Thanks Alex and others for you view on the 35mm lenses. I am to buy a 35 soon for my Hexar RF, (was also thinking of a 28, but will probably go for the 35). Did some reading on the 35mm lenses, and found in Chasseur d'Images the 35 Ultron was really poor ("faible") at 1.7, the centre gets better ("moyen") at 2.0 and eventually starts to be okay-good at 2.8. At 5.6 it's good, but never reaches "excellent" Both CV 35/2.5 's perform slightly better (but ofcourse they don't have f/1.7). The Hexanon 35/2.0 is better at every f-stop according to their tests. Also it has less distorsion. In fact, Erwin Puts also writes the hexanon is a better lens than the pre-asph 35'cron, and mentions somewhere else the ultron is slightly worse than the 'cron. I hear a lot of people liking the sharpness of the Ultron, was the test sample of the chasseur just a bad sample? Is there a lot of sample variation in the CV lenses? Is the 0.9m minimum focus distance of the Ultron limiting for anybody?

Here in Holland the Ultron goes for 450 Euro (add 70 for an adapter) the Hexanon is around 770,- Euro.

BTW alex, are you speaking about the pancake or the classic Skopar? is there any difference except for the minimum focus distance?

Thanks,

-- Joop (mes@nat.vu.nl), March 12, 2002

Answers

The pancake Skopar is very beautiful and produces wonderful shots wide open at 2.5 where I use that setting a lot.

Personal recommendation is that the Ultron is exceptional for the cost and handling. I really do note that improvements in flare control is about the only thing which VC could improve on-- better coating technique but in practice, the Ultron is virtually indistinguishable from the Summilux/Summicron 35mm pre-ASPH using smaller sized prints. However, the ASPH is the hands down winner no doubt but too expensive and a killer :(.

Indeed, I will be saying that VC is a good bargain and has its unique fingerprint.

-- Alfie Wang (leica_phile@hotmail.com), March 12, 2002.

are there any plans by voigtländer to bring out their lenses in a fixed m-mount?

-- stefan randlkofer (geesbert@yahoo.com), March 12, 2002.

Konica 770E!?

Why not get a pre-asph Leitz lens? You'll get better resale if you find the focal length not for you. You'll get similar, if not better performance. After all, don't we buy Leica for their lenses, I do?

-- chris chen (chrischen@msn.com), March 12, 2002.

Joop,

I read Chasseur d'Images since 1977 :-) The lens tests are very well done, very consistant and comparable. But, the devil is in WHAT they test. They measure FTM performance, distorsion and light fall. Full stop.

For FTM, it appears that the rating is simply linked to the max resolution attained with a satisfactory contrast. It means that it a lens at a specific aperture gets 10lp/mm with 70% contrast and 20lp/mm at, say, 30% contrast, il will be rated poorly. It is a pity since that kind of performance is perfectly capable of giving very pleasant pictures. So, their FTM rating is very severe. It also means that when they rate a lens/aperture combo as very good or excellent, it is really performing!

On the other hand, they don't take flare into account. To me, it is the biggest flaw in their tests, since a slight amount of flare can completely change hierarchy. And flare control in the Ultron is quite good.

Believe me, I have scanned B&W negs taken with an Ultron, that lens is really a performer.

-- Stephane Bosman (stephane.bosman@2ci.net), March 12, 2002.

The prices of used 35/2 cron (pre asph) are around 900 Euro here!

-- Joop (mes@nat.vu.nl), March 12, 2002.

Alfie,

I am intrigued about how tremendously knowledgable you appear to be about the Leica M lenses and how willing to share that knowledge on this forum, when, in another recent post, you say that you do not yet have a Leica M camera but are about to switch from Leica R to Leica M? Please let us all know.

-- Christopher Goodwin (christopher.goodwin@gte.net), March 12, 2002.

Chris,

Dear old Alfie has at least one Voigtlander camera; I have a hard time keeping track. At least he's "testing" a lot of different equipment for us. I guess he's got a lot more disposable income since his principesa left him.

Keep up the good work Alfie.

-- chris chen (chrischen@msn.com), March 12, 2002.

Alfie's "reviews" of lenses and cameras are inane and full of hot air. It seems most of his "reviews" are not from personal experience. Stop rehashing what you read on the internet and shut up already.

-- Richard (rvle@yahoo.com), March 12, 2002.

SIMPLE ANSWER.....if you want the absolute best....it is...........................the Summilux-M 1.4/35mm ASPH. Argue with that!

-- Kristian (leicashot@hotmail.com), March 12, 2002.

Hi Joop!

Can´t help you with your decision (I use the 28 Hex) but check out the prices at www.robertwhite.co.uk. I ordered the 90 Hex on monday and received the lens on thursday (I live in Austria). Excellent dealer IMO and very good prices too.

cu Alex

-- A. Magedler (ajm-photo@gmx.at), March 13, 2002.

C'mon now... stop picking on Alfie!

Indeed, I will be saying that VC is a good bargain and has its unique fingerprint.

I think his last line vindicates that whole post as it is composed a la future proche and suggests that he doesn't yet own these lenses. Ya gotta read those disclaimers!!!

;-)

-- John (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), March 14, 2002.