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

[nickthetasmaniac]

That looks very good for a prototype! And the naked brass actually looks pretty classy (in a steam punk kind of way)...

 

[Erik van Straten]

Yes, the lens looks good! Would like to see the test pictures!


Erik.

 

[teddy]

Hi Vincent,

Thank you very much for writing this comment. Regarding your question, the maker gave me his answer.

This is his first replica project. He wants to make it as close as possible to the original Summicron 35 2. He breaks down two original lenses and has analysis all the coatings on each element. He said the original one used two types of single coating. And they used exactly the same as the original.
But at the same time, they made another sample version with multiple coatings to improve the performance. And they will do the test between the version with original coating and multiple coatings.

About your painting preference, they use the copper surface baked-enamel coating processes instead of the oxidation blackening process on the aluminum alloy surface. So matte black will not be included in the painting option. I am sorry about that.

Kevin

What a SUPERB project - just AWESOME - I wish you the best of success!!!

 

[Huss]

Looks very nice but I hope the production models will not have 'made in China' in such big script!
Nothing against China (I have lots of 7A lenses), just it ruins the look.

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

That looks very good for a prototype! And the naked brass actually looks pretty classy (in a steam punk kind of way)...

Steampunk is really a nice way to describe the look of the brass lens! I like it. 🙂

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

Yes, the lens looks good! Would like to see the test pictures!


Erik.

I will upload some pictures this weekend and a more will come.

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

What a SUPERB project - just AWESOME - I wish you the best of success!!!

Thank you very much! It means a lot to the maker.

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

Looks very nice but I hope the production models will not have 'made in China' in such big script!
Nothing against China (I have lots of 7A lenses), just it ruins the look.

Sorry, I guess the final version will still keep the Made In China engraving. The maker is proud of his works and wants to let the worlds know it comes from China.

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

Finally, I could use this lovely lens to take some pictures. These are my first version prototype test phots.

Please click on the photo if you want to see the larger version to get more details.

PS: The Exif information on Flickr is not correct. I will try to fix this error next time.


All photos taken with Leica M10 + Leica Summicron 35mm f2 Eight Element Replica Prototype First Version



Leica Summicron 35mm f2 Eight Element Replica Prototype First Version by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr



Leica Summicron 35mm f2 Eight Element Replica Prototype First Version by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr



@f/2.0
Leica Summicron 35mm f2 Eight Element Replica Prototype First Version by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr



@f/2.0
Leica Summicron 35mm f2 Eight Element Replica Prototype First Version by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr



Leica Summicron 35mm f2 Eight Element Replica Prototype First Version by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr



Leica Summicron 35mm f2 Eight Element Replica Prototype First Version by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr



Leica Summicron 35mm f2 Eight Element Replica Prototype First Version by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr



Leica Summicron 35mm f2 Eight Element Replica Prototype First Version by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr



@f/2.0
Leica Summicron 35mm f2 Eight Element Replica Prototype First Version by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr



@f/2.0
Leica Summicron 35mm f2 Eight Element Replica Prototype First Version by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr



Leica Summicron 35mm f2 Eight Element Replica Prototype First Version by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr


Please enjoy,
Kevin

 

[Deleted member 65559]

Thank you Kevin, The brass prototype looks beautiful. Thank you for the entire thread about this lens.

 

[aizan]

This project is wonderful and praiseworthy.

I think they should even put the city of manufacture on the front name ring where "Wetzlar" would have been.

Personally, I would engrave "China" in upper and lower case on the focus ring like the variant below. 😉

 

[santino]

Did you know that way back in the past England forced Germany to put „made in Germany“ on their products?
Yeah, Germany produced knock offs, so did Japan etc.

I like this project!

 

[Huss]

I case people mis-understand, I have no problem with it saying Made in China. I would just like the lettering to be a little smaller as I think no matter what it says, it is too large.

 

[Erik van Straten]

I see no distortion and very sharp pictures. So far, so good. Now I would like to see some bokeh-samples: close up portraits at f/2 and focus exactly on the eyes.

Erik.

 

[Huss]

Finally, I could use this lovely lens to take some pictures. These are my first version prototype test phots.

Please click on the photo if you want to see the larger version to get more details.

PS: The Exif information on Flickr is not correct. I will try to fix this error next time.


