So I'm asking myself: why would you want this lens?
The VM version is smaller and lighter, and isn't known for being sharper or otherwise well-corrected on the Leica bodies for which it is designed, making the prospect for significantly better performance on E-mount by the E-mount version unlikely. And while you gain EXIF over manual-only adapters, you can get (some) EXIF with electronic adapters and even AF- and that comes to the last material difference, that the E-mount has a closer focusing distance, but that can be fixed with helical adapters and of course the AF adapters for the M-mount lens.
Besides the larger filter ring, what am I missing here?
johnctharp wrote:
So I'm asking myself: why would you want this lens?
The VM version is smaller and lighter, and isn't known for being sharper or otherwise well-corrected on the Leica bodies for which it is designed, making the prospect for significantly better performance on E-mount by the E-mount version unlikely. And while you gain EXIF over manual-only adapters, you can get (some) EXIF with electronic adapters and even AF- and that comes to the last material difference, that the E-mount has a closer focusing distance, but that can be fixed with helical adapters and of course the AF adapters for the M-mount lens.
Besides the larger filter ring, what am I missing here?...Show more →
The optical design was likely tweaked to perform optimally on the Sony's thicker sensor stack. It will probably perform better on the Sony when compared to an adapted M-version. We should expect similar characteristics and IQ when compared to using the M-mount version on Leica body. It's definitely not a lens for everyone's taste and opinions are polarized. It's definitely small, light and fast.
If this matches the Zeiss ZM 35mm 1.4 in performance (colors and sharpness) while being designed for the Sony filter stack, I might have to sell my Zeiss.
From an aesthetic point of view, that is one good looking lens. Whoever Cosina has working on their industrial designs lately have been knocking it out of the park.
Lifeinpictures wrote:
If this matches the Zeiss ZM 35mm 1.4 in performance (colors and sharpness) while being designed for the Sony filter stack, I might have to sell my Zeiss.
Dream on!
This lens is more or less a "Biogon" (very close to symmetrical) that will not even come close to a modern design.
Lifeinpictures wrote:
If this matches the Zeiss ZM 35mm 1.4 in performance (colors and sharpness) while being designed for the Sony filter stack, I might have to sell my Zeiss.
Based on the image samples (CV 35/1.4 Classic on a Leica body), I can tell you with 100% conviction that it won't be even remotely close to the ZM 35/1.4's performance in regards to sharpness and aberration control.
So, you may love the CV's look but the ZM version is technically a better lens.
Chuck Eklund wrote:
So. What it do well and to whom will appeal?
It may appeal to those who want the smallest 35mm f/1.4 lens made for the Sony E-mount....and are ok with the compromises in IQ in exchange for an unique character.
Wow, I really like its small size and simplicity. I was amazed by 65mm/2 so probably I jump in this lens for its focal length and size. I like 35 than 42mm.
'crafted using the latest optical technology'
'the optical design is optimized for Sony E-mount sensors.'
We just won't know until someone who knows how to shoot the aesthetic imagery the lens is made to produce gets their hands on it. serhan posted a Japanese article the other day, which had some less than compelling images, but that happens all the time in lens reviews and pre-release images, even from Zeiss.
This kind of lens is highly sought after by street photographers, character image producers, and those who enjoy mid-20C photography generally. A category that clearly includes our friends at CV (for that is what they are to any enthusiast) who took more time over this one than the other two recent releases - a full year.
Does that sound like a simple conversion of the existing double gauss they made for Leica, a lens so hated many leicaphiles queued up to pour scorn on it? Maybe so, we simply don't know. We do know that earlier one came with 2008 technology and glass, and many recent lenses have benefited hugely from greater availability and affordability of high end glass, much better CAD and finer tolerance control (with some exceptions, it seems). And CV know it will be hastily mounted on a 42mp camera, which all things being equal will help the lens express itself better.
