35mm f2 Summicron ASPH - 2 questions

[Jon Warwick]

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I am looking at purchasing a used 35mm f2 Summicron ASPH.

 

The main lens that i have used for years is a 50mm f2 Summicron (non APO).

 

I shoot both high resolution film (Acros 100 or ADOX CMS 20) and digital with the M240.

 

2 questions -

 

(i) Will the 35 f2 Summicron ASPH, as a more "modern" lens, give a noticeably different "look" compared to the 50mm non-APO Summicron? ..... e.g., does the 35mm ASPH have different resolution, different contrast, etc etc?

 

(ii) I can see a few dealers with used versions, 1 dates back to 1997 and is non-6 bit coded, and the other was made in 2007 and is 6-bit. The pricing difference between the two is about the cost of 6-bit coding if it was done in retrospect (so pricing between the two looks fair) ..... but is there any view if Leica tightened up quality control at all during that time, e.g., could the "copy" of the 2007 lens be more likely to be better?

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[lct]

The 35/2 asph is sharper than the 50/2 v5 at f/2 & f/2.8 in the corners and your 35/2 asph from 2007 has been optimized for digital most probably so i would prefer it personally.

[KM-25]

There is no optical difference between a non 6 bit and a 6 bit 35mm Summicron ASPH. But just get the 6 bit and be done with it since it makes total sense for the 240.

[Overgaard]

I would get the 2007 with bit coding. You will want it. But the building quality should not be any different.

 

The 50/2 is a really good lens, and the 35mm ASPH is really good also. The ASPH is a little sharper/more contrast but the change from 50 to 35 may make them look much the same in my opinion.

 

It's about the two most under-rated lenses in the Leica catalog. The two that has been available almost all the time when other lenses has been on waiting list.

 

 

leica.overgaard.dk - Thorsten Overgaard's Leica Sites - Leica 35mm Summicron-M f/2.0 rangefinder lens

[KM-25]

It's about the two most under-rated lenses in the Leica catalog. The two that has been available almost all the time when other lenses has been on waiting list.

 

Agreed, it is basically faultless. I am pretty sure I am holding out for a 35 Lux Asph since I only shoot film but that darn cron is the culmination of everything that makes Leica great....I am sorely tempted.

[Jon Warwick]

Thanks for all your replies, they were very helpful. I today purchased a very clean 35mm f2 ASPH (6-bit .... made in 2011), and have given it a spin already.

 

Edge-to-edge sharpness of the 35mm f2 ASPH on the M240 seems a very clear improvement versus (my copy of) the 50mm v5.

 

For portraits, I find the ASPH almost unnaturally sharp with the default i had in Photoshop RAW, but setting RAW sharpening to zero calms things down nicely.

 

With the inherent sharpness of the ASPH (and the relative "softness" of film) I expect the 35mm ASPH will make a fine combo with things like Acros 100 or with the mega-high-resolution ADOX CMS 20 film.

[KM-25]

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With the inherent sharpness of the ASPH (and the relative "softness" of film) I expect the 35mm ASPH will make a fine combo with things like Acros 100 or with the mega-high-resolution ADOX CMS 20 film.

 

I'll be shooting strictly Tmax 400 pushed a stop to 800 in 35mm. Otherwise I shoot medium format and 4x5.