Ron, excellent shots! I actually like the rendering and drawing style on the Sonnar compared to the 50Lux ASPH in the first two comparison shots and at least at this resolution. It looks smoother leading up from the foreground to the background, something imperfect in it but still very pleasing. I had zero interest in the ZM C-Sonnar in the past, partly due to focus shift and aslo not knowing much about the Sonnar's history, now it seems to be a must buy lens, at least as reference to the other Sonnars. I am a Sonnar addict, I am doomed huh?
Edward - Maybe one of them isn't functioning, but last time I checked they were working fine. They both have meters in them, and I have an independent meter that I toss in from time to time. It reads roughly the same (few % off).
adamdewilde wrote:
Edward - Maybe one of them isn't functioning, but last time I checked they were working fine. They both have meters in them, and I have an independent meter that I toss in from time to time. It reads roughly the same (few % off).
That is a bit strange because mold is not supposed to grow in these conditions according to what I know. Maybe humidity is not the only factor for fungus growth?
Ron, I agree with Joe that the Sonnar's less "perfect" rendering has some advantages when compared to the Lux.
Here are a few images with the Canon 35 f/1.8 LTM, all shot wide open and I've been moderate with PP'ing. Far from perfect I can easily see the fun in using lenses like this. I've only used it once now but it seem to behave best at close distance. Stepped down this lens gets much sharper already at 2.8 although the corners are still soft at 5.6 but I guess for a lens like this that doesn't matter much.
Thanks Joe. The Sonnar has a smoothness to it that is quite nice. I've noticed it can work quite well with foliage, as evidenced by the last image above, though sometimes it verges on being close to a digital-plasticky look. The Lux ASPH though is by far much sharper.
Edward - very nice! (what are the two vertical lines in the middle of the frame - wires?)
Joakim - looks great! I like the rendering of the first two in particular. Seems quite similar to the 35/2.
Thanks for the link Najibs. I happened upon it last night and like your samples. While the lens is slow and subject separation suffers as a result, the lens's background rendering is quite smooth. Perhaps smoother than many other lenses in this class and might help somewhat offset the inability to reduce depth of field. I guess it's a matter of finding the right ratio of camera to subject to background distances.
More from the Zeiss-Opton Sonnar. An image where I thought the lens rendered the lilac leaves very smoothly:
Joe, I am glad to hear you enjoy your M240. Because that is all that count. I am not so happy with 6D I am still trying to make it works for me as I love all the things with it but IQ. Now, all my attention is find myself next DSLR to work with before I am into M240. My m kit is not growing for a while. I know the M240 with some new M lens will be overwhelming to me.
Ron, Nice illustration of Sonnar. I seem prefer all landscape type shot by latest lens. But for portrait, that is different story. What is the difference between yours and Joe's sonnar?
Joakim, the first 28mm shot looks great.
Adam, living/school in south China for a while, I am not surprised to hear you get problem with storage of old lens.
Here are some photos with 50lux (first two) and 35cron V1:
Edward, superb portrait. Such a beautiful color.
Ron, the Bokeh indeed reminde me my modern sonnar. I bet it has very poor coma performance from the look of highlight.
Joakim, the last shot is very interesting. I love the effect, the sweet point of that lens seems very small, but at this distance have that effect in 1024 size is very rare to me.
Michael, my Sonnar is a Zeiss-Opton, meaning it was made in West Germany after WWII. I'd need to research its age, perhaps based on serial number, but I guess it's from sometime in the 1950s. Joe's is a pre-WWII uncoated lens. I'm not sure if there were any significant optical changes to the design, but the major difference was the use of lens coatings after WWII. My lens has Zeiss 'T' coating, which I guess is the precursor to the current T* coatings. Looking at the optics and one would think it was a modern lens compared to some other single-coated lenses from the 50s-60s with the predominance of a single coating color, like blue or amber. To complicate matters, after WWII Zeiss-Jena in East Germany also produced Sonnars... Jena was the original home of Zeiss, but after WWII it was broken up with many of the people ending up in West Germany but the factory and machinery/tooling and some parts being taken over by the Soviets, who apparently moved a lot of that back to the USSR and was the basis for the Kiev cameras/lenses, which from my understanding, are lower-grade knockoffs of the Zeiss designs. Apparently there are also 'fake' Zeiss Sonnars, which Joe might be able to better clarify. Here's a link: http://taunusreiter.de/Cameras/Zeiss_Fakes.html
Very nice images. You seem to use the 35 Cron as your daily-use lens. I really like the second image.
Edward - looks good! I agree, this thread greatly benefits from many talented photographers.
Michael, that looks like Savannah. Are you in town or here recently?
You guys and your toys....Ron and Joe, those lenses look like a ton of fun. Maybe I will give some of these oldies a shot.....because I'M BACK! I got tired of trying to use systems to save money. The rangefinder is the one true love for me
First lens I got in the mail is my old favorite 35....Nokton II
Wide open test and 100% crop.....I think its a good copy
Edward, excellent portrait and colors with the ZM25. Alos like the ZM35 shot and your signature Zeiss contrast and colors
Joakim, excellent set with the Canon 35/1.8ltm, really like composition and rendering on #2 shot a lot, this lens draws beautifully.
Najibs, X-vario looks good, nice samples.
Ron, another excellent showcase of the 5cm 1.5 Sonnar! I think with well composed images like that, does sharpness really matter? The foliage shot actually looks nice to me and I especially like #2 with the background rendering looking like "flames". These Sonnars are really smooth looking and I see the same characteristics in my prewar versions.
Michael, very nice set and I love the 2nd shot with the 50Lux ASPH, excellent. Curious why you switched to the Canon 6D instead of staying with a D800E/D700 combo? You would have to change all the adapters from Nikon to Canon now?
Peter, excellent set. #1 is my favorite from this set. How do you like your digital M setup so far?
Ryan!! Seems like you can't walk away from this thread? Welcome *home* and hope you stay longer this time round! Not sure if its you or Phil who currently holds the record for most Leica thread comebacks? Excellent set with your CV 35 1.2 II. I think you asked me before and I really like the rendering and sharpness of this lens, only thing holding me back right now is the size and weight. So what lenses are you going for this time round?
Doug, congrats on your 75Cron! Nice shot.
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Last day of preschool and older kids graduating to kindergarten this coming fall.
UC-Hex 35/2
ZM50P
90Tele-E (pushed 1 stop in LR5)
I find it hard to pair my ZM50P with some of my other older Leica lenses. The Zeiss has so much pop and contrast. Also had all sorts of EVF and *typical* digital Leica issues this morning - very low light levels and and my Oly EVF was erratic, at times showing scan lines (blade-runner?) and it also froze on one occasion. Not sure if shooting high ISO was taxing the processor too much, but otherwise the high ISO files seem decent - grainy but still quite usable.
I am still trying to make it works for me as I love all the things with it but IQ. Now, all my attention is find myself next DSLR to work with before I am into M240. My m kit is not growing for a while. I know the M240 with some new M lens will be overwhelming to me. 
I got tired of trying to use systems to save money. The rangefinder is the one true love for me 
