What's a good 35mm lens?

[pikapig]

Hi

As i find that i have been shooting alot with my 35mm and that i feel very comfortable using it as a walkabout lens, i wish to know what are some other available choice of 35mm that produce a decent image yet at an affordable price.

I am using a voigtlander color skopar 35mm f2.5, but wish to upgrade to a f2 or even a f1.8.
This lens has served me well but i find it abit soft at wide.

My budget is less than $500. Anyone knows what other lens can i look at?

 

[virtualme78]

I'm using a nokton 35mm 1.4sc i got from Chiif... love it but i think its slightly off your budget.

 

[NazgulKing]

I'm using the CV 35mm/f1.2 right now. It's discontinued, but they should be releasing a replacement sometime this year. I'm generally happy with the lens, despite its size because of the flexibility etc.

 

[pikapig]

I'm using the CV 35mm/f1.2 right now. It's discontinued, but they should be releasing a replacement sometime this year. I'm generally happy with the lens, despite its size because of the flexibility etc.

But this lens is expensive rite?

 

[pikapig]

I'm using a nokton 35mm 1.4sc i got from Chiif... love it but i think its slightly off your budget.

yah originally i wanted to get this lens, but kinda exp even for a 2nd hand..unless i sell off my nokton 75mm f2.5, if not, cant get the budget to invest in this lens...

was guessing i might not need the 1.4 although its good to have.

 

[Royale With Cheese]

hi bro

F2.5 down to F2 not much difference really.

I suggest you save up & go for the Nokton 35mm F1.4. Retails $780 band new if I'm not wrong.

Or you can try looking for canon 35mm F1.8 LTM but I would prefer to stick to the F2.5 color skopar, you might not like vintage lens look

 

[excelsius]

A 35mm Biogon?

 

[jonmanjiro]

Hi

As i find that i have been shooting alot with my 35mm and that i feel very comfortable using it as a walkabout lens, i wish to know what are some other available choice of 35mm that produce a decent image yet at an affordable price.

I am using a voigtlander color skopar 35mm f2.5, but wish to upgrade to a f2 or even a f1.8.
This lens has served me well but i find it abit soft at wide.

My budget is less than $500. Anyone knows what other lens can i look at?

If you can find one, the Voigtlander Ultron 35mm f1.7 is a damn fine lens and falls within your budget.

I went from Zeiss Biogon 35mm f2 -> Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f1.4 -> Voigtlander Ultron 35mm f1.7 and have no regrets at all.

 

[virtualme78]

Why not just use your 35mm f2.5 till you have the money for a f1.4? Its a 280bucks more from your 500 bucks budget... Like RWC said, from 2.8 > 2 isn't a lot difference...

 

[Yoricko]

From first-hand experience, I've only used the 35mm Summicron V4. Good lens, but it is way above your budget. If you can find a good deal on the V3, get it; it is very similar to the V4.

Soft wide open? I'm not too sure about that. From external reviews and sources, that Color Skopar PII (I'm not sure if yours is classic or M-mount) is a very solid choice. The only (and only) common issues with that lens is excessive veiling flare, and the *slighty more distortion than leica glass* distortion. I've got a copy for myself but I haven't got the chance to develop any rolls of film shot with this particular lens.

Like what the others suggested... I think the 35mm f1.4 MC/classic will pair up well with the Skopar (do not sell it). I believe the 1.4 will handle flare slightly better than the 2.5, and it has a much wider aperture for low light shooting. It also renders a pretty soft look which is totally different from the 2.5. So you have 2 different lenses, for two different purposes with little overlap is function! 1.4 for night, 2.5 for day. 1.4 for contrast (MC), 2.5 for low-contrast. 1.4 for soft, 2.5 for sharp-sharp images!

Do take my words with a pinch of salt as I've never had any first-hand experience myself and only heard/read from multiple reviews and sources.
You should also do your own testing.

 

[virtualme78]

mmmm... how about nokton 40mm f1.4? It should be around your budget

 

[pikapig]

Thanks all bro for de valueable feedback.
Think for my budget vs de choice, think will keep to trying de voigtlander ultron if i can find, if not de 35mm f1.4 sc.

 

[blacvios]

Bro a user Canon 35f2 jap cron is a good choice I got it at the budget price you stated

 

[pikapig]

hi bro

F2.5 down to F2 not much difference really.

I suggest you save up & go for the Nokton 35mm F1.4. Retails $780 band new if I'm not wrong.

