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recommendation for small 35mm f2


stump4545

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If more money is no problem and you can live with half a stop less light, then I'd second the Summarit, too. At least all I read about it, heard from people and saw in images speaks volumes. A French magazin (Réponses Photo) found its rendering close to the one of the classic 35/2 iv. That would also bring it close to the 40s, but it may be a bit sharper in the corners up to f/4 (not that this were decisive in any respect) and definitely more resistant to flare. Sure, it's about 3x the price 2nd hand (4x compared to when I got my Rokkor). :rolleyes:

Alexander

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If you can give up a bit of speed, the Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm f/2.5 C is a fantastic lens, and it's tiny (I believe the 28mm Elmarit is the smallest lens Leica currently makes, and it dwarfs the Skopar). The Skopar is sharp, tiny, easy to handle. The contrast is low compared to Ziess and Leica, but I find that to be a distinct advantage for this lens, especially for bw photography. It's also great to use in native high contrast situations (beach, desert, mid day sun, etc).

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Yes, the Skopar is a great little lens, superb value, but low contrast...? I didn't find that.

Sure, it draws colors differently than the Leicas. And beware of sample variation.

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Yes, the Skopar is a great little lens, superb value, but low contrast...? I didn't find that.

Sure, it draws colors differently than the Leicas. And beware of sample variation.

 

The contrast is fine and it is also lower than any Zeiss or Leica lens I own (though except for the 90mm Elmarit, all my lenses are current production lenses). In any case, I really like the Skopar and won't be parting with it.

 

You're right about sample variation regarding Voigtlander lenses, though the three I own are fantastic performers, spot on, and render uniquely. I just wish I'd picked up the 90mm Lanther while it was still in production.

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The contrast is fine and it is also lower than any Zeiss or Leica lens I own (though except for the 90mm Elmarit, all my lenses are current production lenses).

 

Thanks for elaborating on this — agreed, in this company the Skopar would look lower contrast. To clarify my perspective, I consider the Ulton 28mm f/1,9 to be a moderate low contrast lense; the 35 (sold), 25 and 21mm Skopars I find quite contrasty in comparison. On slide film I can spot the Skopar's colour rendering and prefer the (older) Leica/M-Rokkor look. I think my only current Leica production optics is the 50/2 (although in the tabbed mount).

Alexander

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Thanks for elaborating on this — agreed, in this company the Skopar would look lower contrast. To clarify my perspective, I consider the Ulton 28mm f/1,9 to be a moderate low contrast lense; the 35 (sold), 25 and 21mm Skopars I find quite contrasty in comparison. On slide film I can spot the Skopar's colour rendering and prefer the (older) Leica/M-Rokkor look. I think my only current Leica production optics is the 50/2 (although in the tabbed mount).

Alexander

 

That's the older (no longer in production) asph Ultron? I've some interest in acquiring one, and would be more interested in your thoughts.

 

28mm is about as wide as I like to go, and even at 28mm I've difficulty composing frames to my liking. It's an area of photography that I want to work on improving. I use the 28mm F/2.8 (in current production), and the color rendition is fraking out of this world.

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Well, I wouldn't want to hijack this thread since the Ultron 28mm screwmount is everything but a small 35mm... Not even sure I can post pics here, since I essentially used it on an Epson RD-1 and Minolta CLE. Will send you a PM.

Cheers,

Alexander

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Well, I wouldn't want to hijack this thread since the Ultron 28mm screwmount is everything but a small 35mm... Not even sure I can post pics here, since I essentially used it on an Epson RD-1 and Minolta CLE. Will send you a PM.

Cheers,

Alexander

 

Agreed, and thanks.

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Guest Ansel_Adams
by necessary I think you mean for the sake of flare protection.

 

I can only speak for the Summarit (not necessary) and the Summicron asph (necessary but even with hood not resistant to flare). since the v4 summicron is older than the asph my guess is that it's more prone to flare than the summarit too.

 

Are you sure about this? Respected Leica reviewer Sean Reid has it the other way around, he states that:

 

"the 35 Cron ASPH is more resistant to flare that either the 35 Summarit or 35 Skopar."

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m9-forum/100969-used-summicron-35mm-new-summarit.html#post1064397

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Are you sure about this? Respected Leica reviewer Sean Reid has it the other way around, he states that:

"the 35 Cron ASPH is more resistant to flare that either the 35 Summarit or 35 Skopar."...

Reviews are to be taken for what they're worth of course but in a later one ("Medium Fast 35mm Lenses On the Leica M9" - May 25, 2010), Sean says that the Summarit has better flare resistance when used on the M9 and shooting into the light. In day to day use i find both Summicron asph and Summarit quite good in this respect but the latter is slightly more resistant to flare.

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Guest Marc G.
Are you sure about this? Respected Leica reviewer Sean Reid has it the other way around, he states that:

 

"the 35 Cron ASPH is more resistant to flare that either the 35 Summarit or 35 Skopar."

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m9-forum/100969-used-summicron-35mm-new-summarit.html#post1064397

 

absolutely sure about this. I see your Sean Reid and offer an Erwin Puts against that.

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In the time it takes to debate reviewer findings, which are notoriously varied, the OP could have rented the Summarit (and even the Summicron asph) and made his own assessment. Lensrentals is also offering 15% discount on Tuesdays until end of July.

 

The only assessment that matters is by making prints of one's own pics, and ultimately making a value judgment, which is always personal.

 

FWIW, Puts rated the 35 Summarit above the Summicron asph overall. What do your results show?

 

Jeff

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...What do your results show?

My 35/2 asph shows a bit more flare than the 35/2.5 but looks overall a bit more contrasty at f/2.5.

From f/2.5 to f/4, it is sharper in the corners and at f/2 it is infinitely superior ;) so i tend to use it more often than the 35/2.5.

The latter's bokeh looks generally less contrasty though and when size matters, it is my favorite 35 in good light.

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"M-Rokkor 40mm f/2 (Summicron 40 clone), perhaps best value for money.

 

Erwin Puts gave the 40mm Summicron a good review. I have had several and they were all good on a CL. So was the Rokkor on my CLE.

My present Summicron had the flange modified to bring up the 35mm viewfinder outline.

Recently the iris became disconnected from the aperture ring but after a CLA it has been perfect and gives more contrasty results. I first used it on an M4P and currently on an M9. The results look sharper to me than a Voigtlander 35mm f1.4 that I bought when the Summicron was having the CLA and sold when it returned more promptly than I expected.

Philip

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  • 5 months later...

Quite old thread, but anyway..

 

I just got the 35mm summicron v.4 and it's even smaller than the current 28mm elmarit!

Definitely not a modern look in the pictures (specially wide open), but they look great on the MM. Wide open, highlights have a kind of halo that gives a special look. Stopped down and paired with the Monochrom it delivers great image quality. This lens has its character.

 

salut

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