pptmstr
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FUNLEADER Contax G35 to Leica M Conversions
(affiliate link)
Hello everyone, here's my review of the new Contax G 35mm f/2 FUNLEADER conversion to Leica M. I have included the 7artisans 35mm f/1.4 M and the Voigtlander VM 40mm f/1.2, the only lenses in the 35mm zone I own.
Disclaimers:
1. none of the lens makers / converters have been involved in these tests and I have personally purchased all 3 lenses, none of them have been provided.
2. all opinions expressed here are my own and, just like with anything in life (especially photography equipment!), you may have a different one.
A few bullet points about the tests:
- done on my Leica M-P typ 240
- done on a tripod with a 2 second timer to hopefully dampen most vibrations
- no filters or hoods were used and lenses were extremely clean
- captured at M-P's base ISO: 200 (with the exception of a few frames captured at 1.2 and 1.4 because 1/4000 was too slow to keep equal exposures so I set the ISO to PULL 100)
- exposure was manual and the exposure time was adjusted accordingly with every aperture change (generally 2/3 stop) in order to hopefully maintain an even exposure between the samples
- white balance was on AUTO
- all focus was EXTREMELY CAREFULLY done using LIVE VIEW at f/2 for each lens, using both the focus peaking and my own eyes to make sure I get the best possible focus
- focus was redone with every lens change
- the 40mm was repositioned so that the main subject filled roughly the same size in the photos (as much as possible, the infinity tests obviously show the difference in focal length)
- most tests were taken all all apertures but since this ended up requiring so much work I only included up to f/8, to be honest I don't think anything past that is relevant
- all samples processed in Capture 1 PRO with the default output sharpening for screen (any image processor will apply some sort of sharpening from DNG to JPG)
- I am sharing a Google Drive folder with all DNGs, JPGs, comparisons and misc images, all full size. Please check them out and use them for free, a credit would be nice if you end up posting them.
PART 1 / 6
A morsel of history: if you're reading this you most likely know what this lens is, otherwise this info can be easily found online.
The G35/2 is supposed to be the "lesser performer" of the Contax G suite, the internet is funny like that, some person deemed it once as not being as stellar as the G45/2 (which is whispered to be one of the best lenses in 35mm photography history) and the internet has taken that and transformed it into "not a good lens" kind of rumour. I am here to prove otherwise.
Here's a G35 / G45 specs comparison:
This 35 together with the Hologon 16mm are the only ones I do not own in G mount. I have shot all the other ones (21/2.8, 28/2.8, 45/2, 90/2.8) on my Contax G2 and adapted on my Sony A7R3 with a cheap Ulata adapter. They are sharp, very sharp wide open. And so light.
Build quality: without further ado, I think FUNLEADER and Mr. Ding have done an amazing job here: the conversion is incredible, so tiny and lovely, with a great weight and feel. The focus action is nice and smooth and the little focus tab suits the lens. The black paint version is really beautiful, I have always been a black paint / lacquer fan, hence my M-P. This version will get patina with use (unless you're Lenny Kravitz and give it a good rub to look well used). The "gold" version has lovely sharp black engravings and a black focus tab. The focus tabs are really nice, placed at the perfect position where, when pointed straight downwards, the lenses focus at 4 feet / 1.2 meters. I also purchased a "gold" helicoid as I am planning to do a conversion myself. The "gold" helicoid feels like brass and it's a bit of a fingerprint magnet.
The helicoid has "MR. DING" engraved on the mount. Pretty cool. I did a bit of digging and "Mr. Ding" is their master craftsman, maybe having been part of MGR Production. They are also behind the Bresson Viewfinder magnifier, which I happen to have on my M-P and love.
I would love to find out more about Mr. Ding, if anyone has info please do share.
The weight of the helicoid is 206g / 7.26oz and the whole lens is 266g / 9.38g
The lens did have a plastic ring glued on the front, on top of the original Carl Zeiss from markings, but I removed it easily and left no marks. Sorry Mr. Ding, I prefer the original Carl Zeiss engravings.
The original lens hood of the G35 / G45 fits nicely, but I have the champagne version and I personally don't think it works with either the black or the gold version. I might spray paint it with a glossy enamel.
Honestly, it looks amazing on the M-P. It is a gem of a little lens and a great performer.
Customer service: excellent, very responsive, I had quite a few questions for them and they replied very quickly.
Packing: excellent, pragmatic, not fancy.
Shipping: wowsers, the lens was in my hand in Vancouver BC Canada in 6 days, dayum!
