Fast 35mm with rendering similar to Zeiss 50mm 1.5 C-sonnar

Kumimajava · Oct 7, 2016

I don't currently have a digital M-body, but acquired a Techart adapter that takes the M-mount lenses and gets them to AF on a Sony a7II body that I do have. It's made me pick up the Zeiss 50mm 1.5 again (used it on film before), and I must say - I absolutely love the rendering of this lens over all the native FE-mount 50mm's.

Given that the FE-35/1.4 is huge, and I'm liking the C-sonnar so much, I was wondering whether there might be an M- or LTM-mount fast 35mm that would "draw" similarly to the C-Sonnar?

Spec & budget wise, the Voigtlander 35mm 1.2 or 1.4 look like contenders, but I'd appreciate input from anyone who has more experience

Daedalus2000 · Oct 7, 2016

Kumimajava said:
I don't currently have a digital M-body, but acquired a Techart adapter that takes the M-mount lenses and gets them to AF on a Sony a7II body that I do have. It's made me pick up the Zeiss 50mm 1.5 again (used it on film before), and I must say - I absolutely love the rendering of this lens over all the native FE-mount 50mm's.

Given that the FE-35/1.4 is huge, and I'm liking the C-sonnar so much, I was wondering whether there might be an M- or LTM-mount fast 35mm that would "draw" similarly to the C-Sonnar?

Spec & budget wise, the Voigtlander 35mm 1.2 or 1.4 look like contenders, but I'd appreciate input from anyone who has more experience

Sorry I do not have experience with the 35/1.4, but I think the 40/1.4 maybe what you are looking for in terms of drawing...

Have a look here for a nice review and samples from our friend Peter:

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prosophos.com

The 35/f1.2 is a very good lens but heavy. There are two versions of it, I think the first is probably closer to what you look for. Another review from Peter here:

Loading…

prosophos.com

I have some images from version 35/f1.2 version 2 that may give you an idea of how it draws:

https://flic.kr/p/nLDTV7

https://flic.kr/p/nLDNuM

I am sure others will give you more help. By the way I am not sure how a 35mm lens will work on your Sony, the edges maybe a bit soft(er). A 50mm is easier to use on the Sony.

Kumimajava · Oct 9, 2016

Thanks for the links, and advice - i'm liking the rendering in your photos

I used to own the 40mm/1.4 Nokton while I was still shooting film, and it was a very competent lens - but I'm looking for something wider, to pair with the 50mm.

BobYIL · Oct 9, 2016

Kumimajava said:
I don't currently have a digital M-body, but acquired a Techart adapter that takes the M-mount lenses and gets them to AF on a Sony a7II body that I do have. It's made me pick up the Zeiss 50mm 1.5 again (used it on film before), and I must say - I absolutely love the rendering of this lens over all the native FE-mount 50mm's.

Given that the FE-35/1.4 is huge, and I'm liking the C-sonnar so much, I was wondering whether there might be an M- or LTM-mount fast 35mm that would "draw" similarly to the C-Sonnar?

Spec & budget wise, the Voigtlander 35mm 1.2 or 1.4 look like contenders, but I'd appreciate input from anyone who has more experience

The closest 35 would be the Summilux 35/1.4 pre-asph; even with the similar focus-shift, coma and almost non-existing distortion characteristics. Both have distinct out-of-focus rendering, similar resolution fall-off toward edges at larger apertures and chromatic aberrations. The Summilux exhibits a unique "glow"at f1.4 and 2.0, a couple of degrees wider FOW than the 35 Summicron V3 or Summaron 2.8. I have used the Summilux together with the C-Sonnar both on film Leicas and Sony a7R. (Weird: On the a7R it delivers the best resolution in frame corners compared to the Summicron and Summaron.)

Kumimajava · Oct 10, 2016

BobYIL said:
Kumimajava said:

I don't currently have a digital M-body, but acquired a Techart adapter that takes the M-mount lenses and gets them to AF on a Sony a7II body that I do have. It's made me pick up the Zeiss 50mm 1.5 again (used it on film before), and I must say - I absolutely love the rendering of this lens over all the native FE-mount 50mm's.

Given that the FE-35/1.4 is huge, and I'm liking the C-sonnar so much, I was wondering whether there might be an M- or LTM-mount fast 35mm that would "draw" similarly to the C-Sonnar?

Spec & budget wise, the Voigtlander 35mm 1.2 or 1.4 look like contenders, but I'd appreciate input from anyone who has more experience

Click to expand...

The closest 35 would be the Summilux 35/1.4 pre-asph; even with the similar focus-shift, coma and almost non-existing distortion characteristics. Both have distinct out-of-focus rendering, similar resolution fall-off toward edges at larger apertures and chromatic aberrations. The Summilux exhibits a unique "glow"at f1.4 and 2.0, a couple of degrees wider FOW than the 35 Summicron V3 or Summaron 2.8. I have used the Summilux together with the C-Sonnar both on film Leicas and Sony a7R. (Weird: On the a7R it delivers the best resolution in frame corners compared to the Summicron and Summaron.)

RABphotoX · Oct 10, 2016

I have used the wonderful Zeiss Sonnar 50 f1.5 and I currently have the A7R2 with a Zeiss Distagon ZM 35mm f1.4. I like it a lot. It's very sharp with excellent Bokeh, but maybe a little sharper wide open than the Sonnar. I bought it because the Sony 35mm f1.4 is so big. The costly Zeiss 35mm ZM Distagon, although a little big and heavy for an M lens, does not have any of the usual wide angle corner distortion, but vignettes a little on the A7R2. There has been mention that it is the finest 35mm available. I would rent it first before buying it.

Good luck.

LCT · Oct 10, 2016

Kumimajava said:
Kumimajava wrote:
[...] It's made me pick up the Zeiss 50mm 1.5 again (used it on film before), and I must say - I absolutely love the rendering of this lens [...] I was wondering whether there might be an M- or LTM-mount fast 35mm that would "draw" similarly to the C-Sonnar?

They don't draw exactly the same way but my Summilux-M 35/1.4 pre-asph and Nokton 35/1.4 SC match well my C-Sonnar 50/1.5 i feel. My Nokton has more focus shift than the others tough. Focussing at real aperture is advisable with those three lenses anyway. Also Summilux and Nokton flare significantly more than the Sonnar.
Best,
LCT

Kumimajava · Oct 11, 2016

RABphotoX said:
I have used the wonderful Zeiss Sonnar 50 f1.5 and I currently have the A7R2 with a Zeiss Distagon ZM 35mm f1.4. I like it a lot. It's very sharp with excellent Bokeh, but maybe a little sharper wide open than the Sonnar. I bought it because the Sony 35mm f1.4 is so big. The costly Zeiss 35mm ZM Distagon, although a little big and heavy for an M lens, does not have any of the usual wide angle corner distortion, but vignettes a little on the A7R2. There has been mention that it is the finest 35mm available. I would rent it first before buying it.

Good luck.

Thanks for your input - not a whole lot of info around about the 35/1.4 ZM yet, so this is nice to hear. I'll see if i can get my hands on one to try. I intuitively dismissed out of hand, due to relative size (similar to the Voigtlander 35mm/1.2, but much more expensive). But if it's both sharp, and with nice bokeh... could be worth a ponder!

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Fast 35mm with rendering similar to Zeiss 50mm 1.5 C-sonnar

Kumimajava

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Kumimajava

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