The curse of the 35mm

[erniethemilk]

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I’ve had several 35mm focal length lenses over the past 12 months including 2 7artisans 35mm f2’s and a CV Nokton 35mm f1.4. None of which I’ve been particularly enamoured with. 

I’ve just bought a CV 35mm color skopar which have yet to receive but hoping from reviews I’ve read is a good option, albeit not great in low light. 

My other 2 lenses are a Summicron 40mm f2 & 50mm f2, both of which produce far greater results than any of the 35’s I’ve owned. 

Do I just need to bite the bullet, sell a couple of organs and buy the Summicron 35mm f2 or am I being totally irrational about it all 😂

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[Denys]

I have a Summicron 35mm v4 and am happy with it. Not sure I would have sold the Wurlitzer to get it though..

[Tom R]

Couldn't say. FWIW, I have used the same 35mm Summicron since the mid-1980's and have had no complaints. I have only had that lens CLA'd twice(?) during this time, and I have used it weekly in a variety of environmental conditions.

 

[pippy]

From all I've read about it the mkII version of the 35mm f1.4 Voigtlander Nokton seems to have had pretty-much all of the optical abberations which plagued the original version ironed-out. It really does get very good reviews indeed. Stating the obvious it also has a one-and-a-half stop advantage over the Color-Skopar.

Going down the Leica route - if you don't really use f2 very often - the 35mm f2.8 Summaron-Ms are superb performers for a fraction of the cost of a Summicron.

Way down at the opposite end of the kidney-donor scale I have had some surprisingly wonderful results (and I'm not kidding!) from using an old (1975) Jupiter-12 35mm f2.8 on my digi-M's with the ubiquitous adapter as well as on film with my 1930 Leica 1C. Cost? Less than £70...

But as you've already pulled the trigger on the C-S all the above is probably academic. I'm sure you will be delighted with the images it can make. It's a great lens.

Philip.

Edited September 15, 2020 by pippy

[Ko.Fe.]

OP needs to specify what camera those lenses are on.

I went through all three version on CV CS 35 2.5. Good on color film, dull of bw film. Good on M8, OK on M-E 220.

I was avoiding CV Nokton 35 1.4 until mk II came. MK II is OK lens on film and M-E 220.

Summicron is just way to overpriced for me and I can't find any reason to pay such price for it.

I went with NiB Summarit-M 35 2.5 and it is best 35mm lens I ever owned. For build and results. 

For something like M10, I can't imagine better 35mm lens, IMO. BW darkroom prints from negatives taken by this lens are just incredible quality. 

 

[pedaes]

1 hour ago, erniethemilk said:

buy the Summicron 35mm f2

You will not be happy until you do. 

[jaeger]

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I have few attempts to replace my Leica collection for some cash but failed.  The last try was a VM 40mm 1.2 but still not cutting it.  I was happy for a while but more I use it more I notice the difference.  I just sold it last week and no more generics now and probably for good.

 

 

[Ouroboros]

1 hour ago, erniethemilk said:

Do I just need to bite the bullet, sell a couple of organs and buy the Summicron 35mm f2 or am I being totally irrational about it all 😂

Not sure what kind of answers you're hoping for, but you seem to have a preconceived opinion of all 35mm lenses for some reason and it seems a bit strange to buy another CV 35mm lens and follow it up by asking if you should buy a 35mm summicron before you've even received the CV 35mm c-s!  

My experience: I like my 35mm f2 summicron asph.  It produces nice images and is a classic Leica M photographer experience.  Can't think of much else to say to exorcise your 'curse' other than (imo) every Leica M photographer should have one.

Edited September 15, 2020 by Ouroboros

[colint544]

I think, deep down, you know that the Summicron is the lens you want. You've tried almost everything else, and you're still not happy.

If you went secondhand, and that still didn't scratch the itch, you could just accept you're not a 35mm sort of photographer, and re-sell it for no financial loss. Possibly even a gain.

Edited September 15, 2020 by colint544

[250swb]

1 hour ago, erniethemilk said:

I’ve had several 35mm focal length lenses over the past 12 months including 2 7artisans 35mm f2’s and a CV Nokton 35mm f1.4. None of which I’ve been particularly enamoured with. 

I’ve just bought a CV 35mm color skopar which have yet to receive but hoping from reviews I’ve read is a good option, albeit not great in low light. 

My other 2 lenses are a Summicron 40mm f2 & 50mm f2, both of which produce far greater results than any of the 35’s I’ve owned. 

Do I just need to bite the bullet, sell a couple of organs and buy the Summicron 35mm f2 or am I being totally irrational about it all 😂

I'd rather use my 35mm Color-Skopar than my 35mm Summicron ASPH. The thing about CV lenses is you need to do research to cherry pick the best. Your previous Nokton f/1.4 isn't the best introduction unless you are wiling to overcome the focus shift but I understand the MkII version is very good.

[Matlock]

I have been using my Elmarit C 40mm f2.8 on my M10 for some time now. For a lens that was withdrawn as a poor performer it is not too bad and you can't get any smaller. Makes the M10 extremely pocketable.

Edited September 15, 2020 by Matlock

[erniethemilk]

Thanks for the replies to a bit of a rant!  As others have pointed out, I like the idea of the Summicron 35mm f2 and I guess at some point I will want to own one.  I had the same issue with my 50mm focal length, trying a variety of makes before settling on the Summicron, which I am always happy with!

