p.10 #1 · Funleader to Release Lens Inspired by Leica 35/1.4 Summilux
MrTwice wrote:
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.
If your M-lens focuses accurately up close, including at MFD, but becomes inaccurate at longer distances, the issue is likely due to an improper RF cylinder edge. This is usually fixable by carefully grinding the edge to adjust the focusing alignment, but it must be done with precision.
p.10 #2 · Funleader to Release Lens Inspired by Leica 35/1.4 Summilux
thanks, Fred. unfortunatelly i am in the middle of Europe, and closest quality service (I don’t think Wetzlar would cut it) is in Netherlands. my cost estimation with shipping would exceed the purchase price. so back it goes. shame. love the character… but have the feeling i got what i paid for.
p.10 #3 · Funleader to Release Lens Inspired by Leica 35/1.4 Summilux
MrTwice wrote:
thanks, Fred. unfortunatelly i am in the middle of Europe, and closest quality service (I don’t think Wetzlar would cut it) is in Netherlands. my cost estimation with shipping would exceed the purchase price. so back it goes. shame. love the character… but have the feeling i got what i paid for.
Considering the lens price, it's a tough choice.
I've experienced similar issues with other lenses. One notable example is the MS Optics 73/1.5 Sonnetar, which is known for this problem. I've never heard of anyone getting a copy with precise RF focus across all distances. My copy had several issues, and @yukosteel took on the challenge and fixed them all. In the article linked below, 'Part 2' titled 'Fine Tuning RF Precision' (towards the bottom of the page), explains in detail what needs to be done to correct the issue.
p.10 #4 · Funleader to Release Lens Inspired by Leica 35/1.4 Summilux
On a whim today, I decided to see what this lens looks like on the GFX 100S. To my surprise, it performs similar on the GFX in 35mm crop mode as compared to the Leica SL2 - with perhaps slightly more glow at wider apertures and maybe a little less contrast. Stopped down to F8, the sharpness is surprisingly good except for the extreme corners, similar to the result on the SL2 but I do believe the image has a slightly softer feel to it (still sharp with lower contrast).
The full frame of the GFX results in a hard vignette but you can still carve out a clean 1:1 square image with little to no vignetting. The extreme corners do drop off in sharpness quickly. Overall, a fairly impressive result imo, particularly given the crazy small size of the lens (on the GFX, the lens protrudes just a bit further than the grip!), it's low cost and surprisingly good build quality.
Here is the GFX raw file from the first image below:
p.10 #5 · Funleader to Release Lens Inspired by Leica 35/1.4 Summilux
For anyone curious, Funleader mentioned in a couple of emails that they would be sending their lens for review. They even asked for my address and phone number, but never followed up or responded to my questions about the delay. Haven't heard from them since!
p.10 #8 · Funleader to Release Lens Inspired by Leica 35/1.4 Summilux
I have been playing with a borrowed copy of the Artizlab 35mm f/1.4 Classic for the last week (thanks @madNbad ). Unfortunately, I have been too busy with work to make too many photos/have time to develop and scan, BUT I am so enthused by this little lens that I ended up buying one off of the buy n sell board.
I have had a few moments to take some snaps on my A7RII and compare it to the Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 V1 SC and here are my pros and cons:
Pros:
*Basically as sharp as the Nokton wide-open...and it appears to be a little sharper when stopped down.
*Even smaller than the Nokton
*Shows less geometric distortion
*Shows significantly less vignetting
*Has more glow (based on photos, not as much glow as the steel rim reissue...which is a good thing for me).
*Bigger focus tab relative to the Nokton (which is too small for my fingers). The implementation of the focus lock is well done and doesn't bother me.
*Residual coma and SA make CA less apparent wide open.
Cons:
*Very light aluminum alloy feels a little cheap (which also makes the lens very light to the point that the camera leans backwards when on a strap...the weight, though, does make it extra portable).
*The aperture tab aligns with the focus tab when the lens is set to infinity which makes it hard to use (they should be offset from one another, like on the Nokton).
*The aperture is too stiff for my liking.
*Lacks filter thread (yes series VII filters are easy to find, but I don't really want to buy a second set of filters when I already have a bunch of 39mm filters).
*1m-ish minimum focus distance requires some relearning for my brain (learning is hard ).
*The mount doesn't perfectly bring up 35mm framelines (I can faintly see the 50mm framelines at the same time as the 35mm framelines...I checked on multiple cameras).
*The lubricant used in the focus helicoid is a little too stiff.
*Focus shift is as strong as the Nokton, but less apparent than the 35mm Summilux ASPH 11874.
*The 10-bladed aperture is beautiful, and appears similar to the Cosina design, but it is reversed which results in slightly less distinct sun stars.
All-in-all, not a perfect lens from a mechanical execution, but the image quality seems compelling enough. For the price of what they are going for used, kind of a no-brainer. Hopefully, I'll get a chance to develop some photos soon.
p.10 #9 · Funleader to Release Lens Inspired by Leica 35/1.4 Summilux
_jim_ wrote:
I have been playing with a borrowed copy of the Artizlab 35mm f/1.4 Classic for the last week (thanks @madNbad@ ). Unfortunately, I have been too busy with work to make too many photos/have time to develop and scan, BUT I am so enthused by this little lens that I ended up buying one off of the buy n sell board.
