Adding modern 35mm to balance my stable?

[IkarusJohn]

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I’ve just been down this rabbit hole, reading other’s experiences and recommendations.  In 28mm, I have the 28 Summaron-M, and the 28 Summillux, and I enjoy having old and new designs - fast and slow.  I don’t futz about other people’s unhappy experiences with teir lenses - I take time and enjoy mine for what they do, and sometimes for what they can’t.

I currently have a 35 Summilux-M pre-asph.  I used to own the 35 Summicron-M ASPH and the 28 Summicron-M ASPH (both version 1), and yes, I found them fine, but they didn’t float my boat (“boring” could suffice, but usually that’s my chosen subject matter).  The Summilux pre-asph is small, and fine, but it flares like a bastard.  I wanted something modern to compiment the pre-asph.

I ended up getting the Zeiss Distagon 35/1.4 ZM (it’s somewhere between here and Germany as I write this).  A close second in my research was the Zeiss Biogon 35/2.8 ZM - a very close second.  I have had Zeiss lenses in the past, for M and Hasselblad, and they are very very good.  I guess the biggest difference would be that the Zeiss lenses tend to be more contrasty, but sharp corner to corner, they are fabulous.

Good luck with your research - I would take care to be certain why you want to change, and what you want to achieve.  Otherwise stick with what oyu have1

Cheers
John

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[tommonego@gmail.com]

I second the Zeiss C-Biogon f2.8. This is a wonderful lens, just bought mine to give me a 35 while my pre-asph Summilux is getting realigned. Looks good on film and digital. For some reason it loves my M8. 

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[kivis]

I went with the Black Paint CV Ultron 35/2 asph Ver 2 (has the focus tab). Use it everyday. Very pleased with the look that seems to fall somewhere between a vintage and modern look.

[kivis]

[kivis]

[lct]

The Ultron 35/2 is an asph lens in every respect to me. Typical modern rendering, more so than my Summicron 35/2 asph v1 due to a bit harsher bokeh at f/2. But it is a very good lens indeed, more compact than the Summicron asph. The Ultron 35/2 has become my default 35 on digital CL. Not to say that i dislike the Biogon 35/2.8, rather the opposite, but it is a bit bigger and sits more comfortably on Leica Ms i believe but it's me. Now what a superb lens for those liking contrasty lenses. Matches superbly my favorite Elmar-M 50/2.8 i feel. FWIW.

[bdolzani]

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On 4/2/2022 at 8:43 PM, giannis said:

Personally, I find there's little to no benefit at all messing around with similar lenses of minute difference with each other. 

For instance your Summicron is a "modern" lens, i.e. a double gauss, coated, well corrected design. There's no reason to expect big differences between that and any other lens, from the same company, in the same format, at the same focal length, of the same aperture, and of the same optical design.

I'd say get a new 35mm only if it brings something to the table. For instance if it's a stop (or more) faster. Or if it's more ergonomic, or if it has a unique and actually decently different look (like the summaron). Something like a newer version of the same lens wouldn't justify even the bulk of keeping them both, let alone the cost.

I appreciate this insight, thank you. I have in fact noticed how sharp the 24mm ASPH is compared to all my other lenses. I guess that is my point specifically, and should have perhaps said 'ASPH' lens instead of 'modern'. And that lens is 1997 compared to 1969 of the 35mm v2. So I can see 30 years making a difference in rendering. 

Edited April 4, 2022 by bdolzani

[Jeff S]

Many lens rendering differences can be equalized by stopping down, adjusting in PP (including contrast, etc), and depend significantly on display methods and parameters.  If I can’t distinguish and benefit from rendering differences after editing for my typically small/moderate sized prints, then no point considering.  More often than not, as with camera choices, more comes down to other usage and handling characteristics.  I leave internal design differences to the designers.

Jeff