(affiliate link)
Hello everyone, here's my review of the new Contax G 35mm f/2 FUNLEADER conversion to Leica M. I have included the 7artisans 35mm f/1.4 M and the Voigtlander VM 40mm f/1.2, the only lenses in the 35mm zone I own.
Disclaimers:
1. none of the lens makers / converters have been involved in these tests and I have personally purchased all 3 lenses, none of them have been provided.
2. all opinions expressed here are my own and, just like with anything in life (especially photography equipment!), you may have a different one.
A few bullet points about the tests:
- done on my Leica M-P typ 240
- done on a tripod with a 2 second timer to hopefully dampen most vibrations
- no filters or hoods were used and lenses were extremely clean
- captured at M-P's base ISO: 200 (with the exception of a few frames captured at 1.2 and 1.4 because 1/4000 was too slow to keep equal exposures so I set the ISO to PULL 100)
- exposure was manual and the exposure time was adjusted accordingly with every aperture change (generally 2/3 stop) in order to hopefully maintain an even exposure between the samples
- white balance was on AUTO
- all focus was EXTREMELY CAREFULLY done using LIVE VIEW at f/2 for each lens, using both the focus peaking and my own eyes to make sure I get the best possible focus
- focus was redone with every lens change
- the 40mm was repositioned so that the main subject filled roughly the same size in the photos (as much as possible, the infinity tests obviously show the difference in focal length)
- most tests were taken all all apertures but since this ended up requiring so much work I only included up to f/8, to be honest I don't think anything past that is relevant
- all samples processed in Capture 1 PRO with the default output sharpening for screen (any image processor will apply some sort of sharpening from DNG to JPG)
- I am sharing a Google Drive folder with all DNGs, JPGs, comparisons and misc images, all full size. Please check them out and use them for free, a credit would be nice if you end up posting them.
PART 1 / 6
A morsel of history: if you're reading this you most likely know what this lens is, otherwise this info can be easily found online.
The G35/2 is supposed to be the "lesser performer" of the Contax G suite, the internet is funny like that, some person deemed it once as not being as stellar as the G45/2 (which is whispered to be one of the best lenses in 35mm photography history) and the internet has taken that and transformed it into "not a good lens" kind of rumour. I am here to prove otherwise.
Here's a G35 / G45 specs comparison:
This 35 together with the Hologon 16mm are the only ones I do not own in G mount. I have shot all the other ones (21/2.8, 28/2.8, 45/2, 90/2.8) on my Contax G2 and adapted on my Sony A7R3 with a cheap Ulata adapter. They are sharp, very sharp wide open. And so light.
Build quality: without further ado, I think FUNLEADER and Mr. Ding have done an amazing job here: the conversion is incredible, so tiny and lovely, with a great weight and feel. The focus action is nice and smooth and the little focus tab suits the lens. The black paint version is really beautiful, I have always been a black paint / lacquer fan, hence my M-P. This version will get patina with use (unless you're Lenny Kravitz and give it a good rub to look well used). The "gold" version has lovely sharp black engravings and a black focus tab. The focus tabs are really nice, placed at the perfect position where, when pointed straight downwards, the lenses focus at 4 feet / 1.2 meters. I also purchased a "gold" helicoid as I am planning to do a conversion myself. The "gold" helicoid feels like brass and it's a bit of a fingerprint magnet.
The helicoid has "MR. DING" engraved on the mount. Pretty cool. I did a bit of digging and "Mr. Ding" is their master craftsman, maybe having been part of MGR Production. They are also behind the Bresson Viewfinder magnifier, which I happen to have on my M-P and love.
I would love to find out more about Mr. Ding, if anyone has info please do share.
The weight of the helicoid is 206g / 7.26oz and the whole lens is 266g / 9.38g
The lens did have a plastic ring glued on the front, on top of the original Carl Zeiss from markings, but I removed it easily and left no marks. Sorry Mr. Ding, I prefer the original Carl Zeiss engravings.
The original lens hood of the G35 / G45 fits nicely, but I have the champagne version and I personally don't think it works with either the black or the gold version. I might spray paint it with a glossy enamel.
Honestly, it looks amazing on the M-P. It is a gem of a little lens and a great performer.
Customer service: excellent, very responsive, I had quite a few questions for them and they replied very quickly.
Packing: excellent, pragmatic, not fancy.
Shipping: wowsers, the lens was in my hand in Vancouver BC Canada in 6 days, dayum!
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