CV are the ones most likely to pull this off - for the *intended audience*, which makes up perhaps 1-2% of forum readers. If they don't manage it, someone else soon will; people love nostalgia in all forms (furniture, architecture, cars, etc.) to remind them of the cultural glory they have lost as time has gone by. And and it has commercial value if done right as well, as any art gallery shows. Think C Sonnar, and don't be looking for corners at f1.4 (or f1.5). If that is an interest of yours, you've already ruled yourself out as a buyer!
'will not even come close to a modern design'. The converse applies if they get it right, extremely few modern lenses get close to the best traditional character lenses in terms of aesthetics and emotional appeal. It's another arrow in the quiver of creative portrait/street/nostalgia shooters. They are represented in the image threads are are very popular.
philip_pj wrote:
'crafted using the latest optical technology'
'the optical design is optimized for Sony E-mount sensors.'
We just won't know until someone who knows how to shoot the aesthetic imagery the lens is made to produce gets their hands on it. serhan posted a Japanese article the other day, which had some less than compelling images, but that happens all the time in lens reviews and pre-release images, even from Zeiss.
This kind of lens is highly sought after by street photographers, character image producers, and those who enjoy mid-20C photography generally. A category that clearly includes our friends at CV (for that is what they are to any enthusiast) who took more time over this one than the other two recent releases - a full year.
Does that sound like a simple conversion of the existing double gauss they made for Leica, a lens so hated many leicaphiles queued up to pour scorn on it? Maybe so, we simply don't know. We do know that earlier one came with 2008 technology and glass, and many recent lenses have benefited hugely from greater availability and affordability of high end glass, much better CAD and finer tolerance control (with some exceptions, it seems). And CV know it will be hastily mounted on a 42mp camera, which all things being equal will help the lens express itself better.
CV are the ones most likely to pull this off - for the *intended audience*, which makes up perhaps 1-2% of forum readers. If they don't manage it, someone else soon will; people love nostalgia in all forms (furniture, architecture, cars, etc.) to remind them of the cultural glory they have lost as time has gone by. And and it has commercial value if done right as well, as any art gallery shows. Think C Sonnar, and don't be looking for corners at f1.4 (or f1.5). If that is an interest of yours, you've already ruled yourself out as a buyer!
'will not even come close to a modern design'. The converse applies if they get it right, extremely few modern lenses get close to the best traditional character lenses in terms of aesthetics and emotional appeal. It's another arrow in the quiver of creative portrait/street/nostalgia shooters. They are represented in the image threads are are very popular....Show more →
Good point Philip. We can have an educated guess on how this lens will perform but it's still a wait and see. We could be pleasantly surprised.
Great to hope for the best however, this lens is way smaller than the modern designs made for the Sony FE Mount. Also accurate manual focus very hard to achieve on anything that moves @ F1.4.
No idea how we can guess at the IQ of this lens until some of our members get it into their hands over the balance of February. It was interesting to see the concerns about the 40/1.2 Nokton both before release and over the first few weeks. I think that 68 pages later, the consensus is that the 40/1.2 is outstanding.
I have to say that a 262g 35mm f1.4 is very interesting at this stage. Yikes, Voigtlander is on a roll!
This will probably be a decent lens, but for $800 that’s a hard sell versus the 40 1.2 which will be likely better in every regard except size (and maybe character but that is subjective).
I’d be interested at a lower price due to the size, but I doubt this would ever go low enough to interest me. I’ll take the 35 2.8 if I want small
I for one am really looking forward to this lens. I’m not a landscape shooter and enjoy “character lenses”. I want a small and fast FE-mount lens for general purpose/travel. Sony 35/2.8 is too slow, my 28/2 is too wide. 40/1.2 is very compelling but a smaller/lighter lens would be preferable
There will have to be character differences between this and the 40/1.2. Otherwise why bother? It will be interesting to compare the two . . . Strengths and weaknesses. It makes all kind of sense that this will leverage the nostalgia of Sonnar style optics and appeal to street/portrait shooters. I might consider this lens with the 40/1.2 only if it’s character is significantly different. We will have to wait and see.
