35mm Summilux Vs Zeiss 35mm f/1.4 Distagon

[dkmoore]

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Is the lens' name ZEISS C Sonnar T* 1,5/50 ZM?

 

 

The conversation is about the Zeiss 35mm 1.4 ZM.

 

Forget the 50 ZM as it is not being discussed. 

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[M11 for me]

Ja, klar. ich bin völlig neben den Schuhen.

[darkinners]

ZM is sharper and much cheaper and bigger.

I choosed FLE over ZM though, mostly because of handling and I already have plenty of Zeiss lens for my Sony camera, wanted try some Leica favor.

[Leica_Virgin]

I received the Zeiss a few days ago and couldn't be happier! There are ways of compensating for the slight viewfinder blockage and I don't find it uncomfortable heavy at all. The photos are gorgeous, thanks for everyone's seasoned input!

Chris

[tobey bilek]

This might be a place where one would have two 35 mm,  one for most uses, a second for when 1.4 is required.  I did this for decades and found I never used the fast large heavy glass,  so they were sold.  Leica is all about small, stealth,  low weight so it can be carried easily.

 

Favorites are 50 2.8 Elmar M,  35 pre asph, 90 macro.

[astrostl]

This might be a place where one would have two 35 mm,  one for most uses, a second for when 1.4 is required.

 

 

That's where I'm heading: ZM C Biogon 35/2.8 + ZM Distagon 35/1.4.

[RexGig0]

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I recently acquired a pre-owned Zeiss Distagon 1,4/35mm ZM, and am very glad I did so. When visiting my elderly father, my little Summaron-M 3.5cm f/3.5 forces me to use a higher ISO than I would like to use, due to the low light inside his house. (I could use a 5D-series SLR, with a Canon EF 1.4L II, but an M10 or Monochrom 246 seem so much more polite.) The Distagon and the Summaron each, of course, have their distinct signatures. I like having both.

[Del-Uks]

On 4/12/2018 at 8:39 AM, anickpick said:

Chris, both lenses are superb optically. 

I used to own both lenses and sold the Zeiss after awhile. 

 

The Zeiss lens is slightly superior in the outer half of the frame and has less field curvature.

 

The Leica lens is lighter, has less viewfinder blockage and less CA.

Same conclusion here. I also sold the Zeiss to keep the lighter and almost-as-good Summilux.