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Best 35mm Summicron version for still life


colin_d

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I understand that the dual range 50 does not work on any digital M.

Jean-Michel

 

I've done some searching around and there are plenty of Summarons f3.5 and f2.8 to be found, but what I'm not sure of is the question on whether a lens with the goggles will fit/work on an ME? Does anyone know defivitively if they do or don't?

 

Colin 

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If you want corner to corner sharpness and high IQ at the smallest apertures then within Leica I think the Summicron 35 asph is probably the only way. I would not buy it because I find the Summicron 35 iv much more interesting and because I find it likely that Leica will come with a new version of it. If character is your target then both the Summaron 35 and the Summicron 35 iv are interesting. I don't know about Zeiss because their hood philosophy does not suit me. But if still life is your only purpose you may not be bothered by bulkiness.

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The 35/2 asph v1 suffers somewhat from diffraction at f/16 like other lenses, including 35/2 v4 and ZM 35/2.8, at the exception of the 35/2 v1 i've been told but i have no experience with this lens. The 35/2 asph v1 remains a sharp lens at f/16 though but hardly more so than the ZM 35/2.8 that i prefer for closeups personally. YMMV. As far as lens hoods are concerned, the ZM 35/2.8 is indeed a Ø43mm lens vs Ø39mm for the  Summicron 35/2 asph v1 but the ZM hood is less bulky than the Leica 12586 hood for Ø43mm lenses to be fair and the ZM 35/2.8 lens itself is shorter than the Summicron 35/2 asph v1 per se. Both great lenses anyway. 

 

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I've done some searching around and there are plenty of Summarons f3.5 and f2.8 to be found, but what I'm not sure of is the question on whether a lens with the goggles will fit/work on an ME? Does anyone know defivitively if they do or don't?

 

Colin

 

The 'goggles' will work on any M body. All they do, in the case of a 35 mm lens, is to make the field of view fit in the 50 mm frame. Originally they were meant for the M3 since that camera only has frames for 50, 90, and 135 lenses. The magnification is of course reduced and it can make focusing a bit more difficult, it is a trade-off that eyeglass wearers sometimes are happy with as it may be difficult to fully see the 35 frame with glasses on. The goggled 135 Elmarit enlarges the field of view to fit the 90 mm frame. I have a goggled 35 Summicron and have used it for decades on various M's with no issues, but only because I wear glasses. If you to not wear glasses, I would not advise getting a goggled lens. I am even now planning on getting a new 35 and move my eye around to see the full frame in the finder.

 

Jean-Michel

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As far as lens hoods are concerned, the ZM 35/2.8 is indeed a Ø43mm lens vs Ø39mm for the Summicron 35/2 asph v1 but the ZM hood is less bulky than the Leica 12586 hood for Ø43mm lenses to be fair and the ZM 35/2.8 lens itself is shorter than the Summicron 35/2 asph v1 per se. Both great lenses anyway.

 

 

And you don't need to order the hood separately (with backorder problems)?
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And you don't need to order the hood separately (with backorder problems)?

 

I ordered mine separately and it is available currently for EUR 80 in Europe. BTW the similar if not identical Voigtlander LH-6 hood (pic) is available as well and can be had for EUR 70 there. 

 

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Thnx ts that helps with my thinking on choice knowing the f3.5 is a cheaper option. Can you use it without the goggles?

 

Only with live view cameras. The downside reported is that the viewing lenses sometimes lack the clarity of the rangefinder window on its own, but if you unscrew the attachment focusing will be adrift at least as seen in the finder.

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I'd get the Summaron w/o goggles and just use LV..

My understanding is that the goggles purpose is to provide 35mm frame lines. If I'm doing still life in a static position with a digital camera then in reality I don't need the goggles attached do I. I can take test shots to get the framing right, then start with the real stuff, yeah? It might take me a few test shots to get it right but with digital that doesn't matter.

 

What I'm not as sure about is focussing, can I do it through the viewfinder if I don't attach the goggles, on paper I would have thought so.

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What I'm not as sure about is focussing, can I do it through the viewfinder if I don't attach the goggles, on paper I would have thought so.

 

Have a look at replies 3, 4, 5 etc at <

35mm Summicron v1 with goggles and digital compatibility

> re focusing with goggles removed.

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Have a look at replies 3, 4, 5 etc at <

 

35mm Summicron v1 with goggles and digital compatibility

> re focusing with goggles removed.

You cannot focus the lens without the goggles when using the rangefinder. If you do not need the so-called goggles, it would be waste of money to get one. You can of course focus the lens using live-view with or without goggles.

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Well after taking on board everyone's useful advice I finally settled on a 1965 version f2.8, screwmount, no goggles Summaron. The goggles became too problematic for the ME leading me to this lens.

 

Interestingly it focuses to .65 (2.2) which wasn't something I expected on this version, .7 (2.4) seemed to be the standard although the Summaron does have many variations I've come to realise.

 

I've already got an adaptor for screwmount to m which I got for my Summitar, I'm assuming it will work on the Summaron. That being the case I should be set to go once it arrives.

 

Colin

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The LTM-M adapter you use for the Summitar brings up the 50mm frameline I suppose? If so using it with the Summaron will still bring up the 50mm frameline making framing difficult, I would recommend you to get an adapter which brings up the 35mm frameline for your Summaron.

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