The 35, 35T and 35TE have a 40/3.5 4-elem/3-group Tessar. The 35S and 35SE
have a 40/2.8 5-elem/4-group Sonnar. More complex and more difficult to
manufacture, the Sonnar is a better lens overall although the Tessar is no
slouch. I've owned a 35T and still have (and use) a 35S. IMHO, it's a
much better small camera than the XA, in spite of lacking a rangefinder,
and even more so compared to the XA-1 through XA-4 which are "programmed"
exposure with zone focusing. Found it took a little practice to estimate
distance out to about 15 feet, but it can be done accurately enough, even
for projected slides and the wider apertures.
If the shot demands critical focus being placed with that great precision,
I pull out the OM or a Contax IIIa and shoot it with that. Keep in mind
it's a manual exposure, manual (scale) focus P&S, and it's a very high
quality one. Only thing that keeps it from being classed a professional
grade camera is lack of a rangefinder. They were never intended to be used
for critical, formal use, but for casual, informal shooting instead.
Considered and compared the XA and the 35T when I bought the 35T (new) in
about 1978. Bought the 35S in 1979. Still wouldn't change the decision,
especially after also owning an XA-2 for almost 20 years (the other half
used it). The clamshell and lighter weight were appealing, but somehow the
plastic body and thumbwheel winder bothered me, along with the specs on the
glasswork, and lack of a PC socket or hot shoe. Over 20 years later I
still have the same aversion to plastic body cameras.
-- John
At 04:22 7/10/02, C.H. Ling wrote:
Are your guy talking about the R'35 with 40/2.8 lens but W/O a range
finder! I can't see how I can use a 40mm f2.8 lens for shooting
without a range finder, just a joke! To me W/O a range finder sharp
picture can only be made at heavy stop down or shooting at infinity.
But I can use my XA at F2.8 wide open shooting portrait at night and
that happen quite often.
C.H.Ling
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