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

[splitimageview]

Beautiful!

 

[lcpr]

The lens box is so satisfyingly dense with the lens inside, isn't it?

 

[raid]

Just as the rain ends and the sun comes out, so does the 8 element LLL arrive (and the film at the same time). From the packaging, the superb metal lens box, the attention to detail is stunning. The lens itself, in mechanical form, is exquisite in it's work and mechanical perfection. It's smooth to operate, the infinity lock clicks in place with a sound as near to that of my Summaron as you can get. Focus is precise and exceptionally good to use. The machining of the helicoid is superlative, the chrome and engravings flawless.

So, this is the real deal, just beautiful. I can well imagine lenses like this coming out of Wetzlar in the 50s and 60s, to this standard.

Thanks Kevin for the shepherding and the ever patient way you've dealt with this - I am so glad you gave us an opportunity to get in on the ground floor, and thanks also to Mr Zhou for making this happen!

Now to get out with some film in it!

Congratulations on receiving such a beauty, Charles. My lens has number 194/500, so you are ten numbers higher than mine. :bang:

I agree with you one the high quality of craftsmanship in these lenses.

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

The lens box is so satisfyingly dense with the lens inside, isn't it?

Yes - that glass has a lot of lead in its pencil!

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

Congratulations on receiving such a beauty, Charles. My lens has number 194/500, so you are ten numbers higher than mine. :bang:

I agree with you one the high quality of craftsmanship in these lenses.

Thanks Raid - I'm glad 204 is also a model designation used by Mercedes, as I used to name all my old Mercedes cars after Wagnerian heroines - Isolde as on here was on my first and beautiful blue Mercedes W124 coupe. So I feel a lineage of pleasure looking at this.

But now the acid test, some old Acros in and rated at 64, so I can use the widest apertures.

 

[shawn]

Looks great on the M2. Agree about the precision of the lens!

Have fun!

Shawn

 

[D&A]

Congrats Charles, looks beautiful on that body. I received my chrome one last week and it's everything you said and more. As I stated in a previous post, we've very appreciative of Kevin's efforts in securing this lens for RRF members and My Zhou and his team for making this project possible. It will be exciting to hear of their future endeavors.

Dave (D&A)

 

[Leica0Series]

Something funky seems to be going on in the corners of this photo; a bit of blur and color shift as well. Is there a fat filter or lens hood on it? The shots are nice and sharp, just wondering about this.

This thread is killing me, by the way, as I enviously wait for my brass-finish lens!

First try uploading pictures to RFF hope it works.

Just some photos of my dog in the backyard. Chinacron is nice is sharp wide open. Shot on M9P

 

[Erik van Straten]

"Something funky seems to be going on in the corners of this photo; a bit of blur and color shift as well. Is there a fat filter or lens hood on it? The shots are nice and sharp, just wondering about this." Leica0Series

This unsharpness in the corners is quite normal with fast wide angle lenses from the 1950's. It is just why I like them so much.

Erik.

 

[selahsean]

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

I also purchased from Wen and have a lens from this same batch. It's going to replace my pre-ASPH Summilux. It's well constructed and the rendering is fantastic.

 

[raid]

I also purchased from Wen and have a lens from this same batch. It's going to replace my pre-ASPH Summilux. It's well constructed and the rendering is fantastic.

My pre-asph Summilux will not be replaced by this lens or any other lenses. 😎
It is a special lens after all. With the M9 and Tuscany light, it can create beautiful images.

 

[Emile de Leon]

Good some are getting their lenses..a few people per month that is..

 

[selahsean]

My pre-asph Summilux will not be replaced by this lens or any other lenses. 😎
It is a special lens after all. With the M9 and Tuscany light, it can create beautiful images.

I've had pre ASPH for a while now and consistently shoot it between F2 and F5.6 and I guess I'm not seeing enough of a difference in the rendering between the replica and the pre-ASPH Summilux at those apertures to justify keeping them both. The other two advantages for the replica is that it is much more ergonomically friendly and has a closer MFD.

 

[Deleted member 65559]

M2 & 35mm

M2 & 35mm

Just as the rain ends and the sun comes out, so does the 8 element LLL arrive (and the film at the same time).
Now to get out with some film in it!

Congratulations Charles. The set looks fantastic. It's impossible to beat an M2 with a 35mm!

 

[raid]

I've had pre ASPH for a while now and consistently shoot it between F2 and F5.6 and I guess I'm not seeing enough of a difference in the rendering between the replica and the pre-ASPH Summilux at those apertures to justify keeping them both. The other two advantages for the replica is that it is much more ergonomically friendly and has a closer MFD.

Shooting Leica glass wide open is recommended by Leica lens designer Mr. Karbe. Try it with 100 images, and then inspect them. There can be magic. 😀

 

[Ed Schwartzreic]

The main “point” of the pre-aspheric Summilux was that the f/1.4 setting was available when one needed it. That was of definite importance in film days when a extra stop was required to get the image Or the shallow DOF, despite the occasional weirdness of the coma distorting points of light and specular highlights. (Of course that coma was often used for artistic purposes as well).

One might argue that today, while shooting this lens at f/1.4 has its advantages and disadvantages, it is not needed to get a decent exposure per se when we can utilize high ISOs. That said, I happily keep my beat-up specimen of the lens, and don’t hesitate to use it wide open on my M10.

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

Wandering around just now I came to the horrible conclusion that gorgeous though my M3 with goggled Summaron is, this is going to get all the use (except with the longer lenses). The balance with this combination is precisely as it should be!

So nice.

Congratulations Charles. The set looks fantastic. It's impossible to beat an M2 with a 35mm!

 

[raid]

Well Ed, it is for me not about ISO settings and so on. The lens can draw beautifully at 1.4 in open shade and when used with colors. I am sure that it also does well with B&W. I am not after high ISO and this is why I have been quite happy with my M8 and M9, but I got weak, and I bought an M10.

 

[Emile de Leon]

The 35 1.4 pre is tiny..

 

[raid]

The 35 1.4 pre is tiny..
Like a mini Noctilux..
Thats enough to keep it..
As well as tame the wrinkles..for portraits...

This is correct, Emile. 😎