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Archive 2008 · Fast 35mm?

Silentlight
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p.1 #1 · Fast 35mm?

Is it worth the trouble of converting a Rokkor 35/1.8 (add $100+ purchase cost) vs. buying an EF 35/2 for less than $300? I am looking for good wide-open IQ for people shots, plus good bokeh (infinity focus is nice, but not necessarily important), and I already have a CZ MM 35/2.8 sitting in the box because it's not fast enough for low lights.

Anybody has had a chance yet to make a how-to writeup on converting the Rokkor?

Thanks...

Dec 09, 2008 at 08:42 PM

thrice
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p.1 #2 · Fast 35mm?

If you're doing people shots then I'd go for the Leica Summicron-R 35/2.0. Produces great colours and skin tone, with beautiful bokeh. A little soft in the extreme corners at larger apertures but that's not usually an issue with people.

Dec 09, 2008 at 09:39 PM

mawz
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p.1 #3 · Fast 35mm?

$300 is almost in 35/1.4 AI-S territory. Which will do fast better than just about anything else in this pricerange.

If you want cheap and decent, the Nikkor 35/2's aren't pricey and don't need conversions and I'd agree that a 35 Summicron is also a good choice for reasonable money.

Dec 10, 2008 at 12:18 AM

alexandre
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p.1 #4 · Fast 35mm?

As well as a Zuiko 35/2

Dec 10, 2008 at 02:28 AM

Ed Sawyer
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p.1 #5 · Fast 35mm?

2nd the Zuiko and all others mentioned here so far. The rokkor 35 1.8 is quite good I think. I've converted a couple and have an unconverted one if you are in the market (converted or not). It's a well made lens that is pretty decent overall and has nice bokeh. Probably not at the level of Nikkor 35 1.4 AIS or the Summicron but a good lens nonetheless.

I have tests of most of these posted in an archive at www.edsawyer.com/lenstests/

Basically anything discussed here so far will beat up on the EF 35/2 pretty handily, IMO, esp in the corners wide open.

-Ed

Dec 10, 2008 at 03:49 AM

ulrikft
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p.1 #6 · Fast 35mm?

Those tests makes ME want to get the 35 1.4 AI-S ed :P

Dec 10, 2008 at 04:28 AM

edwardkaraa
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p.1 #7 · Fast 35mm?

My favourite is the CZ 35mm 1.4 but I guess the price is not within your request.

Dec 10, 2008 at 04:35 AM

Silentlight
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p.1 #8 · Fast 35mm?

Thank you all for inputs. Leica 35/2 looks great, except for the price

Anybody knows if the AI-S 35/1.4 clears the 5D mirror?

Dec 10, 2008 at 06:02 AM

Valorin
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p.1 #9 · Fast 35mm?

The Nikkor AI-S 35mm f/1.4 does clear the mirror on a 5D. At least mine does, and I think it's pretty close, so some 5D's might have problems.

Dec 10, 2008 at 06:18 AM

wilsonprince
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p.1 #10 · Fast 35mm?

edwardkaraa wrote:
My favourite is the CZ 35mm 1.4 but I guess the price is not within your request.

What does this one sell for these days? Is there an upcoming ZE(EF) mount release of the CZ 35mm 1.4? And while we're on the subject, is there any new information on the 21mm 2.8 Distagon lens release?

Dec 10, 2008 at 08:56 AM

edwardkaraa
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p.1 #11 · Fast 35mm?

wilsonprince wrote:
edwardkaraa wrote:
My favourite is the CZ 35mm 1.4 but I guess the price is not within your request.

What does this one sell for these days? Is there an upcoming ZE(EF) mount release of the CZ 35mm 1.4? And while we're on the subject, is there any new information on the 21mm 2.8 Distagon lens release?

If I'm not mistaken, it's still selling for around 1000$. I got mine before reading the reviews, luckily, as this lens like some other Zeiss lenses, doesn't perform well on resolution charts. This is a wonderful lens in my own experience and as the sample photos provided by brainiac prove it. I hope Zeiss will make it in the ZE mount, but if this ever happens, don't expect to see it before a few more years, judging by the lens release pace of Zeiss. The 21 is still scheduled for January 2009 AFAIK.

Dec 10, 2008 at 09:23 AM

brainiac
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p.1 #12 · Fast 35mm?

For the ultimate f2 or f1.4 at this focal length, it is the Canon L and the Contax f1.4. The Contax is my choice even though it is less sharp in the corners than the Canon. I prefer the bokeh, which has well defined edges instead of over-corrected soft ones. The Nikkor f1.4 seems to draw quite ugly to me.

