summicron 35, v4, a.k.a king of bokeh, black, 2600 USD a good deal?

[Warton]

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I came across a good condition this said lens which was made in Germany.

Cosmetically there are a few light scratch outside, and the red dot is missing.

Optically I don't see anything wrong.

Is it a good deal of USD 2600 for this lens? I intend to use it on my M-A.

[Bronco McBeast]

How can the V2 and V3 share the sane optics if, for instance, the V2 has a 50% smaller front elenent than V3.

I agree, what the V3 is missing is some hype. The V2 will one day get hyped for its very small production number actually making it the rarest model and being first black Regular production model. The V3 however willl require an artificial push. Maybe if Jason Momoa calls it his little baby, that could help...

[lct]

V4 has not the same optics as v2 or v3 indeed. When i got my first Canadian copy in the eighties, it looked like a modern lens with more contrast and less flare by comparison. Got a mint German copy for 2,500 EUR with 1 year warranty in 2019 but US prices exceed yours with one (scratched-looking) exception on eBay right now
https://tinyurl.com/ybxn5w4y

[nitroplait]

V 2, 3 and 4 are all different optical designs, but all designed by Mandler and share more than the opposite when it comes to image signature.

I would never touch a v4 if I wasn’t sure it had zero plastic innards. And then only if the premium was less than 20% over a v4 in similar condition.

The current premium is out of proportion and defies sanity (as too many things does these days)
 

[lct]

Cavina's drawing of Canadian v4. Plastic parts in red.
Source: https://tinyurl.com/fk227y65

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[egrossman]

I had no idea the value of the v4 had increased so much. I have a German-made, 6-bit coded copy of the lens with hood and caps (even the hood lens cap). Maybe I should take advantage of the inflated price and part exchange it towards a Q3. I already have the 35mm Summilux v2 which is about the same size (I know the rendering is different) and the pre-FLE (closer in rendering).

Erik

[Warton]

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1 hour ago, egrossman said:

I had no idea the value of the v4 had increased so much. I have a German-made, 6-bit coded copy of the lens with hood and caps (even the hood lens cap). Maybe I should take advantage of the inflated price and part exchange it towards a Q3. I already have the 35mm Summilux v2 which is about the same size (I know the rendering is different) and the pre-FLE (closer in rendering).

Erik

I know it's crazy, right?

The seller threw in a summicron 50mm rigid in, with total of USD 3800 for both lenses. I am considering hard, but highly likely turn both down.

[rcusick]

To actually answer your question.  I just repurchased this lens.  I found a late German version in good condition at Samys form $2700.   So - in short - I think the price is fair.  
 

Versus the Summilux - completely different lenses.  V4 shoots warmer and a bit softer but with slightly better edge drop off for close subjects wide open. 
 

Summilux has a colder bluish color.  I find it also to be sharper than the v4…. But that could just be me…

[pippy]

1 hour ago, Steven said:

I do find my Summilux to be Sharper than my V4 too. I think in 90% of my photos they look the same. Sometimes, I see the magic of one, or the other. Their "spark" is different. 

Whilst Erwin Puts wasn't talking specifically about the v4 Summicron here's what he wrote when reviewing the (pre-asph) 35 Summilux;

"Stopping down to 1:2.8, overall contrast quite markedly improves and from that aperture the performance characteristics are identical to the Summicron 1:2/35. Indeed so identical is the performance that one could get the impression that both lenses share the same basic computation.".

Philip.

[lct]

I feel easy to see which is which when comparing my 35/1.4 v2 vs 35/2 v4 shots. Especially at wide apertures where the Summilux has more coma and more glow. It has also more flare generally. Contrary to some popular moniker, the Summilux v2's bokeh looks also smoother at f/2 while that of the Summicron v4 looks sometimes busier there depending on subject distances. It deserves its "KOB" reputation at f/2.8 though IMHO.

[yanidel]

This is a fair price. Nice little lens but I sold mine last year. I thought performance in the corners at F2 was not good enough. Also I did not like the colors and contrast in low light. I just use my 35mm Lux Asph pre FLE, that can be found at similar prices now. A much better lens overall except for size.