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

[teddy]

A very short impression of my 35/2 Replica lens.

Took it out for a walk, and shot Adox CMS 20ii in a foggy day (not optimal).
Stuck to my M2, shot half a roll, I looked at my camera and lens. It looked like a Summicron. Felt like a "new" Summicron.
My M2 looked so slick. I mucked around with the aperture. Nice and new, tight, firm, clicky... ... I focused - quick, damped but just right.
Just fine. Solid. Shiny. Yes - looked like a Summicron 35, behaved like one.
One tiny tiny flaw - ridges on the focus tab, perhaps a "little" sharp. Need more smoothing off. Over the years, they will round off. The lens aperture and DoF mark where the screw in on the mount, slightly "off" by half a degree to centre or north of camera... Still in the centre but this is just nit picking. That's it for flaws.

Image quality. Like the real Summicron. No problems... Yawn.
If someone reviews this lens fully, it will be a very short review because there will be nothing to add. It essentially behaves like the real thing.
Can the lens be improved. Yes. We are talking hair margins. I mean, I've seen Leica lenses that have a few tiny flaws on the fonts. On the net, plastic parts inside.
This is a fine lens. I would buy another. I would have to get on the good side of my wife.
I will keep on adding my impressions later. Hope I don't bore people.

 

[raid]

Thanks for the feedback, Jose. How would you rate the cosmetics of the lens?

 

[teddy]

Thanks for the feedback, Jose. How would you rate the cosmetics of the lens?

Apart from the sharp focus tab edges, honestly I think the lens is 10/10.
Everything is well made and the lens is dense and solid. The paint work is just like a Leica lens. I like the thicker font on the front ring of the lens. The finish fits my M2 100%.

 

[Ccoppola82]

I know a bunch of us are now eagerly waiting and checking email from Kevin. I do a search every morning to make sure I don’t miss it. (I missed one a couple months ago).

 

[froyd]

I know a bunch of us are now eagerly waiting and checking email from Kevin. I do a search every morning to make sure I don’t miss it. (I missed one a couple months ago).

This is by far my biggest fear at this point. I nearly missed the Google Forms email because I was not recognize the sender and I have a large volume of email coming in to the address I used for the 8 Elements replica order.

Can the people who have already received the email and lens confirm that the sender we should be keeping an eye out for is Kevin himself and not some other entity like Light Lens Lab or Google Forms?

 

[jonmanjiro]

This is by far my biggest fear at this point. I nearly missed the Google Forms email because I was not recognize the sender and I have a large volume of email coming in to the address I used for the 8 Elements replica order.

Can the people who have already received the email and lens confirm that the sender we should be keeping an eye out for is Kevin himself and not some other entity like Light Lens Lab or Google Forms?

You will receive an email from the email address Kevin made especially for this project as shown in his signature here on RFF > 8elementsreplica@gmail.com

As per my post below from yesterday, I'm pretty sure (edit: now confirmed) Kevin is handling all aspects of the overseas transactions personally, including final inspection before shipping. Its a big undertaking by him while also working at a full time job, so I certainly hope its worth his time and effort.

My lens was shipped from Shanghai by Kevin personally, after he inspected and tested it. I got the impression he is handling all communications as well as all payments, packing and shipping for ALL overseas buyers, despite having a completely separate full time job of his own.

SO GIVE KEVIN A BREAK FOLKS! HE'LL GET TO YOU WHEN HE GETS TO YOU!

 

[D&A]

Hi Kevin,

I just sent you an e-mail as I looked at the google ordering form I filled out for my replica lens months ago and I had filled it in my old mailing address by mistake. I sent you my correct mailing address. When you have to make this correction, it would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks!

Regards,

D&A

 

[fish1991222]

Hi Kevin,

Have read through this thread. I would like to say, shut up guys let him take my money.

The only thing I wonder is if the purchase can be fulfilled to Australia? And if so how can I place the order? I searched on google and Taobao, no purchasing link could be found.

Best

Fisher

 

[valdas]

I have another question to those lucky folks who are already enjoying the lens. When you receive the reply from “google forms” with “thank you for filling in the form, here is what we have received from you”, was there any other step in the process, like acknowledgment that the order is placed by Kevin or something? I fear I could have misted something. The last email was from Google forms but to me it does not sound very explicit that I am now officially on the list....

 

[kiemchacsu]

You can choose your carrier, I EMS or what ever if its available. I chose DHL.
Shipped from Shanghai. Took about 6 days from shipping, during this pandemic situation - expect delays of some sort.

great to know;
now i have idea for the best logistic option.
the only matter remained is waiting kevin to contact me.
hopefully that i am still on the list of 1st batch.

 

[Ong]

Hi Kevin,

Have read through this thread. I would like to say, shut up guys let him take my money.

The only thing I wonder is if the purchase can be fulfilled to Australia? And if so how can I place the order? I searched on google and Taobao, no purchasing link could be found.

Best

Fisher

There are a few from Australia who have already placed our interest and filled in the order form back in November last year who are just waiting to make the payment.

It's a bit too late now to try and put an order in for the first batch of lenses, and like everyone else here has said, the 2nd batch of orders will open when it opens with no firm date for that.

 

[jmilkins]

Yep, I'm checking my email somewhat more regularly (OK obsessively ;-). Definitely getting a lot of value in anticipation here and enjoying seeing the results of those who have theirs already.

 

[jonmanjiro]

When you receive the reply from “google forms” with “thank you for filling in the form, here is what we have received from you”, was there any other step in the process

hopefully that i am still on the list of 1st batch.

After you receive the reply from google forms, there's no other step. Next, you'll get an email when your lens is ready to ship.

Receiving the “thank you for filling in the form, here is what we have received from you” google forms email = you're on the list for the first batch.

 

[raid]

I received in the end an email from Kevin in which he gave me an update on my ordered lens, with information on how much to send him as payment via PayPal. Now, I am waiting for Kevin to (eventually) have the lens sent to me via DHL.

 

[valdas]

After you receive the reply from google forms, there's no other step. Next, you'll get an email when your lens is ready to ship.

Receiving the “thank you for filling in the form, here is what we have received from you” google forms email = you're on the list for the first batch.

Thanks, great to know it.

 

[Out to Lunch]

All this nervous energy. I could not be bothered.

 

[raid]

It is just a lens after all.

 

[oldwino]

I've received a DHL label from Kevin, with a tracking number, but it doesn't look like it has been picked up yet. I'm sure he's got quite a few lenses to pack and ship right now!

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

I've received a DHL label from Kevin, with a tracking number, but it doesn't look like it has been picked up yet. I'm sure he's got quite a few lenses to pack and ship right now!

Right, I also have a few other lenses that need to prepare for the shipment. I am extremely busy during the weekday especially this week. I will try to arrange a pickup this weekend. Sorry for waiting again.

Kevin

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

I received in the end an email from Kevin in which he gave me an update on my ordered lens, with information on how much to send him as payment via PayPal. Now, I am waiting for Kevin to (eventually) have the lens sent to me via DHL.

Please wait for my update, Raid. Your lens is almost getting ready to ship back to me from the factory.