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

[Emile de Leon]

I saw a video of someone receiving a replica from Batch 2. It costs $799, the man claims there.

Yeah..I spotted the same vid yesterday..but thought it was the 1st version..
Truthfully..I think they would rather make $799..for the same amount of work..than $499..lol..
I would be surprised..if the entirety of the 1st batch of 500..is ever completely delivered in full..
..as in..
When I saw they were making 2nd version lenses..well before the 1st version 500 were completed..I thought..this was just the ole' bait and switch..and there are many of us waiting..that were probably never going to ever receive this lens..unless they fork over the $799..

If they wanted to ease customers minds though..and actually start making these in quantity..to complete the 500 they promised..they probably should make a special order list..with each customers name and lens batch # on it..and update this from time to time..so the customer can see where they are on the delivery list...as this is obviously going to take a long time to fulfill..if ever..
But..
When I saw the 2nd version coming out..and already for sale..I pretty much wrote them off for ever receiving my special order 1st version in flint..within any reasonable time frame..
But who knows though..they may come thru in time..years probably..
OK..life is short..
On to other things..and other lenses..lol..

 

[raid]

Yeah..I saw the same vid yesterday..but thought it was the 1st version..
Truthfully..I think they would rather make $799..for the same amount of work..rather than $499..lol..
I would be surprised..if the entirety of the 1st batch of 500..is ever delivered in full..

The video shows at the start that this man is inspecting the second version (at $799) and he states that the first version costs $599 (we paid $499 plus shipping and paypal costs).

 

[Emile de Leon]

and he states that the first version costs $599

So I assume from this..that they are already selling the 1st version to the public for $100- more...
Whilst putting us RF $499-ers... out to...hang and dry...and twist in the wind..
Thats even worse..lol..

Perhaps Kevin can shed some light on this..clear this up...
Sounds like a story of over promising..and under delivering..

 

[raid]

The man in the video did not sound to be very certain on the prices, I think. Kevin will know best. I paid about $625 after DHL and PayPal.

 

[Emile de Leon]

Too bad the actual delivery system is a complete mystery as to what is really going on here..

 

[Dyfa]

Hi Raid, that's me. I didn't buy it through Kevin. I bought it from a friend named Wen who runs SH Camera in HK. Bought it for $799. UV Filter was light lens lab but hood was third party copy of Leica 12504 hood.

I saw a video of someone receiving a replica from Batch 2. It costs $799, the man claims there. He also got a hood and a UV filter with the lens.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4OljTVg2xs&t=186s

 

[Dyfa]

Apologies, I got the price wrong for the first batch. I will correct that in the video description.

The video shows at the start that this man is inspecting the second version (at $799) and he states that the first version costs $599 (we paid $499 plus shipping and paypal costs).

 

[Emile de Leon]

Apologies, I got the price wrong for the first batch. I will correct that in the video description.

That sounds better for them..

 

[Dyfa]

If you're still looking for the lens, I recommend buying from Wen.
Wen's store: https://www.facebook.com/shcameras
Store instagram: https://www.instagram.com/icemanshcameras/?hl=en

I don't know exactly how long the queue is but he is actively sending lenses out including one recently to the US along with my own.

 

[froyd]

The lenses that came in this latest batch had numbers in the 240s, it seems that from the posts of the lenses from the previous batch, the serials were in the low 200s. I wonder if we can assume 40-50 lenses are processed per batch, which is a higher number than the 12 or so lenses Kevin showed in that beautiful "tray of lenses" shot a few pages back. If it's any help to anyone trying to gauge where they are in the queue, I completed my google form on December 8 or 9 2019. Another thing to consider is that it seems that the batches of lenses are tied to the color of the lens not just the date of the order. The latest batch was silver, the one before black. Hope this helps some folks!

 

[raid]

Hi Raid, that's me. I didn't buy it through Kevin. I bought it from a friend named Wen who runs SH Camera in HK. Bought it for $799. UV Filter was light lens lab but hood was third party copy of Leica 12504 hood.

Is your lens a second version lens then? Is it $799 plus DHL cost and Paypal cost?

 

[Dyfa]

I believe so. Forgive me if I'm not up to speed on all the info shared on this forum but the serial number is 459/998. Wen says it is the V2LC which is version 2 L for Lead glass. I know it isn't the first batch so it must be the second.

Is your lens a second version lens then?

 

[Erik van Straten]

As I understand it, "V1" means 1st version, "L" means lead containing glass and "C" means coated.


Erik.

 

[Dyfa]

So my copy is Version 2 (V2) Lead and Coated. It has an amber coating.

As I understand it, "V1" means 1st version, "L" means lead containing glass and "C" means coated.


Erik.

 

[raid]

Yes, and Lead was not guaranteed for the second batch lenses.
It seems that enough glass was found.

 

[aizan]

I got my lens yesterday! Thank you, Kevin!!! It's a tour de force of mechanical and optical craftsmanship. What a journey it's been to get this stunning lens.

I uploaded an unboxing video, and all I do is repeatedly babble "oh my god," "wow," "holy crap!" and "precision."

https://youtu.be/3iYixkMATFU (Updated link)

Going for a walk with a roll of Tri-X ASAP!

 

[raid]

Congratulations. You look very happy in your video.

 

[raid]

I don't know why my simple comment was repeated a large number of times here.

 

[D&A]

Hi All,

Two days ago I received my "chrome" replica lens while I was unexpectedly away for work. To say I am overwhelmed with excitement and gratitude is an understatement. I first want to express my wholehearted thanks to Kevin, Mr. Zhou, the design team and all those working on this endeavor, especially that they had to deal with the pandemic as this project was just getting underway. They deserve just praise. Also a big thank you for all the RFF members who took the time to post pics and express their views and thoughts with both the earlier pre production prototypes and later, production versions. It was greatly appreciated.

When I am able to get back at my desktop computer (which may take a bit of time), I will share my thoughts regarding preliminary test images taken by my sample and hopefully post images. I won't duplicate unboxing or the contents of the parcel I received, as it mirrors those posted in the prior few days. Let me just say Kevin and Light Lens Lab did a fabulous and remarkable job not only in the packaging and presentation of the lens, but in the actual appearance and construction of the lens itself. The lens in appearance appears flawless, with both focusing and aperture rings having the right amount of tactile feel and aperture detents and the infinity lock clicks with precision. although I no longer have my original Leica 8 element cron, from memory, its a replica beyond reproach. My copy like most here have expressed, has the amber color coating.

The optical aspects and performance of the lens will await my general shooting and test shots but as other have shown, the lens deserves much accolades. Of course for those comparing images vs. the original Leica 8-element, there is bound to be some differences, not only due to the aging of the original lens, but also dependent on whether one is shooting on a digital body (and which one) or film and in addition whether in color or B&W.

Of course this is all obvious to everyone here on RRF. Lastly on a side note, Kevin besides the praise I expressed earlier, should be commended on the actual safe packing of the lens. So well packed and protected an elephant probably could have sat of the parcel with little resulting damage. Unfortunately I don't have an elephant nearby to test out this theory 🙂.

Dave (D&A)

 

[lcpr]

I returned my form about 5 hours after it was released and I was in Kevin's second batch (just missed out on the first batch). Bear in mind that Kevin doesn't have access to all 500 lenses, and that a few hours of difference can mean you're in one batch or the next, which means that there may be more people in front of you that you expect.