Email them and ask. They are very responsive. The built-in filter on the collapsable 8-element can be removed with a lens spanner wrench, so I'd assume this is a similar deal.
The problem I have with LLL's business model is they say if you are in the US you should only buy from Popflash. But Popflash is sold out, while the lens is still available from LLL and from lots of sellers on ebay. And many of those sellers on ebay have multiple copies for sale.
So it seems the market supply is being throttled in the US.
Desmolicious wrote:
The problem I have with LLL's business model is they say if you are in the US you should only buy from Popflash. But Popflash is sold out, while the lens is still available from LLL and from lots of sellers on ebay. And many of those sellers on ebay have multiple copies for sale.
So it seems the market supply is being throttled in the US.
Or Popflash got too many returns of the 8 element and don’t want any more. Just call Popflash and ask Alex or the owner Tony what the deal is.
highdesertmesa wrote:
Or Popflash got too many returns of the 8 element and don’t want any more. Just call Popflash and ask Alex or the owner Tony what the deal is.
Before I do that... I kinda wanted to hear from actual users/owners. But it seems so strange that basically no owners have posted images, but yet some have already sold on their lens.
Searching for SPII user pics online brings up very little apart from Mr Leica's boudoir shots.
Desmolicious wrote:
The problem I have with LLL's business model is they say if you are in the US you should only buy from Popflash. But Popflash is sold out, while the lens is still available from LLL and from lots of sellers on ebay. And many of those sellers on ebay have multiple copies for sale.
So it seems the market supply is being throttled in the US.
Desmolicious wrote:
Please post pics taken with it!
Sorry, my bad, I bought the 8E, I see that the SP II is still not in stock which either means that PopFlash did not get any, or only a very small amount.
If I recall correctly it was already out of stock roughly 6+ weeks ago when I put myself on the waiting list for the 8E.
Desmolicious wrote:
Before I do that... I kinda wanted to hear from actual users/owners. But it seems so strange that basically no owners have posted images, but yet some have already sold on their lens.
Searching for SPII user pics online brings up very little apart from Mr Leica's boudoir shots.
Yes, mine is for sale, just because I ditch the M-system, otherwise I would say it is a quite a good option for a "dual character" lens, especially given its price.
I found it difficult to focus on my Sony A7C camera (since the image is quite soft and less contrasty at f/2) otherwise I would have kept it for sure. Also, being quite impressed with the VM Nokton 35/1.2 III, I have bought a Nokton 40/1.2 SE for my Sony, which is quite close FL to this 50/2 lens.
SlowDriver wrote:
Sounds like it's a bit of a tough sell... big, heavy, soft and not cheap:
I'm starting to think this lens would be better for video than still shots. In video it automatically lives up to the 'cinema' look, because that is what you are doing with it.
But for still shots? All the 'cinema' look seems to mean is low contrast and veiling flare.
Has anyone mentioned why the SPii has a built in UV filter?
Did someone say it was to deliberately reduce image quality by introducing flare to make the lens seem more authentic to its mission?
Desmolicious wrote:
Has anyone mentioned why the SPii has a built in UV filter?
Did someone say it was to deliberately reduce image quality by introducing flare to make the lens seem more authentic to its mission?
It's removable, so I assume it's just a convenience to have a built-in filter for protection rather than having to buy and install a separate one. I read on their website that it's removable.
This is an interesting comment from Mr Leica’s review:
@ne14makingart
If you go above f8 do you notice a blue haze in the center of the frame? I reached out to them and this is what they told me: This is a normal phenomenon with original SPII as the internal reflection has caused the lens to have diffraction under low T-Stops. It is advise to not shoot SPII under F8. It was only very recently that we discovered this phenomenon. Either our production and distribution network was not aware of this phenomenon due to the lens usually being shot under f/8. - does this ring true or make sense? seems like an odd answer. Thanks Matt!
Fred Miranda wrote:
Is there any timeline for the release of the Leica 50/1.2 replica? I am interested on this one.
I just emailed and asked about progress on this, and mentioned that I will be in Wetzlar in October, and that I’d love to have mine with me there… the response was something along the line of SP production is taking precedence, and as to October, “We will see…”
That said, David Chen is first class in his responses and info.
Desmolicious wrote:
Has anyone mentioned why the SPii has a built in UV filter?
Did someone say it was to deliberately reduce image quality by introducing flare to make the lens seem more authentic to its mission?
(Ok that was me just now)
If they were introducing a more vintage look via the filter, they would advertise the lens as a two-look lens as well as sell the filter separately as a vintage-look filter. Stranger things have happened I guess. Thought I read it takes a lens spanner wrench to remove it. Wonder if the threads left behind after removing it are traditional filter threads or if they only accept the LLL UV filter piece.
Popflash has the black ones for sale now, arriving to them on the 7th. I wasn’t going to end up buying this lens, but I ordered the brassed black version just because it looks so cool and would be fun to use on a film camera. Hoping that their quality control on rangefinder alignment at infinity has improved.
Desmolicious wrote:
This is an interesting comment from Mr Leica’s review:
@ne14makingart
If you go above f8 do you notice a blue haze in the center of the frame? I reached out to them and this is what they told me: This is a normal phenomenon with original SPII as the internal reflection has caused the lens to have diffraction under low T-Stops. It is advise to not shoot SPII under F8. It was only very recently that we discovered this phenomenon. Either our production and distribution network was not aware of this phenomenon due to the lens usually being shot under f/8. - does this ring true or make sense? seems like an odd answer. Thanks Matt!...Show more →
Sounds like that would be a cool effect for video if the lens was declicked: racking the aperture would make the blue haze appear or disappear. I picture a central subject stopped down that is slightly obscured by the blue haze, then as focus gets wide to f/2, it isolates the subject as it is making it more clear.
highdesertmesa wrote:
If they were introducing a more vintage look via the filter, they would advertise the lens as a two-look lens as well as sell the filter separately as a vintage-look filter. Stranger things have happened I guess. Thought I read it takes a lens spanner wrench to remove it. Wonder if the threads left behind after removing it are traditional filter threads or if they only accept the LLL UV filter piece.
Popflash has the black ones for sale now, arriving to them on the 7th. I wasn’t going to end up buying this lens, but I ordered the brassed black version just because it looks so cool and would be fun to use on a film camera. Hoping that their quality control on rangefinder alignment at infinity has improved....Show more →
yeah, I saw the sale over the July 4th period - ended at midnight! - and it was a very good sale indeed. But even at that price point I couldn't do it. This lens just doesn't do it for me. Not good wide open, kinda hazy, and now apparently has internal flares at f8 and smaller.
Instead I decided I'd get my Summicron 50 DR CLA-d and use that for when I want cinematic, I mean vintage, I mean cinematic..
Desmolicious wrote:
yeah, I saw the sale over the July 4th period - ended at midnight! - and it was a very good sale indeed. But even at that price point I couldn't do it. This lens just doesn't do it for me. Not good wide open, kinda hazy, and now apparently has internal flares at f8 and smaller.
Instead I decided I'd get my Summicron 50 DR CLA-d and use that for when I want cinematic, I mean vintage, I mean cinematic..
I'm hoping they made a few tweaks to the black version after getting feedback on the initial release in silver.
