rumored 35mm f/1.2 very useful for M6?

Curious as to whether, with M6's shutter speed selections, the upcoming rumored 35 f/1.2 would be that much better than the f/1.4. Seems there was mention of the M7 being able to exploit the new aperture setting better. Thanks.

In my opinion, the only way to exploit a 35mm f/1.2 lenses

features besides shooting in low light, is to use it in daylight at

f/1.2 to take environmental portraits.......but the shutter speed has

to support such a technique....the M6's biggest weekness in my

opinion. Somthing I used to do with my old 35mm f/1.4 on my

FM3a.

 

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Anyway a reliable source has advised me that we're all on the

wrong track about this lens. plus if it was true, who could affford

it....better call my friend at Microsoft...hm.....what's his

name...Billy?

There is NO upcoming rumored 35/1.2. The guy who wrote about it made

the whole thing up. There is no such thing.

Sure would be nice if voigtlander/cosina made such a superspeed lens .

You can shoot at f/1.4 @ 1/60th, but you can't set the current M6 to

f/1.2 @ 1/90th (or whatever the midway point would be from 1/60th to

1/125th). If you kept the shutter to the same speed, and used the

extra half of a stop, you might see some more shadow detail. The

best use of those in-between apertures is when you are shooting on a

camera with a step-less shutter, that can actually go in-between

speeds with a measurable accuracy. Maybe something's coming in this

regard, but with the thousands of M users out there that won't give

up their classic cameras, who is to say a half of an f-stop is worth

getting excited about?

 

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If this lens does exist, I am still at a loss as to why it was though

to be needed. The current ASPH Summilux is still world class for

this aperture and focal length. There are still some focal length /

aperture gaps in the world of real everyday shooters. I'm still

patently waiting for that small moderate aperture 75mm lens from

Leica... the one Cosina built several years ago.

Ummm, you are all pulling our collective legs, right? Up where I

live light does not come in whole stop graduations. I frequently

use the "inbetween" aperture settings. Sometimes plus or

minus a third stop or a half stop or whatever is required. The

ability to get a half stop more light on the film could be very useful

at times. Having said that I have no plans on selling my 35/1.4A

ever.

 

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The M camera has a stepless shutter! The intermediate speeds

are useable except between 1/30 and 1/60 (except for 1/50) and

1/8 and 1/15. The important thing to remember that the shutter

speed dial resistor only has postions for the marked speeds on

the dial. So meter, then set the intermediate speed and do not

meter again until you set the shutter dial back to a marked

setting.

 

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As to whether there is a new 35/1.2 lens coming, I have no idea.

It seems rather unlikely to me but then a number of Leica's

recent offerings have had me puzzled. 135/3.4APO, 50/2.8, LTM

lenses, etc

Well I think the rumor is really just that, but it would be a partner

to the Noctilux, on the assumption an f1 35mm is just too expensive to

make. Not quite sure I get the shutter speed argument. Sometime the

light is such that f1.2 would be the perfect exposure. After all with

any lens the light may not allow full aperture whether f1.4 or f2.8 if

you want perfect exposure.

 

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It is all academic anyway. This is just a fantastic rumor.

FWIW i had a Canon 50mm f1.2 lens.I have also used the original Leica

50mm f1.2 lens.Whats the point? Its only a half stop faster than the

f1.4.The depth of field becomes critical.There is so little,even with

35mm lenses.I think a 28mm f2.o does have use,but faster,not for me.

With todays fast films,i reguarly use Fuji 800 color neg.I like the

warmth,in available lite.Also a lot of photography is done with fill

flash these days,so really no point whatsoever.

John,

 

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I use mid-point apertures also. I was just saying that if your meter

is reading a correct exposure for f/1.4 and any speed, then opening

it to f/1.2 without a corresponding shutterspeed increment is kind of

a non-benefit. Of course if the aperture is wide open (f/1.2) and

then the meter reads correct for any whole speed, then the benefit of

that extra half of a stop is clear. I just don't think this is

something that would make people get rid of their current Summiluxs.

 

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In terms of the question James asked, I still think that any

advantage of this lens would be best realized on a camera like the

Hexar RF, (or the M7?) where in minimal light, you could rack it wide-

open and let the shutter pick anything, like 1/22nd or 1/43rd of a

second on aperture priority.

Yes Al but that argument applies to any lens. Is it always better

therefore to have an electronic shutter? Yours argumentatively! No

need to respond, of course. I am at a loose end.

Hi Al,

 

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The M cameras already have a stepless shutter as I pointed out

above. On the M6 cameras you have to meter with the shutter set

at a marked speed but you can set it any interval you like (except

for the above mentioned speeds). Whatever the wide open

aperture is on a lens, you might get to use it with a marked

speed or not depending on the light levels. A f1.2 lens is just as

likely to end up with a marked shuter speed as a f1.4 lens is.

"Sure would be nice if voigtlander/cosina made such a

superspeed lens .

-- leonid kotlyar (kotlyarl@mail.nih.gov), February 11, 2002. "

 

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In reponse- sure it would be nice, but why, when it would be

NICER, but useless for Leica to do such a bold thing.

 

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Go on Cosina....I dare ya!!!!

Let me get this straight. Am I reading that if I set the sutter speed

dial somewhere between 1000 and 500 that I will actually get a shutter

speed between 1000 and 500?

Probably, but on most M's if you set the shutter speed at 1/1000 you

will also probably get a shutter speed between 1/500 and 1/1000!

Hi Jim,

 

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Yes.

Wow, I learn something new every day here. Thanks.

Me too, very interesting.

The problem is you have no way of determining where that intermediate

speed is. But close enough for Government work, as they say... Or for

c41 print work, to be more precise.

It's funny to come across this thread, realizing that Cosina HAS made a 35mm f/1.2, expected to be available by mid-2003. I guess they took Kristian up on the dare.