this isn't going to be good for my wallet, but I really like what I see with the 35/2 mandler design. Absolutely beautiful colors, skin tones etc. The corners seem to be problematic though. How bad are the corners ?
I truly envy photographers who used specific lenses for years, if not decades and know in & outs of each of them. I acquired few lenses in a fairly short period of time and slowly manage to learn what they can do.
As much as I would like to have multiple copies of each and different focal length, I feel I should downsize my gear and concentrate more on taking pictures rather than rushing towards getting more glass.
Said that, I am leaning towards boxing my Zeiss lenses (heck, tried to sell one of them in 100% condition just to realize that I will lose at least 30%. Naah, will rather keep them boxed and I am sure few years from now current ZF.2 will be on a wanted list along Contax line)
Anyhow, Leica R lineup has many great lenses that are out of production and almost out of reach – get them if you can and keep in mind that current Zeiss, Touit, Owls or whatever can be purchased $1000/kg at any time.
Just to make a sense of this; Summicron-R 35 can be used around its flows and still produce very unique images. It got a slow start with me, but I started to really like it!
Smooth; just don't put your main subject in far corners. Alex (Worldinlens) among others posted great photo showing in/out sharpness zones of Cron-35; use it to compose your shots.
Jack, I have the zeiss 35/2 which i like but I have way too much stuff and overlapping focal lengths. Really need to thin the herd. I like the cron 35/2 quite a bit based on pics from you and others I've seen. They talk about soft corners on ff and field curvature. But this lens seems to have soul. It seems to be a fantastic photojournalistic type of lens. I'll have to sell the zeiss 35 if I get this. I've also heard good things about the elamrit-r 35/2.8. Decisions !
Manu, as I mentioned Zeiss ZF.2 lenses will be available for a long while while some Leica-R (search for Mandler's designs) are harder to get, at least in a great shape. Newer Leica designs may be optically better, but that's where current Zeiss comes to play.
You already have few Leica-R lenses and the list is just about completed depending on tastes. Cron-R 35 can be yours for around $1200, and I can tell you it will be your lifetime lasting purchase, just like Cron-50.
Don't sell your Zeiss 2/35 - it's a great lens and you will lose too much $$$ selling it.
We picked up expensive hobby, you know, and for me it's still on pair with high end audio I actively support (I won't even mention my vinyl purchases!)
Christmas comes soon -get the 35 Cron-R on account of it!
Jako, colors on the two wall shots are phenomenal. I shelved the idea of picking up a 28 or 35 for a while due to cash flow - lack of it - but that decision will have to be re-visited come Spring.
