Legends and myths pass through generations, often are exaggerated and some forgotten but should we inspect this lens a little closer and see what is that special mojo that everyone seems to love?
This is a deep introduction about this “rare” glass enclosed inside a brass body covered in silver chrome. It’s elegant, you’d also want one… maybe?
Why do prices for this lens keep rising if the glow in your images can often be simulated with a Soft Mist filter? the short answer is in the word “simulated”.
That vintage rendering creates a cinematic feel, a more organic feel if we say. I am guilty of using an expensive APO lens and mount a Soft Mist filter. It can mimic the feel but does not replicate it, doesn’t give the same aberrations and background rendition nor the type of separation from subject to background.
Adding a Soft Mist filter can be a negative at times since it opens a world of glare/flare that can kill the shot if you point it towards the light source, although you can also buy stronger and weaker filters on the market, again it can mimic the feel but will still give a different visual in the end.
One of the most compact and solid 35mm lenses on the Leica M series. Does it have any negatives? I suppose that answer will only depend on the user and their type of photography.
Why are you looking at me? Oh, is that a Summicron 35mm v1 on your camera?
I mention many times in this post about the quality that it gives when pointing at a light source. It glows, it’s dreamy. Very artistic for shots when you want to add a vintage vibe.
The Summicron 35mm 8E is considered mildly sharp and glowy. A lens that was created decades ago (late 1950s) and has a top place in lenses of today’s world. I know other people who own APO lenses and also like Vintage lenses but most folks prefer one or the other. I like having both because their polarized rendition quality.
A more recent lens such as the Summicron ASPH will cost you less than the vintage Cron 8E, the Cron 8E will cost about half of a new Cron APO. There have been 7 versions since the 1950s.
Pictured below, the Leica Q and a Mission Mercantile backpack. The Leica Q is a fantastic machine that can also adapt to many styles of photography.
Take a look at the background blur quality taken with the Cron 8E. I prefer a very soft blur, no soap bubbles, just a simple soft blur. For me, this Cron 8E renders those bubbles that I don’t prefer but I’ve learned to live with them.
The distortion on the Summicron 35mm 8E is very low and if you must, you can correct it via Lightroom Lens Corrections by moving the slider to +2. I rarely correct it, it doesn’t bother me when taking photos of every day life. In fact, all of the photos (minus the chart below) taken in this post have not been corrected.
I like the type of glare that it produces, very vintage and organic. Some lenses, depending on the internal haze may produce a higher glare and can also reduce the contrast in very bright situations. Some lenses may have haze, others may have a bit of separation between the glued elements and others may just be dirty or many scratches on their coatings. Keep those characteristics in mind.
One of the coolest 35mm lenses on the rangefinder world, adding more value and making it legendary. I really appreciate a compact lens.
You will notice the Amber coating (photo above) resulting in a warmer color balance when used on color film. On digital cameras, this has irrelevant interest since it will auto white balance all of your photos. More irrelevant when you use DNG files.
The metal construction makes the lens feel solid, the brass makes it heavier. I like the infinity lock, sometimes helps with mounting the lens easily.
Is it better with a film camera or digital? it really shines on either system. Ilford Delta or HP5+ are superb!
A timeless jewel? Some people like a vintage watch, some like a Leica and many love both.
Compared to others? I have a long list of 35mm lenses that I either own or have tried and reviewed in this blog. When Leica introduced the 35mm APO for the SL and M systems many were adored and while the 35mm APO SL lens is huge, it is just perfect optically and the blur is fantastic, sharpness above most. The APO M is so small and wonderful but they render images very differently from this 35mm 8Elements.
For professional work, the Leica APO lenses for the SL and M are about the best you can buy. For personal work is another story.
Feel free to look around here since I have a review of other lenses, including the Summaron 35mm f/2.8 which has a similar construction quality and similar background blur but will cost a lot less.
For the Leica M3 users, they may want to buy the Summicron 35mm (goggled-finder version for about $3k) made specifically for that camera and compatible even with an M9 and M10, heck you can even mount it on the SL.
There is also a Summaron 35mm f/3.5 with the finder attachment (picture below) that I tend to leave attached to the M3, makes it look more vintage and mechanical.
I prefer the Summaron f/3.5 only because the finder attachment can be removed easily with your fingers and allows you to mount it on other mirrorless cameras quickly.
If you are looking for alternatives:
The new “Steel Rim” Summilux 35mm, this refreshed lens has newer anti-reflective coatings that render better contrast but keeps certain glow. Some people have mentioned that there is focus shift, I ponder to what degree? A plus is that you gain one full stop of light going to f/1.4
Another option would be a Summilux Pre Aspherical, would cost you a little less than this 8E but has some focus shift. I stay away from lenses that have focus shift, although you can send the lens to Leica and have them front focus the lens at the shortest distance wide open, in this way when you close the aperture to f/2 and on they will be in focus. I haven’t tried this.
Voigtlander also makes a cool 35mm Norton f/1.4 (version 2) and many people online seem to be happy with it. I had version 1 and hated it but version 2 promises to fix my issues of focus shift found in the first generation.
Let’s not forget the Color Skopar f/2.5, the Voigtlander Ultron and the Zeiss Biogon series, great lenses but different characteristics. These have been reviewed in this blog before.
The brand 7Artisans also has two M Summicron type lenses. Version 1 is about the size of this Leica Cron v1 and it is sharper in center but always softer in the corners. Version 2 is also sharper and better contrast in the center and about the same in the corners but it’s a bigger lens. Those lenses have also been reviewed here in the past.
What about the Light Lens Lab replica? I will upload my full review once it is finished, here is a teaser photo:
The following two images are a wild comparison to a Leica Q at f2 taken at the same distance and cropped to the same dimensions. This following sample also proves that a longer focal length doesn’t change the amount of background blur, it only changes its characteristic from the type of lens used.
These Summicron lenses appear often on eBay and a few times at Leica stores. I always recommend to buy from a Leica store because they will take good care of you. On eBay? it’s a gamble.
Is this lens on your radar now? You can mimic the looks by editing your images individually and make them feel like they were taken with a vintage lens but why do that when you can take every single shot already cooked and marinated that way? I enjoy creating images with a camera but not so much with a computer.
This Summicron is one unique vintage jewel that will only continue to increase in value with the passing of time.
Dr. Walter Mandler created these legendary benchmark lenses in the 1950s (35mm Cron 8E, 90mm Cron and Lux 35mm f/1.4) To me this is like in today’s 35mm APO. The innovation, the max at its time.
Conclusion:
- My Summicron 35mm 8E can adapt to almost any situation, even on landscapes
- At its maximum aperture you have lower contrast but gain it at f/4 and up.
- I have not seen focus shift when varying the aperture
- Vignettes at f/2 for an artistic render
- Heavy metal brass quality is superb
- Aperture ring doesn’t move unless you want it, infinity lock is sweet, focus knob is perfect
- Wish that it was 6-bit coded for when I swap lenses but they don’t have a code
- Great vintage lens but it isn’t cheap
- In a perfect world, you’d have a Cron APO and this Cron v1
I hope that this review was useful and maybe helped you decide on your next lens purchase.
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