ELCAN replica lens posts

[boojum]

I'll start from the end, I loved the spirit of your album, and now I can understand your creative optical rationale.
Although the lens doesn't really matter and I say the same things about the camera. But it is important to understand
and remember that a combination of camera and lens, one that creates an inner physical and mental connection with
them, is the best of all worlds that photographers could hope for.

From the personal aspect, not everyone will be able to spend the tens of thousands of dollars embodied in the price of
an original Elcan lens. But hey, you can get the Chinese LLL Elcan for a fraction of the price - a lens that has all the right
ingredients in its DNA.

*Attached is a photo from my Leica M8, without connection to Elcan, and of course without any hot IR filter on the lens.

L1001344 S3 by Jeri Leibovits, on Flickr

**

I love to watch street food being prepared. I love street food. It is a festival, a communion and a joy. It is how to get to know the locals and how to indulge in some really good prole food. Prole food rules. ;o) Much of it is wrapped in a pancake of sorts be it shwarma, gyro, tortilla, burrito, blini, or a nice buckwheat galette with a good French country sausage wrapped into it.

Where are these guys and what are they cooking? It looks like somewhere close to the Mediterranean, where a lot of good food hangs out.

 

[jonal928]

I love to watch street food being prepared. I love street food. It is a festival, a communion and a joy. It is how to get to know the locals and how to indulge in some really good prole food. Prole food rules. ;o) Much of it is wrapped in a pancake of sorts be it shwarma, gyro, tortilla, burrito, blini, or a nice buckwheat galette with a good French country sausage wrapped into it.

Where are these guys and what are they cooking? It looks like somewhere close to the Mediterranean, where a lot of good food hangs out.

All that a photographer needs to ignite his passion for creation are colors, fragrances and the hustle and bustle of the street. That being said, I find myself connecting with your words in the comment above.
And in answer to your question, the photographed place is OSH-PA-LAO, an Uzbek food restaurant and bar in the greater area of Tel Aviv.

*One last thing. In situations like these, I find the combination between the Leica M8 and the Voigtlander super wide-heliar 15mm f/4.5 to be a match made in heaven. And the same things I can say about the Elcan lens, when it is paired with the Leica M11

L1001333- S2 by Jeri Leibovits, on Flickr

**

 

[luuca]

just received my black copy of this tiny lens

I have a weakness for small lenses and the Elcan is no exception, incredibly well built, beautiful, ergonomically perfect for me.
Only limit? the "china" word engraved on the lens -_-'

 

[Slumgullion]

Only limit? the "china" word engraved on the lens -_-'

I am befuddled by this. I mean this seriously: why is this a limit?

Your photos are lovely, by the way.

 

[Slumgullion]

Man on Ferry by Jim Fischer, on Flickr
Leica M5, LLL 50mm f/2 'Elcan,' Kodak T-Max 4000, Xtol 1:1

Jenny by Jim Fischer, on Flickr
Leica M5, LLL 50mm f/2 'Elcan,' Eastman-5222, Xtol 1:1

Mocks Crest by Jim Fischer, on Flickr
Leica M5, LLL 50mm f/2 'Elcan,' Fomapan 400, Xtol 1:1

 

[luuca]

I am befuddled by this. I mean this seriously: why is this a limit?

Your photos are lovely, by the way.

just a joke, I'm a leica photographer, if there isn't "made in Germany" on it, it can't be good!

 

[By-tor]

I have been wanting this for some time now and need to just pony up and get this lens.....

Wonderful images all...

 

[raid]

Should I get this lens?

 

[Deleted member 65559]

Should I get this lens?

Like a moth to a flame Raid. Do you need another 50? How about a small M mount 21mm or the Canon 25 LTM.....for your upcoming Europe tour?

 

[Evergreen States]

Do you need another 50?

Just one more 50, bro

 

[boojum]

Just one more 50, bro

One more won't hurt. LOL

 

[boojum]

Brusby, that is a very acute analogy. Like vinyl records and that part of the audio world, there is a good reason that there is a great appreciation in the electric guitar world for Fender tube amps. While 'testing' can prove one thing 'better' than another objectively. "Analog' music & darkroom printed photographs are often subjectively appreciated. You can use transistors, solid state components, or APO lenses to your heart's content, and some people will consider the results clinical or sterile....

