Fred Miranda wrote:
Thanks. I guessed f/2.8 because stopping down one stop from wide open improves off-axis performance noticeably, which your comp shows. If it had been wide open, I don't think the result would have looked the same, since the very top of the subject would likely show noticeably weaker performance than the center. I think you chose the perfect aperture for this scene. You kept some background separation and still gained the extra sharpness you needed.
This is one of those rare cases where the Leica 50mm f/2 Summicron Rigid would actually do slightly better, and it could have been shot wide open....Show more →
Fred the elcan was lens of the day, I have been working these scenes around my house most mornings trying another one of my lenses predawn, on the same type of scenes, but I only have a few minutes when the light is just right. So each lens gets its morning and not enough time to switch. Prior to this I was working my Leica rigid from 1966, so I didn't do the LLL rigid I have. My impression is the Leica is a tiny bit sharper and balanced for scene than the LLL, but the LLL coatings are better for color than the old Leica, or is it the glass? I think the color benefit from LLL is a stronger benefit than the IQ difference. If my LLL 35/1.4 delivers today it will be new toy syndrome tomorrow, unless I get the rain predicted, then thursday- maybe I can get a rainbow tomorrow and try the 35mm, hope so. I also need to spend a morning or two on my photoshoot with the SPII rigid.
1966 lens- In general my preference for this lens is close and medium distance that can be remarkable, long distance has not been its strength in my hands when mostly open to open, but this evening I decided to make the 1966 lens of the day to use (rotating my lens use) and with a partially cloudy Sunset I knew there would be color to try out. I rather like its render of reddened clouds. This is F1.4 to give it a little contrast boost, -1/3 stop, ektar cobalt.
I didn’t post much photos lately, but I didn’t take much either.
Still, I bought the worst camera of 2025 according to the internet, so I had to try it our more.
And I love my LLL lenses so I got back in the cold to reclaim the habit of taking more pictures.
mdg137 wrote:
Fred, my sliver chrome 1966, no hood, no caps is 485g. (Assuming my kitchen scale is correct)
Interesting. I just got my Silver Chrome copy and it's exactly 545 grams as reported on other sites. I'm pretty happy it's not 632 grams as LLL states.
Fred Miranda wrote:
Interesting. I just got my Silver Chrome copy and it's exactly 545 grams as reported on other sites. I'm pretty happy it's not 632 grams as LLL states.
Just re-weighed, no clue what was going on with the scale before, but today it said 545….
mdg137 wrote:
Just re-weighed, no clue what was going on with the scale before, but today it said 545….
Sometimes weight scales do get miscalibrated, so thanks for confirming. It matters more than people think, especially since the silver chrome version is gorgeous. To my eye it really resembles the new Leica 50mm f/1.4 Lux reissue, pre-ASPH, and of course the 50mm f/1.2 Noctilux silver chrome reissue at around 600g and also all brass.
Fred Miranda wrote:
Sometimes weight scales do get miscalibrated, so thanks for confirming. It matters more than people think, especially since the silver chrome version is gorgeous. To my eye it really resembles the new Leica 50mm f/1.4 Lux reissue, pre-ASPH, and of course the 50mm f/1.2 Noctilux silver chrome reissue at around 600g and also all brass.
Here you go, variations on a theme.
Summilux v1, Summilux ASPH LHSA, Summilux Classic, Noctilux f1.2 Chrome, LLL 1966
My lens arrived today. I have yet to see if it front focuses but I took a few shots while walking the dog. Even before that, my first image is always of Nora wide open.
mdg137 wrote:
Agreed, it’s the length of the barrel forward of the aperture ring— longer on the 1966 and the O.G. Noct.
What's cool about your collection is that even though the barrels look similar, each lens has a very distinct personality. The rendering differences are real and easy to see. Starting with the pre-asph v1 on the left, it is very under corrected, almost Summarit-like. Then you have the most corrected option, the current f/1.4 ASPH. The newly released pre-asph reissue sits nicely in between, with a balance of under correction, I would say somewhere between the pre-asph v3 and the current ASPH.
Then come the two f/1.2 versions. They render in a similar way overall, but the LLL has a cooler tone and more structure in the bokeh balls, closer to the original. The Leica f/1.2 shows better flare resistance, higher contrast, warmer color, and cleaner bokeh balls.
So, all very different looks, yet wrapped in very similar barrel designs.
Now all that's left is to hunt down the original Noct in silver chrome, but be careful, that one might push you a little too close to a divorce.
The Z21 is sold out on LLL website.
It’s odd, it’s the first time I see one of their newly released lens not being available so soon.
Maybe they are busy with the 35mm 1.4, it looks like it sells well.
Sonnar-7 wrote:
The Z21 is sold out on LLL website.
It’s odd, it’s the first time I see one of their newly released lens not being available so soon.
Maybe they are busy with the 35mm 1.4, it looks like it sells well.
LLL is apparently going to have a very busy year with new products, the two new 75s, that 40/2 is apparently delayed but still coming, and filling the orders for the 35/1.4 that seems to have slowed a bit and so will take a bit longer, their film project ? rumors of a rangefinder, and more lenses, it might well be all hands on deck for new products, and since there is no blog announcement like for the Elcan announcing end of production, perhaps the Z21 is just off the agenda at the moment and they will back stock later.
If you need a Z21 Shotenkobo in Japan has 4, there will be tariffs of course, and eBay will take sales tax if you go through them
I have found Shotenkobo has excellent service.
I expect LLL and my CC will remain linked in the coming year for new offerings
EMH2025 wrote
fIf you need a Z21 Shotenkobo in Japan has 4, there will be tariffs of course, and eBay will take sales tax if you go through them
I have found Shotenkobo has excellent service.
Funnily enough, Shotenkobo's ebay store had a Titanium LLL 35mm F1.4 AA Aspherical 11873 Lens
which I've just received. Serial Number is 072/300. Purchased Jan 06 and got it Jan 09.
Yes, there was tax, but so far no tariff. I've not gotten a bill yet, but may. For me, it was worth it as I wanted the Ti not black paint and couldn't find one anywhere.
Joe D
tunisia wrote:
EMH2025 wrote
fIf you need a Z21 Shotenkobo in Japan has 4, there will be tariffs of course, and eBay will take sales tax if you go through them
I have found Shotenkobo has excellent service.
Funnily enough, Shotenkobo's ebay store had a Titanium LLL 35mm F1.4 AA Aspherical 11873 Lens
which I've just received. Serial Number is 072/300. Purchased Jan 06 and got it Jan 09.
Yes, there was tax, but so far no tariff. I've not gotten a bill yet, but may. For me, it was worth it as I wanted the Ti not black paint and couldn't find one anywhere.
Joe D...Show more →
Various vendors got allocations, popflash had I think 5 but I had already ordered mine through LLL, camwest I think also had a small allocation probably sold them, but have not looked. For some they had a second chance past the deadline.
BTW if anyone needs a LLL lens Shotenkobo has most of them in most forms (although the Ti 35/1.4 might be elusive), lots of out of production Elcans in most forms and a lot of others that are out at LLL, I have no idea why they have such a great inventory but they do, and are a vendor I like.
Shoten Kobo are the official and main distributor of many Chinese lens and adapter brands in Japan, including LLL, Thypoch, TechArt, 7Artisan, TTArtisan, Zhongyi Optics/Mitakon, Dulens etc. They also represent those brands at CP+ etc.
Does anyone know if there are any practical differences between the different versions of the LLL 8e?
I can see they are on V8LC now. Any version I should be looking for on the used market?
