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

[raid]

Many years ago I compared many 35mm lenses with a film camera. Roland then created this:

They were basic lens comparisons with lots of information.

 

[yossi]

Many years ago I compared many 35mm lenses with a film camera. Roland then created this:

...

They were basic lens comparisons with lots of information.

Great info, but they are not in colors 😉

 

[raid]

There were color film rolls too in the lens comparisons. I was sent by RFF members 25-30 lenses. Roland had all results at his smugmug website.

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

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 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 that would show the intrinsic performance of the prototype lens.

Best,

Yossi

Hi Yossi,

Thank you very much for your comment. It's always good to see people sharing their truthful opinions here. I totally understand. I will upload both pictures that directly transferred from DNG and my own version's post-process pictures in the following posts. But please also allow me to explain myself a little bit here. To be honest, I thought you guys already saw enough JPEG files that process by the camera itself in the past few weeks. In my opinion, they are a little boring and not showing the full power of the lens. And the reason why the maker sent this prototype to me is that he thinks I can get better results from the lens. He wants me to use it in my own way. Personally, I always only shoot DNG file and I will edit each of the photos. Everything is fully under my control. To my understanding, it's just like shooting films. You will choose different films from different brands to get different characteristic from it(Like color tone, texture, etc...). And you will also need to edit the image file on the computer while scanning films.

Regards,
Kevin

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

Many years ago I compared many 35mm lenses with a film camera. Roland then created this:

They were basic lens comparisons with lots of information.

Hi Raid, Thank you so much for sharing the comparison guide here. I will try to set up a test environment like this in the next week to compare the prototype with the original.

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

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



@f/2.8
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

@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


@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


@f/2.0


[url=https://flic.kr/p/2hc5CfN]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

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

 

[raid]

Great info, but they are not in colors 😉

 

[Huss]

Let's keep this thread about the Chinacron lens.

 

[raid]

No problem here.

 

[Deleted member 65559]

I'd like to see some B/W film results....

 

[Huss]

I gotta say in brass it is a gorgeous looking lens. I'll be a buyer.

 

[Paul T.]

The earlier photos looked great. The over-filtered ones that look like an iPhone via Instagram, crunching the dynamic range and adding vignette, don't do anything for it.

 

[szekiat]

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


omg where do i get a copy of the orange/brass finish!

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

No worries guys. I do feel sorry that some members here don't like the process version. But many people still like it and the maker gave positive feedback to me as he shared my photos in China too. And I personally really don't like the JPEG pictures that directly came out from the camera. So I will still upload both pictures that directly transferred from DNG and my own version's post-process pictures. You can always choose to click on the version you like to view the details on Flickr. I only have color films right now and I rarely use B&W film. Our forum member Erik will receive a prototype later. He will be mainly shot B&W films and share the results here.

As forum members request, yesterday I tried to mainly use f/2.0 to take all the photos. Here are the results.

Please try to click on the photos to view them on Flickr in a bigger format. You might have a different experience.




@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



@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



@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



@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

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

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


omg where do i get a copy of the orange/brass finish!

They will be available in the first batch. Personally I want to have both the black paint and brass version. They both look sexy on any camera.🙂

 

[raid]

Will there be a special price for ordering two lenses (brass and black)? That would be a great promotional factor.

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

Will there be a special price for ordering two lenses (brass and black)? That would be a great promotional factor.

I just got an answer from the maker. Sorry, there is no promotion during the first sale. *He said the first batch will be selling for $499. No matter how much tax will be applied to the lens, the final price will not change. He thinks this price is very good now. And the price in the future will only increase. So the first batch of the lens selling at $499 is already a "promotion price".

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

Final confirm on the selling price of first batch Leica Summicron 35/2 Ver.1 Replica

Final confirm on the selling price of first batch Leica Summicron 35/2 Ver.1 Replica

The retail price will be $499 for the first batch Leica Summicron 35/2 Ver.1 Replica.

 

[raid]

How many lenses will be offered as a first version?

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

How many lenses will be offered as a first version?

Around 200~300 copies will be available overseas.