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Archive 2017 · 35mm lens for leica m film and sony a7

Jmonat7
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · 35mm lens for leica m film and sony a7

I am diving into the leica m film world but don't plan on getting rid of my a7ii for its versatility just yet. I am having a hard time finding a 35mm lens that is usable on both for under $700. Any suggestions would be helpful. This is what I have found so far:

-CV ultron 35mm f1.7: Great on both, but concerned about potential VF blockage and size
-ZM 35mm f2: Great on leica M with only slight VF blockage, poor on sony
-ZM C 35mm f2.8: This was my first choice but found out it is terrible on the sony (would like to be told otherwise)
-CV 35mm f2.5: I know its cheap, that it.
-CV 35mm f1.4: Okay on both from what I read up on, but nothing special with low sharpness

(camera is an M6 with .72 framelines)

Oct 29, 2017 at 08:25 PM

wildwildwes
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · 35mm lens for leica m film and sony a7

-CV ultron 35mm f1.7: Great on both, but concerned about potential VF blockage and size

Huh?!? The lens is relatively small & can't imagine it giving you any VF blockage. Given its excellent IQ, I'd say it's a stellar choice for both your A7II as well as any M film camera.

Oct 29, 2017 at 09:55 PM

freaklikeme
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · 35mm lens for leica m film and sony a7

I would rent these two lenses from lens rentals and then decide:

1. Ultron 35/1.7- it's not as perfect on a stock Sony sensor as you're making it sound. You can improve performance with a PXC or Kolari conversion, and it's great stopped down. I don't know how it does on film. You can also answer your own question about how much is too much VF blockage.

2. C Biogon 35/2.8- it's not as bad on a stock Sony sensor as you're making it sound. You'll probably have to do some profiling to correct the color shift on the edges and stop it down to f/5.6 or better to get the best out of landscapes, and I'd be a little careful about using it with SteadyShot, because the IQ falls off rapidly outside the center of the IC, but you may find it usable. On film, it's a featherweight lens with heavyweight right and left hooks. I'd give up a little performance on the Sony to have that great an all-arounder on film if I were shooting both. The Ultron may be just as good (not as small and light) or better (at like apertures, I'd be surprised), which is why I recommend renting first.

Oct 29, 2017 at 10:39 PM

pmeheut
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · 35mm lens for leica m film and sony a7

-CV 35mm f2.5: I know its cheap, that it.
-CV 35mm f1.4: Okay on both from what I read up on, but nothing special with low sharpness

I have the CV 35mm/2.5 and used it on film. On a digital camera, I wouldn't recommend it to someone who wants sharpness: it is not that good in the edges/corners on a Leica M9/240/10 so it would be worse on a Sony.
I also tried the CV 35mm/1.4: this one I wouldn't want even on film unless I was looking for a "glow" around my subjects wide open.

Both lenses can be compared to the pre-ASPH Leica and can be interesting, especially if you factor their price. But digital cameras are not their strong suit.

Finding a 35mm that will work fine on the Sony is not easy. I wonder if you would not be better off with a cheap film-area SLR + adapter on the A7.

Oct 30, 2017 at 01:10 AM

rico
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · 35mm lens for leica m film and sony a7

pmeheut wrote:
... I wonder if you would not be better off with a cheap film-area SLR + adapter on the A7.

I agree that one lens for each mount is the easiest, cheapest route. I have Summicron/Summaron 35s for film Leica use, while Yashica primes in C/Y mount serve my A7ii. The world is awash in excellent SLR lenses, and they don't go wonky in the corners when passing through that 6-meter block of glass that Sony bolts in front of their FE-mount sensor.

Oct 30, 2017 at 02:30 AM

gyoung143
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · 35mm lens for leica m film and sony a7

When I had the A7, I tried:-
35mm f2 Summicron asph - no good on Sony, too much curvature of field exacerbated by the Sony sensor stack.
35mm f2 Summicron v1, 8 element, better on Sony, but still not worth bothering with.
35 f2.5 Voigtlander, not good at edges on A7.
All these were good on film M3 and M6ttl.
Settled for a Voigtlander Ultron SLLII 40mm, converted F mount, good and compact. (The 35/1.7 Voigtlander mk2 wasn't available then).
If you want wider, my 28/1.9 Voigtlander did well, its a more retrofocus design than most M mount wide angles

Gerry

Oct 30, 2017 at 03:40 AM

Steve Spencer
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · 35mm lens for leica m film and sony a7

The only 35mm lens that I can think of in that budget that really does well on both film and the Sony FF mirrorless cameras is the CV 35 f/1.2. If you shop carefully you can find one for $700 used. I suspect you may find it is too big for your tastes, however, as it will definitely have viewfinder blockage. The good news is that it performs quite well on both film and the Sony once you know it quirks.

Oct 30, 2017 at 05:04 AM

mdemeyer
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · 35mm lens for leica m film and sony a7

Much as I like the ZM 35mm 2.8, it’s really weak on the edges/corners on an unmodified Sony.

