Best Small / Compact 35mm with great corners on FF

[Gatorengineer64]

Looking for recommendations for a travel lens at 35mm FL that would have great corners. My gold standard at 35mm is the Topcon, but looking for something smaller if possible.

Wondering about the Schneider Curtagon as a possibility? How are the corners on the canon 35 f1.8 LTM on FF?

Small is the optimal word, affordable would be nice. The Biogon isnt great from the reviews I have read nor is the voigtlander glass at 35..... Crons arent in the budget and their corners arent stellar on the r2

[iangreenhalgh1]

Biogon 2.8/35 is a better lens than either the Topcor-RE 2.8/35 or Schneider Curtagon 2.8/35. I have all three and the Biogon is the best. The Curtagon is better at close subjects than infinity, all three are excellent really.

[Gatorengineer64]

What are you shooting it on, if you dont mind me asking? Phillip Reeves review wasnt very positive relative to the corners but that wasnt on an R2? How would you compare it to a canon 35 1.8 ltm if you have used one of those?

[calvin83]

Samyang AF 35mm f/2.8 FE, if you need an AF lens.

[Gardener]

"Best Small / Compact..." the answer is almost invariably Zuiko.

[iangreenhalgh1]

[iangreenhalgh1]

Some samples from the ISCO Westron 3.5/35

#1


#2


#3

[Lightshow]

The smallest good 35 I can think of is my tiny Canon S 35/2.8 LTM

[dan_]

If you're on A7R2 get the Sony-Zeiss FE 35mm f/2.8 ZA as a travel lens and don't look back. I'm very content with it on my A7R2. It's not cheap but it is very good, very sharp, tiny and it weighs next to nothing. The corner sharpeners is nothing to be concerned off and it's much better than the 35mm f/2.8 Topcor-RE (I have it, too).
The AF is a plus for quick street-photos.
It's a most trustworthy companion while on trips - I always take it with me and never regretted for investing in it.

[Gatorengineer64]

Some great advice. I have the Sony zeiss 35 1.4... I want something that is tiny and manual focus.... the isco looks good...i assume it's dkl mmount.

[iangreenhalgh1]

The ISCO is in the Braun Paxette mount which is a 39mm thread, but a longer register than Leica, it's a tiny bit less than that of M42, so I use an M39-M42 ring then an M42 adapter I shaved a fraction off, to obtain infinity.

[Oldhand]

If you don't mind something a little wider, the Meyer Lydith 30mm f3.5 is quite small even if not so small as the Isco
Of course you will have to add the adapter to the size, but that will be the same for all of them
T

[dan_]

One of the smallest 35mm ever made is the Tanaka Kogaku Tanar 35mm/2.8 in LTM mount, presented here by our member Nordentro:
http://forum.mflenses.com/tanaka-kogaku-tanar-35mm-f-2-8-ltm-t70998,highlight,%2Btanar.html

I have it too and in my opinion is a good lens but not better than your 35mm f/2.8 Topcor-RE. However, it's a fun to use tiny old lens.
For corner sharpness and IQ I'd look into the Leica M system. Have you considered the Summaron 35mm f/2.8?

[Gatorengineer64]

I thought and the internet which is wrong sometimes says the braun paxette was a DKL mount camera.... did they also come m39?

[calvin83]

Braun Paxette is a series of cameras. Super Paxette II has M39 mount while the Paxette Reflex Automatic has DKL mount

[sergun]

Loxia 35mm f2

[pdccameras]

If you don't mind f/3.5 - the screw mount Super Multi-Coated Takumar 35 f/3.5 is sharp as tack, and very compact.

P.

[RemcoR]

https://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/SMC-Pentax-K-35mm-F3.5-Lens.html

[coase]

A pair of tests of the Takumar 35/3.5 vs the Canon nFD 35/2.8 on the A7. The Canon is better all around.

http://erphotoreview.com/wordpress/?p=4465

http://erphotoreview.com/wordpress/?p=4114

This is consistent with my observations that the Sony 35/2.8 isn't significantly better unless you badly need AF.

[tomasg]

Like you i have also a big 35mm f1.4 lens that i like a lot, in my case it s a Samyang, i been looking around for something smaller, how about a new 7artisans 35 f2 or as a second option but larger a Nikkor 35 f1.4 AIS, not sure about corner performance about either though.

[Macca]

If you`re set on MF and tiny on your A7R2 try the Minolta M Rokkor 40mm f2. Wonderful sharpness, rendition and colour in a very small package , also faster than most mentioned and a great walkabout FL.

It`s superior to all 35mms I`ve tried on the 7II and its so tight beteween that and the Minolta 35mm f2 AF I can`t decide which one I prefer and kept both as I run E and A mount. Look for the CLE version with later coatings.

More expensive than some but not as much as the native AF options.

[coase]

I considered the Minolta 40 before but it seems to be too costly. At today's prices a Samyang 35 AF would do better in my view, but I understand those who prefer the Rokkor FOV. And I'd like to see a head to head against the various Canon 35/2s and 35/2.8s.

[calvin83]

My test with the C-Summicron on A7 show it has pretty good corner performance stopped down. But I doubt it will perform better than modern lens in the corner near wide open.

[stevemark]

[Steakface]

The Canon nFD 35mm 2.8 is pretty sharp. I found it great for astro use as it has the least aberrations wide open out of all of my vintage lenses - a small amount of astigmatism is all I notice in the worst of scenarios. And it's cheap to boot.