TheBestSLIsALeicaflex Posted April 23 Share #21 Posted April 23 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) We truly live in the Golden Age of rangefinder optics. So many great options from Leica, Zeiss, Voigtlander, Light Lens Lab, ect. Think you need to figure out what is the look you like best, what size of lens works best for you, then act accordingly. Don't let branding control you though, that's a rookie mistake. None of those companies make bad lenses -- you can take great pictures with any of them. Camera/lens, just a tool anyway; light and composition much more important. Edited April 23 by TheBestSLIsALeicaflex Erato, sometimesmaybe, FrozenInTime and 2 others 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted April 23 Posted April 23 Hi TheBestSLIsALeicaflex, Take a look here 35mm conflicting thoughts... I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
IkarusJohn Posted April 23 Share #22 Posted April 23 Confused? No surprises - this is the Leica forum! As you can see, many people here chase their tails with multiple lenses (I’ve done the same in the past, and I still have more lenses than I need). I suggest you buy once, buy well, and move on. If you can try out lenses, then seize the opportunity. If not, try to look critically at other people’s images using lenses you’re interested in. There are few bad choices, but there will be images taken with lenses you like more. Once you’ve made your decision, just take pictures - composition and processing will have far greater impact on your images than lens choice. jimmielx and TheBestSLIsALeicaflex 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony Miller Posted April 23 Share #23 Posted April 23 I have tried a variety of 35mm lenses on my Leica camera. I currently use the 35mm Summaron f3.5 with goggles on my M3 and many years ago had the non-goggle version on an M2 and love how it looks. I also use the Voigtlander 35mm f1.4 Nokton Classic, nice but maybe just a tad more modern and sharp to me, however many will feel it is soft and more vintage. Wanting something more compact than the goggled Summaron I just got a 35mm Elmar f3.5 and I look forward to trying it on my M4 and M8. TheBestSLIsALeicaflex 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GFW2-SCUSA Posted April 24 Share #24 Posted April 24 lei-online.de is the website for the Master Gallery for LFI. The menu will let you select the camera and lens of your choice and will pull up just those photographs. This will let you see what various Leica 35mm lens renders. It is a site that is filled with master (their term) images. It is a great place to spend hours and hours looking at the LFI pictures. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hansvons Posted April 24 Share #25 Posted April 24 No need to discuss modern-ish Leica glass like the 35mm Summicron ASPH. I own one and it‘s mavellous in all aspects, from sharpness to colour to lens flares etc… If you have the budget, get it. It‘s the golden standard. It works quite well with digital sensors, and it won’t lose value. But I wanted my M4-P pocketable when travelling and thus needed the smallest possible 35mm with an acceptable full aperture. This is the Voigtländer 35mm Color Skopar. It works nicely with B&W film as it hardly vignettes on film and is plenty sharp in the centre right from the beginning. On the SL2-S, however, this lens vignettes heavily and turns the corners into bluish greys. That’s the reason why it can be easily found used for 300 euros or new for under 500 euros. People buy it for their Sonys and get disappointed. It provides 75% of the Summicron experience. A well-made little gem. I find it for B&W film photography more than viable. And as it‘s cheap, I don’t have to worry when tossing the camera into my bag or pocket, kind of giving me peace of mind when the circumstances are a bit rougher. I don’t use it with a lenshood but protect the lens with a UV filter. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hansvons Posted April 24 Share #26 Posted April 24 Size comparison: the Color Skopar and below the Summicron. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/375885-35mm-conflicting-thoughts/?do=findComment&comment=4757387'>More sharing options...
hansvons Posted April 24 Share #27 Posted April 24 Advertisement (gone after registration) Color Skopar @ f 8. Delta 400 developed in Xtol 1:1 for 15 minutes, pushed to ISO 800. Click to enlarge: Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! RexGig0 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/375885-35mm-conflicting-thoughts/?do=findComment&comment=4757388'>More sharing options...
hansvons Posted April 24 Share #28 Posted April 24 Two more Color Skopar images @f 2,8, same film etc. My son studying maths. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! RexGig0 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/375885-35mm-conflicting-thoughts/?do=findComment&comment=4757391'>More sharing options...
hansvons Posted April 24 Share #29 Posted April 24 Similar study scene, same film and dev. But this time the 35mm Summicron ASPH @ f2,8. For B&W film, the Color Skopar isn't too bad. Click to enlarge. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! fil-m and RexGig0 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/375885-35mm-conflicting-thoughts/?do=findComment&comment=4757395'>More sharing options...
hansvons Posted April 24 Share #30 Posted April 24 And finally, the Color Skopar in comparison to the Summicron ASPH on a digital sensor (SL2-S). The Sokpar's sharpness in the centre is great, but the colour distribution (the image has a bluish tint at the edges) and vignetting are undesirable. Shot at f 5,6. No lens correction was applied, nor sharpening, same WB. The contrast is from my personal camera profile. First, the Color Skopar, second, the Summicron: Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! RexGig0 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/375885-35mm-conflicting-thoughts/?do=findComment&comment=4757398'>More sharing options...
