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

Manufacturing the right kinds of flint glass is not illegal in China.



Old lenses are generally expensive due to rarity and high demand once they become ‘classic’.


Yes, they are rare because the glass is unavailable. Particulary in Germany the environmental legislation is extremely strict. In the sixties Leitz produced its own glass, but those times are long gone. Some of their lenses contained six different kinds of glass with extremely high refractive indices. That is why the Noctilux f/1 is no longer produced. The Summilux 35mm steel rim is another example.

Maybe the production in China is less problematic, but usually other optical solutions are used, such as aspheric lenses. These produce a different type of image however.

Erik.
 
Horrible rings around oof highlights, only very slightly worse from the replica😱

I'm kidding, who cares. These all look lovely, and the difference in contrast from modern coatings is smaller than I thought.
 
Horrible rings around oof highlights, only very slightly worse from the replica😱

I'm kidding, who cares. These all look lovely, and the difference in contrast from modern coatings is smaller than I thought.

Thanks for the comment. His goal is to make the replica as close as possible to the original one. He analyzed the coatings on each of the glass in Leica 8 elements and applied them on the replica. He said he could improve the performance but it's not his original intention. Anyway, that's what I have been told.
 
So it is a true replica. Hopefully, in the near future we will see almost all cult lenses replicated by someone as dedicated as this gentleman,
 
Incredible! I never thought that different lenses can be so close.

The original lens is a tiny little bit softer. Look at the dark parts of the teapot in the last picture.

Thank you Kevin for these pictures.

Erik.
 
I have the same feelings here, Erik. It is a true replica and a success overall. There are hardly any differences at all. The OOF is nearly identical in all aspects.
 
I was looking forward to these most recent comparisons and glad you posted them. I would like to also see the comparisons between the two lenses at longer distances and then finally comparisons between the two lenses at close and distance range both wide open and stopped down. Up to now, extremely impressed and hope it will also be released in chrome/silver.

Dave (D&A)
 
That prototype looks expertly machined and love the brass! Hope that's available. Used the 8-element for a trial long ago but the damned thing had permanent haze that killed any contrast wide open. Would definitely go for its twin at $500-700.

Question, though. I'm more of a lurker than a commenter only because most here are far better informed and experienced than me. Really learned a lot from you folks over the years. You guys were razzing someone earlier for being negative about this new development and I thought the same as 'Huss' and others did but when I went reading around on Leica Users Forum, I suddenly stumbled on the same posting and photos by Kevin. Makes me wonder if there's something to that earlier poster's suspicions.

I also cross post on multiple forums that I frequent - rff, fredmiranda and photrio.
It gets more views from people who may not see it elsewhere, and thus (especially if I have a question) can get more useful responses.

However, I am not cross posting this reply..
😀

Kevin, those results look very encouraging. And I really think a natural brass finish would be excellent because:
1. It looks great
b. It celebrates this lens as something unique standing out in the field full of black and silver lenses
iii. Not that it matters, but those out there claiming it's a knock off or counterfeit would have even less to grouch about because the original never looked like this.
 
So it is a true replica. Hopefully, in the near future we will see almost all cult lenses replicated by someone as dedicated as this gentleman,

Don't forget that Leica is in the midst of doing the same. The 28 Summaron, to my surprise, was a great hit while the 90 Thambar not so much. And they have mentioned that they have others planned for re-release.
 
Don't forget that Leica is in the midst of doing the same. The 28 Summaron, to my surprise, was a great hit while the 90 Thambar not so much. And they have mentioned that they have others planned for re-release.

28 is much more common focal length. Plus small size. Plus, it has some usable image "quality".
Trabant has none of it. It is as "usable" as MS Optics 50 1.1.

And why do you think it is forgotten? It just irrelevant for many of us. New Leica lenses are priced for niche market, not for common photographers.
Yet, lenses like in this thread are for the most of us. Simply because of the price.
 
Incredible! I never thought that different lenses can be so close.

The original lens is a tiny little bit softer. Look at the dark parts of the teapot in the last picture.

Thank you Kevin for these pictures.

Erik.

You are welcome, Erik.

The maker shared some thoughts regard the softness of the original lens performance. When they were setting up the comparison, they decided to use a Summicron 35/2 that is 100% in its original condition, which means never been opened before and in near new condition. But still, the original lens is almost 60 years old. Haze issue is regularly in the Leica old lens. And we now compare it with a brand new replica. And he said that the replica has slightly higher contrast.
 
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