p.38 #2 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens
Yes Fred, in my previous post I mentioned that the lens previous owner did the close focus mods, that’s why i bought it from him.
Loving the images wide open.
I used to have 50 lux V2 long time ago, I was really missing the glows, and now finally getting it back thru the steel rim.
Fred Miranda wrote:
Nick, did you perform the modification on your lens? I’m asking because you mentioned you like the glow from 0.75m wide open, and that’s not possible with the stock lens unless you’re using a close-up adapter while using it on a mirrorless camera.
p.38 #3 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens
Nick YR wrote:
Yes Fred, in my previous post I mentioned that the lens previous owner did the close focus mods, that’s why i bought it from him.
Loving the images wide open.
I used to have 50 lux V2 long time ago, I was really missing the glows, and now finally getting it back thru the steel rim.
Oh, I somehow missed that! This is the first report of this mod being done since Yuri's. That means those who really want it may have a chance to find someone qualified to perform the modification.
p.38 #4 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens
Out of curiosity, I measured the true minimum focus distance of my Leica 35mm f/1.4 Summilux "Steel Rim" modified by Yuri today, factoring in the camera’s 27.8mm flange distance, and it’s actually 0.752m exactly. My 35mm f/1.4 Summilux pre-ASPH v2 with an infinity lock has a slightly longer minimum focus distance from the factory. I will measure it when I get it back from DAG.
p.38 #6 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens
This lens works great for street shooting with zone focusing. At f11 and focusing tab slightly to the 5'o clock position. Few from this weekend in Chinatown, San Francisco.
p.38 #11 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens
Nick YR wrote:
Just to compare 2 pics, one at F2.0 and one at F1.4 (much more glow)
There is always the intermediate aperture f/1.7 to try.
Here's one shot wide open with the Leica 35mm f/1.4 Summilux pre-asph (Infinity Lock version). I tested this lens side by side with the Steel Rim, and surprisingly, it's slightly sharper at center. (Not as sharp at corners). Their rendering is very similar overall. The main difference I noticed is that the Infinity Lock version has lower contrast. In my tests, reducing global contrast by 20 in Lightroom makes the two lenses look quite close. The Steel Rim also tends to produce slightly warmer tones due to its modern multi-coating.
p.38 #12 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens
Ah nice, indeed the rendering is similar.
Is the infinity lock version of pre-ASPH also called the V2?
Fred Miranda wrote:
There is always the intermediate aperture f/1.7 to try.
Here's one shot wide open with the Leica 35mm f/1.4 Summilux pre-asph (Infinity Lock version). I tested this lens side by side with the Steel Rim, and surprisingly, it's slightly sharper at center. (Not as sharp at corners). Their rendering is very similar overall. The main difference I noticed is that the Infinity Lock version has lower contrast. In my tests, reducing global contrast by 20 in Lightroom makes the two lenses look quite close. The Steel Rim also tends to produce slightly warmer tones due to its modern multi-coating.
p.38 #13 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens
Nick YR wrote:
Ah nice, indeed the rendering is similar.
Is the infinity lock version of pre-ASPH also called the V2?
I believe it is called "transitional" because it uses the original Steel Rim optical formula with the same glass as the first version. From what I have gathered, even though the design stayed the same, the glass formulation in some of the elements was changed starting with "v2 (plastic tab)".
There are actually two types of transitional infinity lock versions. The earlier ones have a brass infinity lock button painted in glossy black. Later versions switched to an aluminum button. Some of the aluminum ones are painted while others are left bare.
No surprise it is called transitional since there are so many small variations...
From what I have read, only the ones with the brass button use the original Steel Rim glass. After that, Leica began using different glass types for some of the elements, so it became v2 using the same glass but with different coatings depending on year of production.
p.38 #14 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens
Curious if anyone has found someone in the USA willing to do the close focus mod to the steel rim reissue? As previously mentioned, DAG doesn't want to do it (I double checked with him). So far I haven't found anyone willing to do it and honestly I'm too scared to try to do it myself. I'd prefer to find someone that has done it before to minimize risk.
p.38 #15 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens
chadrem wrote:
Curious if anyone has found someone in the USA willing to do the close focus mod to the steel rim reissue? As previously mentioned, DAG doesn't want to do it (I double checked with him). So far I haven't found anyone willing to do it and honestly I'm too scared to try to do it myself. I'd prefer to find someone that has done it before to minimize risk.
It has been a popular lens, but I'm sure demand for the steel-rim re-issue has now slowed to a trickle - Leica would do well to introduce an updated version with 0.7m focus and an E46 compatible OLLUX or 12466 hood.
p.38 #16 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens
FrozenInTime wrote:
It has been a popular lens, but I'm sure demand for the steel-rim re-issue has now slowed to a trickle - Leica would do well to introduce an updated version with 0.7m focus and an E46 compatible OLLUX or 12466 hood.
Reissue v2! Not impossible but I think it's extremely unlikely.
Something interesting I noticed is that the close-up mod from Yuri lets the Steel Rim reissue focus down to exactly 0.75 meters. The Leica 35mm f1.4 pre-asph with infinity lock actually gets pretty close to that from the factory. I measured mine focusing as close as 0.78m, which noticeably under the 1m mark on the barrel.
Yuri also modified my Voigtlander 35mm f1.4 Nokton SC v2, and with the mod, it focuses down to 0.62m and it’s still rangefinder coupled at that distance (Which is the RF limit). I am actually selling it if anyone is interested. Not because I do not love it, but just because I have way too many 35mm f1.4 lenses.
p.38 #17 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens
M11M and 35 steel rim reissue. I vacillate between my favorite lens being this one or my recently acquired Summilux 50/1.4 pre-asph v3. This week the SRR won out.
p.38 #18 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens
I looked at my old 35 FLE pictures this week. I think if I have to have one 35mm purely based on image quality, it would be the FLE. I wish Leica can come up with a 35 that renders like 35 FLE but closer to SRRe's size.
p.38 #19 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens
Brick!
We got the same top 2 fave lenses: 35 SRR and 50 lux V3.
A really nice combo personally for me too, especially in silver chrome as in below pic. But now i need a silver M!
brick33308 wrote:
M11M and 35 steel rim reissue. I vacillate between my favorite lens being this one or my recently acquired Summilux 50/1.4 pre-asph v3. This week the SRR won out.
p.38 #20 · Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim lens
Nick YR wrote:
Brick!
We got the same top 2 fave lenses: 35 SRR and 50 lux V3.
A really nice combo personally for me too, especially in silver chrome as in below pic. But now i need a silver M!
