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

[Erik van Straten]

Wonderful shots Raid! Impressive.


Erik.

 

[raid]

Thank you Erik. Schools have been closed down until Thursday.
Seeing so many beautiful images here with this lens made it a good lens to be used side by side a Summilux 75 1.4.

 

[D&A]

Great pics Raid (especially the B&W images! The combination of the replica along with the 75mm lux makes for a pair of lenses with lovely character.

Dave (D&A)

 

[raid]

Thank you Dave. I am rediscovering the 75 Lux. It us an awesome lens. Point it at any scene and you will get a great looking image. The replica is also a wonderful lens.

 

[xmas_one]

Very nice Raid. There is a “painterly” quality to the beach scenes.

I really like that last one of the pier in b&w.

 

[astrobuoy]

I used to have v4 (silver, made in Germany), it became too expensive to keep (considering how little I used it), I sold it. I cannot do side by side comparison anymore, but from what I remember V4 had more contrast, it was definitely sharper wide open. This one, at f2.0 has this "glow", but bokeh is beautiful. This one is shot on orwo N75, developed in xtol stock:

I love how creamy the highlights are here, along with that wonderful glow. I really think this lens is going to be a great lens for black & white (as raid's shots also show)

 

[ashwinrao1]

Some samples on the M9 Monochrom with my rapidly beloved 8-element replica. It really captures the essence and spirit of the original..I would not be able to tell a different, having owned both.

 

[ashwinrao1]

Thanks to everyone who previously commented on my 1st 2 pics. my only inscription indicated was "8-element". Otherwise, it's what came on the lens.

One more for good measure:

 

[raid]

Very nice Raid. There is a “painterly” quality to the beach scenes.

I really like that last one of the pier in b&w.

Thank you. I used Perfect Effects 9 with B&W Tri-X 400 and a red filter simulated.

 

[D&A]

Another great series of images Ashwin. I especially like the 1st one most of all as well as your last "for good measure" image. There are some differences as noted by myself and others between the original 8 element and the replica but the replica is most certainly a very worthy faithful facsimile of the original. I haven't yet put my replica through the paces on my M9 monochrome but your images inspire me to do so shortly.

Dave (D&A)

 

[ashwinrao1]

Thanks so much, Dave. It's good to hear from you, and it's been too long!

 

[ashwinrao1]

Dave, I started trying to dig through old posts to review "differences", but I was curious about your thoughts or those you gleaned from others?

 

[teddy]

Thanks to everyone who previously commented on my 1st 2 pics. my only inscription indicated was "8-element". Otherwise, it's what came on the lens.

One more for good measure:

I like the M9 Monochrom rendering, reminds me in some aspects to the film I've been using lately, specially in the shadows - Adox CMS 20ii.

I find the 35mm lens designs - specially the old ones and including the Summicron and Replica to be very well balanced in details and tonaly.

 

[teddy]

In B&W

I like how this lens delivers nice looking images.

Lovely textures in the water Raid.

 

[raid]

Thanks a lot, Teddy.

 

[D&A]

Dave, I started trying to dig through old posts to review "differences", but I was curious about your thoughts or those you gleaned from others?

Here are some basic differences (compiled from others and myself but certainly not a complete comprehensive list.

The replica (compared to the original 8 element) seems to be of higher contrast and higher acutance on the subject being focused on. An even larger noticeable difference is the OOF areas behind the subject in focus are much more recognizable...ie: the falloff of the depth of field is much more gradual than the original. Lets say you focus on a person 10 feet away...the background behind the subject will not be as blurred as the original 8 element.

Even though most of the recent replica lenses have what appears to be amber coating like the original...on overcast and cloudy days..the replica has a bluish (cold) color cast. All these comments and observations were made on a Leica M9. Lastly I did notice a peculiar artifact when shooting on a white puffy cloud, overcast day. I observed some blue blobs adjacent to some of the white clouds. Whether its an artifact of the M9 with this lens I honestly don't know. with all expressed, the lens does have a similar recognizable signature as the original 8 element and it draws beautiful in its own right.

As as aside, don't know if the Seahawks come to Washington this year....but finally the Washington team (not allowed to mention their original name around these parts)… might just give your Seahawks a run for their money. Hoping you'll be around these parts this year. Always a pleasure when I see your postings.

Dave (D&A)

 

[ashwinrao1]

Dave, I will be in WA this year. it would be wonderful to see you if the situation permits it (finally!)

 

[rscheffler]

Hi Ashwin, IIRC, one of the other differences is the replica has a circular aperture opening through the full range. Apparently a consequence is that the f-stop spacing on the aperture ring is not equalized like on the original.

Regarding Dave's point about color balance with the M9, IMO this might be as much an influence of whether or not a lens code has been set in the camera. And if so, which one.
But it's possible the lens has a different color bias than Leica-made lenses.

I'm still eagerly waiting for mine (form submitted Dec. 9th). 🙂

It's one of the few gear purchases I have not put off this year due to the massive impact Covid has had on my work/business activities.

 

[mteresko]

Haven't had a chance to shoot much with the replica, but here's one from the end of a roll of E100 I had in my M5. This is a lab scan and tweaked a little in C1.
200911-32_1 by Michael Teresko, on Flickr

 

[maartenmoerman]

Just got an email, to confirm the engraving, so my lens was about to ordered Kevin said, however I ordered 3, not one.

Also, multicoated is not available anymore, *** is this?

No comms, extreme long waiting, no brass version, no multicoated. They are out there, but apparently not for us mere RFF mortals? Overpromise, underdeliver.

I cancelled my 3 lenses, I'm out, done with this.