Ricoh GXR: M-Mount Unit with Zeiss 35 mm

Archive

After Ricoh's official announcement of the M-mount expansion unit, I decided to buy one, although I had not intended to do so originally. Here are my first personal experiences with the lenses that I bought (or tried to buy). This page is devoted to the Zeiss Biogon 35mm f/2.8 lens.

Expanding the Equipment

After I had acquired the M-mount expansion unit in mid-October 2011, I decided to also expand my range of lenses into focal lengths that I already own in the form of A12 camera units. This was caused by the observation that I was too lazy to exchange units. Exchanging lenses only seemed much simpler and also simplifies the equipment that I carry around with me.

This decision turned out to become a very expensive one, because both of the Voigtländer lenses that I bought, a Voigtländer Color Skopar Pancake II 1:2.5/35 mm and a Voigtländer Color Skopar Pancake II 1:4/21 mm, were decentered. So I sent them back (the 35 mm lens even twice) and eventually bought the equivalent Zeiss Biogon lenses, a Zeiss Biogon T* C 21mm f/4.5 lens and a Zeiss Biogon T* C 35mm f/2.8lens, at a much higher cost. The Zeiss 35 mm lens is a little bit slower (f/2.8 versus f/2.5), heavier, and much more expensive than the respective Voigtländer pancake lens.

Here is the story of the two Voigtländer lenses that I bought initially. And here is my Zeiss Biogon T* C 35mm f/2.8 lens that replaced the Voigtländer 35 mm pancake lens:

Photos: Arrived on November 22, 2011 as a replacement for a Voigtänder lens: Zeiss Biogon T* C 35mm f/2.8 ZM lens (black) (52.5 mm equiv.)

On the M-mount expansion unit, this lens has an equivalent focal length of 52.5 mm and thus, works like a normal normal lens (in between a 50 mm and a 55 mm normal lens).

Body with Lens Attached

Photo: Body with A12 M-mount expansion unit attached and Zeiss Biogon 35mm f/2.8 lens

Some Technical Data

Focal length	35 mm (52.5 mm equiv.)
Angle of view (35mm film)	62° diagonal
Maximum aperture	2.8
f-stop range	2.8-22
Number of iris blades	10
Number of lenses/groups	7/5
Shortest distance	0.7 m
Weight	200 g
Length (with cap)	55 mm
Maximum diameter	52 mm
Filter thread	43 mm
Lens hood	does not have one

Sample Images

Here are some samples taken with the Zeiss Biogon 35mm f/2.8 lens (click the images to view the unprocessed original files in a new window):

Conclusions

Disclaimer: I am not a lens expert who sees marked differences between various Leica and/or other lenses. I can check for soft corners, find differences in color rendition, and, in rare cases, may discover a "3D look", but that's all. Please regard therefore my conclusions as the verdict of a "layman".