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

[raid]

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

Yes, of course, Kevin. No rush at my end.

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

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.

I appreciate your continual feedback here. And I am so glad to know you are satisfied with the final product. I will also pass on your comments and the details that can be further improved to Mr. Zhou.

 

[oldwino]

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

Oh, I'm in full Zen mode here...😀

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

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.

Thank you very much for helping me clarify some questions. 🙂 All you said is correct.

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

Oh, I'm in full Zen mode here...😀

Haha! 😀 Your understanding and patience are greatly appreciated.

 

[kiemchacsu]

i just checked my email ;
i am released. the form was filled on 9 Dec 2019
anyone that filled the form after that day has received his lens?

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.

 

[Emile de Leon]

I ordered on 12/8..still waiting!

 

[aizan]

Kevin, if it’s not too much trouble, can you email what place in line everybody was randomly assigned? If you need a volunteer, let me know. I’m assuming you’re handling at least a couple hundred international orders.

 

[tao_kala]

I filled the form on 9 Dec as well, still not getting the purchasing email, keep waiting ��

 

[Emile de Leon]

Good things come..to those who wait...

 

[jonmanjiro]

Kevin, if it’s not too much trouble, can you email what place in line everybody was randomly assigned? If you need a volunteer, let me know. I’m assuming you’re handling at least a couple hundred international orders.

Leaving aside the issue of handing over personal information, is that really necessary just because a few eager beavers can’t keep a lid on their “nervous energy”? 😀

My understanding is that Kevin is shipping out the lenses pretty much as fast as he gets them in the order that orders were received and the delay is on the manufacturing side. Can’t ship lenses if they’re not even made yet!

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

Kevin, if it’s not too much trouble, can you email what place in line everybody was randomly assigned? If you need a volunteer, let me know. I’m assuming you’re handling at least a couple hundred international orders.

Thank you for willing to provide me your help here. Just like Jon said above, the main problem here really is production capacity. I may sometimes delay a few days due to my working schedule or just some random things happen that need me to handle first. But you won’t wait long once I do receive the lenses. I will do my best to ship out the package as soon as possible.

Kevin

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

Leaving aside the issue of handing over personal information, is that really necessary just because a few eager beavers can’t keep a lid on their “nervous energy”? 😀

My understanding is that Kevin is shipping out the lenses pretty much as fast as he gets them in the order that orders were received and the delay is on the manufacturing side. Can’t ship lenses if they’re not even made yet!

Jon, thank you again for helping me explain the situation here.

 

[valdas]

I ordered on 12/8..still waiting!

I believe 99% of us placed the order on 8th or 9th Dec 🙂

 

[raid]

p a t i e n c e

With COVID-19 still in place all over the world, and with an international custom lens venture, buyers should be patient.

 

[Leica0Series]

That's when I did! I am waiting patiently but eagerly, and I check RFF daily for updates on this. It will be like Christmas in June. Hanging in for the brass finish so far but we'll see.

I believe 99% of us placed the order on 8th or 9th Dec 🙂

 

[aizan]

Leaving aside the issue of handing over personal information, is that really necessary just because a few eager beavers can’t keep a lid on their “nervous energy”? 😀

My understanding is that Kevin is shipping out the lenses pretty much as fast as he gets them in the order that orders were received and the delay is on the manufacturing side. Can’t ship lenses if they’re not even made yet!

Good point about the email addresses. I looked into Mailchimp last night, and it turns out that it would be very easy for Kevin to do himself using their merge tag feature. That would take care of the time and personal info problem!

https://youtu.be/58kbD7hgDGY

Being cooped up doesn’t help the impatience, that’s for sure! What is time measured by if not the latest lens shipment? 😀

 

[James24]

What is time measured by if not the latest lens shipment? 😀

I know the feeling. I haven't bought a lens since late March...and it's nearly June!

 

[teddy]

I appreciate your continual feedback here. And I am so glad to know you are satisfied with the final product. I will also pass on your comments and the details that can be further improved to Mr. Zhou.

I think the lens is fantastic. I wouldn't really call them flaws - more refinements. I hope Mr Zhou can make more projects in the future. I would be interested in Summilux 35/1.4 with improvements. A Leitz Summar 50/2 with 15 blades. An 85/1.4 but for the M mount, a Noctilux 50 but I'm concerned about the size and weight for a 50mm. Even a 50/2 Collapsible with optical improvements - why? Most collapsible Summicrons now are scratched due to the soft coatings. Okay, I'm done dreaming now. Thanks for letting me part of a great project! Like Reid says - P A T I E N C E everyone! Patience.

P.S: Who cares wether they are Leitz copies - just make your own line-up of Leica "like" lenses with all the classic rendering and focal lengths in the same quality as the Replica. I'm in... Or how about the classic Contax Carl Zeiss Planar in 39mm LTM Mount! Okay, I'm dreaming again.

 

[raid]

I would love to get a 50/1.4 Summilux replica. I have a 35/1.4 and a 75/1.4 but I never bought a 50/1.4 Lux.