[New test photos released] Leica Summicron 35/2 Eight Element copy made in China

[fish1991222]

As a professional musician..I can tell you..that Chinese companies rip off my music on a regular basis..
As well as European companies..and US companies..really..no country is exempt..
If anything..its gotten worse..way way worse..

Sorry to hear that.

Although I believe companies are different from each other, so are people.

Regards

Fisher

 

[shawn]

2. I believe Kevin is doing everything he can to get your "preordered" (There is no payment until Kevin tells you that your lens is ready, correct me if I am wrong here) lens ready to ship.

I think he started that way but now is collecting money when the lens is about to go into production. Which makes sense considering the custom engraving of the lenses. I paid on June 17th with Kevin saying early July for production which is fine IMO.

Totally agree that being very different then if Kevin collected all the money up front back in December.

Shawn

 

[pyeh]

Thank you, Kevin, and thank you, Fisher.

 

[james.liam]

Yes, Leitz themselves returned to a non-aspherical design, the Noctilux 50mm f/1.

However, these early Noctiluxes are not very sharp, aspherical or not. A well known fact.

Erik.

1++

I think the appeal is to possess Unobtainium.

 

[jonmanjiro]

The lions share of people on the list for the first 500 lenses are domestic buyers, not RFFers. RFFers are only a small share of the total, of which an even smaller share have already received a lens. Impossible to judge production capacity from what you see posted in this thread alone.

Obviously Chinese buyers at home had to wait over 2 months to get their copies as well.

But the omnipresent Breguet Camera always has its ways. I wonder if anyone had kept the count on the numerous uniquely finished "limited" Miyazaki lenses they offered throughout the years. Golden, red chrome, some special Japanese lacquer, you name it.

Please be aware of that not only oversea users that are buying the lens, there are also many leica users in China preordered this lens too, although in a different social media platform.

Contrary to what many seem to assume in our little RFF bubble, the first batch of 500 lenses is NOT for RFFers only.

Most of the lenses are for the domestic market, and many have already shipped. The entire batch could have easily been sold in China, and probably in Shanghai or Beijing alone!!! That's the enormity of the Chinese market.

However, thanks to Kevin's efforts, some lenses in the first batch are assigned to RFFers outside China at the bargain price of $499. Without Kevin, our only option would be buying high priced lenses on ebay from dodgy flippers like Breguet Camera.

 

[xasthur]

this lens looks really nice. Wish I could order one.

 

[Deleted member 65559]

dodgy flippers like Breguet Camera.

Well, with stores in China, & HK (& i hear Tokyo), they seem to have a pretty big market....outside the western world.

 

[Ccoppola82]

Of all the things going on in the world right now, when I get the lens is of little concern. Kevin has been up front, and even when he took payment for mine recently he said beforehand he was not positive on a delivery date. No matter to me. I want the lens, reputable people on here have their hands on one and say it’s fantastic. It will come when it comes. If there’s something that comes up and I don’t receive the lens, I have faith that Kevin would refund any $. I don’t suspect that to be the case and will patiently wait and shoot with my other lenses. Lol.

 

[jonmanjiro]

Well, with stores in China, & HK (& i hear Tokyo), they seem to have a pretty big market....outside the western world.

Their focus is online selling but I've been to their Tokyo store. Its in a sleepy suburb in Asakusa, Tokyo and its more of a warehouse than an actual walk-in shop. I went there to check a Ricoh 21mm f3.5 LTM lens described as being in perfect condition in their description on ebay. Turned out the rear optical group was so hazy you could hardly see through it. They changed the ebay description to "lens has slight haze, won't affect image quality" after my visit.

But yeah, they have lots of rare stuff priced for the "must have it right now at any price" crowd. Just be careful of their descriptions 😉

 

[Deleted member 65559]

But yeah, they have lots of rare stuff priced for the "must have it right now at any price" crowd.

