Looking to upgrade from 35mm color skopar f2.5

[Shanil]

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Hey!

I'm a Leica m6 owner and am thinking about upgrading from my f2.5 color skopar lens. I have a budget of around £1000 so was looking into the summarit f2.5 asph.

I really like the focus tab on this voigtlander lens and on the Leica's so with this in mind would any Zeiss lenses be recommended? 

I just enjoy carrying my m6 everywhere I go, it's to capture everything and anything which is why I do like this voigtlander lens. I just wanted to see if I could get something sharper...and potentially some Leica glass for my Leica body  

The extra stop to f2 doesn't really bother me as I rarely shoot wide open.

Thoughts?  

[wda]

Welcome! I think you would enjoy the Leica Summarit which has many devotees.

[astrostl]

If "sharpness" is your target and you're usually shooting at narrower apertures I wonder if you'll really notice a difference. The VM 35/2 APO-LANTHAR will probably offer the best corner-to-corner optics in this (or just about any other) budget, but it's pretty big and heavy and doesn't have a tab. Sean Reid's "Medium Fast 35 RF Lenses" review back in 2010 compared the VM 35/1.7, VM 35/2.5, M 35/2, M 35/2.5, ZM 35/2, and ZM 35/2.8. Of that group, I'd take the (tabless) ZM 35/2.8 and it seems like he might too.

[spydrxx]

You might gain some insight by reading 35mm posts-you will find options all over the board. My 35mm color skopar is plenty sharp from f/4 on. My 35/1.4 is sharper wider open. Honestly, my favorite 35 was my Summaron 35/2.8, classic rendering so not corner sharp at wider apertures but great overall rendering at around f/5.6. Good luck in your quest but don’t get rid of the color skopar-you may find yourself coming back to it periodically.

[cboy]

+1 summarit. Very good edc 35mm! The zeiss biogon c f2.8 edges it out in performance edge to edge 

 

 

 

[Lee S]

I have the 35mm Zeiss C-Biogon f2.8. 
 

If you want a very sharp, compact, near perfect optic this is it, the lens is bigger that the skopar but still compact.

its around £600 new so you have some change left over for some nice film, a trip or a second lens. 

 

 

[Danner]

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Agree about the Zeiss C Biogon 35/2.8.  Incredible optic, albeit limited to f2.8.  The Voigtlander Nokton Classic 35/1.4 II MC should be considered as well.

[a.noctilux]

Shanil, Summarit-M 35mm lens is nice, small, light and modern rendering second to none (on film or sensor).

Another very good Leitz (not made in "Leica" period) that served me well is the Summaron 2.8/35mm ( this one )

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[Shanil]

Thanks for your feedback everyone. 

See the zeiss biogon sounds great but I don't know if I'll like it as much since I really enjoy having the focusing tab. I guess I need to try it and decide for myself whether a leica summarit is really worth the additional cost to me. 

Regardless I think whichever I choose will pair well with my 90mm summicron asph

[Lee S]

On 5/30/2021 at 2:08 PM, Danner said:

Agree about the Zeiss C Biogon 35/2.8.  Incredible optic, albeit limited to f2.8.  The Voigtlander Nokton Classic 35/1.4 II MC should be considered as well.

I have both and very happy with them, if I had to keep one I would go for the Voigtlander. Definitely worth looking at this lens if you want something smaller and faster.  

Edited June 1, 2021 by Lee S

[a.noctilux]

Shanil,

as a general opinion (for/from me ! ) :

- each lens has it's own strengths and flaws (even the most expensive, most of time heavy/large/...excellent of course but what for ?)

- not really "good choice" before using the gear a while

- some compromises are inevitable and so individual that advices in choice are "null" (not useful as such, only opinions from users)

- after trying out a lot, selling the others, I still use/own a numerous lenses which I learn to know well

 

😇

Oh I forgot to mention that the infinity lock of Summaron/Summicron "I" 35mm can be cancelled.

 

as usual, 35mm choices are individual

 

Otherwise, a nice read here 😄

Edited June 1, 2021 by a.noctilux

[astrostl]

6 hours ago, Lee S said:

I have both and very happy with them, if I had to keep one I would go for the Voigtlander. Definitely worth looking at this lens if you want something smaller and faster.  

Same. The ZM is a stunner, but the VM can do f/1.4 through f/2.0 with soap bubble bokeh while starting to get more normal and modern with narrowing apertures.

If I knew for sure I wanted to shoot clean landscapes, though, I'd still grab the ZM. The VM is more interesting to me and more of a generalist.

