p.1 #1 · Looking for a small and lightweight 35mm for my Leica M11
Hi,
For many reasons, I needed my M gear to be as compact and lightweight as possible and I usually carry 5 lenses. I hardly ever use all of them but I never know which one will be my favorite.
So my current setup is Laowa 15mm/f5 (replaced the Voigt 4.5), Voigt 28mm/2.8 Color skopar, a gem, 35mm/1.5 Voigt, 50mm/2.2 Voigt and 90mm/2.8 Voigt.
Using something like https://leicastoremiami.com/products/op-tech-lens-mount-cap-m-double but the original Leica ones, I put the 28 and 50 in a pocket, the 15 and 90mm in another, the M around my neck or shoulder and I'm good to go.
To keep wearing less, I bought a Voigt 35mm/2 Ultra, supposedly 30g less than the 35mm/1.5. In fact, according to my scale, they weight the exact same 200g.
And I dislike the Ultron busy bokeh while the Nokton is creamy.
The only thing I would like in a perfect world is a 35mm as good as the Nokton, f/2 and as small as the 28mm/2.8 Color Skopar.
I'm surprised but it does not seem to exists and I've owned many 35mm lenses, Summicron V4, Summilux steel rim, Summilux Aspherical and ASPH, Summarit, Color Skopar and maybe others.
Anything great, compact, lightweight, creamy and very good optically I forgot?
"The 7Artisans 35mm f/2.8 has some stiff competition, from the Cosina Voigtländer 35mm f/2.5 Color Skopar to the Mandler 35mm f/2 (which is also an LTM lens!) amongst others, but of all the similar lenses which you can actually buy new, this 7Artisans optic trumps them all in terms of size, and bests many in overall performance. This isn’t the greatest 35mm lens every made but I think that’s fine; many more compromises might have been made to furnish such a compact lens, and I’m glad that the lens remains competent (to put it lightly)."
p.1 #6 · Looking for a small and lightweight 35mm for my Leica M11
You probably had the brass Ultron. I think the black and silver one is aluminum, and that should be lighter.
I use the 35 f/2.8 Summaron as my main M 35. On my scale, it's 181 grams. Important features for me include near zero distortion, it draws nicely at f/2.8, it's not so small that handling is weird, I don't feel like I need to use it with a lens hood, and I like the infinity lock. I had the 35 f/2 Ultron first, it's a great lens and an easy recommendation, but I don't miss having f/2.
p.1 #7 · Looking for a small and lightweight 35mm for my Leica M11
Thanks all.
The Apo-Summicron is crazy expensive and weight too much.
The 35mm/2.5 Voigt is a nice lens I own but I'm not crazy about its IQ. Maybe mine has a problem?
Mandler is tempting but not sure how good wide-open and I'm not in a retro mood.
I'll have a look at the Summaron, 7-artisan and MS-Optics.
p.1 #8 · Looking for a small and lightweight 35mm for my Leica M11
Look at the Voigtländer 35mm f/1,2 Nokton version III or IV. Nice rendering. If you find that too large, you could look at the Voigtländer 35mm f/1,5 Nokton Aspherical.
The Mandler is almost impossible to find anyway, every time they put some up, they sell out immediately.
Fun fact about the Leica Summicron-M 35mm f/2 IV which the Mandler copies: Mike Johnston of The Online Photographer called it the King of Bokeh in an article, and posted some gorgeous images. After that, the prices shot up and it became a lens to own. People often shoot it wide open, and happily point out the boke and remind everyone that the lens was named the King of Bokeh. However, Mike Johnson later corrected that he meant only at ff/4-/5,6, and explained that he never shot it wide open because it wasn't great there.
p.1 #9 · Looking for a small and lightweight 35mm for my Leica M11
cron 35/2 pre asph v4, originally named King of Bokeh. Plenty fast at f2, and has a .7M focus distance (one of the reasons I prefer it over my 35 steel rim reissue). You can find good copies for the low $2k range. I love mine.n VERY small and featherweight.
p.1 #10 · Looking for a small and lightweight 35mm for my Leica M11
Back when I had Leica cameras I borrowed one for the weekend, but I am not a f/4-f/5,6 shooter, so I didn't click with it, and I don't like the bubbles much (I think they primarily come from over-corrected spherical aberration). I ended up with the 35 Cron ASPH., which I quite liked, and eventually with the 35 Lux ASPH., which I loved.
I would be surprised if I could find a clean 35 Cron IV for less than 2k. I see a few beat up copies for 2000€, and another almost new for 6200€ At that price I would have thought it would have been owned by Elvis, but Leicas move in a strange world.
p.1 #11 · Looking for a small and lightweight 35mm for my Leica M11
I think you've got a hard task set for yourself. For example, I love my ZM Biogon 35/2, but it's already 50g heavier than the aluminum Nokton (they got that lens very light for the specs) and it's not what I call "dreamy." Even the old pre-ASPH Lux-M 35/1.4 is about 80g heavier, but it, at least, can be dreamy under the right lighting.
p.1 #12 · Looking for a small and lightweight 35mm for my Leica M11
freaklikeme wrote:
I think you've got a hard task set for yourself
Indeed, the 35mm/1.5 Voigt I'm using right now is hard to beat: small enough with a short screw-in hood, 200g, a bokeh I like a lot and modern performances.
I just wished for the same at f/2 and a bit shorter, 50g lighter, something close to the 28mm/2.8 Color-Skopar.
Because using said 28mm with the M is a real pleasure.
Can't have it all I guess and in the end, keeping what I have and working on shooting more and better is the smart thing to do. But GAS is a strong addiction
p.1 #13 · Looking for a small and lightweight 35mm for my Leica M11
pmeheut wrote:
I've owned many 35mm lenses, Summicron V4, Summilux steel rim, Summilux Aspherical and ASPH, Summarit, Color Skopar and maybe others.
Anything great, compact, lightweight, creamy and very good optically I forgot?
What didn't the Summarit do for you? I was under the impression that it had decent bokeh... maybe I remember incorrectly.
I was thinking LLL 35/2 Cron 8 Elements replica, but it's not modern, a bit 'busy' wide open and has quirks. Canon LTM 35/2 would be in a similar category though less quirky (still not modern smooth wide open rendering). The ZM 35/2.8 might be OK, though slower than you want. Would a 40 work? I.e. VM 40/2.8. Downside IMO is the poor ergonomics.
p.1 #14 · Looking for a small and lightweight 35mm for my Leica M11
At the time, I was looking for something more open than 2.4. My concern with weight and size is recent and due to a very minor medical condition.
Anyhow, I liked the Summarit, it was my only 35mm at the time but when I compared it to the Voigt Nokton on the M11, it was not that sharp.
Thanks. But no 40mm. I've never been able to bond with this focal length.
p.1 #15 · Looking for a small and lightweight 35mm for my Leica M11
Tried a few. Have fond memories of the Summicron, probably a v. II, and have a v.5, which has not been as good as the lovely 50mm 'cron. Notices some back focusing, got it realigned and it's better - but somehow just not magic. Have used the CV 35mm Color-Skopar, which is quite small and light. In the right light it's very good, but in bright light is a bit harsh. Not sure, have to test more.
Current lens of favor is the LLL 35mm f2, the remake of the older AA. It has a wonderful rendition, and has reinvigorated this shooter. It's not so small nor so light, but it's lovely to use.
At that price I would have thought it would have been owned by Elvis, but Leicas move in a strange world.