my head is swimming trying to decide on lens for M9

[brickftl]

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I'm returning to manual focus after last shooting it about 45 years ago on my Canon AE1. I've done some landscape but my strength is street shooting, especially candid street portraits. If it helps show what I like, here's a link to my photostream: https://brick.smugmug.com/Irwin-Photostream/IJF-Photostream

 I'm looking for a 35 mm lens that's fairly fast (f2 or even faster.  I like to shoot wide open and love dreamy, not busy bokeh, with the 3d separation it creates. I could spend up to say $2600 for a Leica lens although wouldn’t mind spending less because I may very well decide after dipping my toe into the M waters that rangefinders aren't for me. The lenses I seem to have landed on so far are:

·      35 Pre ASPH Summicron

·      35 Summilux 1.4 ASPH (Pre-FLE) 

·      35mm F/1.4 Summilux-M FLE

·      OR saving lots of money the Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 II SC Nokton

Any advice to help me get out of the fog I’m in would be gratefully appreciated!

 

Edited February 8, 2024 by brickftl

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[Yugen]

If would highly recommend you include Zeiss 35/1.4 Distagon ZM as a possible candidate in your list.

I love how it renders on my M9. Arguably one of the best 35mm lenses for M mount, downsides are marginally bigger than lens on your list.

[brickftl]

10 minutes ago, Yugen said:

If would highly recommend you include Zeiss 35/1.4 Distagon ZM as a possible candidate in your list.

I love how it renders on my M9. Arguably one of the best 35mm lenses for M mount, downsides are marginally bigger than lens on your list.

Funny you mention that. Last night I posted on DPR last night on a discussion of the "Leica look". I included a couple of pics I took many years ago with the 35/1.4 ZM Distagon. I loved that lens but recall it was kind of heavy/bulky, but I truly loved its images. I hadn't considered it because I'm thinking I want a light/compact lens for my first M, but maybe I should reconsider.  

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/67518454

Edited February 8, 2024 by brickftl

[FrozenInTime]

For best bokeh the Summilux ASPH pre-FLE is probably the one;  the Nokton 35/1.4 roughest with characterful classic outlining.

I bought one new some twenty years ago. I remember being shocked at how much sharper it was than the pre-ASPH Summicron I had before it. 

Never noticed any of the much discussed focus shift, but I use it at 1.4 or stopped down.

Some flare rings when shooting at an angle into the sun. I think the very latest close focus FLE finally improves on this. I'm almost tempted, but would still like to keep the pre-FLE as it has served so well over the years.

[brickftl]

thanks, after much reading, I think for now my beginner lens will be the CV Nokton Classic 35/1.4 IIMC

[spydrxx]

I'd vote for the Voigtlander. I've had a bunch of 35s over the years, including Leicas. FWIW the CV does a fine job. You might also consider the CV Ultron series, either the f/2 or the 1.7. If you are willing to buy used, you can save even more $.

[a.noctilux]

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Edited February 9, 2024 by a.noctilux
double post

[a.noctilux]

 

 

Edited February 9, 2024 by a.noctilux

[dpitt]

If you do not mind spending less 🙂 I would recommend the Summicron 40C.

This one is almost glued to my M9 although I have plenty of alternatives like the Summicron 35 v3 and a set of Summicron 50s. Seeing your pictures, I liked your portraits in particular. The 40 FL would be more suited for that, and I do not mind a bit more distance than with a 35 when doing street... The M9 oldie can produce stunning results, but it 'only' has 18MP and leaves less room for cropping compared to the later 24MP or higher M models. On top of that it is one of the cheapest Summicron's available.

Of course there is the little matter of 40mm frames...It seems like the M9 35mm frames work fine as long as you shoot well inside the lines. At infinity they are even a little bit too small. A small DIY conversion of the mount can bring up the 35mm frames in stead of the 50mm that it brings up out of the box. Of course you can use the lever of the M9 to bring up the 35mm frames by hand

Sometimes the Summicron C is sold as a set with the 90mm Elmar C F4.0 or even the 90 Elmarit F2.8.  They are fine lenses too, and would be great for head shots like I saw on your Photostream.

So my advice is to buy a set like this or just the Summicron 40C. It will sell for about the same if you decide the RF experience is not for you.

Just my 2 cents...

[pgk]

I have had the pre-FLE Summilux for many years and it is one of those lenses which you just get used to because it consistently delivers fine images. It has been my 'go to' 35mm lens and despite having owned all the Summicrons and the pre-asph Summilux it has outlasted them all. I have though, paired this with a 2.5 Summarit which certainly gets used but still not as much as the Summilux. The Summarit was bought fairly recently (last year), and for a very reasonable price, as an alternative if needed or to fit to a second body. I owned one some years ago and had found it to be great but sold it to 'upgrade' and have always felt that the upgrades were not as nice. Both are used on my M9s. I am satisfied with them both, and can see no reason to change or 'upgrade' them. Yes, you will read about 'flaws' but in real world photography I've not had any problems that I can remember. The pre-FLE Summilux is a great little lens, but there again so is the Summarit. And f/2 of f/2.5 are not vastly different so I personally would not exclude the Summarit because of its maximum aperture limitation and whilst their prices of this lens are rising they can still be bought reasonably enough - but the hood is difficult to get and expesive so if you wanted this lens with its original hood try to buy them together.