[Lee S]

1 minute ago, astrostl said:

Same. The ZM is a stunner, but the VM can do f/1.4 through f/2.0 with soap bubble bokeh while starting to get more normal and modern with narrowing apertures.

If I knew for sure I wanted to shoot clean landscapes, though, I'd still grab the ZM. The VM is more interesting to me and more of a generalist.

Yep exactly this the VM is just incredibly versatile, very compact and goes from dreamy and vintage to sharp and modern through the aperture ranges. Those extreme corners never get sharp though, so as you say, for landscapes the ZM is hands down a winner.
 

Seems like the VM has huge following in Japan, a lot of the posts on Instagram show it being used in a very dreamy fashion. 

 

[astrostl]

25 minutes ago, Lee S said:

Yep exactly this the VM is just incredibly versatile, very compact and goes from dreamy and vintage to sharp and modern through the aperture ranges. Those extreme corners never get sharp though, so as you say, for landscapes the ZM is hands down a winner.
 

Seems like the VM has huge following in Japan, a lot of the posts on Instagram show it being used in a very dreamy fashion. 

 

I think it holds up at f/8-f/11 (review link), which is where I tend to be for landscape shooting anyway.

RE: the OP though, he's on the 35/2.5 and isn't worried about speed. If I already had the 35/2.5, I doubt I'd be reaching for the VM 1.4 OR ZM 2.8.

Edited June 1, 2021 by astrostl

[Ernstk]

On 5/30/2021 at 2:23 PM, a.noctilux said:

Another very good Leitz (not made in "Leica" period) that served me well is the Summaron 2.8/35mm ( this one )

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+1 for the 35/2.8 Summaron. It's an excellent lens.

Ernst

[Shanil]

Follow up question guys. I can get a near new summarit 35mm f2.5 with box, original papers and lens hood for £1050.

From my short research this looks like a good deal, one in which I will break even if I do decide to sell in future. 

What are your guys' thoughts? 

Best, 

Shanil

[a.noctilux]

If you can, go for it.

Two possibilities :

- after using the new lens for a while (that is my suggestion), you would see if the upgrade is worth it, then sell the Skopar

- or ...if not sell the Summarit-M for maybe same price or small lost in worse case

 

Benefit is double, you would see if Leica "cheap" lens suits you, or go for a more expensive Summicron/Summilux later if you want to

 

[Shanil]

29 minutes ago, a.noctilux said:

If you can, go for it.

Two possibilities :

- after using the new lens for a while (that is my suggestion), you would see if the upgrade is worth it, then sell the Skopar

- or ...if not sell the Summarit-M for maybe same price or small lost in worse case

 

Benefit is double, you would see if Leica "cheap" lens suits you, or go for a more expensive Summicron/Summilux later if you want to

 

Thank you for the sound advice. I am going to go ahead with this and experiment. 

I'll report back my thoughts and feelings on this lens at some point in the future! 

Edit: FYI I love the color skopar. Small, compact can go anywhere...some favourite images made from it, just want to try something new

Edited June 6, 2021 by Shanil

[BradS]

I had the 35mm Color-Skopar VM PII and loved everything about it except the aperture selection ring. It really is an amazingly good lens but the design of the aperture ring killed it for me.  I sold the Color-Skopar and bought the Zeiss 35mm f/2.8 Biogon.  The little Biogon is about as good as it gets. I love everything about it. It is small, light weight, super sharp,  has no bad manners and the ergonomics are fantastic. Yes, I love the Zeiss bump focus tab - it's elegantly unobtrusive but there when you want it. If I had to find something to complain about it would only be that, because the lens is so tiny,  it is a little difficult for me, with my fat fingers, to mount and dis-mount.

 

Since you mention above that you love the Color-Skopar and that you are considering adding the modern Summarit,   the two are  very similar in terms of performance. In fact, I'd speculate that the little Color-Skopar may actually be the superior performer.  I do not think you're going to see much difference in your photos but you will certainly feel a difference in your bank account balance. What I am trying to say, is that other than name recognition and cost of entry, the 35mm Summarit is really not an upgrade.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Tessar.]

My copy of the 35mm Summarit is every bit as good as the c-biogon I also have.  In fact I prefer it.  I've had three different copies of the Color Skopar in the past and none were as good as the c-biogon or Summarit.  The Summarit is better built than the c-biogon if that matters to you.  The Color Skopar is a great lens though, a bargain, as has been mentioned.

I second the 35mm Nokton Classic II, I had the E mount version with my A7s and it has a really lovely rendering.