Oct 30, 2017 at 05:06 AM

Jmonat7
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · 35mm lens for leica m film and sony a7

It seems as though opinions vary, does anyone have any experience with the biogon 35mm f2 on sony cameras? Is it better than the 2.8

Oct 30, 2017 at 09:37 AM

Steve Spencer
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · 35mm lens for leica m film and sony a7

Jmonat7 wrote:
It seems as though opinions vary, does anyone have any experience with the biogon 35mm f2 on sony cameras? Is it better than the 2.8

It is pretty awful on the Sony, probably worse than the 35 f/2.

Oct 30, 2017 at 09:38 AM

Jmonat7
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · 35mm lens for leica m film and sony a7

I think I'm going to go for the 35mm f2.8 and if I feel it doesn't perform well on the a7, then just grab a Canon fd or nikkor lens for $50. Thanks everyone for the help, the CV ultron was tempting but the size and ergonomics are a turn off.

Oct 30, 2017 at 10:01 AM

AmbientMike
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · 35mm lens for leica m film and sony a7

Havent used on sony, but the 35/3.5 Summaron is one of the sharpest lenses I have ever used. I have the early A36 version, in M39 mount, with a 1950 serial number.

Not sure if you'd need the one with the ocular or not. They were made in M mount and M39 mount. You should be able to adapt the M39 to film, unless you need the one that has an ocular.

Ken Rockwell did a review, you might look at that. He thought it was an excellent lens, as well. I haven't seen or used the Leica shade, to see if it's aggressive enough, but you will need to shade it. Your hand should work fine, but might be hard to keep out of the frame on film.

Just saw you had an M6, I think that might require the ocular? There is a 35/2.8 Summaron, as well.

Edit: Well, I thought Ken Rockwell had reviewed this lens, bit I'm not seeing it. Here's the f/2.8:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/35mm-f28.htm

Edited on Oct 30, 2017 at 10:50 AM · View previous versions

Oct 30, 2017 at 10:39 AM

frezeiss
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · 35mm lens for leica m film and sony a7

i use the 35 2 Biogon.. I dont do pixel peeping landscape shots so Im fine. Mostly peope and street shots. The lens is quite sharp wide open on the A7 (cental region), great by 2.5-2.8. I might do a thin filter mod somewhere in the future to make the most of my M lenses.

Owned the C-Biogon, that lens is great but 2.8 is too slow..

Oct 30, 2017 at 10:48 AM

Jmonat7
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · 35mm lens for leica m film and sony a7

frezeiss wrote:
i use the 35 2 Biogon.. I dont do pixel peeping landscape shots so Im fine. Mostly peope and street shots. The lens is quite sharp wide open on the A7 (cental region), great by 2.5-2.8. I might do a thin filter mod somewhere in the future to make the most of my M lenses.

Owned the C-Biogon, that lens is great but 2.8 is too slow..

How is the size of the f2 compared to the 2.8? Is it substantial? I do shoot wide open sometimes so I might require the f2 and they're used prices are about the same. And if used on an M do you know if there is any vf blockage?

Oct 30, 2017 at 11:06 AM

wolfloid
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · 35mm lens for leica m film and sony a7

I know it is not a 35, but you could consider the tiny 40/2 Rokkor.

This is excellent on the M6 (just file the frameline lug - see here https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/961470 for instructions to bring up the very accurate, almost made for 40mm 35mm framelines - easy!). The lens will definitely not block the viewfinder and it is about as good the last pre asph 35 cron (very good).

It is pretty good on the A7rII, if one does not sweat the corners wide open (plenty of examples on this site from Seboh). It is also well within your budget.

Oct 30, 2017 at 01:44 PM

arduluth
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · 35mm lens for leica m film and sony a7

IMHO, the CV 35mm f/1.7 Ultron VM makes the most sense. I love it on my stock A7. It's really the obvious pick. I can't speak to performance on film or viewfinder blockage and would want to have a look personally before committing... but it's not a big lens at all.

If the CV 35mm f/1.7 is too big, then the Zeiss 35mm f/2 Biogon it also out of the running - the Biogon is 56mm long, the Ultron is 51mm long.

Oct 30, 2017 at 03:14 PM

Jmonat7
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · 35mm lens for leica m film and sony a7

Found a chrome 35mm m mount ultron for $599 in ex+ condition at adorama and pulled the trigger on it. I feel it is the best all around for both cameras. Thanks everyone for all of the help I really appreciate it.

Oct 30, 2017 at 07:31 PM

frezeiss
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · 35mm lens for leica m film and sony a7

Jmonat7 wrote:
How is the size of the f2 compared to the 2.8? Is it substantial? I do shoot wide open sometimes so I might require the f2 and they're used prices are about the same. And if used on an M do you know if there is any vf blockage?

Yea its quite a difference but in absolute terms the f2 is still relatively tiny. Only used the f2 a couple of time on a friends M9, minimum blockage without the hood.. its a great lens

Oct 31, 2017 at 09:56 AM


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