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Archive 2022 · MS-Optics Apollon 36mm f1.3 (Leica M-mount)

Juha Kannisto
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p.4 #1 · p.4 #1 · MS-Optics Apollon 36mm f1.3 (Leica M-mount)

nehemiahphoto wrote:
I tried to order through MKDirect, but it’s out of stock. Any idea when it’s back?

I think if you contact them by e-mail (mkdirect51 @ gmail.com (without the spaces, e-mail addresses in forum posts seem to get mangled)), they would get back and provide information about expected availability. Their website keeps listing Apollon as a "reservation product" and the black version was shown in stock only for about 2 weeks and silver version has never been shown to be in stock but they seem to get supplies gradually and they are shipping in order to those who have made reservations. I haven't seen any indications currently about when there will be new supplies next but I think they keep getting new supplies each month (delivery timings may vary between Black and Silver).

I also bought mine through e-mail communications (pre-order booking) and never submitted formal order form through their website.

Currently I.C.S. Used Camera Fair is happening at Ginza (2/16 to 2/21) and it seems MS-Optics directed some supplies to that Fair through fotoborse who are always participating there, and fotoborse have Silver version of Apollon available at the Fair + several other MS-Optics lenses (http://fotoborse.com/). Outside of this Fair, fotoborse hasn't been recently stocking MS-Optics lenses (they only seemed to have 1 remaining unsold H-Petz and 1 used Vario Petz). I think it's not feasible to get them from fotoborse without visiting the Fair though.

Feb 15, 2023 at 10:02 PM

nehemiahphoto
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p.4 #2 · p.4 #2 · MS-Optics Apollon 36mm f1.3 (Leica M-mount)

Juha Kannisto wrote:
I think if you contact them by e-mail (mkdirect51 @ gmail.com (without the spaces, e-mail addresses in forum posts seem to get mangled)), they would get back and provide information about expected availability. Their website keeps listing Apollon as a "reservation product" and the black version was shown in stock only for about 2 weeks and silver version has never been shown to be in stock but they seem to get supplies gradually and they are shipping in order to those who have made reservations. I haven't seen any indications currently about when there will be new supplies next...Show more →

Thanks Juha—always so helpful 👍🏻 I’ll email

Feb 17, 2023 at 03:27 PM

Juha Kannisto
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p.4 #3 · p.4 #3 · MS-Optics Apollon 36mm f1.3 (Leica M-mount)

nehemiahphoto wrote:
Thanks Juha—always so helpful 👍🏻 I’ll email

I noticed that mkdirect has Apollon (black) back in stock in their site now for the first time since mid-January.

https://www.mkdirect51.com/product-page/apollon1-3-36

Mar 10, 2023 at 08:57 PM

troncarter
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p.4 #4 · p.4 #4 · MS-Optics Apollon 36mm f1.3 (Leica M-mount)

Mine just arrived yesterday from mkdirect, but must have took a knock in shipping to the point that the aperture doesn't open or close. Kami and Miyazaki san were quick to respond to my email and it's on it's way back tomorrow for repair. Lovely looking lens, at least on the outside so far

Mar 19, 2023 at 10:26 AM

SlowDriver
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p.4 #5 · p.4 #5 · MS-Optics Apollon 36mm f1.3 (Leica M-mount)

I got mine today from MkDirect. Seems to work fine. My credit card got charged $732.79. Big price difference with JCH...

Jul 14, 2023 at 02:04 PM

Juha Kannisto
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p.4 #6 · p.4 #6 · MS-Optics Apollon 36mm f1.3 (Leica M-mount)

SlowDriver wrote:
I got mine today from MkDirect. Seems to work fine. My credit card got charged $732.79. Big price difference with JCH...

Good to hear! MKDirect hasn't shown them as being in stock on their site for a long time but it seems they are still able to deliver them based on reservations then. I hope you like it! It has been one of my top favorites among MS-Optics lenses.

