"I love the 35/1.4G"!

Originally posted by a700eric I have seen some incredible shots with this lens, but it seems to get mixed reviews.

Hey Eric, that's been discussed several times, bottomline; Reviewers tend to compare lenses on a few basic things, not those specifics what sets some gems like the 35g apart from the rest.

Just another recent discussion where i bumped in as well;
http://www.flickr.com/groups/729221@N20/discuss/72157623284874007/

I have seen some incredible shots with this lens, but it seems to get mixed reviews.

I love my 35mm, its amazing..even wide open.

35mm @ F2

Originally posted by andrew_broadfoot Have any of my shots inspired anyone into the 35/f1.5G market?

Not only your shots. I have been toying with the idea of buying a f/1.4 wide angle for some time. 35mm is not my preferred angle of view, but very fast wide angles give a unique picture style. Fast telephotos as well, but one sees that style everywhere, it is the combination of limited depth of field and wide angle perspective which is uncommon. That, and the particular contrast rendition given by these lenses (which is actually the result of spherical aberration, which is very difficult to correct for fast wide angle lenses).

I am convinced that this combination is most of the secret behind the "Leica look". Leica M users use mainly fast wide angles, and Leica is one of the few makers catering for that need (with a incredible choice of 21!, 24 and 35 f/1.4... at a price, unfortunately). Canon has a 24mm f/1.4 which is stellar (used by astronomers with praise) and a 35mm f/1.4 which isn't better than the Minolta, Nikon (in AF) stopped producing the 28mm f/1.4 long ago (and it sells at collector's prices) and just issued a 24mm f/1.4. That, and Nikon did not have full frame DSLRs for a long time.

So it is a look which is uncommon, because the tools are rare. Sure, you can find old 35mm f/1.4 for old film bodies at a decent price, but few people do that nowadays and these old design suffer from coma, which can easily ruin your pictures if you have punctual lights in the frame. Coma can only be corrected with aspherics.

If I had to describe the special look I associate with these lenses, I would say it is a combination of a dreamy atmosphere and open space. I usually associate it with street photography and intimacy (keep in mind that street photography is about intimacy, actually). If you need a reminder about the Leica look, look at the pictures Maik Scharfscheer shot for the official M9 campaign, I'll include two for your convenience:





In the end, the Minolta 35mm f/1.4 is one of the few available lenses to give that particular look. Personally, I would have preferred a 24mm f/1.4, but that lens won't be made.

1/200
ISO-100
f-10
Plus 3 HVL-56AM's....



Edited by andrew_broadfoot - 02 September 2010 at 08:18

Originally posted by andrew_broadfoot Have any of my shots inspired anyone into the 35/f1.5G market?

I enjoyed your examples very much.
I am the lucky owner of a Minolta 35/1.4G.
Here's a picture I took with it at my nephews wedding.

Cheers,

1/125s f6.3 at 35mm iso200

Here's a shot done with two HVL-56AM's...



Edited by andrew_broadfoot - 02 September 2010 at 08:19