Selecting a (relatively) affordable 35 with minimal focus shift

[orengrad]

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I'm interested in identifying M-mount lenses that meet the following criteria:

Focal length:  35mm, strictly (40mm is not equivalent for my purposes)

Price:  less than $2000, new or used

Maximum aperture:  f/2.8 or faster

Minimal focus shift for apertures from wide open down to f/5.6 and focus distances out to 10 feet.  Ideally, that means "no need to make any correction from the rangefinder-indicated focus".  Perfection is probably an unrealistic expectation, and certainly different viewers will have more or less stringent criteria for what counts as close enough.  But assume that I'm going to be relatively demanding in this respect.

I'll worry about trade-offs among other attributes once I see what candidates, if any, meet these criteria.

Thanks for any thoughts on this!

 

[lct]

1 hour ago, orengrad said:

Ideally, that means "no need to make any correction from the rangefinder-indicated focus".

You would need a lens having neither focus shift nor field curvature for that. Otherwise there are many 35mm lenses with no disturbing focus shift. Among my own lenses, Summilux 35/1.4 FLE, Nokton 35/1.4 v2, Summicron 35/2 asph, Summarit 35/2.5, Biogon 35/2.8, Summaron 35/2.8. Beware that some colleagues here have reported focus shift out of their Summicron 35/2 asph, contrary to my 6-bit coded copy. Welcome to the forum BTW. 

[Ko.Fe.]

To my knowledge it is more difficult to find 35mm RF lens with noticeable focus shift. 

I'm aware of the only one. 35 1.4 Nokton. Some copies of it has notorious and not fixable FS. 

This is why I was waiting for years until corrected mk II came.

2K USD is not going to get you new Leica lens. Maybe old stock Summarit-M. 

Where are plenty of new 35mm lenses under 2K USD without Leica label, but with good optics.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/products/Rangefinder-Camera-Lenses/ci/8423/N/4288584243?sort=PRICE_LOW_TO_HIGH&filters=fct_focal-length_3312%3A35mm

Those are regular prices, if you search you could find better deals.

[astrostl]

ZEISS ZM 35/1.4 Distagon if size and weight are no concern. From DigLloyd ($$): "It is in this sum total usability and results-as-intended sense that the Zeiss ZM 35/1.4 Distagon makes the other lenses look like distant runner-ups: it is no less sharp than any of them (and generally sharper), it shows minimal field curvature and no focus shift, it offers the best contrast at f/1.4 (for focusing), it has 1/3 the distortion of the Summilux and far less than the Voigtlander 35/1.2."

[lanetomlane]

I have the Zeiss 35mm f1.4 and really love it. I also have the 35mm Summicron and to be honest I can't tell the difference in output. I am so impressed that I also bought the Zeiss 50mm f2.0.

https://photographybytomlane.com

[orengrad]

On 10/27/2020 at 4:57 PM, lct said:

Welcome to the forum BTW. 

Thanks, long-time (many years!) lurker actually.  🙂  A few decades of experience with film M's.  The motivation for my post was that I had the opportunity to test the 35 Summilux and v4 Summicron on a rented M 246 and found both to have enough focus shift at close range to make them effectively unusable for my purposes.  So trying to get a sense of the range of potentially workable alternatives.  Comments from all much appreciated!

[Jeff S]

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28 minutes ago, orengrad said:

Thanks, long-time (many years!) lurker actually.  🙂  A few decades of experience with film M's.  The motivation for my post was that I had the opportunity to test the 35 Summilux and v4 Summicron on a rented M 246 and found both to have enough focus shift at close range to make them effectively unusable for my purposes.  So trying to get a sense of the range of potentially workable alternatives.  Comments from all much appreciated!

I assume that the 35 Summilux you tested wasn’t the current (and expensive) FLE, which should suit your purpose, cost aside. I also hope that you tested on a tripod to minimize variables, and that you checked to be sure both lens and RF were well calibrated (comparing RF to LV).  That said, a used 35 Summarit (f2.5 or f2.4) might fit the bill.  If you live in the US, you could rent if you don’t have a dealer nearby.

You might have seen this recent thread related to focus shift. It contains a lot of useful information, starting with the OP’s article...

Jeff

[orengrad]

Thanks for replying, Jeff.  Yes, I meant the original Summilux (a late-production sample, to be precise) or I would have included Aspherical/ASPH/FLE, as appropriate.  Testing was a mix of  controlled and uncontrolled, with tripod-mounted aperture bracket series confirming impressions from hand-held use.  The lens/RF combinations were well-calibrated, confirmed with many RF/LV comparisons over the time I had the camera.  And I'm familiar with the optical principles that are in play with focus shift.

 

[lct]

2 hours ago, orengrad said:

Thanks, long-time (many years!) lurker actually.  🙂  A few decades of experience with film M's.  The motivation for my post was that I had the opportunity to test the 35 Summilux and v4 Summicron on a rented M 246 and found both to have enough focus shift at close range to make them effectively unusable for my purposes.  So trying to get a sense of the range of potentially workable alternatives.  Comments from all much appreciated!

35/1.4 pre-asph and 35/2 v4 have some focus shift indeed, reason why i did not quote them above. Now close range is not necessarily relevant.