...

 

 

If the CV has a lot of DoF at f2.5, the Summaron has even more at f3.5.

Just wondered if it was a simple mistake in the wording or some kind of misunderstanding.

[philipus]

I have the Summaron and like it - but I had the CV and it is considerbly better. I sold the CV and got the Summicron C 40 - even better- a lot

 

Get a Summicron, any Summicron or for the modern look a Summarit ...

 

Thanks Jaap. I will definitely eventually get a Summicron. I actually looked at the 40mm which can be had for less than the 35s but 40 is a bit too close to the 50mm lens(es...) I have.

 

I'm sorry if my phrasing was ambiguous. I meant that from what I have understood the converse is true of the Summaron, that is, that it is less sharp than the CV but does not exhibit as much DOF at its widest (meaning it blurs backgrounds more). Does that make sense?

 

Cheers

 

philip

[kokoshawnuff]

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I've had the CV 35 f/2.5 and it was a very good overall lens, not a lot of contrast but that can be fixed in developing or post-processing.

 

Also for consideration at $1050MSRP (~800euro) is the Zeiss 35 f/2 which I've read as a stand-up performer, and it can be sold for what you pay once you get the summicron.

[kanzlr]

I'm sorry if my phrasing was ambiguous. I meant that from what I have understood the converse is true of the Summaron, that is, that it is less sharp than the CV but does not exhibit as much DOF at its widest (meaning it blurs backgrounds more). Does that make sense?

 

not really. At a given subject distance, f2.5 will yield a narrower DoF than f3.5, no matter what 35mm lens is used.

[01af]

... from what I have understood the converse is true of the Summaron, that is, it [...] does not exhibit as much DOF at its widest (meaning it blurs backgrounds more). Does that make sense?

It is possible indeed that one lens has slightly more depth-of-field (and consequently, less background blur) than another of the same focal length, at the same aperture and same distance setting, when used on the same camera.

 

However it is hardly possible that one lens at f/2.5 has more depth-of-field than another of the same focal length at f/3.5 (again, at the same distance setting and used on the same camera). And no-one suggested that.

[gjames9142]

After a wait of several months, I now have a Zeiss 35 mm 2.8 Biogon, which Sean Reid rated as the best technical performer of the group he tested, including the 35 asph Cron and the scopar. I have only been shooting a few days, and have to say it has absolutely stellar resolution. Ergonomically it is not as nice as my V4 cron -- it is too easy to change the aperture when focusing, although the one-third click stops on the aperture are nice. Very good value indeed. I don't think you can do much better for value.

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[Keith (M)]

I have the ZM Biogon 35mm f2, which on my M9 is an absolutely stunningly sharp performer with excellent colour rendition - highly recommended. Last summer I bought a 1957 Summaron 35mm f2.8 which is paired with my M4. For film use this lens performs extremely well indeed and provides me with delightful, characterful results.

 

So, Philip - film or digital use?

[microview]

On another thread I suggested: "The last two Summicrons I have been disappointed by. It's a close thing between the Summarit and Zeiss 35 f2.8 (top of S Reid's collective review of 35 lenses on M9 as noted in post no.10); the Leica is rather nicer to use, and of course comes coded, but the ZM does have a very marginal increase in resolution. I set it as pre-asph 35 in my M9 menu. You get better colour representation if you set white balance manually, with an ExpoDisc, rather than use AWB."

[earleygallery]

Stop procrastinating and buy one! Summaron, Skopar, it doesn't matter too much. Just make sure you buy a clean example if going for an older lens, avoid the hazy and scratched examples.

 

I have the Skopar and am very happy with it.

 

Buy s/h and you won't lose anything when or if you decide to 'trade up'.

[philipus]

Thank you very much everybody! You have given me very helpful information.

 

So, Philip - film or digital use?

 

Hi Keith, I exclusively use film when on Leicas.

 

Stop procrastinating and buy one!

 

A great piece of advice James. As fate would have it, a 35 Skopar came up in the classifieds today so I bought it. Looks to be in excellent condition and with the vented hood.

 

In another, older thread (I think Guy Mancuso may have started it) I saw a discussion about the Summarit and the Summicron and the former really seems to be a swell performer (pun intended, though I've never understood why one would add that).

 

When the time comes for me, the choice between them will be tough!

[Double Negative]

I have the "Classic" Color Skopar (LTM) and it's a real peach of a lens. Tiny, great performance, low cost. I liked it so much I picked up three more. They're so tiny you can toss them in a coat pocket or bag and not even know they're there. Their biggest "issues" are potential flare (optional and third-party hoods help) and some mild barrel distortion. Neither worth really worrying about.

[jaques]

I second Jaap here: the 40mm summicrons and rokkors seem much closer to 35mm than to a 50. Take two steps backwards and IT IS a 35- three steps forward its a great 50! I really like the focal length between 35 and 50- and for the money they can be an excellent option.

 

if your lucky you can get one with a CL body virtually for free!

[msAdele]

Thanks Jaap. I will definitely eventually get a Summicron. I actually looked at the 40mm which can be had for less than the 35s but 40 is a bit too close to the 50mm lens(es...) I have.

 

I'm sorry if my phrasing was ambiguous. I meant that from what I have understood the converse is true of the Summaron, that is, that it is less sharp than the CV but does not exhibit as much DOF at its widest (meaning it blurs backgrounds more). Does that make sense?

 

Cheers

 

philip

 

That sounds great. I honestly think that it makes sense.

[gjames9142]

I looked again at Sean Reid's excellent subscription site, comparing Cron, Summarit, two Zeisses and the Skopar in a series of rigorous tests, and Biogon 2,8 is ahead in pretty well every department -- resolution corner and centre, total lack of distortion, excellent flare resistance. Not quite as good at Chromatic aberration, but still very respectable. The cron suffers a bit from focus shift. The summarit is a good lens, too. My experience with CV is dubious quality control -- I bought a new 28 in which ten ercent of one side was soft. I still actually love the version 4 cron, which I tend to shoot around F8, Beautiful rendering.