I have had a few moments to take some snaps on my A7RII and compare it to the Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 V1 SC and here are my pros and cons:
Pros:
*Basically as sharp as the Nokton wide-open...and it appears to be a little sharper when stopped down.
*Even smaller than the Nokton
*Shows less geometric distortion
*Shows significantly less vignetting
*Has more glow (based on photos, not as much glow as the steel rim reissue...which is a good thing for me).
*Bigger focus tab relative to the Nokton (which is too small for my fingers). The implementation of the focus lock is well done and doesn't bother me.
*Residual coma and SA make CA less apparent wide open.
Cons:
*Very light aluminum alloy feels a little cheap (which also makes the lens very light to the point that the camera leans backwards when on a strap...the weight, though, does make it extra portable).
*The aperture tab aligns with the focus tab when the lens is set to infinity which makes it hard to use (they should be offset from one another, like on the Nokton).
*The aperture is too stiff for my liking.
*Lacks filter thread (yes series VII filters are easy to find, but I don't really want to buy a second set of filters when I already have a bunch of 39mm filters).
*1m-ish minimum focus distance requires some relearning for my brain (learning is hard ).
*The mount doesn't perfectly bring up 35mm framelines (I can faintly see the 50mm framelines at the same time as the 35mm framelines...I checked on multiple cameras).
*The lubricant used in the focus helicoid is a little too stiff.
*Focus shift is as strong as the Nokton, but less apparent than the 35mm Summilux ASPH 11874.
*The 10-bladed aperture is beautiful, and appears similar to the Cosina design, but it is reversed which results in slightly less distinct sun stars.
All-in-all, not a perfect lens from a mechanical execution, but the image quality seems compelling enough. For the price of what they are going for used, kind of a no-brainer. Hopefully, I'll get a chance to develop some photos soon. ...Show more →
This lens has become one of my favorites, regardless of price. The combination of size, weight, speed and image quality is very compelling.
p.10 #10 · Funleader to Release Lens Inspired by Leica 35/1.4 Summilux
What is your experience with focus shift? I have this lens, I really like it, but unfortunately I have a big problem with focus shift. At f-stops like f5.6 or f8, there is a huge amount of back focus.
Do you have similar experience?
p.10 #11 · Funleader to Release Lens Inspired by Leica 35/1.4 Summilux
jhonzatko wrote:
What is your experience with focus shift? I have this lens, I really like it, but unfortunately I have a big problem with focus shift. At f-stops like f5.6 or f8, there is a huge amount of back focus.
Do you have similar experience?
I use the lens with the EVF of the Leica S2 or GFX 100s and typically focus at F2.8 before stopping down (unless shooting wide open of course), I don't have any experience using it with a rangefinder.
p.10 #13 · Funleader to Release Lens Inspired by Leica 35/1.4 Summilux
freddy_hayek wrote:
"Funleader to Release Lens Inspired by Leica 35/1.4 Summilux".
Is that what those kids way out East nowadays call knocking-off and capitalizing on other people's ideas?
Counterpoint - it's optical design is novel (an 8/6 double gauss) that manages to capture a lot of the qualities of the Summilux pre-asph without being a copy of it and without the the $11K silly-goose-tax of, say, this:
The industrial design of the Artizlab does crib quite a bit from the Leica language, but it is not an exact one-to-one replica of any particular Leica lens (though, it is very evocative of the pre-a lux, early version 2). It would be cool to see a product revision that allowed them to do their own thing.
At any rate, your entitled to your opinion - even if it feels a bit stale at this point. I'd be far more interested to see some of your pictures or what you love about photography (this is a forum for photography enthusiasts after all).
I've also now managed to scratch the front element. It's not a huge or deep scratch, but it's more than "cleaning marks." I wasn't using the hood Let's see if that affects the next set of photos.
p.10 #17 · Funleader to Release Lens Inspired by Leica 35/1.4 Summilux
Did you find any problem with focus shift on you MP, please?
I would like to know, if my lens is defect or it's a feature.
Thanks a lot for your experience!
p.10 #18 · Funleader to Release Lens Inspired by Leica 35/1.4 Summilux
jhonzatko wrote:
Did you find any problem with focus shift on you MP, please?
I would like to know, if my lens is defect or it's a feature.
Thanks a lot for your experience!
Yeah. There is a lot of focus shift (like the Lux pre-a and V1 Nokton). The Lux ASPH 11874 has even more apparent focus shift. It's just part of the design.
p.10 #19 · Funleader to Release Lens Inspired by Leica 35/1.4 Summilux
jhonzatko wrote:
Did you find any problem with focus shift on you MP, please?
I would like to know, if my lens is defect or it's a feature.
Thanks a lot for your experience!
It's not something I have noticed very much, but that might have to do with my shooting style and subjects.
p.10 #20 · Funleader to Release Lens Inspired by Leica 35/1.4 Summilux
_jim_ wrote:
Yeah. There is a lot of focus shift (like the Lux pre-a and V1 Nokton). The Lux ASPH 11874 has even more apparent focus shift. It's just part of the design.
You can add the Artralab SIMILAR to that list. I suspect the 7artisans 35/1.4 vIII made for mirrorless mounts will be the same, since it's nearly the same 7/5 design as the pre-a 'lux and the SIMILAR. I'll know about that one on Saturday.
).
Let's see if that affects the next set of photos.