Front Filter Corrects Corner Smearing

[Makten]

I know I've told myself not to get the ZM 35/1.4, but I'm reconsidering it. Currently I own the Loxia 35/2 which is great stopped down, and it gives a very nice, low contrast bokeh at f/3.2, especially at a bit of distance. However, that is a smaller aperture than I'd like, and opening up makes the bokeh much worse. There's also a very strange curvature of field (or something I can't understand) that makes DOF larger in the middle of the image, even if I can't see the actual field being curved.

So, how does the 35/1.4 do bokeh-wise at a few meters distance and stopped down to f/2-2.8? I know it's a bit harsh wide open, but many lenses get better when stopping down.

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Here's one from today with the Loxia @ f/3.2:

Edit: The forum compresses the image slightly, so right-click and open the image in a new tab.

 

[k-hawinkler]

Is there a list for which filter to use for what Leica M lens? TIA.

 

[thrice]

I know I've told myself not to get the ZM 35/1.4, but I'm reconsidering it. Currently I own the Loxia 35/2 which is great stopped down, and it gives a very nice, low contrast bokeh at f/3.2, especially at a bit of distance. However, that is a smaller aperture than I'd like, and opening up makes the bokeh much worse. There's also a very strange curvature of field (or something I can't understand) that makes DOF larger in the middle of the image, even if I can't see the actual field being curved.

So, how does the 35/1.4 do bokeh-wise at a few meters distance and stopped down to f/2-2.8? I know it's a bit harsh wide open, but many lenses get better when stopping down.


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Here's one from today with the Loxia @ f/3.2:

Edit: The forum compresses the image slightly, so right-click and open the image in a new tab.

The 35/1.4 has great bokeh wide open, I'm not sure where you've seen otherwise?
Here is one at a couple of metres, and one close up. Both wide open.
If I'm shooting a portrait I wouldn't hesitate to shoot wide open because the lens is so sharp and the bokeh so good. I haven't tried at f/2 or f/2.8 as I haven't felt the need. Next chance I get I will though.

Is there a list for which filter to use for what Leica M lens? TIA.

Samuli Vahonen made a list, here
It is not fully comprehensive but it gives you a good indication of starting point.

 

[Makten]

The 35/1.4 has great bokeh wide open, I'm not sure where you've seen otherwise?
Here is one at a couple of metres, and one close up. Both wide open.
If I'm shooting a portrait I wouldn't hesitate to shoot wide open because the lens is so sharp and the bokeh so good. I haven't tried at f/2 or f/2.8 as I haven't felt the need. Next chance I get I will though.

Thanks!

The first image is much closer than I shoot, and I actually like harsh bokeh at such distances. The second looks good though! But, the background isn't nearly as complex as foliage or branches, and a good portion is just sky (which is in the part of the frame that usually look terrible).

The very few samples I've seen that replicates what I'm after, have unfortunately not been very convincing.

 

[thrice]

True, at medium distances the background doesn't totally melt away. That's pretty tough with a 35.
At least with the front end filter the plane of focus is flat :grin:

Thanks!

The first image is much closer than I shoot, and I actually like harsh bokeh at such distances. The second looks good though! But, the background isn't nearly as complex as foliage or branches, and a good portion is just sky (which is in the part of the frame that usually look terrible).

The very few samples I've seen that replicates what I'm after, have unfortunately not been very convincing.

 

[Makten]

It looks about the same as the Loxia wide open, so if it improves when stopping down I'd probably happy. But there is still larger DOF towards the borders and corners, probably due to mechanical vignetting. I don't see anything like that with the Loxia (even if the bokeh is really harsh in the corners at f/2).

Edit: Or, yes, the Loxia has larger DOF in the extreme corners, but the transition to that zone is very abrupt.

 

[thrice]

Optical vignette is pretty heavy on the 35ZM. It tends to go away by f/2.8.