tappan Posted April 29, 2012 Share #1 Posted April 29, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm proudly keeping my 35mm 'cron version 1V. I had a chance to buy a mint, almost brand new asph 'cron for a decent price, but I would have had to have sold the version 1V and then still paid over $1000.00 USD. After awhile buying Leica products is like eating too much at dinner, you just cant keep stuffing that food in your mouth. I am NOT a wealthy man. This does get expensive. The lens I'm keeping may not be as perfect as the newer 'cron but I'm full, I can't "eat" anymore. The lens dates to 1990, and I recently had it checked, cleaned and 6 bit coded. It works brilliant with my M9. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted April 29, 2012 Posted April 29, 2012 Hi tappan, Take a look here I'm proudly keeping my 35mm 'cron version 1V. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Jeff S Posted April 29, 2012 Share #2 Posted April 29, 2012 To continue your food analogy... Often an old familiar meal at mom's house can beat a pricey, trendy dinner at a new restaurant. In either case, though, the meal requires not just good ingredients, but a good cook. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thompsonkirk Posted April 29, 2012 Share #3 Posted April 29, 2012 I believe you made just the right choice. My FLE seems at the same time flawless and characterless. And too heavy to enjoy carrying with a wrist-strap in one hand. Kirk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWW Posted April 29, 2012 Share #4 Posted April 29, 2012 I have a summilux fle but will keep my version iv summicron for it's smallness, light weight, and image character. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted April 29, 2012 Share #5 Posted April 29, 2012 I have a summilux fle but will keep my version iv summicron for it's smallness, light weight, and image character. Me too. The old man from the Spherical Age Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fWord Posted April 29, 2012 Share #6 Posted April 29, 2012 Well if I were in your shoes, I'd have done the same. An ASPH at $1000 over the price of a Cron IV? At one point I thought they were going for roughly the same price, which is what I thought made the ASPH great value for money, at that time anyway. Maybe prices have now changed and there's a definite disparity again. Besides, from what I've been reading, it's not as if the IV is a bad lens. Although having used the ASPH, I'd have to say it had everything I wanted in a lens, only that the focal length was not right for me. The performance was excellent, so while I got it at a good price, that made it so much easier to trade up to something else. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecar Posted April 29, 2012 Share #7 Posted April 29, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm proudly keeping my 35mm 'cron version 1V. Same here. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted April 29, 2012 Share #8 Posted April 29, 2012 I had an opportunity to try an ASPH for a weekend. Sharper into the corners at wide stops compared to version 4. Otherwise about the same except being bigger. I too am keeping the version 4 which has been my friend for 20+ years. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted April 29, 2012 Share #9 Posted April 29, 2012 Bit of flare as well with the 35/2 v4 but more than 50,000 photogs have bought it new and a lot of them still use it for some reason. http://test.www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/35mm_f/2_Summicron-M_IV Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjames9142 Posted April 29, 2012 Share #10 Posted April 29, 2012 A terrific lens. One of the many things I like about it is that it is at optimum sharpness around F8, which allows for good DOF. (The more modern asphs seem to start suffering from diffraction earlier on. I make 40 inch prints from the M9 with this lens that are beautifully detailed and smooth. I have a 35 Biogon 2.8 that is in sharper than the Asph Cron, but generally I don't like the way it "draws," though it does have its uses. 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/178256-im-proudly-keeping-my-35mm-cron-version-1v/?do=findComment&comment=1996585'>More sharing options...
pico Posted April 29, 2012 Share #11 Posted April 29, 2012 The entire image seems to be soft. Down-sampling issue? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Messsucherkamera Posted April 29, 2012 Share #12 Posted April 29, 2012 I believe you made just the right choice. My FLE seems at the same time flawless and characterless.Kirk Sometimes perfection is bland and boring. If that is the case, is it not therefore flawed? And if it is flawed, is it still perfect? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted April 29, 2012 Share #13 Posted April 29, 2012 Working in a camera shop, I had the opportunity to try the 35mm v.4 against all the current 35s over the past year (Summilux ASPH pre-FLE, Summicron, Summarit). I ended up getting and keeping the v.4 for one simple reason. In terms of picket-fence-a-mile-away, bottom-line-of-the-eye-chart resolution, it still beat all the others. In the center of the frame. At most apertures. Now, the ASPHs and the Summarit are better (often vastly better) in the corners at larger apertures, generally have smoother bokeh (despite the v.4's reputation), and definitely have more contrast and "snap." I have to use a shade with the v.4, not only because of flare tendencies, but because it is so small that my finger on the aperture ring occasionally sneaks into the edge of the picture. But here's a shot from my High School Soldiers essay (100% crop + full image). M9, 35 v.4 @ f/2, ISO 1600. Today's 35s just can't pull off this level of detail @ f/2, IMHE. (the 50 ASPH probably can, though). 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/178256-im-proudly-keeping-my-35mm-cron-version-1v/?do=findComment&comment=1996645'>More sharing options...
farnz Posted April 30, 2012 Share #14 Posted April 30, 2012 I'm proudly keeping my 35mm 'cron version 1V. I had a chance to buy a mint, almost brand new asph 'cron for a decent price, ... Personally I went the other way and several years ago swapped my Asph for a version IV. I still prefer the version IV. Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deeman Posted April 30, 2012 Share #15 Posted April 30, 2012 Tappan, you made the right choice. I wouldn't change my 35 'cron IV for an asph even if it were a free swap. There is a magic about the IV that the new kid on the block can't match. Cheers, Ivan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted April 30, 2012 Share #16 Posted April 30, 2012 As far as my samples are concerned, the asph is significantly sharper than the v4 at f/2. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DennisK Posted April 30, 2012 Share #17 Posted April 30, 2012 I'm just about to do the opposite thing. Two years ago I had the 35 Summicron Asph. as my only lens and really liked it a lot for its great clarity and smooth and crisp rendering. Later I had to sell it and recently I was able to acquire a 35 again. This time I opted for the 35 Summicron IV, mainly because I was expecting a nicer, more refined out of focus rendering and also for the lower and easier to correct distortion. Well, I think the Cron IV I have is a great sample, it was just at Leica for 6-bit coding, it's very sharp wide open in the image center and stopped down it's sharp across the frame. It has a very unique rendering, actually nicer bokeh than the Asph. and also the distortion is just what I was expecting: very low and easy to correct. But I still miss the pop and clarity I was getting from the Asph. Just when I get a couple of properties I was looking for I realize that I gave up a few others that I now miss. I know it's stupid and that if I sell it in exchange for another Asph I will regret it sooner or later. But I can't afford to have both (also morally). In the field of taste for lens flavors ignorance truly is bliss. A lot of people claim not to see any big difference between the models and sometimes I envy that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted April 30, 2012 Share #18 Posted April 30, 2012 Exactly how does one identify a version 4? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted April 30, 2012 Share #19 Posted April 30, 2012 Pico, The easiest way is that it will be a pre-aspherical 35 Summicron with a code number 11310 (black) or 11311 (chrome) and a serial number greater than 2,974,250. Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DennisK Posted April 30, 2012 Share #20 Posted April 30, 2012 Pico, another giveaway is the shape of the aperture ring. It's not perfectly round but extended and knurled for a better grip towards the bottom half. The versions each have different numbers of optical elements as well, with the IV having 7 elements while the I has 8 and the following versions have 6. Don't know about the Asph though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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