35mm Battle Royale - feat. Leica/ Zeiss/ Canon/ Konica/ Komura/ Voigtländer

[Thedraperyfalls]

Hi friends,

Here's a mini, highly non-scientific lens shootout between a few perennial favourites for the 35mm focal length.

Contenders include:

• Leica Summicron 35mm f/2.0 V4
• Konica 35mm f/2.0 UC-Hexanon
• Zeiss 35mm f/2.8 C Biogon ZM
• Voigtländer 35mm f/2.5 Color-Skopar P Type II
• Canon 35mm f/1.5 LTM
• Canon 35mm f/1.8 LTM
• Canon 35mm f/2.0 LTM
• Sankyo Kohki W-Komura 2.8/35mm

This test will be split into 3 categories:

1. Bokeh
2. Distortion
3. Centre and Corner Sharpness

_____________________

***
Many thanks to Edwin for his generosity and effort!

 

[Thedraperyfalls]

1. Bokeh Test

The Nitty and the Gritty:
Camera: Leica M9 mounted on a tripod
ISO: 160
Distance: 1m
Filters: No filters
WB: Auto
PP: No post-processing
Focus-Point: Headstock of the guitar

_____________________

Wide-Open:

Leica Summicron 35mm f/2.0 V4 - Wide Open


Konica 35mm f/2.0 UC-Hexanon - Wide Open


Zeiss 35mm f/2.8 C Biogon ZM - Wide Open


Voigtländer 35mm f/2.5 Color-Skopar P Type II - Wide Open

 

[Thedraperyfalls]

Canon 35mm f/1.5 LTM - Wide Open


Canon 35mm f/1.8 LTM - Wide Open


Canon 35mm f/2.0 LTM - Wide Open


Sankyo Kohki W-Komura 2.8/35mm - Wide Open

 

[Thedraperyfalls]

f/4.0:

Leica Summicron 35mm f/2.0 V4 @ f/4


Konica 35mm f/2.0 UC-Hexanon @ f/4


Zeiss 35mm f/2.8 C Biogon ZM @ f/4


Voigtländer 35mm f/2.5 Color-Skopar P Type II @ f/4

 

[Thedraperyfalls]

Canon 35mm f/1.5 LTM @ f/4


Canon 35mm f/1.8 LTM @ f/4


Canon 35mm f/2.0 LTM @ f/4


Sankyo Kohki W-Komura 2.8/35mm @ f/4

 

[Thedraperyfalls]

f/8.0:

Leica Summicron 35mm f/2.0 V4 @ f/8.0


Konica 35mm f/2.0 UC-Hexanon @ f/8.0


Zeiss 35mm f/2.8 C Biogon ZM @ f/8.0


Voigtländer 35mm f/2.5 Color-Skopar P Type II @ f/8.0

 

[Thedraperyfalls]

Canon 35mm f/1.5 LTM @ f/8.0


Canon 35mm f/1.8 LTM @ f/8.0


Canon 35mm f/2.0 LTM @ f/8.0


Sankyo Kohki W-Komura 2.8/35mm @ f/8.0

 

[Thedraperyfalls]

PART 2: Distortion

The Nitty and the Gritty:
Camera: Leica M9 mounted on a tripod
ISO: 160
Aperture: f/8.0
Distance: 3m
Filters: No filters
WB: Auto
PP: No post-processing
Focus-Point: Headstock of the guitar


Leica Summicron 35mm f/2.0 V4

Konica 35mm f/2.0 UC-Hexanon

Zeiss 35mm f/2.8 C Biogon ZM

Voigtländer 35mm f/2.5 Color-Skopar P Type II

 

[Thedraperyfalls]

Canon 35mm f/1.5 LTM

Canon 35mm f/1.8 LTM

Canon 35mm f/2.0 LTM

Sankyo Kohki W-Komura 2.8/35mm

 

[Thedraperyfalls]

Reserved again, again, again, again and again!

 

[Thedraperyfalls]

Reserved!

 

[PapaLi]

Great job phil!!

 

[pikapig]

Hi Phil

Thanks for the effort. Bokeh wise, that canon 35mm f2 is swirling wide open!
Summicron is super sharp throughout!

But i would think that the cv is the winner if we are looking at the price it commands here...the difference is very slight compared to most of the rest...imho

 

[magicianhisoka]

Had I known you were carrying this out, I'd have volunteered my hexanon KM mount too

thanks for the effort!

 

[artspraken]

with due respect sir, the comparison of "wide open" may be misleading. The "wide open" for different lenses above occur at different apertures. Yet the images are put side by side for comparison. By such comparison, we can compare images only, but certainly not the comparative quality of the lenses because the images are taken at different apertures.

Pls excuse me. I am not trying to be a spoilsport, nor do I want to belittle your efforts, which appear considerable for such an undertaking. I would just venture to highlight to the reader that the comparison of "wide open" is not exactly a comparison of like with like. Be that as it may, I want to say I enjoy the comparison for what it is - a comparison of "wide open" at different apertures.

 

[Thedraperyfalls]

Hey guys, the credit goes to Edwin really.
Thanks for all the kind words!

Artspraken:
I understand where you're coming from, as I was posting this I recalled your comments on the other 35mm lens test!
To be honest, we shot each lens wide open, f/2, f2.5, f/2.8, f/4 and f/8 - whenever applicable.

The reason I grouped the wide-open shots together is so that we can ogle at their bokeh.
Also but doing 'wide-open', 'f/4' and 'f/8', there would be a consistent flow.
As you can see, some lenses do not have f/2.5, f/1.5, f/1.8 etc.
I was opting for consistency/order over thoroughness.

But since you requested, I am happy to oblige:


_______________________


f/2.0 (whenever applicable):

Leica Summicron 35mm f/2.0 V4 @ f/2.0


Konica 35mm f/2.0 UC-Hexanon @ f/2.0


Canon 35mm f/1.5 LTM @ f/2.0


Canon 35mm f/1.8 LTM @ f/2.0


Canon 35mm f/2.0 LTM @ f.2.0

 

[Thedraperyfalls]

f/2.8 (whenever applicable):

Leica Summicron 35mm f/2.0 V4 @ f/2.8


Konica 35mm f/2.0 UC-Hexanon @ f/2.8


Zeiss 35mm f/2.8 C Biogon ZM @ f/2.8


Voigtländer 35mm f/2.5 Color-Skopar P Type II @ f/2.8


Canon 35mm f/1.5 LTM @ f/2.8

 

[Thedraperyfalls]

f/2.8 (continued):

Canon 35mm f/1.8 LTM @ f/2.8


Canon 35mm f/2.0 LTM @ f/2.8


Sankyo Kohki W-Komura 2.8/35mm @ f/2.8

 

[newghost]

Hey guys, the credit goes to Edwin really.
Thanks for all the kind words!

Great job bro! Gathering the lenses is the easy part... the hard work begins when you start to sort out the files and manage / compare them online! I'm sure there's more to come and i'm so looking forward!

 

[Thedraperyfalls]

Hi guys, first off happy new year to everyone and thanks for all the kind words.
Also, a big thank you to everyone that offered their 35mm for future testing!
I was thinking we could gather a few more 35's before embarking on a second installment of the tests.

Also, apologies for the delay - the renaming and sorting out is a pain and it doesn't help that the new year has left me slightly groggy.

UPDATED WITH DISTORTION TEST!