28mm f2.8 "Nine Element". Warning: not for Leica fanboys

[yossi]

Another shameless copycat's lens launched. Whether it could produce good image remains to be seen.
(Btw can anyone share what so special about the original Leica 28mm f2.8 Elmarit (9-element). The Chinese seem to be pretty obsessed with it.)

 

[Ororaro]

“Not for leica fanboys” but produced by massively complexed fanboys, for massively complexed fanboys.

 

[Godfrey]

Not sure that I would be offended by another copy of a classic lens. I probably wouldn't buy one of them, but eh? who knows? It might be a decent lens when the notion of it being a copy is discarded and it gets objectively tested. 🙂

G

 

[yossi]

For reading pleasure: LLL 28 9-Element

 

[santino]

I don’t know what is special about it (the original too). It is huge and can’t be used on the M5 or CL. I prefer the last pre Asph 28 Elmarit.

 

[Godfrey]

I had one of the next to most recent M 28mm f/2 lenses, but I traded it for a Summaron-M 28mm f/5.6 ... a redux of a classic 1950s optical design. And I could not be happier with it: it's a terrific performer in every way. 😀

 

[Nitroplait]

A copy of something un-obtainable is likely to tempt some with cash to spare.

Nobody will know if LLL actually even managed to make a copy that is similar to the original.

They certainly don’t have access to the original knowledge and materials utilized by Leitz in making the 9 element.
Even government supported Chinese hackers can’t obtain that.

It is just a reverse engineering attempt.

 

[raydm6]

For reading pleasure: LLL 28 9-Element

Interesting. I was curious what type of glass they used. Looks like “in-house” fabricated:

• New made in-house elements infused with fluorite elements. An extra-low dispersion (ED) glass element improves edge-to-edge rendering performance, dispersion, and distortion.

 

[mdarnton]

Amazing--I'm seeing so much hate around for something that people haven't even seen! Humans :-(

 

[yossi]

Interesting. I was curious what type of glass they used. Looks like “in-house” fabricated:

The original 9-element lens seems to be a complex design. I would think it is not that easy to replicate. Well, we shall see.

 

[Ororaro]

Leica from Ali Express

😌

 

[Slumgullion]

The original 9-element lens seems to be a complex design. I would think it is not that easy to replicate. Well, we shall see.
View attachment 4843501

Complex relative to what? Have you seen what modern lenses look like? Computer controlled grinding/polishing makes crafting spherical (and aspherical) elements more accessible and precise than when the Leitz version of this lens was in production.

 

[Slumgullion]

The conservative lean of some people on this board is funny to me. Maybe it's a generational thing.

There's a new lens coming out. Many people worked hard to make it. It might be a good lens. Or maybe not. No one here knows yet. Can't understand how that is controversial.

 

[das]

C'mon people! Rangefinder lens design is not rocket science anymore, and no one currently has a monopoly on making fantastically-well-performing lenses in normal focal lengths. Imho, the only company doing anything particularly new and interesting is VC in experimenting with improving many older designs for the modern era. At least the Chinese manufacturers are trying to solve the largest shortcoming in all of the single-coated Leica (and other) lenses from the 1950s, 60s, and early 70s -- the lack of modern multicoating, which makes a significant difference in color rendition. To me, though, it is way more fun to use the rare and/or cool M-mount and M39 lenses of the past. But to each to everyone's own.

 

[Godfrey]

With you, @das. 🙂

I picked up a rather nice Leica IIIc body recently because I had a nice early-fifties Leica Elmar 5.0cm f/3.5 to play with. And I've since pulled the M-mount adapters off my modern Voigtländer Color-Skopar 50/2.5 & 28/3.5, as well as added a good used Color-Skopar 35/2.5 to that kit. This little (and relatively inexpensive) kit is proving to be a delightful shooting setup, and that lovely old Elmar holds its own against the modern Color-Skopar surprisingly well.

I see nothing wrong with an effort to re-visit/re-create classic lens designs. The only question mark is how well the re-creation has been done, and how well it actually performs.

G

 

[Coldkennels]

The conservative lean of some people on this board is funny to me. Maybe it's a generational thing.

The ghost of McCarthy still looms large, it seems. Too many people have a deeply engrained "lol china bad" response to basically everything.

Remember, once upon a time Japanese products were viewed the exact same way... no one's scowling at Nikon, Canon, or Voigtlander these days.

 

[Rayt]

I am surprised. Why replicate the 9-element? It’s nothing special.

 

[WoodallP]

The ghost of McCarthy still looms large, it seems. Too many people have a deeply engrained "lol china bad" response to basically everything.

Remember, once upon a time Japanese products were viewed the exact same way... no one's scowling at Nikon, Canon, or Voigtlander these days.

I agree, many of these small companies are driven by an interest in the history of the products they recreate. A lens like this is a niche product with a limited market. I doubt they employ near-slave workers like many of the big companies who manufacture for our big western brand names.

 

[Evergreen States]

Not in the market, but I welcome it. LLL seems to have a pretty good track record so far. I wish them well.

 

[yossi]

I am surprised. Why replicate the 9-element? It’s nothing special.

But this price suggests otherwise. (I don’t think it’s just a rarity thing. )

If only there are some owners of this lens among us who could share their firsthand experience. Not from fanboys please.