Voigtlander 35mm f2.5 Skopar M

[OnyimBob]

Anyone have experience with this lens? I'm thinking of buying one to use on my NEX 7 for street photography.
Bob.
BUMP - 47 views and no info?

[OnyimBob]

BUMP - 47 views and no info?
Bob.

[DaveCurtis]

Diglloyd.com has a paid review of the lens. And a comparison to  Nikon 20/3.5 and 14-24/2.8G.

[JohnBrew]

I bought one for my M8 and returned it because of de-centering. I really didn't know what de-centering was until I used this lens! I'm sure I just had a bad copy, but went ahead and bit the bullet and bought a 35 'Cron ASPH. Except for the de-centering it was a sharp lens.

[OnyimBob]

Dave, could you post a link to the Diglloyd page you're talking about - I can only find mention of the 35 mm f1.2.
Thanks for your reply.
Bob.

[douglasf13]

The NEX-7 has issues with several M lenses 35mm and wider.  I haven't seen the Skopar used on the NEX-7, but I have seen it used on the NEX-5, and there is corner smearing, so don't expect it to be great for landscapes (same with the Nokton 35/1.4.)  I'm not sure if the Skopar has any color shift on the NEX-7, but the ZM 35/2, ZM 35/2.8, 35 Summicron ASPH and 35 Summliux ASPH all have color shift to varying degrees.

After owning a total of 5 different 35mm rangefinder lenses on NEX, I tried the new, cheapie Sigma 30/2.8 on the NEX-7, and it pretty much blows everything away in terms of detail across the frame at all apertures, and I find the rendering suitable.  Sigma went with a highly telecentric design with this lens, so the NEX-7's sensor doesn't create issues as you go towards the edges.  It's earned the nickname "Sigmarit" on other forums, and is a no-brainer for $199.

[OnyimBob]

Hi Douglas,
Thanks for this information. I am aware of the problems the NEX 7 has with some of these legacy lenses - the Sigma lens you mention overcomes these it seems but it's focussing is also, like the Sony lenses, a "fly-by-wire" and what I'm after is a fully manual lens - manual focus ring, manual aperture ring. I want to use it for street photography using zone focussing where possible - the other aspect this lens has going for it is it's diminutive size.  I think it probable that for this type of work the Voigtlander will be OK - BUT I do stand to be corrected, hence the reason for the original post.
Any further thought about this - or other lens suggestions?
Cheers,
Bob.

[douglasf13]

Hi Douglas,
Thanks for this information. I am aware of the problems the NEX 7 has with some of these legacy lenses - the Sigma lens you mention overcomes these it seems but it's focussing is also, like the Sony lenses, a "fly-by-wire" and what I'm after is a fully manual lens - manual focus ring, manual aperture ring. I want to use it for street photography using zone focussing where possible - the other aspect this lens has going for it is it's diminutive size.  I think it probable that for this type of work the Voigtlander will be OK - BUT I do stand to be corrected, hence the reason for the original post.
Any further thought about this - or other lens suggestions?
Cheers,
Bob.

I don't really have any issues with zone focusing.  I just prefocus on something 10 ft away (or whichever distance you like) when I begin shooting and keep it there.  Keep in mind that any adapter that you find for adapting M lenses on NEX has a little tolerance built in, so they focus past infinity, which makes the distance scales on the lens unreliable, anyways.

As far as the manual focus feel of the Sigma, the ring is plasticky, but the response is actually pretty good.

[JohnBrew]

Bob, Reed Reviews covers all the Voightlander (and also Leica and Zeiss, and any camera which has adapters for rangefinder lenses) rangefinder lenses with comprehensive tests. It's a pay site. I got what I needed from the site and no longer subscribe, but he does do a good job. Lloyd Chambers (another pay site) also extensively tests the ray angles of rangefinder lenses and problems which crop up (sorry 'bout that!) with the NEX-7.

[douglasf13]

Agreed that Reid Reviews is a good site if you're shooting Leica, but his results can be a little misleading in regards to the NEX-7. 

[scooby70]

I used to use a 35mm f2.5 MC Color Skopar on a Bessa R. Same lens?

If so it was very nice, nice and sharp and gave great sunstars. I sold it and I soooo wish I hadn't.