Leica KE-7A + Elcan 50mm f/2.0 kit lens [for US Military] Photos

LeicaFoReVer said:
Hi Kevin you should copy this lens too 😎
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Haha! The fun fact is the maker also seen my post, and he was immediately interested in this lens and asks my opinions on this lens, and he also has done some research by himself. He did express some interest in replicating this lens. But at the same time, he already has a big project next to the 8-element. Currently, he is working very hard to manufacture the final product of his first replica lens. So I am not sure about this.
 
KEVIN-XU 愛 forever;2926556 said:
Erik, all the photos were taken with Leica M10. So we can remove out the factor of the scanner. It's interesting that I still cannot find the distortion you mentioned. Maybe they are not very obvious, or I just not understand what distortion is. Either way, I am still like this Elcan 50mm lens very much. The image it produces pleased my eyes.

Kevin
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The vertical line at the extreme right (the doorpost) is not straight, but slightly curved like a barrel. A simple barrel distortion. This is often the case with all kind of lenses, also with Leica lenses (the Summilux 50mm f/1.4 v2 for instance has a lot of it).

To test a lens on this, mount the camera on a tripod, check with a spirit level whether the camera is perpendicular and take a shot of a brick wall. Any distortion will be immediatly obvious.

Erik.
 
Erik van Straten said:
The vertical line at the extreme right (the doorpost) is not straight, but slightly curved like a barrel. A simple barrel distortion. This is often the case with all kind of lenses, also with Leica lenses (the Summilux 50mm f/1.4 v2 for instance has a lot of it).

To test a lens on this, mount the camera on a tripod, check with a spirit level whether the camera is perpendicular and take a shot of a brick wall. Any distortion will be immediatly obvious.

Erik.
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Thank you for the explanation. Yes, I remember I read your post regarding the severe distortion of V2 Summilux 50 1.4. The distortion is obvious on that lens. I will do a test on this lens when I get a chance.

Kevin
 
The brick test may work on old, solid walls somewhere but newish buildings. last 100 years are not straight or perfect..
A door frame can warp..
If there is distortion, i couldn't care less..using modern digitals with huge distortions..
The images are beautiful.
 
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KEVIN-XU 愛 forever;2926557 said:
Haha! The fun fact is the maker also seen my post, and he was immediately interested in this lens and asks my opinions on this lens, and he also has done some research by himself. He did express some interest in replicating this lens. But at the same time, he already has a big project next to the 8-element. Currently, he is working very hard to manufacture the final product of his first replica lens. So I am not sure about this.
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😀 Hi Kevin, May I ask what the next project is?
 
KEVIN-XU 愛 forever;2926999 said:
The next project will be a super-fast speed 50mm lens. I will announce it in my 8-element replica post very soon. 🙂
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Hi Kevin,

I think a super fast replica isnt a good idea. Just my opinion and you may let know the master if you would like. Because it would be relatively a big and expensive lens, not many people might sign up. Unless you make a Noctilux at summicron price. Still the size would make people stay away. I would definitely consider making a more common and daily lens like 50 mm summicron or Elcan. What do you say? Super fast lenses can be on the list once you build a portfolio of most selling lenses. That is why you started with 35mm f2 lens not 35mm f1.2 or f1.4 lens, right?
 
LeicaFoReVer said:
Hi Kevin,

I think a super fast replica isnt a good idea. Just my opinion and you may let know the master if you would like. Because it would be relatively a big and expensive lens, not many people might sign up. Unless you make a Noctilux at summicron price. Still the size would make people stay away. I would definitely consider making a more common and daily lens like 50 mm summicron or Elcan. What do you say? Super fast lenses can be on the list once you build a portfolio of most selling lenses. That is why you started with 35mm f2 lens not 35mm f1.2 or f1.4 lens, right?
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I am glad to hear your opinion. I will definitely deliver your opinion to the maker. But at this point, I don't know if it's possible for the maker to move his focus to a different 50mm project. Since he already started working on it, like finding the right type of glass, finding the right facility to cooperate, researching the technics that required for making the next lens. And to be honest, I am very excited about his next project. That is the No.1 lens in my dream list.

Kevin
 
A lovely rendering from this Elcan! I would be interested to see how this lens would look in black and white at a modest distances and f stops of 5.6 and 8 to see how it looks at max reZ. This would be a good one for The Maker to consider but I would take the 66mm f/2 Elcan before this lens
 
Noserider said:
A lovely rendering from this Elcan! I would be interested to see how this lens would look in black and white at a modest distances and f stops of 5.6 and 8 to see how it looks at max reZ. This would be a good one for The Maker to consider but I would take the 66mm f/2 Elcan before this lens
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Sorry I only take color pictures. I guess I can edit the pictures into B&W if that could help.
I never thought of 66mm f/2 as it is very mysterious and only a few samples exist. That would be quite hard to find enough information to replicate. And 66mm is a weird focal range too.
 
KEVIN-XU 愛 forever;2926999 said:
The next project will be a super-fast speed 50mm lens. I will announce it in my 8-element replica post very soon. 🙂
Click to expand...

Oh man! I gotta find some dosh - start selling stuff that's doing nothin' in the cupboards... 😀
 
KEVIN-XU 愛 forever;2926999 said:
The next project will be a super-fast speed 50mm lens. I will announce it in my 8-element replica post very soon. 🙂
Click to expand...

I wonder if Mr. Zhou would consider my 2 cents?

I believe a lens like a Summicron 50/2 Collapsible Replica would be good because all of these are suffering from scratches, haze naturally from the glass in reaction the air most probably and since the glass is so soft. This lens has very pleasing characteristics and I'm not parting with mine. I know other folks who would not sell this lens. It is one of THE best lenses for black and white.

The Summilux 50/1.4 (NOT ASPH) Type II keeps going up in price and becoming harder to find - but this lens is a classic.

The the first 50 Noctilux is a classic - yes - eventually this would be very cool.

The 21/4 Super-Angulon is beautiful and a classic.

The 75/1.4 would be fantastic.
 
The USS New Jersey used to have one of these kits. So did the photo center at NAS Keflavik. A Navy photomate friend of mine was at Keflavik in 2003 when I was in Guam and he used me for advice on what stuff was. I remember him calling me and asking "Phil, have you ever heard of a L-I-N-H-O-F?" And then the inventory was just a fantasy list of everything photographic, still and motion, from 5x7 down to tiny spy cameras. That wasn't even the photoreconnaissance stuff, that was all current spooky gear.
Phil Forrest
 
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