I am keen to see how this lens compares with my V4 Summicron 35—I resisted getting the steel rim reissue or V2 Lux because, if I understand correctly, those behave much like the V4 Summicron stopped down. This is quite a bit cheaper, so it made sense to try it.
What I am noticing also is that distortion seems to be pretty low—see the biker image, for example. I'm sure there's some, but nothing serious. I like that a lot.
I agree in regards to the distortion. It's not noticeable in real world images and even checking it against a brick wall, the correction is minimal at +1 pincushion distortion correction.
p.9 #3 · Funleader to Release Lens Inspired by Leica 35/1.4 Summilux
Am I right in thinking these are the "Ver 1/Ver 2" Summilux 35mm copy offerings:
1. Leica "Steel Rim" reissue
2. Cosina Voigtländer Nokton Classic 35 SC II
3. Cosina Voigtländer Nokton Classic 35 MC II
4. Artizlab (this thread's topic, It's modeled after an early ver2 with infinity lock)
5. LLL 8E (Not really a Summilux copy, but similar design from f/2 so it gets a nod from some)
6. Oh yeah, the "Artralab".
Am I missing any?
And where could we place the above in the order of "More Arty Vibes to Fewer" ?
p.9 #4 · Funleader to Release Lens Inspired by Leica 35/1.4 Summilux
Pindy wrote:
Am I right in thinking these are the "Ver 1/Ver 2" Summilux 35mm copy offerings:
1. Leica "Steel Rim" reissue
2. Cosina Voigtländer Nokton Classic 35 SC II
3. Cosina Voigtländer Nokton Classic 35 MC II
4. Artizlab (this thread's topic, It's modeled after an early ver2 with infinity lock)
5. LLL 8E (Not really a Summilux copy, but similar design from f/2 so it gets a nod from some)
6. Oh yeah, the "Artralab".
Am I missing any?
And where could we place the above in the order of "More Arty Vibes to Fewer" ?
My bet is that number one and number five on your list would be in the top two spots. Both would probably exhibit more aberrations, flare and coma - particularly wide open and maybe a stop down.
p.9 #6 · Funleader to Release Lens Inspired by Leica 35/1.4 Summilux
Tariq Gibran wrote:
My bet is that number one and number five on your list would be in the top two spots. Both would probably exhibit more aberrations, flare and coma - particularly wide open and maybe a stop down.
I'm disqualifying the LLL for minimum f/2. Interested to see if this Artralab doesn't disappoint.
p.9 #8 · Funleader to Release Lens Inspired by Leica 35/1.4 Summilux
Pindy wrote:
Am I right in thinking these are the "Ver 1/Ver 2" Summilux 35mm copy offerings:
1. Leica "Steel Rim" reissue
2. Cosina Voigtländer Nokton Classic 35 SC II
3. Cosina Voigtländer Nokton Classic 35 MC II
4. Artizlab (this thread's topic, It's modeled after an early ver2 with infinity lock)
5. LLL 8E (Not really a Summilux copy, but similar design from f/2 so it gets a nod from some)
6. Oh yeah, the "Artralab".
Am I missing any?
And where could we place the above in the order of "More Arty Vibes to Fewer" ?
You can always go for the original 1966 steel rim, the transitional version 2 with an infinity lock (1966-1967), the regular version 2 with a plastic tab, or the later Titanium and black German versions. The 35mm f/1.4 Lux came in many variations over its 30-year production run, though the optical design remained largely unchanged. The main differences were in lens coatings and some special glass formulations, particularly in the early years.
From the newer options, your list looks complete, though I wouldn’t group the LLL 8E in the same category since it’s not an f/1.4 lens.
Another possible addition is the double-Gauss MS Optics 35mm f/1.4 Apoqualia and the MS Optics 36mm f/1.3 Apollon...though both are extremely hard to find.
p.9 #9 · Funleader to Release Lens Inspired by Leica 35/1.4 Summilux
I believe LLL is working on some clone too but unclear what version. No dates yet. There’s also Mr Ding, Artralab “Similar” and many others I suspect. One rep on the Leica discord from LLL claims that many of these are made in the same factory (funleader) but to different specs and branding but I have no way of confirming this.
Pindy wrote:
I'm having a hard time keeping track of the "Ver 1/Ver 2" Summilux 35mm copy offerings:
1. Leica "Steel Rim" reissue
2. Cosina Voigtländer Nokton Classic 35 SC II
3. Artizlab (this thread's topic, It's modeled after an early ver2 with infinity lock)
4. LLL 8E (Not really a Summilux copy, but similar design from f/2 so it gets a nod from some)
5. Cosina Voigtländer Nokton Classic 35 MC II
Am I missing any?
