My 35mm journey

[Ko.Fe.]

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13 hours ago, Dennis said:

I heard today about the 35 1.4 TTartisan. Is this one? https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1562296-REG/ttartisan_a01b_35mm_f_1_4_lens_for.html

 

 

Yes. 410 g brick

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[evikne]

My 35 mm journey just took another unexpected turn. Today I replaced the Summicron v.4 with a 35 mm Summilux pre-ASPH v.2 again. I couldn't forget the beautiful rendering from this lens, which I think is even a tad more gentle and painterly than the Summicron, especially at f/2.0–2.8. And this is probably the most "classic" Leica lens I can think of. I really love the look of it (and I probably have a weird fetish for large front elements, so a Summilux will always be better than a Summicron 😉).

When I want perfectly sharp images at f/1.4 or I need to go closer than 1 m, I have the FLE. The first time I sold the Summilux pre-ASPH, I didn't know I should combine it with its modern brother. But when I bought the FLE, things changed. I would probably never be satisfied with only one of them, but together they possess the best of both worlds.

[OR120]

evikne - no matter where your 35mm journey has taken you --- I have always enjoyed seeing the trip with you - great photos!

My 35mm journey began (over 35 years ago) and ended in the same place -- my 35 Summilux v2 - seen here.

 

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[evikne]

1 hour ago, Steven said:

V4 is the king of bokeh right ? Do you prefer it to the v5? 

I have right now a lux ASPH pre FLE which I love and will keep. 

I am selling my voigtlander Nokton 1.4 MC vii and I a thinking of replacing this with a Summicron. Im hesitating between the v4 and the ASPH. Any thoughts on that ? 

I love the 35 lenses too. I totally identify with you. I think about them while I sleep. Sometimes in my dreams, sometimes its nightmares. 

Yes, v.4 is the "King of Bokeh". I haven't tried any other Summicrons, so I cannot recommend any others, unfortunately. 

35mm lenses has been in my thoughts day and night too, especially the (impossible) choice between the pre-ASPH Summicron v.4 and Summilux v.2. But I think I've finally made up my mind. 

[evikne]

1 hour ago, Steven said:

Help me make mine then ! So the only way is to get both ? If so, when do you use which ? 

Beyond the extra stop, when you shoot your Lux and your cron both at f2-F4, do you see a real difference between the two? 

The two 35mm lenses I have now, is the Summilux FLE and pre-ASPH v.2. I use the FLE almost exclusively when I want sharp pictures at f/1.4. The pre-ASPH lens is for everything else. When I stop down, any lens are sharp enough for me, for the most part. I am not very interested in extreme sharpness anyway.

The pre FLE should be a great lens with a beautiful, slightly more gentle rendering than the newest FLE. Do you really think it is necessary to combine it with any lens at all? If you want a small and light lens in addition, I would perhaps go for the Summicron v.4. But I don't want to be responsible for other people's choices. I have enough challenges with my own. 😉

Edited October 1, 2020 by evikne

[pedaes]

54 minutes ago, Steven said:

Help me make mine then

This might help 

You will learn 'King of Bokeh' is urban myth and the Summilux FLE trumps all other M 35's.

[a.noctilux]

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45 minutes ago, Steven said:

Help me make mine then ! So the only way is to get both ? If so, when do you use which ? 

Beyond the extra stop, when you shoot your Lux and your cron both at f2-F4, do you see a real difference between the two? 

As user on/off with 35mm Summilux and Summicron for decades, my opinion is in most cases, there are very few differences F/2-F4.

Looking at the optical formula of the two pre-asph. , I understand that

Cron IV

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1.4

 

I see the Summilux as Summicron with overdrive to f/1.4 (with flaws, flare, coma, etc)

[Shameetman]

Funny, the cron v4 and fle are my current 35s too. Great lenses that I’m planning to keep!

[Jeff S]

1 hour ago, pedaes said:

You will learn 'King of Bokeh' is urban myth and the Summilux FLE trumps all other M 35's.

As I wrote above, Mike Johnston (now publisher of TOP) first used the term ‘ king of bokeh’ long ago in a magazine caption (he’s also the guy who first spelled ‘bokeh’ as a variant of the Japanese term boke to help readers pronounce it).

But even Mike admitted that, upon further study, the description is wrong and that the 35 Summicron version 4 bokeh is actually bad at large apertures and at close distances.

Funny that folks still use the term, especially those who own the lens and should know its true behavior, especially compared to other options.

And btw, I’ve seen very nervous bokeh under some conditions from the 35 Summilux FLE.  A friend who owns one concurs.

Of course opinion on out-of-focus blur is a subjective matter. To each his/her own.

Jeff
 

 

 

Edited October 1, 2020 by Jeff S

[ymc226]

On 9/29/2020 at 9:09 AM, evikne said:

My 35 mm journey just took another unexpected turn. Today I replaced the Summicron v.4 with a 35 mm Summilux pre-ASPH v.2 again. I couldn't forget the beautiful rendering from this lens, which I think is even a tad more gentle and painterly than the Summicron, especially at f/2.0–2.8. And this is probably the most "classic" Leica lens I can think of. I really love the look of it (and I probably have a weird fetish for large front elements, so a Summilux will always be better than a Summicron 😉).

When I want perfectly sharp images at f/1.4 or I need to go closer than 1 m, I have the FLE. The first time I sold the Summilux pre-ASPH, I didn't know I should combine it with its modern brother. But when I bought the FLE, things changed. I would probably never be satisfied with only one of them, but together they possess the best of both worlds.

