SL Summicron 35mm ASPH (non-APO)

[Mikko Kankainen]

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I bought this lens as a kit with SL2. After 3 gigs, AF was off maybe 40% of images. I took many test shots after that at home to focus chart and focus was 100% spot on. But in real life I had weird issues with af. Took it back to store and took Sigma 35mm 1.4 art. After that focus is the same that it is with every other lens, even in real life, always spot on. 

But this maybe only an issue with my copy. I could have returned it to service but I need 35mm lens and didn't have time to wait the service.

[Simone_DF]

Lemons happen with all brands, Leica included

[Stuart Richardson]

I didn't love the 35mm f2 Sigma. I bought it after I got the 24/3.5 which really impressed me in terms of quality, size and construction. The 35mm f2 is still fairly manageable in size and weight, and the construction is excellent. That said, I was not wowed by the image quality, particularly wider open, but generally speaking it is still very good. I think the APO Summicrons and formerly shooting the S cameras has ruined me for normal lenses. I think the Sigma 35mm f2 is probably better than most M lenses, for example. But when compared to the 35mm APO SL you can see all that you are leaving on the table. That said, for normal work you are probably going to be ok. In my experience it was not the sharpness that was the problem. It is certainly softer than the 35mm APO, but the biggest difference are in chromatic aberrations, both of backlit details and in longitudinal CA. So while the 35mm APO renders the bokeh in natural colors and backlit objects look perfect and natural, the Sigma has a tendency to have magenta and green tinged bokeh and lots of aberrations around backlit subjects like tree branches and leaves etc. Some of these are fixable, but not the LOCA. I think this is easily visible at viewing sizes, so it is more significant than corner sharpness deficiencies for example.

This is all a roundabout way to say that if 35mm were a foundational focal length for me and I could swing a used 35mm APO, I would get that every time. If not, I would skip the Sigma unless I was a B&W only photographer. I would also probably get the Panasonic over the Leica ASPH, just because I think there is probably not any actual difference optically and it is 300g vs 400g and 600 USD vs 2200. Any build quality improvements can be compensated by just continuing to buy new Panasonic lenses if anything happens...you can nearly buy 4 Panasonic lenses for one of the Leica. If you are set on it being a Leica lens, do yourself a favor and save just that bit more for a used 35mm APO SL. It is one of the best lenses Leica has ever made.

[Planetwide]

5 hours ago, Stuart Richardson said:

 I think the APO Summicrons and formerly shooting the S cameras has ruined me for normal lenses.

I suffer the same affliction... 😁

[satijntje]

vor 18 Stunden schrieb Planetwide:

I suffer the same affliction... 😁

+1 for me 

 

[Cobram]

I ended with VE 24-90 lens. Here I explained why: 

Thank you all for your help. 

[jpark114]

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Well I have SL2 and 50mm non Apo Summicron-SL for family photos, and docu type photo taking during family travels. I got as one of those end of life package deal which was great.  

Anyhow, a friend of mine is offering his unopened 35mm non Apo Summicron-SL for 1300 USD and looks very tempting. However, I've been saving for 35mm apo summicron-sl thinking that I wasn't going to go more than one 35mm & one 50mm and that the only 35mm I'd get for SL be APO version.  Yet the price and the size of the lens are difficult to resist given my purpose.   I do most of my personal hobby photography using M digital & analog.

Should I go for it?

Edited January 10 by jpark114

[Photoworks]

46 minutes ago, jpark114 said:

Well I have SL2 and 50mm non Apo Summicron-SL for family photos, and docu type photo taking during family travels. I got as one of those end of life package deal which was great.  

Anyhow, a friend of mine is offering his unopened 35mm non Apo Summicron-SL for 1300 USD and looks very tempting. However, I've been saving for 35mm apo summicron-sl thinking that I wasn't going to go more than one 35mm & one 50mm and that the only 35mm I'd get for SL be APO version.  Yet the price and the size of the lens are difficult to resist given my purpose.   I do most of my personal hobby photography using M digital & analog.

Should I go for it?

You do know that is similar to the Panasonic Lumix S 35mm? $600

[jpark114]

2 minutes ago, Photoworks said:

You do know that is similar to the Panasonic Lumix S 35mm? $600

Yeah I know.  I wouldn't pay 2300 USD + Tax for it, but 1300 seems acceptable.