hansvons Posted April 24 Share #31 Posted April 24 As a bonus, now both lenses are compared on the same digital sensor shot at f 2,8. Both images have identical settings. At the corners, the Summciron outperforms the Color Scopar by miles. This, however, isn't as pronounced on film. The Summicron has that nice flare. I wasn't able to get a similar flare with the Skopar. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! RexGig0 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/375885-35mm-conflicting-thoughts/?do=findComment&comment=4757406'>More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted April 24 Share #32 Posted April 24 And, as I mentioned earlier, CV lenses (including the Skopar) can be bought new from CameraQuest (Stephen Gandy) with a 30 day, no questions asked, return policy. Jeff Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fookuda Posted April 25 Author Share #33 Posted April 25 (edited) I’d like to give a huge thanks to EVERYONE that’s graciously contributed to this thread. I realize it’s a loaded question and maybe I had the answer all along? I had considered a few things when making this decision. First and foremost was price. I am not wealthy nor have I ever come from wealth. If the price tag has anything three digits or above I begin to bite my nails. An early childhood of my father telling me to “save every penny” is branded in the back of my mind. So I needed something relatively affordable and not leave me (and my wallet) feeling guilty. Secondly was build quality. It seemed that every option would have been good: Zeiss, Konica, Minolta, Leica, CV.. all carry quality components that would last a few decades, but I also needed something that was durable, could potentially take a bump and be okay—and just feel pleasant in the hand. Third was size. Now, there is a trade off because there are a lot of, say, 35 f2 lenses that could be quite small and cute or lenses that are on the long end and potentially offset the balance of the kit. I’m not sure that’s a lens grouping/elements dilemma? But I opted for smaller. Fourth was value retention. This one I probably took a bit of a loss because these lenses are mass produced but I imagine they won’t lose too much value? Sherrys words of “parking your money in a Leica” really clicked in me and I completely get it. If I don’t like something, if I go to sell it I want to make sure I can retain at-least 80% of it’s original value. Fifth and probably the most important was image quality. To be honest, I don’t care to have the sharpest lens in the world but I need something that would resolve detail for the most part. What is more important for me is that a lens has a signature (or character) and isn’t afraid to get ‘dirty’ if I need it to. If I could afford one of the older Nikkor 35 1.8’s that would be a DREAM lens for me. I came across a photo from another thread and nearly drooled. Anyhow I do care for character more than how sharp a lens is. So after careful consideration and time spent browsing local classified ads. I came across someone selling an almost new CV Ultron 35/2 V2 @ $650. He was 20 minutes away so I said whynot.. Now I still need to put a roll through it to see whether or not it makes sense for me, but for now I can rock the 35mm since it’s what i’m used to, then come back for another review. Thank you everyone! Really. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Edited April 25 by Fookuda Decisions, decisions. rpsawin, hdmesa, jimmielx and 5 others 8 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/375885-35mm-conflicting-thoughts/?do=findComment&comment=4758005'>More sharing options...
Fookuda Posted April 25 Author Share #34 Posted April 25 Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! hdmesa, jimmielx, rpsawin and 5 others 8 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/375885-35mm-conflicting-thoughts/?do=findComment&comment=4758008'>More sharing options...
Ccoppola82 Posted April 25 Share #35 Posted April 25 I think you made a really smart purchase. If you ever DO succumb to the Leica bug, (Don’t). Look at the 35mm summicron v3. IQ is close enough and its build is excellent. Very compact. It’s a daily user on my m6 TheBestSLIsALeicaflex and Fookuda 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hansvons Posted April 25 Share #36 Posted April 25 I try to keep costs reasonable as well. Good choice!! Fookuda and sometimesmaybe 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBestSLIsALeicaflex Posted April 25 Share #37 Posted April 25 Big fan of Voigtlander lenses, great value, great optics, but prefer the classic look. My 35/1.4's get a lot of use. Marckyokay and Fookuda 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marckyokay Posted April 25 Share #38 Posted April 25 Enjoyed reading through the thread very much! And so nice to see someone responding with a detailed update to what outcome of the initial question ultimately came to. I think the decision for the Ultron was a very good one! Fookuda, pedaes and sometimesmaybe 2 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted April 25 Share #39 Posted April 25 13 hours ago, Fookuda said: So after careful consideration and time spent browsing local classified ads. I came across someone selling an almost new CV Ultron 35/2 V2 @ $650. He was 20 minutes away so I said whynot.. Nice choice (posts 3, 34), although a brand new one, with warranty and 30 day return policy for peace of mind, is available from CameraQuest for only $749. Jeff Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fookuda Posted April 25 Author Share #40 Posted April 25 50 minutes ago, Jeff S said: Nice choice (posts 3, 34), although a brand new one, with warranty and 30 day return policy for peace of mind, is available from CameraQuest for only $749. Jeff I have been quite lucky in my classified ad endeavors though I do always carry a small bit of suspicion. You just never know… On the other hand, the $100 and change I saved went to a tank of gas and a few groceries for me and my fiancé evening, so still a net positive. Now let’s just hope I was right about my decision Marckyokay and IkarusJohn 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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