p.1 #1 · CV 40mm 1.4 vs Pen F 42mm 1.2 vs Summicron-C 40mm 2.0
Hello all,
I started out with a CV 35mm 2.5, love the rendering in the day - but is a bit slow at night… So I continue to acquire fast 40'ishs… for my NEX 5n to round out a day and night rig.
I currently own these, which I enjoy:
CV 40mm 1.4
Pen F 42mm 1.2
And am now looking at a 40mm Summicron-C or Rokkor CLE to try out.
Question for the forum, especially to those who have maybe used all 3 of these 40'ishs. (Or the CVs compared to the Cron.)
Looking for subjectivity here - So in terms of overall visual enjoyability and not wanting to sell it, is there one of the above you would keep and why?
I ultimately only want one 'fast 40'… but am afraid as much as I like the rendering of the Summicron/Rokkor, I would be giving up the speed of the other 2 mentioned above. Is it worth it?
Or am I already set?
p.1 #6 · CV 40mm 1.4 vs Pen F 42mm 1.2 vs Summicron-C 40mm 2.0
How about a Contax G 45/2?
to answer your first question,
CV40 - Not a fan of the rendering based on the pics I've seen.
PenF 42 1.2 - Sample pics look good but has sharp bokeh. Also, way too expensive recently for what you're getting.
Cron 40 - I like this the most out of the options you posted but would probably go with a G 45 before this one (depending on the price). Sample pics look great with the cron 40 though... minus the bokeh.
p.1 #8 · CV 40mm 1.4 vs Pen F 42mm 1.2 vs Summicron-C 40mm 2.0
One man's trash is another's treasure. I love the bokeh of the CV40 f/1.4. Can't comment firsthand on the 40 Cron, unfortunately. From images seen on various threads here, it seems to be somewhat lively as well and not clinically perfect wide open. Maybe ping sebboh, since he seems to have at least the 40 Cron and I thought he also had some of the Pen lenses: https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/969329/394#10857679
p.1 #9 · CV 40mm 1.4 vs Pen F 42mm 1.2 vs Summicron-C 40mm 2.0
rscheffler wrote:
One man's trash is another's treasure. I love the bokeh of the CV40 f/1.4. Can't comment firsthand on the 40 Cron, unfortunately. From images seen on various threads here, it seems to be somewhat lively as well and not clinically perfect wide open. Maybe ping sebboh, since he seems to have at least the 40 Cron and I thought he also had some of the Pen lenses: https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/969329/394#10857679
he did, i can't really comment on the cv 40/1.4 though. but, i suspect it is very similar to the 40 cron but a little wilder and without leica colors.
LightShow wrote:
I'm not wowed by my CLE Rokkor, I would aim for the G45.
on paper i agree, but i just like what the 40 cron does better than the g 45 for everything except landscape. i am kinda having difficulty forcing myself to use the g 45 lately.
p.1 #10 · CV 40mm 1.4 vs Pen F 42mm 1.2 vs Summicron-C 40mm 2.0
Guess I could just jump ship and rock all 40's. Sell my beloved CV 35mm 2.5. Pick up Summicron-C and that would be my new day lens. Ah decisions...
But if anyone else has any experience or thoughts on the differences of the 3 I would appreciate it. Sebboh offered some great and specific insight on the pen F vs the summicron - C.
p.1 #11 · CV 40mm 1.4 vs Pen F 42mm 1.2 vs Summicron-C 40mm 2.0
If you do not limit your choice to 40mm, there are lots of great 35mm out there. The CV 35/1.2 is one that I would not hesitate to shoot wide open or @1.4, I cannot say the same about Pen F 42/1.2, or CV 35/1.4 (similar to 40/1.4?). The C-summicron is only half a stop faster than the 35/2.5 you are giving up... Alternatively, there is also the CV 35/1.7, close focus to 0.9m only though.
p.1 #12 · CV 40mm 1.4 vs Pen F 42mm 1.2 vs Summicron-C 40mm 2.0
aleksanderpolo wrote:
If you do not limit your choice to 40mm, there are lots of great 35mm out there. The CV 35/1.2 is one that I would not hesitate to shoot wide open or @1.4, I cannot say the same about Pen F 42/1.2, or CV 35/1.4 (similar to 40/1.4?). The C-summicron is only half a stop faster than the 35/2.5 you are giving up... Alternatively, there is also the CV 35/1.7, close focus to 0.9m only though.
the cv 35/1.2 is like 10x the size of the nokton or the summicron and 2x the size of the pen, not really in the same category of lens at all.
p.1 #13 · CV 40mm 1.4 vs Pen F 42mm 1.2 vs Summicron-C 40mm 2.0
sebboh wrote:
the cv 35/1.2 is like 10x the size of the nokton or the summicron and 2x the size of the pen, not really in the same category of lens at all.
p.1 #15 · CV 40mm 1.4 vs Pen F 42mm 1.2 vs Summicron-C 40mm 2.0
sebboh wrote:
the cv 35/1.2 is like 10x the size of the nokton or the summicron and 2x the size of the pen, not really in the same category of lens at all.
