35mm lens decision paralysis

mtnbkr · Aug 31, 2022

I think I want a 35mm lens for my Canon VT. I currently have a Canon 50/1.8 and a Voigtlander 15/4.5. The Canon lens is nice and fast, but sometimes a hair too long. I think a 35 would be about right. However, which 35 to get? There's the VT 35/2.5 Color Skopar, which is inexpensive and compact. Or the VT 35/1.7, which is nice and fast, sharp, but heavy (though probably about the same as the Canon 50 I have). Of course there are various Canon 35s, but they tend to be a bit pricey or in rough shape or both.

I'm leaning heavily toward the Color Skopar due to price and size, but wonder if I should be giving more consideration to the other options.

As for what kind of shooter I am, I do a bit of everything, mostly targets of opportunity while engaged in other activities.

Chris

guangong · Aug 31, 2022

mtnbkr said:
I think I want a 35mm lens for my Canon VT. I currently have a Canon 50/1.8 and a Voigtlander 15/4.5. The Canon lens is nice and fast, but sometimes a hair too long. I think a 35 would be about right. However, which 35 to get? There's the VT 35/2.5 Color Skopar, which is inexpensive and compact. Or the VT 35/1.7, which is nice and fast, sharp, but heavy (though probably about the same as the Canon 50 I have). Of course there are various Canon 35s, but they tend to be a bit pricey or in rough shape or both.

I'm leaning heavily toward the Color Skopar due to price and size, but wonder if I should be giving more consideration to the other options.

As for what kind of shooter I am, I do a bit of everything, mostly targets of opportunity while engaged in other activities.

Chris

I like that description:”mostly targets of opportunity.”
As for your choice of 35mm lenses, I have no suggestions. I would just get what feels comfortable. I usually go for the smallest for use on a rf camera.

ags2mikon · Aug 31, 2022

I have the Nikkor 35mm f 2.5 in S mount and it was made in l-39 too. I have always been very happy with mine. I also have the 25mm Voigtlander and it is very good. If the 35mm is as good you will be happy. Some of that Canon RF glass was first class. I had some years ago.

mtnbkr · Sep 1, 2022

guangong said:
I like that description:”mostly targets of opportunity.”
As for your choice of 35mm lenses, I have no suggestions. I would just get what feels comfortable. I usually go for the smallest for use on a rf camera.

I would prefer smaller myself. Generally the Color Skopar variant seems to get good reviews, though a few have commented on vignetting at the larger apertures. Given that it's a 2.5, I'd probably be working at the more open end of the scale compared to a 1.7 lens. But then again, maybe it's not as big of an issue in reality? Dunno...

Chris

mtnbkr · Sep 1, 2022

ags2mikon said:
I have the Nikkor 35mm f 2.5 in S mount and it was made in l-39 too. I have always been very happy with mine. I also have the 25mm Voigtlander and it is very good. If the 35mm is as good you will be happy. Some of that Canon RF glass was first class. I had some years ago.

Canon glass would be good from a continuity perspective (Canon RF, Canon 50mm lens), but finding a good example that isn't too expensive is challenging.

Chris

chriscrawfordphoto · Sep 1, 2022

The Canon 35mm f2 is excellent, I have one and it is up to modern standards. It would pair well with your canon 50mm in rendering style.

I had a Voigtlander 35mm f1.7 and it was a very good lens, but most of them today have haze in them that has damaged inner elements because of the lubricants the manufacturer used. I would not buy one today.

The Voigtlander Color-Skopar is very sharp and inexpensive, but its rendering is harsh, a lot of contrast. I had one of them, too...and I sold it.

mrosenlof · Sep 1, 2022

I've been happy with the color skopar. You might consider that 40mm f2.8 Heliar. It's not 35, but sortof close. Rangefinder framing isn't super precise.

gone · Sep 1, 2022

I had a 35mm f3.5 Summaron once that imaged just like the 50 Summicron. The pics had a nice, old timey Leica look, and it could make 3-D images at times. It always imaged like a Leica lens though, and that's what I liked about it. Plus, it was tiny.

It's a relatively inexpensive lens for a Leica. $300 should get you a clean one.

mtnbkr · Sep 1, 2022

chriscrawfordphoto said:
The Canon 35mm f2 is excellent, I have one and it is up to modern standards. It would pair well with your canon 50mm in rendering style.

I had a Voigtlander 35mm f1.7 and it was a very good lens, but most of them today have haze in them that has damaged inner elements because of the lubricants the manufacturer used. I would not buy one today.

The Voigtlander Color-Skopar is very sharp and inexpensive, but its rendering is harsh, a lot of contrast. I had one of them, too...and I sold it.

Thanks, I'll have a look at the Canon F2.

Thanks for reminding me of the haze issue with the VT 1.7. I knew there was something bouncing around in the back of my skull about that lens and that was it.

Chris

mtnbkr · Sep 1, 2022

mrosenlof said:
I've been happy with the color skopar. You might consider that 40mm f2.8 Heliar. It's not 35, but sortof close. Rangefinder framing isn't super precise.

I forgot about the Heliar. I just did a bit of reading and it looks like a good candidate.