Of the f2 versions, the Nikkor seems like good value, and the ZE/ZF is probably the ultimate. The Leica seems expensive for what it is, but it slightly has that 2D look, rich colour, and lower contrast if that's what you like. The Oly is fairly soft wide open, and has odd cup-shaped bokeh with brightening highlight edges. The Canon 35 f2 shouldn't be overlooked, as it is very sharp over 90% of the full frame. On APS-C it's excellent. If corners don't matter to you, then grab AF and the sharpness at that price.

Two other candidates almost at this focal length are the Oly 40 f2, and Cosina Ultron 40 f2 F mount.

My current choices are Contax 35 f1.4 and Oly 40 f2, but I am certain they wouldn't be to everyone's taste.

I have a beautiful Oly 35 f2 for sale if anyone is interested.

Dec 10, 2008 at 01:32 PM

ulrikft
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p.1 #13 · Fast 35mm?

Hmm, what about the nikkor is ugly brainiac? I'm thinking about getting a nikkor ai-s 28 2.0, 24 2.8, 35 1.4 or 2.0. And I would love inputs.

Dec 10, 2008 at 02:01 PM

mawz
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p.1 #14 · Fast 35mm?

Valorin wrote:
The Nikkor AI-S 35mm f/1.4 does clear the mirror on a 5D. At least mine does, and I think it's pretty close, so some 5D's might have problems.

The Nikkor's got that stupid Max Aperture Indicating post. It can be safely removed without affecting lens function for the most part (The tab is only used for matrix metering on the FA and F4 and flash on the EM, FG and IIRC the F301/N2000).

Dec 10, 2008 at 03:09 PM

mawz
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p.1 #15 · Fast 35mm?

ulrikft wrote:
Hmm, what about the nikkor is ugly brainiac? I'm thinking about getting a nikkor ai-s 28 2.0, 24 2.8, 35 1.4 or 2.0. And I would love inputs.

The Nikkor is a bit weak with busy OOF backgrounds. Apart from that I'm quite fond of it. Of the lenses you list it's the one I'd get (I'd rather the Zeiss equivalents of the 28 and 24, and the 35/2 is not enough cheaper than the f1.4 to justify the performance difference if you can afford the 1.4).

Dec 10, 2008 at 03:11 PM

Steve Spencer
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p.1 #16 · Fast 35mm?

wilsonprince wrote:
edwardkaraa wrote:
Is there an upcoming ZE(EF) mount release of the CZ 35mm 1.4? And while we're on the subject, is there any new information on the 21mm 2.8 Distagon lens release?

It seems unlikely that there will be a ZE 35mm f/1.4. They have made a new 35mm f/2 in Nikon, Pentax (K) and M42 mount, and it seems much more likely that they will make a ZE mount version of the 35mm f/2 lens. Maybe far in the future they will make a 35mm f/1.4 in all the mounts, but it doesn't seem to likely too me. I believe the new 21mm f/2.8 Distagon will be released in February. The Pentax (K) mount version is already listed at B & H.

Dec 10, 2008 at 03:14 PM

Silentlight
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p.1 #17 · Fast 35mm?

I pulled the trigger on an AI-S 35/1.4 last nite hoping that it's good enough for my needs. Being that I am not a professional, Leica, Canon L and Contax ZE are out of my $$$ comfort range. I figured if drawing ugly is the biggest problem with the Nikon 35/1.4, then I can live with it. Busy oof backgrounds can be worked out in PP if it's a shot I really like to keep.

Thanks all.

Dec 10, 2008 at 05:55 PM

fourfa
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p.1 #18 · Fast 35mm?

I recall the bokeh of the Nikon 35 1.4 looking quite harsh at 1.4 but cleaning up and becoming a lot smoother at f2.0. Something to watch for at least.

Dec 10, 2008 at 05:59 PM

voka_gsw
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p.1 #19 · Fast 35mm?

ulrikft wrote:
Hmm, what about the nikkor is ugly brainiac? I'm thinking about getting a nikkor ai-s 28 2.0, 24 2.8, 35 1.4 or 2.0. And I would love inputs.

We're talking about Nikkor 35/1.4? Train-wreck bokeh wide open.

Dec 10, 2008 at 07:50 PM

ulrikft
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p.1 #20 · Fast 35mm?

Hmm, can someone post 35 1.4 AIS wide open examples? I would really appreciate it!

Dec 10, 2008 at 11:08 PM

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