And like 10 times not as good as the Summicron. I just sold the Nokton and I won't ever look back.
The Summicron is a bit soft wide open but gets bitingly sharp already at f/2.4, and the only thing to watch out for is slightly soft corners at medium distances if you don't stop down to f/4 or so. But I believe that depends more on the sensor filter (5N) than on the lens.
p.1 #17 · CV 40mm 1.4 vs Pen F 42mm 1.2 vs Summicron-C 40mm 2.0
Makten wrote:
The Summicron is a bit soft wide open but gets bitingly sharp already at f/2.4.
No no no, it's not a bug it's a feature - called Leica glow
And remember that you can have the M-Rokkor 40/2, a bit cheaper than the Summicron, which basically is the same lens. Whichever of those two one chooses it's a very nice and extremely compact lens, still with some character compared to more clinical modern lenses.
Only problem is that 40mm is a bit "meh" on a crop sensor. And for 4/3 a 45/1.8 must be a much wiser choice.
p.1 #18 · CV 40mm 1.4 vs Pen F 42mm 1.2 vs Summicron-C 40mm 2.0
JonasY wrote:
No no no, it's not a bug it's a feature - called Leica glow
And remember that you can have the M-Rokkor 40/2, a bit cheaper than the Summicron, which basically is the same lens. Whichever of those two one chooses it's a very nice and extremely compact lens, still with some character compared to more clinical modern lenses.
Only problem is that 40mm is a bit "meh" on a crop sensor. And for 4/3 a 45/1.8 must be a much wiser choice.
hmm, my copy is actually quite sharp wide open, but with a fair bit of spherical aberration (i mean 'glow' ) that makes it difficult to focus at medium to long distances.
i quite like good old fashion ~58mm equiv lenses and have always thought 90mm was a bit long for a portrait lens (most of my portrait shooting is indoors).
p.1 #19 · CV 40mm 1.4 vs Pen F 42mm 1.2 vs Summicron-C 40mm 2.0
I have the CV 40/1.4 and have to say, it's one of my favorite lenses due to the rendering.
At one point I was considering replacing it with the PEN 40/1.4 hoping for a little less CA in harsh light, and benefiting from a closer MFD. Ultimately I decided I didn't want to give up the things I like about the CV.
I don't care for the wide open bokeh of the PEN 42/1.2 (different animal than the 1.4), but that's comes down to personal taste.
I looked hard at the 40 Cron also. There was a forum I came across with some good sample photos and maybe comparisons between the Cron and others. It's been awhile, IIRC it was an asian site. I didn't see enough difference to want to switch to the Cron.
I also owned the CV 35/1.7 for a while. The rendering is more modern (less glowy at f2 and 1.7). Overall it was fine, but the very vanilla rendering didn't excite me.
p.1 #20 · CV 40mm 1.4 vs Pen F 42mm 1.2 vs Summicron-C 40mm 2.0
aleksanderpolo wrote:
The CV 35/1.2 is one that I would not hesitate to shoot wide open or @1.4, I cannot say the same about Pen F 42/1.2, or CV 35/1.4 (similar to 40/1.4?).
I'm an advocate for the Nokton 40 so I would have to address that and say 'no' the 35/1.4 is not in the same class as the 40. I think the 35 gives the 40 a black eye on it's reputation.
I too own the 35/2.5 and it's a very nice little lens. Stopped down, it's got to be one of the best lenses across the frame in that lens-size group. It is a bit slow at night, and I don't like shooting it wide open. Most of the time I don't shoot the Nokton 40 wide open either, but I do use f2 quite a bit. My wager is that f2 on the Cron vs. f2 on the Nokton will be very similar in terms of sharpness.
Night photography is not exactly my forte, but here are a few images I made with the Nokton 40 f2 - f2.8
So in terms of overall visual enjoyability and not wanting to sell it, is there one of the above you would keep and why?
) that makes it difficult to focus at medium to long distances.