I guess in some ways I'm trying to justify the expense of one and find a magic bullet that doesn't really exist! 😂

[BradS]

 

...or you may be one of those people for whom the 35mm focal length just doesn't work.

I just don't get on with the 35mm focal length. I'd much rather have a 28mm and 50mm.

On the other hand, if you give it a chance, you may be pleased with the Color-Skopar. I had one (latest M version) and found it to be an excellent optic - every bit as good as the 35mm Summarit.

 

[Pyrogallol]

A question not mentioned is what the end result of the pictures you take are going to be?

Will the lens be used to make digital pictures to view on a computer screen, or digital prints and what size, or do you use film, colour or black and white, do you scan the negatives or print them in a darkroom and how big?

If you only look at the pictures on a computer screen almost any lens will do. If you make prints and feel that you can enjoy the subtle tones that come from different lenses then get a Summicron or an f2.8 Summaron.

I speak as someone who has a too many 35mm lenses, Canon and Nikon ltm, Voigtlander, Elmar, Summaron f3.5 and f2.8, Summicron and now Summilux.

 

[Matlock]

Aside from my Elmarit C 40mm, the Summicron is my choice, you can't have too many.

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[Bigdukeron]

The new VM 35 1.2 is supposed to be very good. I have the 50mm and I use it all of the time

[a.noctilux]

When you want SUMMICRON, with whatever you try, you'll still want Summicron.

In 35mm Summicron I see so many versions, I tried out but changed over time.

At once I love so much the new (by then) asph 35 Summicron that I owned the three colors (black, silver, titanium coated), but now I don't have any of the asph.

I still use many 35mm which each is not replication of it's brother.

Some years ago, I had those, but now only one of them 😉

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...

seen here ...

now, those nice lenses that I use and maybe one day, I don't use them anymore (all sold ?)

[spydrxx]

I think several factors should come into play. Firstly, you need to clarify un your own mind what you don't like about the 35s you've owned and what camera you intend to use them on. I've personally owned a Summaron 2.8 for 30+ years, when I decided I wanted a lens with more contrast and a field which was sharper - more consistent with the central portion of the image. I might mention that its positive features were color rendition, the hood for it, and the ergonomic finger shaped focus thingie/lock. I bought a 35 Summicron and then found a good deal on a 35 Summilux. Beautiful lenses, small, easy to use...BUT to my eyes they produced a clinical image which turned me off. After about 1-2 years I sold both and considered rebuying the Summaron, but they had increased so much in price I decided to take a chance on a CV 35 Color Skopar, but the LTM version so I could use it on my older bodies as well as my M bodies. I've used it very little in the ensuing years as my travels have been restricted by health issues. I liked its size, but it wasn't as easy to focus as the other 3 lenses due to a small focus ring, so I've modified it to make focusing easier and quicker. Sadly, it doesn't take 39mm filters, but 43mm ones, so if I want to use my Leica filters from all my other Leica lenses, I had to buy an adapter ring...same for hoods. As far as picture rendition, it is somewhere between the Summaron and Summicron...not exactly a classic rendering leaning more toward a more modern look. Definitely contrastier than the Summaron. Color ok, not stunning. Some vignetting wide open, but I rarely shoot there anyway. Just thought I'd share my observations with you and hope you find the ideal 35 to suit your desires.

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[astrostl]

I own a lot of M 35mms and I think the CV VM 35/1.7 is the best all-arounder which considering quality, speed, price, and size.

https://phillipreeve.net/blog/35mm-comparison-voigtlander-zeiss-leica/ agrees.

https://diglloyd.com/prem/prot/LEICA/LeicaM/lens-ZeissZM-35f1_4-compare-WymanCabin.html (paid) rips the Summicron in particular apart.

[Herr Barnack]

13 hours ago, erniethemilk said:

I’ve had several 35mm focal length lenses over the past 12 months including 2 7artisans 35mm f2’s and a CV Nokton 35mm f1.4. None of which I’ve been particularly enamoured with. 

I’ve just bought a CV 35mm color skopar which have yet to receive but hoping from reviews I’ve read is a good option, albeit not great in low light. 

My other 2 lenses are a Summicron 40mm f2 & 50mm f2, both of which produce far greater results than any of the 35’s I’ve owned. 

Do I just need to bite the bullet, sell a couple of organs and buy the Summicron 35mm f2 or am I being totally irrational about it all 😂

@erniethemilk

You have had several 35mm focal length lenses and you have been dissatisfied with each one of them.  If you get the current 35mm Summicron ASPH # 11673 you will finally be able to put this to rest. 

I would say keep your 50mm Summicron and sell the rest to help pay for the 35mm Summicron.  A 50mm Summicron and a 35mm Summicron (or 28mm Summicron) will cover 90% of the kind of photography Leica M users engage in.  The M system is not a good choice for sports, wildlife or underwater photography, but it works very well for about everything else.

I have M lenses from 21mm to 90mm.  I have found that my 28/2.8 Elmarit, 35/2 Summicron and my 50/2.4 Summarit are the lenses I keep coming back to the most. 

If forced to, I could operate quite happily with a 28mm (or 35mm) and a 50mm M lens.  I would not call the 28mm and 35mm focal lengths "interchangeable," but they are close; each requires subtle differences in how they are used in order to maximize the strengths of the focal length in question.

Edited September 16, 2020 by Herr Barnack