ELCAN replica lens posts

[james.liam]

There are too many interesting 50mm around, Ed!
I have the CV APO 50/2 and I am about to get a CV 50/1.0.
The ELCAN 50/2 would be an interesting addition, but it may be one 50mm lens too many for me. I don't know.
Thanks for letting me use your lens for some test shots.

Very interesting to see what the ELCAN mimic is capable of (thanks Ed!). But got to agree with Raid; 50's being the go-to, it makes it more likely that the potentially-interested already have an adequately stocked stable, excepting the terminally GAS-afflicted.
My collection includes a pair of Canon LTM's (1.4, 1.8), Leicas (50 Rigid, 50 APO) and Nikkors (LTM 50/1.4 and NOCT Nikkor).
If I were to add another one day, it'd be the CV 1/50, hands-down.

 

[Ed Schwartzreic]

I will add that I personally own several SM Elmars, SM Canon 50's, Nikkor 50/2 and 50/1.4 Millennium with adapters, Leitz Summer, Summitar, several Summicrons including the APO Aspheric, f/1.0 Noctilux. Perhaps I have forgotten some. I appreciate the fact that there are scores of interesting 50's out there that fit a Leica body.

That said, I think the ELCAN replica has its own niche as a portrait and street lens. I eager await getting my hands on a production model.

 

[raid]

Do you expect to find major differences between the lens that you now have and a production lens?

 

[Ed Schwartzreic]

The pictures that zleica uploaded seem to have a somewhat different fingerprint -- less "confused"- looking OOF items in the field when stopped down. My prototype had an area in the left side of the lens field that seemed not to be centered exactly right. Very minor, though. Zleica's picture above of the coffee mug looked just like what my lens would have done, however.

But no idea if and when a production lens might be coming my way - I have not heard from Kevin for many weeks, and he is not as closely allied with LLL as he was, in any case. In the meantime I am very happy with the prototype. It is just that Winter here is not really very conducive to venturing out to photograph. And COVID makes for dull / brief interactions inside.

 

[Ed Schwartzreic]

Here is an example, with the ELCAN replica, of just how dull and drab winters here can be -- foggy, cold, damp. A struggle to be creative with images.

Foggy, dreary day by woodswoman57, on Flickr

Still, fun to try to be creative and use the lens.

Ed

 

[Ed Schwartzreic]

And Happy New Year to everyone!

Ed

 

[Ed Schwartzreic]

A bit more activity today here - a neighbor backing his tractor up to hitch to a cart to haul wood. F/5.6, cropped.

L1002689-Edit copy by woodswoman57, on Flickr

 

[Erik van Straten]

A real Elcan is for sale here: https://www.ebay.de/itm/255264234842

Erik.

 

[raid]

EURO 4900 is not too bad for a genuine ELCAN in 2022.

 

[Erik van Straten]

The seller states that the coupling is not for 100% correct. However, I guess that this can be repaired, but I'm not sure about this. The lens looks very cool!

Erik.

 

[Ed Schwartzreic]

Environmental portrait, almost wife open on the ELCAN, focus on Paul. This is his woodpile, for our home.

L1004719-Edit-Edit by woodswoman57, on Flickr

Ed

 

[Emile de Leon]

How is the physical construction and focus smoothness of your LLL Elcan?
I'm considering getting this lens...but I heard its not as smooth or well made as a Leica lens.

 

[Ed Schwartzreic]

Mine is a prototype and its housing made out of aluminum, in all likelihood. Nonetheless, focus is smooth with only one minor spot where it sticks very slightly. Diaphragm detents are crisp.

But again, this is not a production lens, so I cannot say anything about the final product. I hope to get my hands on a “real” one eventually.

 

[algrove]

So are Elcans being produced yet by LLL?

 

[Emile de Leon]

So are Elcans being produced yet by LLL?

Yup! I'm buyin one soon.

 

[raid]

Is the cost of a LLL ELCAN known?

 

[Ed Schwartzreic]

Raid, I cannot find that out, and I have not also heard from Kevin for quite a long time. Perhaps someone here can provide a link to a seller.

 

[zleica]

Is the cost of a LLL ELCAN known?

If you do a search on the big auction site, you can find some available selling at $799 USD (as of yesterday), which is what I paid for mine last November.

 

[Emile de Leon]

I just got my LLL Elcan in. Nice lil cracker of a lens.

 

[Ed Schwartzreic]

Emil,
Thank you for putting the lens through paces.

I am troubled by the veiling flare you found. I saw little of this with my prototype, and right off this AM I took some fast and dirty shots to see. Here is a Linhof ballhead against the light, and then, from the same dirty window, a view of an icicle (15 below F) with the sun in the image. All at f/2. I see little flare. These were without any shade mounted, but I did have a Leitz UVa filter.

L1004735 by woodswoman57, on Flickr

L1004739 by woodswoman57, on Flickr

At f/4 and f/5.6 things cleaned up just a bit, but not noteworthy.

Ed