I'm asking this for a friend, who just bought a Bessa-T. She would like to get an affordable 35mm lens (by "affordable," I guess it'll rule out practically all the current and recent-production M-mount 35mm lenses!) that will fit the Bessa-T. It doesn't have to be a Leica, but it should preferrably be compact. My suggestion to her was a Voigtlander Color-Skopar Pan or Classic 35mm f/2.5. Any other ideas?

-- Hoyin Lee (leehoyin@hutchcity.com), February 08, 2002

Answers

Why not a used Voigtlander 35/1.7 Ultron ASPH and an M adapter?

-- Anon Terry (anonht@yahoo.com), February 08, 2002.

The Russian lenses ain't bad (get return privileges).

-- (bmitch@home.com), February 08, 2002.

If you can ignore the 5 mm difference, the 40mm Summicron-C or M-Rokkor are probably the best bargain going in an M-mount semi-wide. Voigtlander is supposed to be releasing a 40 mm finder. Shouldn't cost her more than $300 or so. The V'lander 35/2.5 Classic is nice, but not as nice as the 40.

-- Joe Brugger (joebrugger@news.oregonian.com), February 08, 2002.

Dear Hoyin,

I have a lot to say about 35mm lenses, and probably will say it all eventually. But okay: Here is my recommendation for an excellent and affordable 35mm lens: The Voigntlander Colar Skopar Classic 35/2.5. It is very inexpensive -- I got mine used for just 22,000 yen, which is under $200 by today's exchange rates. It is small, light (lighter than the "Pancake" version) and handles well. Optically it compares with the Leitz 35/2 and 1.4 ASPH's. The only problem is the fairly slow maximum f-stop.

These days I carry the 35/2.5 along with my my old Summilux 35/1.4--a pretty awful performer in comparison. The Skopar is for daylight (it doesn't have the Summilux's flare and ghost problems) and the Summilux is for available light. Their combined weight is just over 300 g.

If speed matters, the 35/1.7 ASPH is not a bad choice. It is not as good as the lastest Leica 35's, but is very good nonetheless. In the comparative field test results I've seen it's inferior to all Leica 35's (except my poor old Summilux) wide open in how it handles very bright objects (street lamps in this case). In the center the Leicas are quite compact, showing the lights' buttercup shapes; the Ultron's rendition the lights tend to look globular. The edge quality is outstanding -- rivaling the new Leica ASPH's. (It makes me wonder if the editors accidently mixed up images.) The Ultron is infinitely better than my old Summilux 35/1.4 -- which I happen to cherish.

A new Ultron goes for about the same price as a used 35/2 non-ASPH (being a little under, generally). I would go for an older 35/2 in good condition before an Ultron 35/1.7. The build quality is better and the optics are marginally better -- at least as far as the central image goes. But--- The only problem is that the old Leica 35/2 and 1.4 do NOT fit on to the Bessa T. That leaves the Ultron 35/1.7. But---

If you use the trigger winder you are better off with a lens with a focusing tab. The Skopar has one and the Ultron does not. Neither does the "Pancake" version of the Skopar.

Overall, the Classic Skopar 35/2.5 is the most logical choice in terms of both affordability and performance.

Tip: If you get the black version, you might not be able to read the red=pink ft distance scale. Get acrillic yellow and repaint the feet scale. Dab at the numbers with a Q-tip. Let is set until not quite dry (fast) and rub off excess paint. You'll get a lovely yellow- orange color.

Another tip: Have a fast 50mm lens? The slower 35 is somewhat compensated by it when speed is critical.

-- Alex Shishin (shishin@pp.iij4-u.or.jp), February 09, 2002.

Thank you Alex, Joe, BMitch and Anon for your suggestions. I've alerted my friend to your suggestions, and, after reviewing all the suggestions and going through price-checking, she's seriously looking into either a Voigtlander Color-Skopar Classic or Pancake 35mm f/2.5 as it seems to fit her budget and other requirements. With the value of Yen dropping, Voigtlander lenses are quite a bargain. She did consider the Leica or Minolta 40mm f/2, and I loaned her my Summicron- C to see if she liked it, but she didn't ("not wide enough," she said). I also found a used Jupiter-12 35mm f/2.8 that costs only $45, but the store that sells it has no return policy . . . . Anyway, it's her call.

-- Hoyin Lee (leehoyin@hutchcity.com), February 09, 2002.

Dear Hoyin,

You're welcome! Do whisper in your friend's ear about the focusing tab on the Skopar Classic. easier to use than the "Pancake."

All the best!

-- Alex Shishin (shishin@pp.iij4-u.or.jp), February 10, 2002.

Alex, before I could do what you recommended me to do, my friend bought a used Canon 28mm external viewfinder and came and whispered into my ear, "How about borrowing your M-Hexanon 28mm lens to go with my viewfinder?" Sigh, what are friends for.

-- Hoyin Lee (leehoyin@hutchcity.com), February 15, 2002.