Chris

mtnbkr · Sep 1, 2022

momus said:
I had a 35mm f3.5 Summaron once that imaged just like the 50 Summicron. The pics had a nice, old timey Leica look, and it could make 3-D images at times. It always imaged like a Leica lens though, and that's what I liked about it. Plus, it was tiny.

It's a relatively inexpensive lens for a Leica. $300 should get you a clean one.

I was poking around and haven't seen one I trust for $300, but I'll keep an eye out.

Chris

btaylor · Sep 1, 2022

A quick search on eBay shows a number of Canon 35mm ltm f2’s in the $300 neighborhood. I have one and like it. The Summaron (which I also have) is a bit fiddly to operate compared to the Canon IMO. Anyway, I think it’s kinda hard to go wrong, all the lenses brought up will make fine images. And if you buy one you don’t like you can sell it for what you bought it for and get something else.

Nicholas Lindan · Sep 1, 2022

Paralysis by analysis.

snusmumriken · Sep 2, 2022

If your 50mm is only sometimes a hair too long, you are going to find a 35mm a big jump. Also, if your shooting is opportunistic, you are presumably not looking to keep changing lenses? For both reasons, 40mm is very much worth considering.

mtnbkr · Sep 2, 2022

snusmumriken said:
If your 50mm is only sometimes a hair too long, you are going to find a 35mm a big jump. Also, if your shooting is opportunistic, you are presumably not looking to keep changing lenses? For both reasons, 40mm is very much worth considering.

I might have been a bit loose with my phraseology. By "a hair too long" I mean it's not ideal for the shot, but a lens starting with "2" would be too wide. That said, a 40 may be fine and the Voitlander is certainly tempting.

And yes, I would be putting the lens on and leaving it for the duration of the outing and not changing (or if I did, it would be between the "walking around lens" and my 15mm).

Chris

nosmok · Sep 2, 2022

Q: Which 35mm FL LTM lens? A: All of them, Katie. It almost doesn't matter. The best 35mm LTM lens I have is an old f/4.5 Xenar that came in a box of junk, it doesn't couple to the RF so it must have been somebody's pet modification project. I would not have known to search for it. Serendipity and trying new stuff are always your friend, if not your wallet's.

Ales' · Sep 2, 2022

Get pancake version of voigtlander, very short travel, you don't need more precision for 35mm f2.5 lens, f stop ring is large and comfy

mtnbkr · Sep 3, 2022

Ales' said:
Get pancake version of voigtlander, very short travel, you don't need more precision for 35mm f2.5 lens, f stop ring is large and comfy

That is certainly the cheap option and I'm sure it will work fine. I'm really trying to decide between that one, the 40mm Heliar, and a vintage Canon example (to stay in spirit with the camera and my other main lens).

Chris

mtnbkr · Sep 3, 2022

nosmok said:
Q: Which 35mm FL LTM lens? A: All of them, Katie. It almost doesn't matter. The best 35mm LTM lens I have is an old f/4.5 Xenar that came in a box of junk, it doesn't couple to the RF so it must have been somebody's pet modification project. I would not have known to search for it. Serendipity and trying new stuff are always your friend, if not your wallet's.

I'm kind of getting the point that most choices are probably going to be fine. I've not yet heard of any dogs in the options.

Chris

outwest · Sep 3, 2022

I use all Nikkors on my Canon VI.

mtnbkr · Sep 3, 2022

outwest said:
I use all Nikkors on my Canon VI.

Nikkor LTM lenses or adapted SLR lenses?

Chris

ags2mikon · Sep 3, 2022

I think he is referring to Nikkor LTM 39mm lenses. Many years ago I had a set of them in LTM 35mm 2.5, 50mm 1.4, 85mm 2.0, 105mm 2.5 and 135mm 3.5 and they were really very good. Nikkor LTM glas is coated with very hard coating and has stood the test of time. I kept my Nikon s2 system and sold my LTM system. I have the same set of lenses just in Nikon s mount. Including the 35mm f 2.5.

mtnbkr · Oct 24, 2022

I ended up with a Color Skopar. I had been keeping an eye on various candidate lenses (the Color Skopar and a couple Canon variations) when this one popped up via my saved searches. Turns out it was local (or more accurately local to somewhere I was going to be), so the seller and I negotiated a BIN option with local pick up at a price I couldn't refuse. The lens is in fantastic condition with just a tiny little ding on the front element retaining ring. It's residing on my Canon VT at the moment while I finish up a roll of Lomo Metropolis.

Chris

markjwyatt · Oct 24, 2022

Not quite 35mm, but interesting

Lydith 30 f3.5 II

Lydith 30 - then as now something very special Like our Trioplan 50 f2.9 II, the new Lydith 30 f3.5 II has undergone a complete mechanical redesign.…

www.meyer-optik-goerlitz.com

35mm, but maybe a triplet. Not sure I would want it:

Trioplan 35 f2.8 II

The famous soap bubble bokeh in wide angle The focal length of 35mm makes it a lens for telling stories: It captures people in their natural…

www.meyer-optik-goerlitz.com

Neither are fast, but perhaps interesting.

35mm lens decision paralysis

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