Reid Review of CV APO 35 2.0, Leica APO 35 2.0 and Zeiss 35 2.8

[aristotle]

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Fun comparison read for those who have access to the site...

https://www.reidreviews.com/article-content.asp?ArticleID=565

I thought it was balanced and informative.  My guess is that folks will draw difference conclusions, but the net-net in my view is that there are good reasons to select each of these lenses depending on priorities.

[Ivar B]

Amazing that the CV APO 2/35 for all practical purposes performs equally well as the Leica APO 2/35 - at around 1/7 of the cost.

The Zeiss 2.8/35 even plays in the same league. 

[elmars]

But one of them is much bigger and one of them has one f-stop less. 

[Keith (M)]

Aha, something to read in bed tonight.

[Edax]

The bigger one is readily available, the much more expensive but smaller one not...

[didier]

On 11/1/2021 at 8:53 PM, Edax said:

The bigger one is readily available, the much more expensive but smaller one not...

The APO 35 was in stock in the Leica Store Wetzlar last week

[aristotle]

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On 11/1/2021 at 3:36 PM, Ivar B said:

Amazing that the CV APO 2/35 for all practical purposes performs equally well as the Leica APO 2/35 - at around 1/7 of the cost.

The Zeiss 2.8/35 even plays in the same league. 

 

On 11/1/2021 at 3:42 PM, elmars said:

But one of them is much bigger and one of them has one f-stop less. 

That was sort of the summary.  The CV is a great performer but blocks up to a quarter of the viewfinder.  Yes, it's considerably cheaper, but the size will be a big deal for some, not for others.  The Zeiss is an all around good lens and a great value.  Some may prefer it as an all-around lens given the cost/performance ratio.  But for those who aren't as hung up about the money, the combination of size and performance  would steer them towards the Leica (assuming that they can get their hands on one.)  As is often the case, no right and no wrong answer.

[Herr Barnack]

7 hours ago, didier said:

The APO 35 was in stock in the Leica Store Wetzlar last week

I'm out the door to mount up my SR-71 and fly to Wetzlar with a brick of gold as a trade-in.

Edited November 3, 2021 by Herr Barnack

[didier]

1 hour ago, Herr Barnack said:

my SR-71

Beware the heavy traffic on the Autobahn for landing 😂

[otto.f]

On 11/1/2021 at 1:09 PM, aristotle said:

My guess is that folks will draw difference conclusions

Yes me for instance. I see quite a big difference at 2.0 in the coin pictures, in favor of the Leica. Reid finds it marginal. 
Plus the viewfinder blocking, etc as said above. Plus the difference in closest distance, which is considerable. The Leica seems much more a general purpose lens for travel to me, the CV would be a lot less practical. It is smaller than the FLE and what I loose in speed when I swap this one for the APO, I gain with the ‘macro’ option and better bokeh. 

Edited November 3, 2021 by otto.f

[Tortuga]

8 hours ago, didier said:

Beware the heavy traffic on the Autobahn for landing 😂

I think he intends to ditch the plane and parachute directly into the lobby…

[Herr Barnack]

18 minutes ago, Tortuga said:

I think he intends to ditch the plane and parachute directly into the lobby…

Then I would have to fly commercial on the return trip, since we chickens are cursed with wings that are not airworthy...

Edited November 3, 2021 by Herr Barnack

[Edax]

I am not sure about the Voiglander APO finder blocking numbers mentioned in the review; to me they seem at the high side.

With the Voigtlander 35mm APO at 2m, without a hood the 75mm lower-right frame bracket is just left untouched. With the stock hood attached, the 135mm  lower-right frame bracket is just left untouched.

A nice feature of the Voigtlander is the fully circular shape of the aperture at F/2.8, F/5.6 and F/16.

 

To me the Summicron 35APO also seems even nicer , it will be as soon as I can get one 😀

 

[didier]

7 hours ago, Tortuga said:

I think he intends to ditch the plane and parachute directly into the lobby…

I hope he gets a special 007 edition of that Lens Leica could make especially for that occasion  

[horosu]

One can only marvel at two things:

1. The sheer performance of these APO designs
2. The performance that Zeiss managed to put into a lens that is not ASPH, not APO and costs 10% of the Leica APO

 

[Herr Barnack]

16 hours ago, didier said:

I hope he gets a special 007 edition of that Lens Leica could make especially for that occasion  

Rather than Sean Connery's "Bond...  James Bond," I could introduce myself as "Chicken...   Leica Chicken." 

Edited November 4, 2021 by Herr Barnack

[KFo]

The Zeiss is really impressive in this context.  It is on my list already as an even smaller alternative to my 35 summicron.

The leica, also on my list, but further in the future, as 35 isn't in my core rotation. It looks like a pretty amazing lens.  Taking nothing except away from the Voigtlander.  But, size is important to me.