ELCAN replica lens posts
- Thread starter scautez
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raid
Dad Photographer
Nobody wants a LLL lens with a serial number including the number 4.
Erik van Straten
Veteran
Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
Having grown up watching Marty Feldman, Monty Python, Black Adder, et al. I understood that the Britons invented humor ("who are the Britons?!")
Phil Forrest
raydm6
Yay! Cameras! 🙈🙉🙊┌( ಠ_ಠ)┘ [◉"]
Mr. Bean approves.
.
Ed Schwartzreic
Well-known
I have decided to link my article about the original ELCA 50/2 as a .docx file, not as the final Viewfinder article, for which one should eventually go to LHSA.org to view.
https://www.mediafire.com/file/w9o94o3pve6364r/ELCAN+50-2+Article.docx/file
Ed
https://www.mediafire.com/file/w9o94o3pve6364r/ELCAN+50-2+Article.docx/file
Ed
Ed Schwartzreic
Well-known
You presumably have to be in your browser to view this, and copy / paste the url into it, to download the file. Let me know if there are problems.
Ed
Ed
Erik van Straten
Veteran
Does not work in my Firefox.
No, it works! But it took a while to download.
It makes a very fine read. I would buy the lens in a heartbeat.
Erik.
f.hayek
Well-known
Why are you all doing free marketing again for LLL? Have they really earned your trust and respect???
Erik van Straten
Veteran
Ed is not working for LLL as far as I know; he is only informing us about the original lens.
Erik.
Ed Schwartzreic
Well-known
No, I have no direct connection with LLL. But they apparently appreciated what I wrote about their 8-element 35/2 replica. I had long loved the original lens, of which I have one specimen that I use, so I was excited to take on the review of the replica.
My writings are primarily but not exclusively for LHSA, but I choose all sorts of things write about: Leica history, personalities of old from Leitz and other optical companies, notable photobooks new and old, Dr. Paul Wolff (especially), and old and some new equipment. I often chose oddball things to write about, since others write about the expected subjects. I have gotten no remuneration through the years, except for self-publishing one book about Dr. Wolff, and accepting two pieces of equipment through the years that I reviewed. This all is a hobby for me, as is photographing.
I had become friends with Kevin Xu after he asked LHSA to review the 8-element 35/2 replica, and now the ELCAN replica. That friendship deepened during the pandemic, remotely. It was Kevin who piqued my interest in the ELCAN, and I then realized that nobody had written that much about it, and it was a worthwhile subject. I became excited learning that LLL was actually trying to make a prototype. Kevin is involved in getting me the prototype to test.
But of course LLL will be interested in what I finally write about their ELCAN project. And I am not sure what that will be, because I have never used the original lens, and the replica prototype may have its own issues as well. But this is the kind of adventurous stuff I love.
My writings are primarily but not exclusively for LHSA, but I choose all sorts of things write about: Leica history, personalities of old from Leitz and other optical companies, notable photobooks new and old, Dr. Paul Wolff (especially), and old and some new equipment. I often chose oddball things to write about, since others write about the expected subjects. I have gotten no remuneration through the years, except for self-publishing one book about Dr. Wolff, and accepting two pieces of equipment through the years that I reviewed. This all is a hobby for me, as is photographing.
I had become friends with Kevin Xu after he asked LHSA to review the 8-element 35/2 replica, and now the ELCAN replica. That friendship deepened during the pandemic, remotely. It was Kevin who piqued my interest in the ELCAN, and I then realized that nobody had written that much about it, and it was a worthwhile subject. I became excited learning that LLL was actually trying to make a prototype. Kevin is involved in getting me the prototype to test.
But of course LLL will be interested in what I finally write about their ELCAN project. And I am not sure what that will be, because I have never used the original lens, and the replica prototype may have its own issues as well. But this is the kind of adventurous stuff I love.
