Do you plan to get the LLL 50/1.2? Based on the other thread and their preorder page, looks like it will be almost a year's wait...
I thought about it and decided to wait and possibly pay more. I want a V2 or later that will have the inevitable improvements made to it. If everything looks good, I may still buy a V1 if available from Popflash. Either way, it's a 2024 arrival at best.
What does have my attention a bit more is their coming replica of the Cooke 50 f/2 Speed Panchro II.
The Cooke replica would be for my SL2-S and probably for video. It's a weird looking prototype I guess they tried to make it as narrow as possible to work better on an M, but I wish they'd just keep the original Cooke shape and considered it more of a lens to use with the EVF.
The Cooke replica would be for my SL2-S and probably for video. It's a weird looking prototype I guess they tried to make it as narrow as possible to work better on an M, but I wish they'd just keep the original Cooke shape and considered it more of a lens to use with the EVF.
I'm not familiar with any Cooke lens. What makes this lens unique compared to other 50/2 lenses? Rendering? Flare?
Fred Miranda wrote:
I'm not familiar with any Cooke lens. What makes this lens unique compared to other 50/2 lenses? Rendering? Flare?
They're popular in the filmmaking community, though I have not researched in depth as to why. I'd guess because they still have a vintage/retro rendering but don't break the bank like higher-end anamorphic lenses would.
"Many of the Cooke Speed Panchros being used today date back to the 1950s, and 1960s. They are known for how well they render faces, and for their painterly quality. These are the lenses responsible for the term "The Cooke Look." They are sharp for their age, but their lower contrast gives them a flattering softness.
They have a gentle focus roll-off and are just a little warm. The wider focal lengths have a bit of barrel distortion and vignette. Their simple, older optical designs out of the focal lengths offer a unique "cat's eye" bokeh."
Of course "cat's eye" bokeh is not unique in the Leica M world
highdesertmesa wrote:
They're popular in the filmmaking community, though I have not researched in depth as to why. I'd guess because they still have a vintage/retro rendering but don't break the bank like higher-end anamorphic lenses would.
"Many of the Cooke Speed Panchros being used today date back to the 1950s, and 1960s. They are known for how well they render faces, and for their painterly quality. These are the lenses responsible for the term "The Cooke Look." They are sharp for their age, but their lower contrast gives them a flattering softness.
They have a gentle focus roll-off and are just a little warm. The wider focal lengths have a bit of barrel distortion and vignette. Their simple, older optical designs out of the focal lengths offer a unique "cat's eye" bokeh."
Of course "cat's eye" bokeh is not unique in the Leica M world ...Show more →
Looks cool for video for sure and I can imagine it would adapt great on the SL series. Looking at some still samples, I don't see much optical vignetting which is surprising since the lens is long for a 50mm.
The Cooke replica would be for my SL2-S and probably for video. It's a weird looking prototype I guess they tried to make it as narrow as possible to work better on an M, but I wish they'd just keep the original Cooke shape and considered it more of a lens to use with the EVF.
From browsing their upcoming projects section, it appears the Cooke replica will also be delivered in a 50 Cron Rigid housing, but with 8 aperture blades instead of 11. An earlier post indicated the Cook would ship in a range of mounts including Canon EF and PL.
And they have a post about a Cooke 75/2 in development. Based on the MTFs, it looks like it might be interesting (sharp in the center with gradual falloff and reasonable astigmatism).
LLL sure does have some interesting projects on the go.
Will also look forward to when they start shipping their LTM-M adapters. Currently priced at a very reasonable $35 on their product page...
rscheffler wrote:
From browsing their upcoming projects section, it appears the Cooke replica will also be delivered in a 50 Cron Rigid housing, but with 8 aperture blades instead of 11. An earlier post indicated the Cook would ship in a range of mounts including Canon EF and PL.
And they have a post about a Cooke 75/2 in development. Based on the MTFs, it looks like it might be interesting (sharp in the center with gradual falloff and reasonable astigmatism).
LLL sure does have some interesting projects on the go.