[costa43]

If you want dreamy over busy bokeh I would also consider the 35mm Voigtlander f1.7 Ultron in m mount. It's handling is a little peculiar but it is still one of the best performing 35mm lenses available.

Edit: I would also look at the Voigtlander 35mm f1.2 iii. 

Edited February 9, 2024 by costa43

[shirubadanieru]

I would go with either the Summicron pre-asph (any version is good) or the Summilux pre-asph 35mm. Nokton is similar to the summilux pre-asph, so that is a great option as well! All would be a perfect fit to the M9! pre-FLE and FLE have a sharper rendering with more pop but weight over 300g, and are 3x bigger than the other lens mentioned.

Edited February 9, 2024 by shirubadanieru

[TomB_tx]

The Nokton 35 f1.4 was the first lens I bought to try on my M9 (although I had other M lenses already, including a 35 Summcron from 1969). I found the Nokton compared favorably with my Summicron, and the extra stop speed was useful. I changed to the Ver II Nokton when it became available and still use it on my M9. On my M10 (where high ISO is amazing) I prefer the Summarit 35 f2.5 which is sharper.

[Sergius]

1 hour ago, shirubadanieru said:

I would go with either the Summicron pre-asph (any version is good) or the Summilux pre-asph 35mm. Nokton is similar to the summilux pre-asph, so that is a great option as well! All would be a perfect fit to the M9! pre-FLE and FLE have a sharper rendering with more pop but weight over 300g, and are 3x bigger than the other lens mentioned.

This one for me…. 
ps 35 lux asph pre-fle has an heavy shift focus. 

Edited February 9, 2024 by Sergius

[brickftl]

3 hours ago, costa43 said:

If you want dreamy over busy bokeh I would also consider the 35mm Voigtlander f1.7 Ultron in m mount. It's handling is a little peculiar but it is still one of the best performing 35mm lenses available.

Edit: I would also look at the Voigtlander 35mm f1.2 iii. 

it turns out the person who was selling the CV Nokton Classic 35/1.4 IIMC has sold it to someone else so I was thinking about Voigtlander 35mm f/1.7 Ultron Lens for Leica M. What do you think?

[costa43]

1 hour ago, brickftl said:

it turns out the person who was selling the CV Nokton Classic 35/1.4 IIMC has sold it to someone else so I was thinking about Voigtlander 35mm f/1.7 Ultron Lens for Leica M. What do you think?

I've used this lens and its a stellar performer. It's not my favourite design though, the focus ring could be better imo.  I also own the 40mm Nokton classic which is very similar to the 35mm and they are very different lenses. The ultron is clean and modern. Very sharp. The Nokton has a lovely character wide open and sharpens up nicely when it is stopped down. Take a look at some images on the Flickr and the forum here to see what floats your boat. 

[pgk]

2 hours ago, Sergius said:

This one for me…. 
ps 35 lux asph pre-fle has an heavy shift focus. 

Not in my experience of having owned one for many years. That said this is apparently the reason for the update to the FLE which has a Close Range Correction system but I think is otherwise optically the same (I'm happy to be corrected).

The pre-aspheric lens is ok but I found it to be just too soft and full of aberrations wide open to be really usable except for very occasional images.

The 35mm Summarits are nice because they are small, light, well-corrected but never harsh.

[dpitt]

5 hours ago, pgk said:

Not in my experience of having owned one for many years. That said this is apparently the reason for the update to the FLE which has a Close Range Correction system but I think is otherwise optically the same (I'm happy to be corrected).

The pre-aspheric lens is ok but I found it to be just too soft and full of aberrations wide open to be really usable except for very occasional images.

The 35mm Summarits are nice because they are small, light, well-corrected but never harsh.

The same here. I prefer the Summicron 35, because it is very good wide open and stays in character when stopped down. IMO it beats the Summilux pre-asph easily at F2.0 and F2.8. To get sharpness and contrast from the pre-ASPH Summilux 35, I would avoid using it wide open. Using at least F2.0 and if possible F2.8 or smaller. So that defeats the purpose of a F1.4 lens a bit...

For people who like dreamy shots the Summilux might have more appeal. Then you have a dreamy F1.4 that gets super sharp when stopped down a few stops. It's up to you to decide if that is worth the extra money.

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[VanDooglz]

The 35mm f/1.4 Nokton is a more interesting lens than others on your list, regardless of price. Tiny, perfectly usable wide open, with superior build quality. Source: me, the owner of 28/35/50 Luxes.

Did I mention it is tiny? The most important property of any lens, in my opinion.

[a.noctilux]

On 2/8/2024 at 11:24 PM, brickftl said:

 35 Summilux 1.4 ASPH (Pre-FLE)

If you have opportunity trying this one, you may like it (or not depending on you and the lens).

Reputed having some "shifts", but in my use, this "shift things" never bother me.