Debunked: The Carver Challenge

 

[boojum]

DHL knocked on my door just now with a package from Japan, the Elcan. And for less than the LLL price. I just shot a couple of quick ones and it looks like a winner. I cannot leave the house as I am expecting deliveries from FedEx, too. Nothing exciting, VA meds. Not exciting but necessary. If I can get out later with the Elcan on the M9 I will. And I will shoot some of the Eureka alongside for comparison's sake. But that is a test for later.

 

[poortmanc]

Prague.

Leica MP, LLL 50mm f/2 ELCAN replica, Eastman 5222 Double-X in 1:100 Rodinal.

 

[boojum]

OK, out of the group on the board who have an Elcan, what code do you use in the manual set? I have the printed sheet that gives lenses and the six bit encoding and also includes the Leica inventory number. I have encoded the Eureka as 11817 which is the Summicron 50mm f/2.0 version III. It seems to work alright even though the lens is more a TTH f/2.0 50mm. I have heard it referred to as Summicron-like.

Anyway, those who manually encode, what are you encoding the Elcan as?

Thanks

 

[jja]

DHL knocked on my door just now with a package from Japan, the Elcan. And for less than the LLL price. I just shot a couple of quick ones and it looks like a winner. I cannot leave the house as I am expecting deliveries from FedEx, too. Nothing exciting, VA meds. Not exciting but necessary. If I can get out later with the Elcan on the M9 I will. And I will shoot some of the Eureka alongside for comparison's sake. But that is a test for later.

Where did you purchase it?

 

[boojum]

Where did you purchase it?

I bought it on eBay from Security Measure. They were nice guys from end-to-end and the lens got here in a few short days. From my single experience I would buy from them again should I have the need. I have not had a real chance to shoot with the lens yet. Just inside shots of the kitchen and other show it to be a good, accurate lens with good color. No regrets in buying it. But I need help with this addiction. ;o) I am powerless over lenses.

And, FWIW, communications with Thypoch in PRC were excellent. A nice bunch of folks there, too. I like their Eureka very much and it is a bargain for what you get. I am surprised this lens is not more popular. Perhaps it will become so.

 

[jja]

I bought it on eBay from Security Measure. They were nice guys from end-to-end and the lens got here in a few short days. From my single experience I would buy from them again should I have the need. I have not had a real chance to shoot with the lens yet. Just inside shots of the kitchen and other show it to be a good, accurate lens with good color. No regrets in buying it. But I need help with this addiction. ;o) I am powerless over lenses.

And, FWIW, communications with Thypoch in PRC were excellent. A nice bunch of folks there, too. I like their Eureka very much and it is a bargain for what you get. I am surprised this lens is not more popular. Perhaps it will become so.

Thank you for the detailed response. I might have to check them out. I've been interested in the LTM version of this lens. Looking forward to seeing more shots on this thread.

 

[boojum]

I bought it on eBay from Security Measure. They were nice guys from end-to-end and the lens got here in a few short days. From my single experience I would buy from them again should I have the need. I have not had a real chance to shoot with the lens yet. Just inside shots of the kitchen and other show it to be a good, accurate lens with good color. No regrets in buying it. But I need help with this addiction. ;o) I am powerless over lenses.

And, FWIW, communications with Thypoch in PRC were excellent. A nice bunch of folks there, too. I like their Eureka very much and it is a bargain for what you get. I am surprised this lens is not more popular. Perhaps it

OK, here is the first presentable shot. This is off my back porch in the lull before the storm. We are in for a "bomb cyclone". Out here they are cyclones, not hurricanes. The last bad one we had the USCG training station's last reported windspeed was 154 MPH before all their vertical masts were blown away. Trees were snapped off mid-trunk which is a sign of 140 MPH and above. Hopefully this one will not be as bad. But I am cooking up a batch of food just in case we lose power. I'll just keep the dish outside in a secure pot as it will be cold. No need for sunblock.

The lens is, as reported, a good one. M9 + LLL Elcan at f/5.6. The central white building with the four dark verticals was the office building in "Sometimes I Think About Dying".

And, hey, maybe I am just late to the party, but those lens wipes we use on lenses and eyeglasses, they clean cameras wonderfully, too. Just in case I am not the only person who did not know. ;o)

L1003538 by West Phalia, on Flickr​

 

[boojum]

Lens Detection I am trying to figure out what to enter into the M240 for a lens code in setting one manually. LLL does not code a six bit white and black dash onto the lens flange. So I am wondering if anyone has found the sweet lens profile or do I just use 11817, the Summicron-M 50mm f/2.0 V III profile? It seems to work, and it works without coding a lens profile also, but if there is a "right" way I would like to know it.