A mini review
Optically interesting, although I cannot see any usual Leica glow near the highlights using an M11-P. It's quite hard to draw it out. Will try it on B&W film in the near future to see the response.
Colors and tones when properly adjusted in Tonal Curve can be quite unusual and they project a slight iridescent look, as shown in this test images. Not sure if the compressed JPG can reveal it here, though.
As for their attempt to manufacture a hood, I think they need to go back to the drawing board. Yes, it is easy to mount it with the twin spring-loaded buttons. But, after it is mounted, it floats around the barrel and does the cling and the clung. Sounds sloppy. Does not elicit a feel of a high end product. They need to re-think this.
Additionally, the front lens cap cannot be mounted on the lens with the hood on. That seems to be their problem across other lenses as well; for example, the Elcan and the 35mm/2 (8 Elements).
Overall, it's a commendable effort but the rough pointy corners need to be filed.
Also, if I were them, I'd not be so quick to squash the demand by raising prices so rapidly. At this point, they should be almost giving out "free" products to establish a larger market presence; perhaps, selling products at a loss. To me, LLL is not an established company yet. It takes a decade or two of unwavering consistency in their product quality to be established. People are taking a risk to try out their products and raising prices meant increasing risks for an opportunity to try.
PS: No color saturation was increased in LR, just tonal curve adjustments
COnes by Jim Fischer, on Flickr
Spring by Jim Fischer, on Flickr
Spring by Jim Fischer, on Flickr