And could we place the above in the order of "More Vibes to Fewer" ?
The choice of which to choose grows more confusing by the day.
p.9 #10 · Funleader to Release Lens Inspired by Leica 35/1.4 Summilux
ninadp wrote:
I believe LLL is working on some clone too but unclear what version. No dates yet. There’s also Mr Ding, Artralab “Similar” and many others I suspect. One rep on the Leica discord from LLL claims that many of these are made in the same factory (funleader) but to different specs and branding but I have no way of confirming this.
The Artralab 'Similar' and Funleader Artzlab lenses have completely different designs, so even if they’re made in the same factory, their differences go beyond just branding.
p.9 #11 · Funleader to Release Lens Inspired by Leica 35/1.4 Summilux
I’m using an M10 Monochrom, so there are certain aspects I care less about than others.
And to Fred’s point, likely the only affordable original Leica is the V2, away from many of the serial numbers that collectors are looking for and likely to pay a high price for.
p.9 #12 · Funleader to Release Lens Inspired by Leica 35/1.4 Summilux
Pindy wrote:
I’m shouting on an M10 Monochrom, so there are certain aspects I care less about than others.
And to Fred’s point, likely the only affordable original Leica is the V2, away from many of the serial numbers that collectors are looking for and likely to pay a high price for.
Like the Artizlab, the V2 lens barrel isn’t threaded for filters but uses a two piece hood to hold a Series VII filter
p.9 #13 · Funleader to Release Lens Inspired by Leica 35/1.4 Summilux
Actually, the v2, the steel rim reissue, and the v1 FLE are all pretty close in to each other price in the used market. (Also the V4 Summicron).
Pindy wrote:
I’m shouting on an M10 Monochrom, so there are certain aspects I care less about than others.
And to Fred’s point, likely the only affordable original Leica is the V2, away from many of the serial numbers that collectors are looking for and likely to pay a high price for.
p.9 #14 · Funleader to Release Lens Inspired by Leica 35/1.4 Summilux
madNbad wrote:
Like the Artizlab, the V2 lens barrel isn’t threaded for filters but uses a two piece hood to hold a Series VII filter
Kind of a disincentive. I use a yellow filter. I'd also like one of these companies to stop being such purists and make a close-focusing version. Or at least 0.7m. There is always the "people's favorite" CV.
p.9 #15 · Funleader to Release Lens Inspired by Leica 35/1.4 Summilux
I did this test with the Voigtlander 35 f1.4 S.C, and the new Artizlab 35 f1.4 with my M11. Both wide open. I forgot to adjust the lens setting on the camera before shooting, so it´s registered as a 50 f1.1 in camera. But shouldn´t change the relationship between the lenses.
Artizlab is softer at the edges, but has less/no vignetting. Bokeh shapes in background are not far apart, but I do like the artizlab a little bit better personally.
p.9 #16 · Funleader to Release Lens Inspired by Leica 35/1.4 Summilux
Filmtroll wrote:
I did this test with the Voigtlander 35 f1.4 S.C, and the new Artizlab 35 f1.4 with my M11. Both wide open. I forgot to adjust the lens setting on the camera before shooting, so it´s registered as a 50 f1.1 in camera. But shouldn´t change the relationship between the lenses.
Artizlab is softer at the edges, but has less/no vignetting. Bokeh shapes in background are not far apart, but I do like the artizlab a little bit better personally.
Thanks! This is very interesting. I'm not sure if it's the vignette causing an optical illusion but it looks like the Voigtlander has some distortion while the Artizlab doesn't.
p.9 #18 · Funleader to Release Lens Inspired by Leica 35/1.4 Summilux
Pindy wrote:
Kind of a disincentive. I use a yellow filter. I'd also like one of these companies to stop being such purists and make a close-focusing version. Or at least 0.7m. There is always the "people's favorite" CV.
I used a Series VII Kodak #15 yellow filter for all of the photos I have posted using this lens both here and in the Films Not Dead forum.
p.9 #19 · Funleader to Release Lens Inspired by Leica 35/1.4 Summilux
hello! is anybody there experiencing troubles when focusing via RF at 5+ meters? focal plane moves well behind the subject, and it’s rather unusable. it’s not by couple of cm, but by dozen (dozens when behond 10m). maybe field courvature? my particular sample? hard to say. anyway. Funleader is ignoring my attenpts to communicate, i will have to return it. sigh. everything else is fine. contrast, build, size. sure the guys with mirrorless will appreciate, but with rangefinder only my sample is a no-go. tested on film (M2) and M8.