Or you can try looking for canon 35mm F1.8 LTM but I would prefer to stick to the F2.5 color skopar, you might not like vintage lens look

Bro rwc, this one lens was original my choice to get it with my r2a, but back then just started into this hobby and didnt buy that lens...my cs 35mm f2.5 has served me well just feel like going for a better one.

mmmm... how about nokton 40mm f1.4? It should be around your budget

this was also my alternative but didnt have the framelines and as advised by some bro here, better to stick w 35mm.. thanks for suggesting

 

[pikapig]

From first-hand experience, I've only used the 35mm Summicron V4. Good lens, but it is way above your budget. If you can find a good deal on the V3, get it; it is very similar to the V4.

Soft wide open? I'm not too sure about that. From external reviews and sources, that Color Skopar PII (I'm not sure if yours is classic or M-mount) is a very solid choice. The only (and only) common issues with that lens is excessive veiling flare, and the *slighty more distortion than leica glass* distortion. I've got a copy for myself but I haven't got the chance to develop any rolls of film shot with this particular lens.

Like what the others suggested... I think the 35mm f1.4 MC/classic will pair up well with the Skopar (do not sell it). I believe the 1.4 will handle flare slightly better than the 2.5, and it has a much wider aperture for low light shooting. It also renders a pretty soft look which is totally different from the 2.5. So you have 2 different lenses, for two different purposes with little overlap is function! 1.4 for night, 2.5 for day. 1.4 for contrast (MC), 2.5 for low-contrast. 1.4 for soft, 2.5 for sharp-sharp images!

Do take my words with a pinch of salt as I've never had any first-hand experience myself and only heard/read from multiple reviews and sources.
You should also do your own testing.

Sure bro..and thanks for the write up... appreciate it. Flare wise, i agree center tend to be abit brighter than the corners which always happen.
My own testing, using the same scanner, with no sharpening
35mm f2.5 cs,

on a nokton 50mm f1.5

of cos the comparison between both lens might seems abit unfair, cos 50mm seems more like a portrait lens as well as the aperture, what im emphasizing is the sharpness as well as the contrast. I am quite impress with the 50mm lens

 

[pikapig]

Bro a user Canon 35f2 jap cron is a good choice I got it at the budget price you stated

Hi Bro, can pm me where i can find this lens? Will try flickr to check out the pics quality

Why not just use your 35mm f2.5 till you have the money for a f1.4? Its a 280bucks more from your 500 bucks budget... Like RWC said, from 2.8 > 2 isn't a lot difference...

Hi bro, another consideration given my budget is more on the lens sharpness and contrast..and sadly i really cant afford a leica...if not, would have picked one. On streets, i tend to shoot more ard f2.5 and above...but of cos with the options of stopping down further, it will be good.

If you can find one, the Voigtlander Ultron 35mm f1.7 is a damn fine lens and falls within your budget.

I went from Zeiss Biogon 35mm f2 -> Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f1.4 -> Voigtlander Ultron 35mm f1.7 and have no regrets at all.

I heard about this lens, but i couldnt find it.. if not, this could be the choice!

 

[Royale With Cheese]

The canon 35mm F2 might not be around your budget really. Good copies can fetch quite a steep price, prepare at least $800

I've got a set here on the Canon 35mm F2:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/agnosticgary/sets/72157624583644420/

Its a 7 element lens, design same as the old cron. Never had it flare till I was in Halong Bay, where the reflection of the sunlight on the water was too strong :cry:



As jonmanjiro suggestion, the 35mm F1.7, I did see one selling its CHROME with canon 7 on RFF a couple of months back, I cant believe I let it go because I was thinking of a cron.... s h i t...........................

It rarely pops up really. Like the cv 50mm F1.5 chrome, its hard to find one around.


I use a canon 35mm F2 for my 35mm needs, being F2, its great for day but come night, its either I push the film to 1600 or change over to my cv 50mm F1.5.

Erm, I'm not too sure about softness but shouldnt be the case, the cv 35mm F2.5 has got superb reviews for its price.


Oh yea, I got a set here on the 35mm F1.4 cv as well:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/agnosticgary/sets/72157623823257717/
was very satisfied with the lens till it got stolen :angry:


Yes, be impressed with the nokton 50mm F1.5 ltm. If you read steve huff's review & RFF, you know how good it is, my only complain is the size but hell, I got the chrome version :devil:

 

[blacvios]

Hi Bro, can pm me where i can find this lens? Will try flickr to check out the pics quality

Bro i bought mine from B & S here, just keep a look out.

Here's a sample from my copy

,,,

 

[nex100]

the elusive canon 35mm f2. ahhh ... i regret deeply when i missed out on getting it on rff where the lens sit on the classifieds for 2 weeks. now it is gone and very hard to find!

 

[newghost]

If you can find one, the Voigtlander Ultron 35mm f1.7 is a damn fine lens and falls within your budget.

I went from Zeiss Biogon 35mm f2 -> Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f1.4 -> Voigtlander Ultron 35mm f1.7 and have no regrets at all.

oh yes, i second the ultron 35/1.7... too bad mine is black, not chrome!