Jul 15, 2023 at 06:45 AM

SlowDriver
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p.4 #7 · p.4 #7 · MS-Optics Apollon 36mm f1.3 (Leica M-mount)

Juha Kannisto wrote:
Good to hear! MKDirect hasn't shown them as being in stock on their site for a long time but it seems they are still able to deliver them based on reservations then. I hope you like it! It has been one of my top favorites among MS-Optics lenses.

I contacted MkDirect way back in April and have been on a waiting list ever since.

At JCH prices I was probably going to pass on this one. I already have the Apoqualia 35mm f/1.3 II Slim and the Perar 35mm f/3.5 II and I recently also bought the LLL 35mm f/2 8E.

Jul 15, 2023 at 06:42 PM

Fred Miranda
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p.4 #8 · p.4 #8 · MS-Optics Apollon 36mm f1.3 (Leica M-mount)

SlowDriver wrote:
I contacted MkDirect way back in April and have been on a waiting list ever since.

At JCH prices I was probably going to pass on this one. I already have the Apoqualia 35mm f/1.3 II Slim and the Perar 35mm f/3.5 II and I recently also bought the LLL 35mm f/2 8E.

I just ordered one from JE!

Thanks for posting your gallery samples Juha!

Jul 20, 2023 at 07:54 PM

Fred Miranda
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p.4 #9 · p.4 #9 · MS-Optics Apollon 36mm f1.3 (Leica M-mount)

The MS 36/1.3 Apollon arrived today and I love the haptics. Very easy to rotate the aperture ring and the hood is reversible. I will try to take some sample images today.

Aug 01, 2023 at 05:14 PM

Fred Miranda
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p.4 #10 · p.4 #10 · MS-Optics Apollon 36mm f1.3 (Leica M-mount)

Below are some examples captured with this lens. Due to lens back-focusing when focusing with the RF, I used the Visoflex for these shots. I really like how it renders, with manageable field curvature, a pleasant glow at f/1.3, and beautiful fall-off. Astigmatism is kept to a minimum, and while it may not boast high contrast, it delivers good sharpness at the center.

LEICA M10-R MS Optics 36mm f/1.3 Apollon lens 36mm f/2.0 1/180s 100 ISO -0.7 EV

LEICA M10-R MS Optics 36mm f/1.3 Apollon lens 36mm f/2.0 1/60s 160 ISO -0.7 EV

LEICA M10-R MS Optics 36mm f/1.3 Apollon lens 36mm f/2.0 1/60s 160 ISO -0.7 EV

LEICA M10-R MS Optics 36mm f/1.3 Apollon lens 36mm f/2.0 1/60s 320 ISO -0.7 EV

LEICA M10-R MS Optics 36mm f/1.3 Apollon lens 36mm f/2.0 1/90s 800 ISO -0.7 EV

LEICA M10-R MS Optics 36mm f/1.3 Apollon lens 36mm f/2.0 1/60s 800 ISO -0.7 EV

Picture of lens with included hood

Aug 01, 2023 at 10:33 PM

nehemiahphoto
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p.4 #11 · p.4 #11 · MS-Optics Apollon 36mm f1.3 (Leica M-mount)

Wonderful shots Fred. Now, will you please compare it to the SR?

Aug 02, 2023 at 12:37 AM

Fred Miranda
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p.4 #12 · p.4 #12 · MS-Optics Apollon 36mm f1.3 (Leica M-mount)

nehemiahphoto wrote:
Wonderful shots Fred. Now, will you please compare it to the SR?

Certainly! I'm curious about their optical comparison as well.

One of the significant distinctions is in weight, with the Apollon weighing only 72 grams, whereas the SR comes in almost 3x heavier at 207 grams. Additionally, the Leica features 10 'straight' aperture blades, while the Apollon boasts 14 'curved' blades, resulting in more rounded highlights when stopped down, so f/2 and f/2.8 will yield more natural specular highlights.

Furthermore, the Apollon has an impressive close focusing distance of 0.3m with Live View (LV), whereas the SR's minimum focusing distance (MFD) is 1m.

