13/02/2026 10:07 pm
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Hey everyone, I’ve been shooting with my M10 for a while now, and while I love the performance of some of the newer glass, I’m finding myself wanting to get back to the core 'compact' philosophy of the M system. I primarily do street photography and daily carry, so I’m looking for a 35mm lens that is small enough to not block the viewfinder and keeps the whole kit feeling light and discreet.
I’ve been looking closely at the Voigtländer 35mm f/2.5 Color-Skopar because it’s incredibly tiny, but I’m a bit worried about the slower aperture when the sun goes down. On the other hand, the Leica 35mm Summicron-M ASPH is the dream, but that price tag is a bit hard to swallow right now. I’ve also heard great things about the Zeiss 35mm f/2.8 C-Biogon for its clinical sharpness, but I’m curious about how the ergonomics feel in actual use—especially the focus nub versus a traditional tab.
I’m really looking for that 'sweet spot' where I don't sacrifice too much character for the sake of portability. Does anyone have long-term experience with these, or perhaps a hidden gem like a vintage Summaron that I should consider? Which compact 35mm would you say offers the best balance of size, handling, and rendering for everyday use?
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13/02/2026 10:30 pm
Curious about one thing: what's your actual hard limit for the budget? Ngl, Leica prices are basically insane lately, so knowing if we're talking $600 or closer to $1.5k changes the advice. Also, do you need it to be brand new, or is used gear cool?? If you're worried about the Skopar being too slow for night shots, I'd look at these: - Voigtländer 35mm f/2 Ultron Vintage Line Aspherical VM Type II: Seriously, this is the one. It has a proper focus tab (unlike the Zeiss nub), f/2 speed, and is tiny. It's basically the 'Cron killer for a fraction of the price.
- Zeiss 35mm f/2.8 C-Biogon T* ZM: Sharpness is unreal, but the lack of a tab makes it harder to 'zone focus' by feel. I found it kinda annoying for street work tbh.
- Leica 35mm f/2.8 Summaron-M: If you want character, this is it. But be careful... old glass often has haze that ruins the contrast. I'd suggest the Ultron over the Skopar if you shoot past sunset at all! Cheers
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13/02/2026 11:15 pm
Honestly, for safety, the Zeiss 35mm f/2.8 C-Biogon T* ZM's all-metal build beats the Voigtlander 35mm f/2.5 Color-Skopar PII VM, tbh. It's super reliable and handles daily street bumps way better. gl!
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14/02/2026 3:08 pm
👆 this
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13/02/2026 10:07 pm
I'd suggest going faster with a tab. i had issues with my current setup’s slow aperture and focus nub; unfortunately, it wasn’t as good as expected for street work.
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13/02/2026 10:20 pm
Just saw this thread and man, I went through this exact same rabbit hole last year. I was obsessed with finding the smallest daily kit for my M10 without dropping five grand on a Leica 35mm Summicron-M f/2 ASPH. I started with the Voigtländer 35mm f/2.5 Color-Skopar PII VM because it's basically a lens cap, but i found the rendering a bit thin for my taste. Then I moved to the Zeiss 35mm f/2.8 C-Biogon T* ZM. Technically, it's a masterpiece—sharpness is seriously off the charts—but that focus nub was a total dealbreaker. I realized I'm way faster with a traditional tab for street work... it just feels more natural. I eventually settled on a vintage Leica 35mm f/2.8 Summaron-M and it reallyyy hit that sweet spot of size and soul. Quick tip: Prioritize ergonomics like the focus tab over a tiny bit of lens speed. On an M10, you can bump the ISO to 6400 easily, but you cant fix a lens that feels awkward to focus in the moment lol. gl!
