VC 35mm f1.4 Nokton Classic SC vs Leica 35mm Summicron f2 ASPH vs VC 35mm f2.5 Color

[alantcs2010]

Here I come again with this 35mm lenses test. Hope you enjoy it.

Voigtlander 35mm f1.4 Nokton Classic SC vs Leica 35mm Summicron f2 ASPH vs Voigtlander 35mm f2.5 Color Skopar

Those of you who have read my previous review on the 35mm Voigtlander f1.4 Nokton Classic SC vs 35mm Zeiss Biogon f2, you will know that the Zeiss was really a great lens. I sold it away due to the size. In fact I sold both the 35mm lenses and bought back the Voigtlander a few days later. I love smaller lenses because I usually put lenses in my pockets when I go out for a shoot. In this test, I have three small 35mm lenses, the 35mm Voigtlander f1.4 Nokton Classic SC, the formidable Leica 35mm Summicron F2 ASPH and the Voigtlander 35mm f2.5 Color Skopar. I wanted to test the Bokeh King but nobody was selling so I bought the latest version 35mm Summicron to this test. The Color Skopar is a very well received lens that gets good review in many forums. This copy of 35mm Voigtlander f1.4 Nokton Classic SC is even more sharper then my previous copy. So lets see how all these lenses perform. As usual, these are the elements that I will be looking into:

- Distortion
- Sharpness Center and Off Center
- Colors Rendition
- B&W Rendition
- Out of Focus - Bokeh

I will be using a full frame Leica M9P for the test. Snapshot mode is set for black & white photos. Normal mode is set for color photos. There is no post production so that what you see is what they produced.

See here for the full review,
Voigtlander 35mm f1.4 Nokton Classic SC vs Leica 35mm Summicron f2 ASPH vs Voigtlander 35mm f2.5 Color Skopar.

 

[artspraken]

I'm horrified

I love smaller lenses because I usually put lenses in my pockets when I go out for a shoot.

 

[artspraken]

I enjoyed your review (as did I the previous).

From what I understand, F1.4 lenses need to be compared with F1.4 lenses, and F2 lenses compared with F2 lenses. Its something to do with the construction. F1.4 lenses generally involve some compromise in return for the bigger aperture (Leica invented ASPH concept to redress that compensation). You can google Erwin Puts who says something to this effect, albeit in drier prose. Still, I very much enjoy your reviews because pixel reviews are fun and these are familiar lenses to me.

For 35mm, the key fight will be between (i) Zeiss Biogon 35mm F2; and (ii) Leica Summicron 35mm ASPH. These 2 are very very very close. I remember Sean Reid wrote a review on this and can be seen in his paid website. In fact, I did alot of pixel peeping before, and it is quite clear the the Biogon 35mm F2 has less distortion and more flareproof than the Leica. However, there are Leica fans who claim there is something special (or psychological) about the Leica that is better than the Biogon. Personally, I have both. I tend to prefer my Biogon, largely because the Leica is so expensive I dun have the heart to use it. You can also readup Ken Rockwell's comparison on his website. I think if you really pixelpeep, the Biogon will be optically superior. But the Biogon is lighter, bigger and has an unusual filter size. Biogon is also much cheaper (I guess being cheap is a disadvantage for our kind of photography hur hur!)

The 35mm Summicron pre-ASPH (v1, v2, v3 and v4 'bokeh king') is same as Leica Summicron 35mm ASPH, except that the pre-ASPH wide open@F2 is abit softer than the ASPH. If you look into the 4 versions of the pre-ASPH family, there are the 8 element, 6 element and 7 element, in that order of versions. Collectors in far east love 8 elements, collectors in the west (europe/usa) love 7 elements aka bokeh king. Turns out 6 elements is best deal coz its cheapest of the 3.

I never dismiss the Voightlander 35mm Nokton Classic F1.4 SC or MC. Even though optically its less astute, it is small and is an ideal carry around lens. Tom Abrahamsson is a known fan.

I am not a fan of the Voightlander 35mm Color Skopar F2.5. For F2.5, I would pay abit more and get the Zeiss C Biogon 35mm F2.8. Now, that lens, is as perfect a lens you can get under ideal lighting conditions. The Zeiss C Biogon 35mm F2.8 I believe is the most underrated 35mm of all. In fact, I think this is such a good lens, its price is about the same as Zeiss Biogon 35mm F2

 

[magicianhisoka]

Thanks for the enjoyable review. Am floored by the subpar performance of the 2.5 though. Would be great if you could swap a copy and see if anything changes

 

[alantcs2010]

Thanks guys for chipping in more information. I agree with Artspraken that the Zeiss ZM series are really great lenses.

 

[Shahlan]

After reading this write review, it makes me think twice if I shld spend the excessive amt of cash for a 35mm summicron or shld I just settle for a biogon. After all, Leica being a Leica...it's the ideal lens for anyone who shoots rf..

 

[anerjee]

I wonder how the CV Ultron 35mm f/1.7 (ltm) stands wrt to these latest CV offerings in the 35mm focal length.

 

[Davidnikon]

After reading this write review, it makes me think twice if I shld spend the excessive amt of cash for a 35mm summicron or shld I just settle for a biogon. After all, Leica being a Leica...it's the ideal lens for anyone who shoots rf..

zeiss and leica is just like tudor and rolex, both delivery great result and performance, but leica/rolex fetch the market value better

 

[alantcs2010]

They were all taken exactly at the same position. The focus area is also the same. The Nokton has got better out of focus rendition at all the apertures as compared to the Summicron and Color Skopar. Among the four lenses I tested - Zeiss ZM 35mm Biogon F2, VC 35mm Nokton Classic SC, Leica 35mm Summicron ASPH and the VC 35mm Color Skopar, the Nokton has got the best Bokeh. Follow by the Zeiss, than the Leica and Color Skopar. This is the main reason I sold the lens and bought it back within a few days.

 

[newghost]

...and i like my bokeh with a swirl! :ipuke:

Good stuff there on the comparison! I concur with Yip on the C Biogon... i've a copy of v4 cron, hex uc 35/2 and canon 35/1.5 & 1.8 if you want to expand this further!

 

[magicianhisoka]

My absolute favourite 35mm lens for bokeh is the Nokton 35mm f/1.2

Oh yeaaah~

Count me in too haha

 

[alantcs2010]

Hi Bro, I didn't know you have so many 35mm lenses. If you don't mind, we can do some test together just for fun. The C Biogon is a hard to find lens in the resale market. Unless you want to order one new. Chiif said he can order but not sure the exact price. :angry:. The Nokton F1.2 I heard is a beast but create super results. I nearly pressed the button the other day when someone put up in clubsnap for sale at $1,300 in 5mins time. By the way, these tests will benefit many people who want to buy a 35mm rangefinder lens. The best part is that we are not pay by Leica, Zeiss, Viogtlander to test their lenses. So there is nothing to hide.

 

[meven]

You can also check out this thread for more 35mm lens comparison: http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/rangefinders/800703-share-some-35mm-lens-bokeh-comparision-shots.html

 

[rosewood1969]

By the way, these tests will benefit many people who want to buy a 35mm rangefinder lens. The best part is that we are not pay by Leica, Zeiss, Viogtlander to test their lenses. So there is nothing to hide.

well said, bro!

 

[Kayzo]

nice comparison!! lucky for me that i still hold on to the MC when i let go the SC to you.
Thanks alan for putting this up!
But i still want my dream lens.... the bokeh king!

 

[raytoei]

excellent post.

i really dun understand most of the stuff presented, eg. barrel distortion etc... hahaha

i have a lot to learn.

raytoei