Platinum RF
Well-known
Interesting article, so basically, you do not have the first hand experience on the elcan or own the lens, even you test the Chinese Shanzhai Elcan you are unable to give a fair comparison. The generated MTF was not from real lens either. From both the designer and Leica they said elcan was a strip down/simplified summicron. For conflict of interest, do you get a free lens from the manufacture? I ask this because, Mr. Zhou or his distributors have used LHSA or your article as a marketing tool to sell its lenses at higher price, and many unhappy buyers complained their marketing strategy and said If strip the 8 elements, Leica replica, this lens was no different from 7 artisans. Some even went further, claimed LLL is selling fake goods with no writing warranty, unnamed manufacture, et al and these who committed to buy at the introduction price like the RFF members in the early phase were pushed back but some distributors are able to get the lenses and double the price.
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
It came up OK on my MAcbook Pro with Chrome. It comes up as a Word file.
Very interesting, thanks, Ed!
Ed Schwartzreic
Well-known
Well, I do not know what might become of the prototype. Already Raid has shown interest in testing it out. Others might wish to also. LLL or Kevin might want it back. It may possibly be technically so superseded by the production lens that it will be just a curiosity. I might be able to keep it if I want.
When I review a new photographic book, I am, without exception, given a review copy. I see this as equivalent. The two photography-related books that I have been part of authoring, I gave copies to various parties - for review or as a gift for supplying materials necessary for that book's contents.
As for any inducement via a gift production lens, I would pay for it.
When I review a new photographic book, I am, without exception, given a review copy. I see this as equivalent. The two photography-related books that I have been part of authoring, I gave copies to various parties - for review or as a gift for supplying materials necessary for that book's contents.
As for any inducement via a gift production lens, I would pay for it.
Ed Schwartzreic
Well-known
I want to say further, that I plan to test the prototype, if indeed I receive it, against the current 50/2 APO Summicron. Both lenses wide open. I hope to characterize the prototype's abilities and deficiencies with words and with images.
Unlike the 8-element 35/2, where I had an original as well as the prototype, I do not see this as a side-by-side comparison. I want to see what the ELCAN prototype can do. Kevin may do an A:B comparison, as he has the original ELCAN lens.
And of course this is marketing by LLL. All reviews of products are.
Ed
Unlike the 8-element 35/2, where I had an original as well as the prototype, I do not see this as a side-by-side comparison. I want to see what the ELCAN prototype can do. Kevin may do an A:B comparison, as he has the original ELCAN lens.
And of course this is marketing by LLL. All reviews of products are.
Ed
raid
Dad Photographer
I have done similar tests, Ed. I also do not see a side by side test as being the best or more practical test to do. I would use the ELCAN and the CV APO 50/2, just as you will do.
Another suitable 50mm lens for testing would be the rigid Summicron 50/2. It is less clinically sharp as the APO CV lens.
Each lens will have different characteristics, so it will not be a case where you say that this lens is better than the other lens; they will be different. Maybe you like what you get with the ELCAN replica and maybe not.
Another suitable 50mm lens for testing would be the rigid Summicron 50/2. It is less clinically sharp as the APO CV lens.
Each lens will have different characteristics, so it will not be a case where you say that this lens is better than the other lens; they will be different. Maybe you like what you get with the ELCAN replica and maybe not.
Platinum RF
Well-known
If no side to side comparison how can you know LLL faithfully duplicated the original ELCAN?
Ed Schwartzreic
Well-known
Thank you, Raid. What I admit I am most interested in is the center performance - that putative brilliance and three-dimensionality -- and how it compares with the current SOTA Summicron. Others have done comparisons of the original ELCAN with several lenses (include the DR Summicron and the current APO Summicron), and these can be found online.
I would also check what the outer zones look like, and expect this will show the anticipated fall-off in resolution.
Kevin has done side-by-sides wide open on an even earlier prototype. I have viewed these, and while the prototype trended quite like the original lens, it was not entirely "there" IMO. We'll see what this new one does.
I would also check what the outer zones look like, and expect this will show the anticipated fall-off in resolution.
Kevin has done side-by-sides wide open on an even earlier prototype. I have viewed these, and while the prototype trended quite like the original lens, it was not entirely "there" IMO. We'll see what this new one does.
raid
Dad Photographer
This is less important to me than trying out the replica lens itself. Is it any good? Is it special somehow? What does it offer to us? Is it worth buying?
raid
Dad Photographer
I will view the ELCAN replica as a near-copy and not a perfect copy. It should display similar characteristics. I don't expect the replica to be identical to the original.
