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

[D&A]

The initial coating was tweaked post Chinese new year to improve the shade detail, per post from Mr. Zhou.

I assume you mean this past Chinese New Year. Reason I ask is the previous Chinese New Year saw only a few (if that) lenses released...first with a bluish coating and then not long after, the amber coatings. I wonder what adjustments/changes they made to allow more shadow detail?

Dave (D&A)

 

[Platinum RF]

I assume you mean this past Chinese New Year. Reason I ask is the previous Chinese New Year saw only a few (if that) lenses released...first with a bluish coating and then not long after, the amber coatings. I wonder what adjustments/changes they made to allow more shadow detail?

Dave (D&A)

Sorry for the typo. I think the coating was changed from blue to amber.

 

[kram]

If Canon or Nikon treated people who ordered a new lens off them like LLL, I wonder what people woul say.
Will people order another new lens from LLL in light (no pun intended) of their experience? I hope everyone receives their lens in good working order with no Issues.

 

[Deleted member 65559]

If Canon or Nikon treated people who ordered a new lens off them like LLL, I wonder what people woul say.
Will people order another new lens from LLL in light (no pun intended) of their experience? I hope everyone receives their lens in good working order with no Issues.

Good point Kram. It's certainly the most bizarre retail experience i've ever had. If my lens arrives as scheduled next week, it will be 4 1/2 months after payment and 16.5 months after signing the google order form. The 'i'm busy with work & please have patience' has worn really thin. Clearly (or not) a lot is going on behind the scenes. It certainly quells any interest on my part in future LLL offerings.

 

[Emile de Leon]

If Canon or Nikon treated people who ordered a new lens off them like LLL, I wonder what people would say.

Canon and Nikon..dont make 8 element repros.

 

[Deleted member 65559]

LLL has a corner on the market..on unicorns too..
They breed em in back..all day long..
I saw it!

Unicorns. Black paint unicorns.....same effect as mermaids have on sailors...the siren song

 

[Emile de Leon]

Most definitely!

 

[rscheffler]

Glad to read there has been some progress with shipments. Mine is still at the factory, or somewhere.

If Canon or Nikon treated people who ordered a new lens off them like LLL, I wonder what people woul say.
Will people order another new lens from LLL in light (no pun intended) of their experience? I hope everyone receives their lens in good working order with no Issues.

This wouldn't happen with Canon or Nikon. This was a 'hobby' project by someone with the means to produce the replica, but without any kind of reputation to uphold. At least not outside the Chinese speaking world. My impression is very much that once this project got traction and showed a profit potential, the low profit RFF member lenses got moved to the bottom of the priority list. I also wonder if these lenses, at least the most recent from the past ~6 months, are the seconds that didn't quite cut it for retail sale?

I'd still be open to getting other LLL creations if the price is right and there's a certainty of receiving one in a reasonable timeframe. But after this one, I am doubtful future lenses will be attractively (read: bargain) priced. At least not through the channels by which we'll have access.

 

[Ccoppola82]

Glad to read there has been some progress with shipments. Mine is still at the factory, or somewhere.



This wouldn't happen with Canon or Nikon. This was a 'hobby' project by someone with the means to produce the replica, but without any kind of reputation to uphold. At least not outside the Chinese speaking world. My impression is very much that once this project got traction and showed a profit potential, the low profit RFF member lenses got moved to the bottom of the priority list. I also wonder if these lenses, at least the most recent from the past ~6 months, are the seconds that didn't quite cut it for retail sale?

I'd still be open to getting other LLL creations if the price is right and there's a certainty of receiving one in a reasonable timeframe. But after this one, I am doubtful future lenses will be attractively (read: bargain) priced. At least not through the channels by which we'll have access.

I think this is a very good point despite being very happy with the lens. It’s very well made and a joy to use. At the price of $500 it was worth taking a risk to get something similar to the high priced Summicron. At $1500 or whatever they sell for now, I would put my money into a voigtlander because their products are of excellent quality for the money and have a reputation I trust. I did not personally have a bad experience in the transaction, but I also realize I was perhaps lucky and others were not. I would be pretty upset if I paid months in advance then had no interaction or timeline to receive the lens. In fact, I think it might even be a profitable spinoff line from a company like Cosina to do the same thing on expired patent lenses. If it is legal and there is a market, why not? I know I would buy certain ones.

 

[Emile de Leon]

This was a 'hobby' project by someone with the means to produce the replica

I dont think so..
Word I get is..

 

[Leica0Series]

An update: I pinged Kevin and got a response with a photo of my lens, which has passed his quality control and should be shipping sometime this week. It's a little like getting a ransom photo in the mail, but the ransom has already been paid so now I'm confident I'll get my lens. It has my name on it, literally!

 

[Deleted member 65559]

My lens has made it as far as the DHL Hub in Ohio....A very quick 2 days from pickup in Shanghai to DHL in Cincinnati!

 

[Emile de Leon]

I pinged Kevin and got a response with a photo of my lens,

Mine was supposed to be delivered on the 22nd..but it is coming today..2 days early.

 

[Platinum RF]

This was a 'hobby' project by someone with the means to produce the replica, but without any kind of reputation to uphold. ...... My impression is very much that once this project got traction and showed a profit potential, the low profit RFF member lenses got moved to the bottom of the priority list......

From all the information I have read, it was a hobby project from beginning. Mr. Zhou had to put his money to get this project started. The part I do not like - Mr. Zhou should have filled the orders from first batch buyers before selling V2 and all other versions. After all, it is these overseas buyers and the LHSA article that gave the future buyers the confidence, made this project viable and profitable. In business, credibility is the most important element for success. As to Kevin, who is in an awkward position and got the complaints from some buyers, I have no idea how he was paid for all this work he has done to handle, QC and ship the lenses. I hope he gets some compensation from Mr. Zhou for all the work he has done.

 

[Emile de Leon]

Got it!
Here are some pics..
Initial impressions..




Excellent build overall..

 

[andyturk]

Got it!

Congrats!

Interesting that your aperture ring feels "flimsy." On my copy, it has nice chunky detents and more drag than any Leica lens I own.

 

[Emile de Leon]

On my copy, it has nice chunky detents and more drag than any Leica lens I own.

There seems to be some variation there.

 

[Platinum RF]

Maybe should use the correct term "Shanzhai"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanzhai#:~:text=Shanzhai%20(Chinese%3A%20%E5%B1%B1%E5%AF%A8%3B%20pinyin,and%20the%20subculture%20surrounding%20them.

 

[Emile de Leon]

They Shanghai-ed...Leica..

 

[Freakscene]

I wonder what adjustments/changes they made to allow more shadow detail?

Shadows are bluer than open light. Generally, allowing more blue transmission allows more open shadows/more shadow exposure which increases shadow contrast. Coatings are one component of the colour transmission of a lens, and given that there would have been very little (probably zero) chance of changing glass choices, this is the most likely variation.

I dont think so..[snip]
The designs sought to be reverse engineered from the get go were ..8E, Elcan, 50 double Asph, & Hologon...and maybe more..
Some proved too difficult to replicate and have been scrapped..
QC is not stellar on the 8E...we will see what the future holds.

Do you mean the first 35 Summilux aspherical with the pair of hand ground elements? Good luck to them with that. Given the problems with the 8E the chance of them replicating that design are slim. The precision of the lens element alignment required by that design is extremely high.

I was very interested that LLL sort-of announced/hinted that the next lens to be replicated would be the f1.2 Noctilux and Leica almost immediately appeared with a quite affordable reissue. If I were them I would take this seriously too.

Marty