Considering trading 35mm Summicron IV for I (8E)

[egrossman]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I have a 6-bit coded, German-made 35mm Summicron v4 that has risen considerably in value over the last few years, to the point that it’s now worth about what an 8-element costs.

I have a number of other 35mm lenses including the 35mm Summilux pre-ASPH that is pretty much glued to my M10D and the pre-FLE when I want a more modern rendering.

The v4 just doesn’t get that much use and given how much I love the 35mm Summilux v2, trading for the 8E is now being considered. The biggest negative the the v2 is the 1m minimum focus distance which would not be a problem with the 8E. I would use it mostly on my M10M because of the low contrast.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

Erik

[ocean2059]

With all the lenses that you have, the trade would make sense. However, after you use the 8E for a while, you may still want to go back to the v4. I traded and sold some lenses before and only ended up buying them back with substantially higher cost. In my user experience (I have the same lenses you have plus the 8E), the v4 (German) is pretty special. 

[jakontil]

9 minutes ago, ocean2059 said:

With all the lenses that you have, the trade would make sense. However, after you use the 8E for a while, you may still want to go back to the v4. I traded and sold some lenses before and only ended up buying them back with substantially higher cost. In my user experience (I have the same lenses you have plus the 8E), the v4 (German) is pretty special. 

I tend to agree with such, but other might differ... sometimes we just want to go back to the lens we used to

[rcusick]

I rebought both the 35mm Summilux pre apsh (twice) and the v4.  I love both…

[grahamc]

I think they all have their own footprint and nuances between them mean that not one of these lenses will necessarily “replace” the others so to speak.  For instance if you are looking for something similar similar to the Lux but with the 0.7 MFD I think the 8e has it’s own organic look that shares more with the 35:2v4 than it does the 35:1.4v2. But it’s a lower contrast version with more glow f2-2.8 so maybe that’s a bonus  

i like the v4 when I want something super well-behaved and “modern” (competitively within my collection of lenses)

Not sure of that helps