All photos taken with Leica M10 + Leica Summicron 35mm f2 Eight Element Replica Prototype First Version



Leica Summicron 35mm f2 Eight Element Replica Prototype First Version by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr



Leica Summicron 35mm f2 Eight Element Replica Prototype First Version by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr



@f/2.0
Leica Summicron 35mm f2 Eight Element Replica Prototype First Version by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr



@f/2.0
Leica Summicron 35mm f2 Eight Element Replica Prototype First Version by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr



Leica Summicron 35mm f2 Eight Element Replica Prototype First Version by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr



Leica Summicron 35mm f2 Eight Element Replica Prototype First Version by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr



Leica Summicron 35mm f2 Eight Element Replica Prototype First Version by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr



Leica Summicron 35mm f2 Eight Element Replica Prototype First Version by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr



@f/2.0
Leica Summicron 35mm f2 Eight Element Replica Prototype First Version by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr



@f/2.0
Leica Summicron 35mm f2 Eight Element Replica Prototype First Version by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr



Leica Summicron 35mm f2 Eight Element Replica Prototype First Version by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr


Please enjoy,
Kevin

How did you process these images? They all have that orange/cyan look which is very popular on social media right now.

As Erik mentioned, some closer shots at f2 would be nice as these further ones show extended DOF.

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

I case people mis-understand, I have no problem with it saying Made in China. I would just like the lettering to be a little smaller as I think no matter what it says, it is too large.

Hi Huss, I didn't mis-understand your message. Thank you for your advice. I will let the maker know your suggestion. Please keep in mind that this is the first version of the prototype, the main purpose for it is to test out its optical performance. You can see that many details of this version are not refined. The second version is much better in my opinion. And now he is still trying to improve it.

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

I see no distortion and very sharp pictures. So far, so good. Now I would like to see some bokeh-samples: close up portraits at f/2 and focus exactly on the eyes.

Erik.

Thank you for your comment Erik. It does very sharp when stopped down to f/2.8 ~ f/4.0. If the lighting situation is not too challenge, it could also produce very sharp images at f/2.0.

I have taken a portrait that day at f/2.8. I will upload it later. I will also try to take some portraits very soon.

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

How did you process these images? They all have that orange/cyan look which is very popular on social media right now.

As Erik mentioned, some closer shots at f2 would be nice as these further ones show extended DOF.

Yeah, I will do the portrait test later.

I edit my DNG files on Photoshop. I will adjust the white balance, shadow, highlight, etc. And then I will use my preset to get to the basic look I want. I will adjust the color balance, this and that to refine my picture to get to the final result.

Well, I am trying very hard to find my own style. I am now still learning and exploring. Long way to go.

By the way, I use 27'' iMac to edit and view my pictures. I suppose different monitor will present the color slightly different.

Kevin

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

All photos taken with Leica M10 + Leica Summicron 35mm f2 Eight Element Replica Prototype First Version


Leica Summicron 35mm f2 Eight Element Replica Prototype First Version by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr


@f/2.0
Leica Summicron 35mm f2 Eight Element Replica Prototype First Version by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr


Leica Summicron 35mm f2 Eight Element Replica Prototype First Version by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr


Leica Summicron 35mm f2 Eight Element Replica Prototype First Version by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr


Leica Summicron 35mm f2 Eight Element Replica Prototype First Version by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr


Leica Summicron 35mm f2 Eight Element Replica Prototype First Version by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr


Leica Summicron 35mm f2 Eight Element Replica Prototype First Version by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr


Leica Summicron 35mm f2 Eight Element Replica Prototype First Version by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr


Leica Summicron 35mm f2 Eight Element Replica Prototype First Version by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr


Leica Summicron 35mm f2 Eight Element Replica Prototype First Version by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr
This photo was taken facing the sunlight.

 

[yossi]

Could we see a DNG file please?

Could we see a DNG file please?

Yeah, I will do the portrait test later.

I edit my DNG files on Photoshop. I will adjust the white balance, shadow, highlight, etc. And then I will use my preset to get to the basic look I want. I will adjust the color balance, this and that to refine my picture to get to the final result.

Well, I am trying very hard to find my own style. I am now still learning and exploring. Long way to go.

By the way, I use 27'' iMac to edit and view my pictures. I suppose different monitor will present the color slightly different.

Kevin

Dear Kevin,

(First forgive me if I sound blunt, I don't mean to be critical.)

While you were trying to process these pictures to your own taste, it would not serve the purpose of letting others objectively evaluate how this prototype lens performs. The colours, the sharpness, the contrast are all over-processed IMHO. Just compare with those earlier test pictures that you posted, huge difference!

May I suggest that you share a few of these test shots in DNG format and that would show the intrinsic performance of this prototype lens.

Best,

Yossi