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

[raid]

18. f/4 1/250

19. f/8 1/90

20. f/11 1/25

 

[Erik van Straten]

Focusing the replica seemed to me as being easier than focusing with the Cron.

Is this difficulty of focusing caused by the goggles? I know that your Summicron has goggles.

I find it very hard to see any difference in sharpness or whatever between the shots that were taken with the same f/stops. I think that both lenses are equal.

Erik.

 

[raid]

Hi Erik,
Yes, my Summicron has the goggles, but I think that the replica lens snaps into focus faster (for me). What could this mean, if I am correct here?

 

[raid]

I once e-mailed Setadel about a 53mm Biogon they had in ok cond..going for around $1900-.
They never got back to me...
I eventually found a Tech 70 outfit w/3 mint lenses..Biogon/Planar/Sonnar for the same price..
I dont condemn businesses for pricing high for rare stuff..as they have to stay in business..
But I'm glad I waited..
But..

I wont forget that they never got back to me...

They should have emailed you back. Maybe they sold that lens.

 

[D&A]

Raid, it appears you have three sets of test images. My guess is the 1st set with the chain link was 1st taken with the replica and then the original cron.

n the 2nd set with the tree at mid distance, the tree was 1st taken with the original cron and then the replica.

In the 3rd set with the close-up of the tree, you 1st used the replica and then the original cron. I can later mention how I came to my conclusions (if I am correct).

Dave (D&A)

 

[raid]

Raid, it appears you have three sets of test images. My guess is the 1st set with the chain link was 1st taken with the replica and then the original cron.

n the 2nd set with the tree at mid distance, the tree was 1st taken with the original cron and then the replica.

In the 3rd set with the close-up of the tree, you 1st used the replica and then the original cron. I can later mention how I came to my conclusions (if I am correct).

Dave (D&A)

link: https://www.smugmug.com/homepage/stats/?min=1591213468&max=1593805468&AlbumID=214557777&stat=5
You may have solved the mystery, Dave. Now you can tell us how you identified each lens. 😀

The first set of images was about the background. Focus was on the swing chains.
The second set of images balanced between the tree on the left and the swings on the right.
The third set was about details in the oak tree.

I tried to minimize the number of times I had to switch the lenses around so that nothing got into the M9.

set 1: replica then Cron.
set 2: Cron then replica
set 3: replica then Cron.

 

[D&A]

My observations mainly apply to your set of images (including those you took previously of the boat with both lenses)…..but also seen in the examples posted by a few others whole compared both lenses.

It appears when focusing on something fairly close up, the out of focus (out of the zone of focus) background is considerably sharper with the replica than the original cron.

Secondly, if you look at the pics of the chain link in focus with the out of focus trees in the background, you will see in the very very top left and very very top right corners of the near open aperture images with the replica....that these small areas of these corners for some reason are quite sharp yet the rest of the background is blurred (soft) as expected. I've noticed this in other replica images when focus is on a close object and looking at the very top edge corners on near wide open images. for whatever reason, they are sharp when the rest of the background is appropriately soft. Maybe curvature of the glass? All I described above has been fairly consistent differences between the replica and the original cron from what I have observed so far.

Lastly the contrast and slight color cast is different between the two lenses but this alone I might attribute to the age of the glass between the two lenses.

Dave (D&A)

 

[Erik van Straten]

if you look at the pics of the chain link in focus with the out of focus trees in the background, you will see in the very very top left and very very top right corners of the near open aperture images with the replica....that these small areas of these corners for some reason are quite sharp

This is a characteristic that the original possesses too. I've seen that many times with the original 8 element lens, also here, on Raids pictures. The field of sharpness is curved.

Erik.

 

[raid]

I am glad that my images have contributed to some information on the replica lens. It is a fine lens overall.

 

[raid]

Thank you for your clarifications, Dave.

 

[D&A]

You're welcome Raid. Thanks also to Erik for your observation & clarification. I used to own the 8 element cron (googled version) and didn't notice it in my copy (would have to go back to those files). I also did "not" notice this phenomenon in the images Raid posted with his original cron. It may be some differences between samples of the original cron...hard to say for sure.

Again thanks to Raid (and others) who have taken the time to post comparative images between the replica and original cron. Truly appreciated.

Again the replica looks to be a fantastic lens and am just wait on word of mine being shipped.

Dave (D&A)

 

[shawn]

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.

A is aperture priority, not program as the Leica has no way of adjusting aperture. Assuming you set both to the same apertures when shooting, the reason you are seeing different 'F' stops in the details between the two lenses is likely differences in the actual light transmission between the lenses. I've seen the same thing with my M240 when comparing different lenses. The Leica is estimating the F stop based on its external light sensor and what the camera is metering. Put a filter on a lens and you will see it thinks it is more stopped down.

If you record the actual F stop of each shot you can also see this in differences in shutter speed between the lenses if your lighting is constant.

Shawn

 

[raid]

Hi Shawn. I set each time the aperture to 2.0 (say), but I got 2.4 or even 2.8 for both lenses. Is the M9 using f/2.0 or f/2.4? The light level can change each few seconds with clouds covering the sun. Thanks. I know that using A on a Leica M9 means aperture priority. I was curious about the aperture settings chosen by the camera.

 

[D&A]

Raid, if you set the aperture on the lens ring to f2.0, then the lens is wide open and you are shooting at f2.0. Same think for setting the other apertures. Just report what you had the lens being used was set to.When you look at the exif data, all its doing is approximating what f-stop you are using since there is no communication between the lens and body on a Leica M body. Personally when posting images here, all I would put down is the aperture you had the aperture ring set to (on any lens tested), so its clear what aperture you had a lens being used /tested was actually set to.

Dave (D&A)

 

[raid]

This is also a good explanation of it, Dave. So a "2.4" is really still a "2.0" in reality.

 

[D&A]

This is also a good explanation of it, Dave. So a "2.4" is really still a "2.0" in reality.

Yes, with a Leica M digital, if you set the lens aperture ring to say f2 or f4 or f5.6 etc....then you took the shot with that said lens at those apertures and thus should list those apertures as such when posting or describing an image.

Dave (D&A)

 

[raid]

This is good to know.

 

[D&A]

This is good to know.

That's why the labeling of your test images was a bit confusing..when trying to compare images taken at the same aperture with both the replica and the cron.

Dave (D&A)

 

[raid]

I have changed the aperture values that I posted here.

 

[shawn]

Hi Shawn. I set each time the aperture to 2.0 (say), but I got 2.4 or even 2.8 for both lenses. Is the M9 using f/2.0 or f/2.4? The light level can change each few seconds with clouds covering the sun. Thanks. I know that using A on a Leica M9 means aperture priority. I was curious about the aperture settings chosen by the camera.

If you set it to f2 you are shooting at f2. Aperture priority means you set the aperture and the camera sets an appropriate shutter speed to go with it.

The reported aperture is just the camera trying to make an estimation of where you had the lens set. The camera is comparing its external light meter vs the internal meter and trying to estimate what the F stop is.

Shawn