Will also look forward to when they start shipping their LTM-M adapters. Currently priced at a very reasonable $35 on their product page......Show more →
I also noticed yesterday that Popflash now sells an LTM/M version of the regular non-collapsible 8-element. Popflash says the LTM version is made in 500 edition sets versus the regular M-mount, which is made in 1000 edition sets. Both are the same current revision. So three versions total: M, LTM/M, and collapsible LTM/M. The LTM-to-M ring on my collapsible version seems well made.
It's interesting what they're doing with these Cooke replicas; they seem to be developing them mainly as portrait lenses for photography. They're a bit long for video, especially if you're shooting Super 35. If they start doing wider ones (17.5mm on up) and offered them in PL mount they'd appeal more to cinematographers.
bjhurley wrote:
It's interesting what they're doing with these Cooke replicas; they seem to be developing them mainly as portrait lenses for photography. They're a bit long for video, especially if you're shooting Super 35. If they start doing wider ones (17.5mm on up) and offered them in PL mount they'd appeal more to cinematographers.
You can already buy rehoused sets of the originals from more than one company. Very expensive. Im sure these companies would rehouse the LLL remakes, too. Its more than the mount, its the gearing, uniform filter thread size, etc.
Will also look forward to when they start shipping their LTM-M adapters. Currently priced at a very reasonable $35 on their product page...
I have had no issues using Fotodiox LTM-M adapters. $20. They have been just as reliable as my Voigtlander or Leica adapters. If you get a 'bad' one, just exchange it. I have had 'bad' CV and Leica adapters.
Performance is identical to my collapsable version. I tested them at infinity with the same results:
Center frame infinity focus at f/2 is at the hard stop (center of infinity symbol)
Center frame infinity focus at f/8 is just before the hard stop (left edge of the infinity symbol)
Corner performance at f/8 is excellent (center at infinity, corner at ~50m)
Screenshot examples have the default C1 sharpening. Images were taken on the SL2-S (previously had used the M11 and a common lens to set the hard stop on the Hawk's Factory macro adapter for the SL2-S to align with the M11 hard stop).
Note that in the extreme flare example, I'm using the brass-colored filter on the lens, which may add to the effect.
Infinity focus at f/2 is at the hard stop
Infinity focus at f/8 is at the left edge of the infinity symbol
100% f/8 center (house) vs. far right corner (exposure brightened)
Nothing special here, just wanted to upload a few images that were exported instead of screenshots. Vignette correction was not applied to any of these all shot with the filter and hood attached.
f/8
LEICA SL2-SSummicron-M 1:2/35 lens35mmf/9.51/80s100 ISO-1.0 EV
f/2
LEICA SL2-SSummicron-M 1:2/35 lens35mmf/2.41/640s100 ISO-1.0 EV
f/2
LEICA SL2-SSummicron-M 1:2/35 lens35mmf/2.01/640s100 ISO-1.0 EV
f/2
LEICA SL2-SSummicron-M 1:2/35 lens35mmf/3.41/400s100 ISO-1.0 EV
highdesertmesa wrote:
I received the brass version kit today. I like it
Performance is identical to my collapsable version. I tested them at infinity with the same results:
Center frame infinity focus at f/2 is at the hard stop (center of infinity symbol)
Center frame infinity focus at f/8 is just before the hard stop (left edge of the infinity symbol)
Corner performance at f/8 is excellent (center at infinity, corner at ~50m)
Screenshot examples have the default C1 sharpening. Images were taken on the SL2-S (previously had used the M11 and a common lens to set the hard stop on the Hawk's Factory macro adapter for the SL2-S to align with the M11 hard stop).
Note that in the extreme flare example, I'm using the brass-colored filter on the lens, which may add to the effect....Show more →
Desmolicious wrote:
Nice! Even the lens hood is remarkably well made.
Agreed, its all very well made. Im assuming the hood unscrews into two pieces because they had to manufacture it that way versus there being a function for the user. Leica would have put a thread locker on there, but I like being able to separate it even if it serves no function.
