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

[Rayt]

Raid, my guess would be that LLL is applying a little bit of cultural filtering to serial number selection and the numbers around those serial numbers have already been assigned to domestic and other buyers in Asia. And if it makes everybody happy, why not!

It's obvious to anyone who lives in these cultures, but the pronunciation of the number "four" in Chinese and Japanese (and possibly other Asian languages) is identical to the pronunciation of "death", so having a 4 in a number is considered bad luck in these cultures. That's why some buildings in Japan (and I'm pretty sure in China as well) don't have 4th floors. Another example for you, I used to live in apartment 405 on the 4th floor of a building in Yokohama. There was no apartment 404 😉

Good thing there is no lens number 666! Then again, maybe someone out there would want it!

Death for the foreigners? Locals pay double for the 8? Ha Ha.

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

Hey guys. There is one thing I need to explain is the serial numbers are assigned randomly by the factory. I have no control over the serial number that they gave to me.

 

[raid]

I do not think that you played any role in it.

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

Looking closer at the lens release shroud/dot interaction, if the dot was a mm shorter then it would clear it easily. Might just be the nature of the way the dot is made/mounted - anyone with this lens also have an M3?

I did some initial testing vs my UC-Hexanon on my Fuji X-Pro 1, they're very similar lenses in the center but it seems that the 8E Replica is a tad sharper 2/3rds of the way out. Both are sharp wide open with a little glow and very sharp stopped down to f/4. The 8E lens is slightly cooler WB wise compared to the UC Hex which could be down to the difference in coatings. Bokeh is very slightly smoother on the 8E Replica. If you showed me a random image from either I wouldn't be able to definitively say which one is which.

I am very sorry about the trouble you have with the red dot. It is the first time that I heard people report an issue about the red dot is too close to the release button. I test all the retail lenses on my Leica M10, and none of them have this problem. Well, this is because M10 has no lens release shroud at all. I will pay attention to this next time.

I will report this to Mr. Zhou and see what they could do in their future production. I also have KE-7A, M2 in hand. Next time I will mount the lens on all these three camera bodies to prevent this issue happen again.

 

[jonmanjiro]

Jon says we got the death lens numbers. I do not think that you played any role in it.

No need to channel your inner drama queen, Raid 😀 If you have a change of heart, I’m sure there are plenty of buyers who missed out on the first batch who will happily take your lens off your hands regardless of what the serial number is 😉

 

[teddy]

No need to channel your inner drama queen, Raid 😀 If you have a change of heart, I’m sure there are plenty of buyers who missed out on the first batch who will happily take your lens off your hands regardless of what the serial number is 😉

Well, if there is any superstition in it, I see it this way - give the foreigners the ones with 4 in it, because it would cause inconvenience over here in the Oriental countries. Problem solved for anyone else having this number who don't pay attention to superstition. I don't believe y any superstition - however I don't disrespect others views any how - a non issue on my side.

 

[teddy]

I will report this to Mr. Zhou and see what they could do in their future production. I also have KE-7A, M2 in hand. Next time I will mount the lens on all these three camera bodies to prevent this issue happen again.

I don't think this sort of thing would have been easily forseen, realising now that some M3's had slightly different fitting parts at different assembling stages in the M3's manufacturing life.

 

[Emile de Leon]

Like it or not..

 

[james.liam]

I don't think this sort of thing would have been easily forseen, realising now that some M3's had slightly different fitting parts at different assembling stages in the M3's manufacturing life.

Well, in all fairness ungoggled 35 Summicron v.1 weren't intended for the M3. Anyone have this issue with the authentic?

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

I don't think this sort of thing would have been easily forseen, realising now that some M3's had slightly different fitting parts at different assembling stages in the M3's manufacturing life.

I've already communicated with Mr. Zhou regarding this issue. He told me that last year someone mentioned this problem. They have studied this issue. They have made the red dots as small as possible. Because it is a hand-ground gemstone, it is difficult to make it even smaller. At present, only one early special type of m3 may encounter this problem.

Kevin

 

[taemo]

will report once I receive my lens for any issues with my old M3 DS although I don't forsee having any issues.. I have a 90mm T-E-M with a red dot and never had problems using it on the M3.

still waiting to get the email from Kevin though but in no rush.

 

[Emile de Leon]

I have a later M3

 

[teddy]

I've already communicated with Mr. Zhou regarding this issue. He told me that last year someone mentioned this problem. They have studied this issue. They have made the red dots as small as possible. Because it is a hand-ground gemstone, it is difficult to make it even smaller. At present, only one early special type of m3 may encounter this problem.

Kevin

Thanks Kevin, interesting to see all the effort that has gone into this lens. I like it.

 

[lcpr]

My M3 is a late one (1.1mil+ serial, made in 1966) that somehow got an early release shroud attached to it. Anyway if you look @Helenhill's classifieds ad for a Summaron you can see that the alignment dot on that is tiny, basically a disc of red plastic:

https://rangefinderforum.com/photopost-classifieds/showproduct.php?product=55861

Others have the dot mounted up on the focusing ring mount instead of the bayonet mount (see near the bottom of this page):

https://www.mir.com.my/rb/photograp...sources/RF-Nikkor/Leica_RF/LSM35mm/index3.htm

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

This is my goggled Summaron with red dot by lens release button. My M3 is 1million+ serial number - for the experts, is this an early shroud or a compatible one?

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

Hmm, what I hate about gear photos with a proper macro lens is the dirt they find to show you up! Time for a shroud clean.

 

[lcpr]

This is my goggled Summaron with red dot by lens release button. My M3 is 1million+ serial number - for the experts, is this an early shroud or a compatible one?

Yours will take my particular lens with ease. When I finish work I'll post some photos.

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

Yours will take my particular lens with ease. When I finish work I'll post some photos.

Phew! - thank you very much!

 

[teddy]

Let's not call it a shroud, how about a "Lens Release Button Guard". Or guard. Sounds better I think.

 

[wpb]

It is officially called a "cover sleeve". In German it's "Schutzhülse"; Google translates this into the more palatable "protective sleeve".