The Mandler 35mm f2

[Archiver]

The folks in China have done it again with another lens that emulates the design of an old Leica lens. This time, it's a copy of the seven element King of Bokeh, in the form of the Mandler 35mm f2. Intriguing.

https://camera-forest.com/en/mandler-35mm-f2-en/

Mandler 35mm ƒ2 Lens Review: The Affordable Bokeh King

A hands-on review of the Mandler 35mm F2, a reproduction of Leica’s King of Bokeh Summicron 35mm F2. Look forward to many real life examples.

keithwee.com

First Look: Mandler 35mm f/2 for Leica M — Brian Cho

A first look review and first impressions of the Mandler 35mm f/2 for Leica M

brianchophoto.com

 

[kxl]

It's one of the lenses I looked into as I researched options for a 35mm. I read reviews and the general sentiment seemed to be: sharp in the center, but not so much mid-frame and at the edges. Price range was anywhere from $500+ to $600+, depending on whether you want aluminum or brass. What really killed it for me had nothing to do with the lens itself--it was the cost of importing the lens from China into the US.

 

[Freakscene]

If it is not plastic inside and doesn’t shed flecks of internal light damping paint with use it might be a better user than the real thing.

My father was good friends with Walter Mandler and I met him when I was a child. I wonder what he would think of this.

 

[Archiver]

If it is not plastic inside and doesn’t shed flecks of light internal damping paint with use it might be a better user than the real thing.

My father was good friends with Walter Mandler and I met him when I was a child. I wonder what he would think of this.

Hopefully someone out there does a disassembly and those questions will be answered. Maybe not the one about what Mr. Mandler would think, though.

 

[Out to Lunch]

In this clip two more recent Chinese 35mm copies

 

[David Murphy]

Fascinating development. Thanks for posting this. What other marvel can we expect from China as far as M lenses are concerned?

 

[Archiver]

Fascinating development. Thanks for posting this. What other marvel can we expect from China as far as M lenses are concerned?

So far, we've got Thypoch, Light Lens Lab, TTArtisan, 7Artisans, Mr Ding (!) Funleader (!) and now Mandler. Reviews suggest that Thypoch is one of the best in terms of build quality, but the others aren't slouches, either. I read a terrible review of a Mr Ding lens, so I'm steering away from that. But this new Mandler lens looks quite tasty. I wouldn't mind getting one if @Freakscene 's questions are answered positively.

 

[Freakscene]

Fascinating development. Thanks for posting this. What other marvel can we expect from China as far as M lenses are concerned?

Light Lens Lab have stated that they copying the 35/1.4 Aspherical (the first aspherical design 35 Summilux with two hand ground aspherical elements, hence the ‘Aspherical’ rather than ‘ASPH’). I had one of the originals and see no reason to be interested in a copy, but good luck to them grinding those elements and centring them in the optical block.

Marty

 

[raydm6]

I have the v4 35 Summicron-M. It has held up well since acquiring new in the 80's.

Excellent tribute to Dr. Mandler and his progeny -> here <- on RFF.

 

[Freakscene]

I have the v4 35 Summicron-M. It has held up well since acquiring new in the 80's.

Excellent tribute to Dr. Mandler and his progeny -> here <- on RFF.

I have the lens too. I love it, but there is not a chance at all that I would recommend it to anyone in 2025. All its problems as a user lens get worse with age.

 

[raydm6]

I have the lens too. I love it, but there is not a chance at all that I would recommend it to anyone in 2025. All its problems as a user lens get worse with age.

I am very careful with it - especially when removing and installing the clip-on hood. I use a very gentle technique.

 

[Richard G]

I’ve had my v4 on an M6 for over thirty years. Hardly ever removed the hood. The mount was coming loose after ten years. I just tightened the screws. After twenty I must have knocked off the red mounting dot in a fall with a couple of cameras with me. It took photographs of my kids and was never far away from my hand. No real problem still.

 

[Godfrey]

Hmm. I have a Leica Summilux 35mm f/1.4 (1972) that DAG cleaned, calibrated and coded for me about a decade ago. And I have a practically new Voigtländer Color-Skopar 35mm f/2.5 in LTM. Both work great.

Don't need any others.

G