Aug 02, 2023 at 10:33 AM

Fred Miranda
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p.4 #13 · p.4 #13 · MS-Optics Apollon 36mm f1.3 (Leica M-mount)

Here is a quick side by side:

MS Optics 36mm f/1.3 Apollon vs Leica 35mm f/1.4 Summilux Steel Rim

Aug 02, 2023 at 11:29 AM

nehemiahphoto
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p.4 #14 · p.4 #14 · MS-Optics Apollon 36mm f1.3 (Leica M-mount)

I have been interested in this lens since launch as you know. I like the images--Juha posted a great gallery earlier. Would love to see the comp of the SR. This lens look less corrected than the 35 Apoqualia, which is to my preference.

Aug 02, 2023 at 03:40 PM

Fred Miranda
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p.4 #15 · p.4 #15 · MS-Optics Apollon 36mm f1.3 (Leica M-mount)

I'm still working on finding a method to align the lens with the RF. Once I have the lens back, I'll share this comparison.

Aug 15, 2023 at 12:36 AM

Desmolicious
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p.4 #16 · p.4 #16 · MS-Optics Apollon 36mm f1.3 (Leica M-mount)

It seems that while MS lenses have rf coupling, they don't actually calibrate them? So they do not focus accurately using the rf? Am I mistaken?

Aug 16, 2023 at 11:36 AM

bjhurley
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p.4 #17 · p.4 #17 · MS-Optics Apollon 36mm f1.3 (Leica M-mount)

Desmolicious wrote:
It seems that while MS lenses have rf coupling, they don't actually calibrate them? So they do not focus accurately using the rf? Am I mistaken?

I wouldn't go that far, but many of them have focus shift, sometimes to an extreme extent, and I wonder if Miyazaki thinks most people will use these lenses with Live View.

I've gotten some nice sharp perfectly focused photos with my Apoqualia 28/2 at f2 on a Leica M2R film camera. I think I'll use that lens wide open at f2, and stopped down to f8 or f11, and nothing in between. Similar in that regard to the Zeiss Sonnar C 50/1.5, which has strong focus shift between f2 and 5.6.

The 73/1.5 Sonnetar also has focus shift plus you have to add in the uncertainties with the coma adjustment setting so I don't think I'll even bother trying that one on film; film is too expensive!

Aug 16, 2023 at 11:43 AM

Desmolicious
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p.4 #18 · p.4 #18 · MS-Optics Apollon 36mm f1.3 (Leica M-mount)

SlowDriver wrote:
I got mine today from MkDirect. Seems to work fine. My credit card got charged $732.79. Big price difference with JCH...

Just checked.. MKDirect (but not sure if it is in stock) has it for $686 now.
Japan Exposures (out of stock) $816.
I could not find it on Japan Camera Hunter, but I did see that they have a mint M4 for $7200 and a BP M4 for $16000.
The going rate for those cameras that I have recently seen, are $3500 and $8000. If you're wondering about JCH's mark-up.

Aug 16, 2023 at 11:51 AM

Fred Miranda
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p.4 #19 · p.4 #19 · MS-Optics Apollon 36mm f1.3 (Leica M-mount)

Aug 16, 2023 at 11:55 AM

SlowDriver
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p.4 #20 · p.4 #20 · MS-Optics Apollon 36mm f1.3 (Leica M-mount)

Desmolicious wrote:
Just checked.. MKDirect (but not sure if it is in stock) has it for $686 now.
Japan Exposures (out of stock) $816.
I could not find it on Japan Camera Hunter, but I did see that they have a mint M4 for $7200 and a BP M4 for $16000.
The going rate for those cameras that I have recently seen, are $3500 and $8000. If you're wondering about JCH's mark-up.

IIRC JCH had it for $1,200. $686 versus $742 could just be exchange rate fluctuations.

BTW, if you are going to spend $16K on the M4 you might as well go for this one, provided you can find one obviously:
https://www.macfilos.com/2023/08/17/leica-announces-limited-edition-leitz-auction-m6-set-in-black-finish/

Aug 17, 2023 at 03:15 PM

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