My thinking is similar to yours.  I also have the requisite sharp modern ASPH lenses in 35 and 50 but just got not too long ago got a version 1 Summilux 50 and a version 2 Summilux 35 for the Monochrom.  Given, the lower contrast nature of theses lenses, will attaching a orange filter detract from the "softer" look?  My reasoning for putting a orange filter is that since I live by the beach and most of my pictures include sky with clouds, I would want the clouds more defined in RAW before post processing is started.

[evikne]

54 minutes ago, ymc226 said:

My thinking is similar to yours.  I also have the requisite sharp modern ASPH lenses in 35 and 50 but just got not too long ago got a version 1 Summilux 50 and a version 2 Summilux 35 for the Monochrom.  Given, the lower contrast nature of theses lenses, will attaching a orange filter detract from the "softer" look?  My reasoning for putting a orange filter is that since I live by the beach and most of my pictures include sky with clouds, I would want the clouds more defined in RAW before post processing is started.

That sounds very possible. But unfortunately I have no experience with color filters, except virtual ones in LR. I am sure others here can give you a better answer. 

[Guest]

The pain and heartache for people owning expensive 35mm lenses and not knowing which ones to use,buy or sale sometimes brings a tear to my eyes.

Just a simple walk in the woods must be a terrible experience as leica people ponder whether to take out the voigtlander,summilux or summicrom ,add to that is dreadful dilemma of which version to use V1 V2 V3 V4 etc etc and mandler or cold brutal unfeeling but sharp aspherical.

Its so bad a person could just stay at home and gradually lose the will to live.

[jdlaing]

5 minutes ago, steve 1959 said:

The pain and heartache for people owning expensive 35mm lenses and not knowing which ones to use,buy or sale sometimes brings a tear to my eyes.

Just a simple walk in the woods must be a terrible experience as leica people ponder whether to take out the voigtlander,summilux or summicrom ,add to that is dreadful dilemma of which version to use V1 V2 V3 V4 etc etc and mandler or cold brutal unfeeling but sharp aspherical.

Its so bad a person could just stay at home and gradually lose the will to live.

Not for me. I use all I have.

[Knut]

4 hours ago, a.noctilux said:

As user on/off with 35mm Summilux and Summicron for decades, my opinion is in most cases, there are very few differences F/2-F4.

Looking at the optical formula of the two pre-asph. , I understand that

Cron IV

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1.4

 

I see the Summilux as Summicron with overdrive to f/1.4 (with flaws, flare, coma, etc)

Hi there,

interesting fact is that the Lux design is already dated when Leica came up with the V4 Chron.

They had strong financial problems at that time, and to me it seems entirely possible that they just throttled maximum aperture

of the Lux to save development expenses and having a new f2 fish in the pond timely,

obviously knowing about the good quality of that Mandler design once stopped down...

Or is it mere coincidence that all white/red boxes of that era that I'm aware of show a picture of the lens' cross section,

while the Summicron V4 is visible just as a silhouette...

 

Best,

 

Knut

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[phototrope]

On 5/30/2020 at 9:00 PM, evikne said:

I swapped it for a used 35 Summilux FLE again, to be able to take sharp, wide open pictures. It was in mint condition and very affordable. – And today, I also got another nearly mint 35 Summicron v.4, because I've missed it so much!

So I believe this is where my 35mm journey ends – back to where I started. But I've realized I cannot have everything I want in one lens, so now I have one modern and one classic. Together they have the best from both eras. I obviously can never agree with myself about what I prefer, but now I always have a lens that suits my need or mood.

@evikne Curious to know if you still own and use the 35mm lux FLE, and what if you anything to report about it after 2+ years of use?

(Asking because I'm considering get one and probably selling my 35mm lux pre-asph to finance it)

[evikne]

39 minutes ago, phototrope said:

@evikne Curious to know if you still own and use the 35mm lux FLE, and what if you anything to report about it after 2+ years of use?

(Asking because I'm considering get one and probably selling my 35mm lux pre-asph to finance it)

Haha! I took the exact opposite route. 🤪 I sold both the FLE and Summicron IV shortly after and purchased another 35mm Lux pre-asph. I have owned that lens before, and started to miss it very much. It's a lens that needs some time to get used to and to bond with. Now I was finally ready.

And I think I've finally ended my 35mm journey. 😊

Edited August 25, 2022 by evikne

[Capuccino-Muffin]

Please buy the 35 Summilux AA.

[phototrope]

Well I've decided to keep my 35mm luc pre-asph v2 and find some other way of financing a FLE. Then I can take my time and decide which is best for me

Edited August 25, 2022 by phototrope

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[rtai]

Since 1998 I have owned and used every 35mm in the Leica catalog often more than once: all generations of Summilux, Summicron, Summaron, Summarit, Elmar except for Summicron Asph V2. The journey has ended and I am keeping a coated Elmar, preA v2 Canada, preA v2 Germany, and Summilux Asph Pre-FLE. Whew! Got to try everything at least once. The best 35mm is the one I had with me when I took that shot.

[grahamc]

11 hours ago, rtai said:

Since 1998 I have owned and used every 35mm in the Leica catalog often more than once: all generations of Summilux, Summicron, Summaron, Summarit, Elmar except for Summicron Asph V2. The journey has ended and I am keeping a coated Elmar, preA v2 Canada, preA v2 Germany, and Summilux Asph Pre-FLE. Whew! Got to try everything at least once. The best 35mm is the one I had with me when I took that shot.

Good work ! 😂

out of interest, what made you keep both a Canada and a Germany preA v2 ?