Yashica ML 35/2.8

[Lucio]

I finally managed to put my hands on the last Yashica ML >/= 2.8 lens.
In one year, I could only find two copies of the 35/2.8 and I find its rarity surprising, considering how common the 28 and all of the 50's of the Yashica ML line are.
Any idea why this lens is so hard to find?

Anyways, here are my findings after testing the lens on an APS-C 24MP camera.
The Yashica is a bit soft WO because of spherical aberration, the Distagon 35/2.8 is visibly sharper and brighter at this setting.
The Zeiss performs much better even when it comes to flare resistance.
By f/4, the Yashica is just great corner to corner, with higher resolution and contrast and less Ca (both La and Lo) than the Zeiss.
Distortion and vignetting are lower with the Distagon, but not by far.
Both copies of the Yashica ML 35/2.8 were perfectly aligned, I had much more troubles finding a good Distagon.
In short, if IQ at f/2.8 is important for you, go with the Zeiss, otherwise the Yashica is at least just as good (from a technical perspective) and way cheaper.

100% Crops of the MTF Chart at f/4:

#Center
http://forum.mflenses.com/userpix/20193/big_10585_YashicaML3528_center_1.jpg

#3/4 off center
http://forum.mflenses.com/userpix/20193/big_10585_YashicaML3528_34offcenter_1.jpg

#Corner
http://forum.mflenses.com/userpix/20193/big_10585_YashicaML3528_corner_1.jpg

[Gardener]

All 35/2.8 are less common than their 28mm counterparts. Ai Nikkors, Zuikos, Canons, K Pentaxes (I don't think I've ever even seen a Pentax-A version), late version rubber ring Rokkors.

[tb_a]

That's interesting. I've got only the Rollei/Voigtlaender version of the Zeiss Distagon 35mm/F2.8 which is the identical optical design of the Contax one made by Yashica and at least my version is clearly inferior to my Minolta MD 35mm/F2.8 (last 5/5 version).
I haven't seen any better 35mm lens than the Minolta one in this F2.8 class yet. I've no Idea whether there is one. Even the present Sony/Zeiss FE 35mm/F2.8 isn't really better as can be seen here: https://goo.gl/JQfwE5
My older Yashica Yashinon-DX in M42 which seems to have a different design compared to the newer ML lens is clearly inferior to the Distagon as well.

[Pancolart]

Little is known about late compact Tokina RMC 2.8/35mm but i remember it was very good lens
https://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/tokina-rmc-35mm-f28.html
Second suggestion is Pentax PK CHINON/REVUENON/AGFA Click here to see on Ebay.de

[Lucio]

[quote="tb_a"]That's interesting. I've got only the Rollei/Voigtlaender version of the Zeiss Distagon 35mm/F2.8 which is the identical optical design of the Contax one made by Yashica and at least my version is clearly inferior to my Minolta MD 35mm/F2.8 (last 5/5 version).[/quote]

I tested at least 4 copies of the Rollei Distagon and they were all way worse than these Yashica. Really, no comparison. Maybe there are 2 versions of the Yashica ML?
I never used Minolta lenses, so I don't know how the MD 35/2,8 compares to the ML 35/2,8.