I just know their target market from having seen the "Black Leica" book that came out of HK. I have my list of favourite places in Tokyo since my grad student days there in 1975. Like everywhere else, it's buyer beware on older Leica stuff.
It still amazes me, the wide range of rare cameras and lenses to be seen for sale in Tokyo.
In Canada there's Setadel Studios in Ontario for the collector of 'rarities.'

 

[jshcrlsn]

Kevin and Mr. Zhou,
Thank you for taking the time and effort needed to produce a quality product worthy of respect regardless of price. Thank you for giving your time to others for the love of this craft. In an age where everyone is moving and consuming mass produced products at great speeds it is nice to see someone is still taking their time and putting the integrity of the product first! It is evident by the images and comments on this forum that is exactly what you guys are doing. This is something that cannot be rushed and so by all means...take your time and be held only to your own standards for quality regardless of the expectations of others. Quality products inspire me to live up to their standards and I very much look forward to posting my best images with this replica here and all in good time.

 

[raid]

I just know their target market from having seen the "Black Leica" book that came out of HK. I have my list of favourite places in Tokyo since my grad student days there in 1975. Like everywhere else, it's buyer beware on older Leica stuff.
It still amazes me, the wide range of rare cameras and lenses to be seen for sale in Tokyo.
In Canada there's Setadel Studios in Ontario for the collector of 'rarities.'

I was viewing Setadel Studio sales as being "way too costly", but one day while I was looking for a very clean Zeiss Hologon 16/8, I found a demo or shelf lens at Sitadel for about $1500 shipped. The lens looked as if it had never been used. I bought it from them.

 

[raid]

Kevin and Mr. Zhou,
Thank you for taking the time and effort needed to produce a quality product worthy of respect regardless of price. Thank you for giving your time to others for the love of this craft. In an age where everyone is moving and consuming mass produced products at great speeds it is nice to see someone is still taking their time and putting the integrity of the product first! It is evident by the images and comments on this forum that is exactly what you guys are doing. This is something that cannot be rushed and so by all means...take your time and be held only to your own standards for quality regardless of the expectations of others. Quality products inspire me to live up to their standards and I very much look forward to posting my best images with this replica here and all in good time.

I agree with Josh, but I am fortunate to already have received a lens from Kevin. It is a unique lens. It is now mounted on my M9.

 

[Huss]

I was viewing Setadel Studio sales as being "way too costly", but one day while I was looking for a very clean Zeiss Hologon 16/8, I found a demo or shelf lens at Sitadel for about $1500 shipped. The lens looked as if it had never been used. I bought it from them.

I've had some really good deals from Setadel.

I bought a like new chrome Leica R7 for $250, and a complete new condition Hasselblad H1 kit for less than what anyone else was asking.

The only times I've seen their prices being high are for rare/limited edition collector's items. Which would be priced high.

 

[raid]

I took some shots with the Cron and its replica a few minutes ago. This time, I used a tripod. ISO is 160, with aperture priority. I am posting here the f stops that show up for "details".
There are 20 images posted. I took with each lens 3-5 photos, and then I switched the lenses around. Can you help me figure out which lens was used for each image here?
Am I assuming that "A" gives aperture priority in the M9 when in fact it is similar to "Program"? Any lack of sharpness can be blamed on me and not the lenses. The Gitzo tripod I used here is heavy and sturdy.
Focusing the replica seemed to me as being easier than focusing with the Cron. I may be just imagining it.



1. f/2 1/90

2. f/4 1/30

3. f/8 1/8

 

[Emile de Leon]

I once e-mailed Setadel about a 53mm Biogon they had in ok cond..going for around $1900-.
They never got back to me...

 

[raid]

4. f/4 1/125

5. f/8 1/45

6. f/11 1/8

 

[raid]

7. f/2 1/180

8. f/4 1/250

9. f/8 1/90

10. f/11 1/125

11. f/16 1/6

 

[raid]

12. f/2 1/250

13. f/4 1/90

14. f/8 1/125

 

[raid]

15. f/2 1/250

16. f/4 1/90

17. f/8 1/25