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

It's the newest of the lot so not a great shock. Cosina has been serious about design + build + QC & isn't wasting people's time with $249.99 disposable lenses with DIY calibration.

I wish my front focusing ZM 50 1.5 and back focusing CV 35 1.2 had that disposable DIY calibration. Both Cosina products.
 
That's a feature, not a defect, Erik. Saves you having to add it in post!


Here are examples with the original lens. Jon is right, lots of vignetting!

I will make gelatin silver prints of these shots soon. (the first is only a scan)

Leica M2/Summicron 35mm f/2 8 elements/TriX and Tmax400.

Erik.

printed on Ilford MGFB:

49912317827_73a5b64435_b.jpg


printed on Ilford MGFB:

49910427238_b44b39c2cf_b.jpg


printed on Adox MCC110:

49898858233_6c272b3639_b.jpg



49690044943_f163b896dd_b.jpg
 
When I tested both the original 8-element and a prototype of the new replica lens, they both had significant, and similar, vignetting wide open. 2 stops IIRC. As I understand it, this is a byproduct of their symmetrical design. Since Leitz intended the speed of the lens as ideal for low-light reportage, the dark corners were not that big an issue.
 
I wish my front focusing ZM 50 1.5 and back focusing CV 35 1.2 had that disposable DIY calibration. Both Cosina products.

Then it's your fault not returning them when you could.
Heard stories of de-centered elements on TT and 7Artisans. Going to send it back to Shenzhen for repair?

他们会在地板上滚动,笑 (They will be ROTFL)

P.S.
The ZM 50 1.5 is focus-shifted @ ƒ/1.5 and optimized for ƒ/2.8, unless you recalibrate it (for free) by Zeiss.
I haven't reviewed the info on the earlier CV 1,2/35 if this was also the case.
 
The vignetting is about the same in my view.

Erik.

On the sample above? Agree with that.

I see only minor sample differences in most good lenses, but the 35 8 element lenses I've used have shown more variation than I would expect in regards to vignetting. I've had use of 5 or 6 and kept the one that was notably better.

I can't think of any explanation for that. I did check for assembly errors on all. The one I kept is German, though I didn't notice that for years. I have no idea if there could be some slight difference, though the internet says "no". At least one other I used was German.

I thought I had a picture to post, but apparently haven't uploaded it. The 8 element has been my favorite 35 Summicron for years. I felt left out at one time during the "king of bokeh" craze and did extensive comparisons on 11x14 prints. 8 element is still my favorite, though I like the other versions also. The zingy 6 element can be fun.
 
Then it's your fault not returning them when you could.
Heard stories of de-centered elements on TT and 7Artisans. Going to send it back to Shenzhen for repair?

他们会在地板上滚动,笑 (They will be ROTFL)

P.S.
The ZM 50 1.5 is focus-shifted @ ƒ/1.5 and optimized for ƒ/2.8, unless you recalibrate it (for free) by Zeiss.
I haven't reviewed the info on the earlier CV 1,2/35 if this was also the case.

I bought the 35/2 on Taobao while in China that year it first came out. The focus was under-dampened. Sent it back for a replacement. Eventually got unsatisfied with the wide open performance though and sold it to a young friend who'd just started shooting rangefinders.

So yes, if you have the means to send the lens back to Shenzhen and deal directly with 7Artisans, then they'll fix it. Just that they won't do focus adjustment which had been explicitly left to the user's end.
 
Then it's your fault not returning them when you could.
Heard stories of de-centered elements on TT and 7Artisans. Going to send it back to Shenzhen for repair?

他们会在地板上滚动,笑 (They will be ROTFL)

P.S.
The ZM 50 1.5 is focus-shifted @ ƒ/1.5 and optimized for ƒ/2.8, unless you recalibrate it (for free) by Zeiss.
I haven't reviewed the info on the earlier CV 1,2/35 if this was also the case.

Nah, I don't think so. I know what focus shift is.

But it's ok, if they had that disposable feature to adjust focus point, then there would be no issue. RF cameras are notorious to focus differently between bodies and lenses. A lens that focuses perfectly on my M7 may not on my M-A and vice versa.
I wish all my lenses - Leica, Zeiss, CV etc - had that feature. It is a shame that they don't.

And here I compare my disposable 7A lens to my $3000 Summicron Asph:

https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=167382

Back on topic, cannot wait to get my replica lens - in brass!
 
Nah, I don't think so. I know what focus shift is.
RF cameras are notorious to focus differently between bodies and lenses. A lens that focuses perfectly on my M7 may not on my M-A and vice versa.

This is true.

Back on topic, cannot wait to get my replica lens - in brass!

Have they told you how they resolved to seal it so it doesn't varnish green?
 
This is true.

Have they told you how they resolved to seal it so it doesn't varnish green?

Hopefully they haven't, regularly getting some copper ions on your hands is highly desirable these days, people will want the lens just for that when word gets out!
Seriously though, I like some brass patina much more than preserved shiny brass, that always looks a little kitschy to me. But I don't like the smell that brass develops with skin contact.
 
This is true.

Have they told you how they resolved to seal it so it doesn't varnish green?

No, but I think some patina would be cool..
I have a brass petzval lens from Lomography and that has not tarnished at all. It does not seem to have any coating on it.
 
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