JohnKraus wrote:
Just to be clear, these focus tests are all in the center, not the corners, yes? Thanks.
John, if you're referring to the focus tests from Scene 5 (the car headlight shots), those crops are taken from the mid-zone toward the corners. At the center, all the lenses are sharper. The crops come from this full scene: https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1927151/8#16957124
Here are some samples from mine. I'll start with wide open pics. My copy definitely front focused a good bit, a lot of photos (especially portraits) were trash. Should have tested before I left the house. The shots that were in focus were mostly because after I started using the lens I had doubts my copy was good, and started to focus slightly forward on most shots.
What I did get in focus, I found just like Fred's copy, it isn't razor sharp, but not that I wanted it to be. Distortion well controlled. Flare provided for some interesting shots, definitely not as well controlled as most Leica lenses I've used. Handling is as good as any Leica lens, including the Lux's. The lens feels every bit as premium as any Leica lens I've held, maybe even nicer. I've never handled a titanium lens before, this thing is absolutely beautiful.
All below at f/1.4
really like the flare rainbow I got here
My biggest complaint, and not sure if its the LLL lens or the original AA - FC can be seen quite drastically here
Gorgeous images! I love the atmosphere and the gentle rendering. It's definitely a sharp lens without being over the top. Your copy is performing just like mine...no surprises.
Fred Miranda wrote:
Gorgeous images! I love the atmosphere and the gentle rendering. It's definitely a sharp lens without being over the top. Your copy is performing just like mine...no surprises.
rsolti13 wrote:
Yes, after reading your review I was surprised at the stars at f/4. I believe all shots with sunstars are at f/4
Cool! Same here. For sunstars I like shooting at f/2.8, f/4, or f/5.6, though I usually prefer f/4. It gives high performance while still working well in relatively low light.
The more I look at images from this lens, the more the LLL 35mm f/1.4 Aspherical reminds me of the Leica 50mm f/1 Noctilux. The FL and the amount of blur are different, of course, but the character feels very similar. You see the same half circle outlining in edge highlights, the conical highlight shape that extends away from the center, the cat-eye shapes toward the outer frame, and a field curvature signature (outwards) that is also reminiscent of the Noctilux.
There is spherical aberration in both lenses that lowers contrast and adds a gentle atmospheric quality to the images. The Noct does not use aspherical elements, so its bokeh structure is cleaner, but the overall rendering looks very similar to my eyes.
All these great images are building a great visual signature for this LLL lens.
I continue to exercise patience in waiting for my Ti copy to be shipped. 😬
Fred Miranda wrote:
The more I look at images from this lens, the more the LLL 35mm f/1.4 Aspherical reminds me of the Leica 50mm f/1 Noctilux. The FL and the amount of blur are different, of course, but the character feels very similar. You see the same half circle outlining in edge highlights, the conical highlight shape that extends away from the center, the cat-eye shapes toward the outer frame, and a field curvature signature (outwards) that is also reminiscent of the Noctilux.
There is spherical aberration in both lenses that lowers contrast and adds a gentle atmospheric quality to the images. The Noct does not use aspherical elements, so its bokeh structure is cleaner, but the overall rendering looks very similar to my eyes....Show more →
Fred but i feel this lens leans more towards the 50 lux classic reissue than the 50 noct 1.2 but i might be wrong
The 50 noct 1.2 tends to swirl bokeh just like the 35 lux SR in my case
jakontil wrote:
Fred but i feel this lens leans more towards the 50 lux classic reissue than the 50 noct 1.2 but i might be wrong
The 50 noct 1.2 tends to swirl bokeh just like the 35 lux SR in my case
I meant the 50/1 Noct (not the f/1.2). I can share samples that show how the bokeh shape and overall rendering look similar.
Fred Miranda wrote:
John, if you're referring to the focus tests from Scene 5 (the car headlight shots), those crops are taken from the mid-zone toward the corners. At the center, all the lenses are sharper. The crops come from this full scene: https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1927151/8#16957124
Fred Miranda wrote:
I meant the 50/1 Noct (not the f/1.2). I can share samples that show how the bokeh shape and overall rendering look similar.
Would you mind to post a couple controlled rendering samples of shooting the 35 1.4 wide open and f2 in crop mode and 50 Noct at f1, 1.4 and f2?
I would like to see that similarity! As your remember from your first getting into the Noct, that is an all-time favorite lens of mine. I realize on the crop censor we are going to cut out some of the field curvature on the LLL 35 1.4, but I would love to see them with the same field of view and with a similar depth of field.
nehemiahphoto wrote:
Would you mind to post a couple controlled rendering samples of shooting the 35 1.4 wide open and f2 in crop mode and 50 Noct at f1, 1.4 and f2?
I would like to see that similarity! As your remember from your first getting into the Noct, that is an all-time favorite lens of mine. I realize on the crop censor we are going to cut out some of the field curvature on the LLL 35 1.4, but I would love to see them with the same field of view and with a similar depth of field.
First post of the year! Happy 2026 everyone!
I will see if I can run more controlled tests between these two lenses. For now, I took two casual shots at the same distance (both wide open). You can already see some of what I described, such as the half circle outlining in edge highlights, the conical highlight shape as you move away from the center, and the SA in the subject. To see the similarities in field curvature, a bit more shooting distance would be needed than what you see here.
LEICA M10-PNoctilux-M 1:1/50 lens50mmf/1.01/60s125 ISO0.0 EV
LEICA M10-PSummilux-M 1:1.4/35 ASPH. 11873 lens35mmf/1.21/60s250 ISO0.0 EV
Fred Miranda wrote:
First post of the year! Happy 2026 everyone!
I will see if I can run more controlled tests between these two lenses. For now, I took two casual shots at the same distance (both wide open). You can already see some of what I described, such as the half circle outlining in edge highlights, the conical highlight shape as you move away from the center, and the SA in the subject. To see the similarities in field curvature, a bit more shooting distance would be needed than what you see here.
Happy 2026 Fred
I’ll be excited to see more controlled comps—something like this I made for you years back between the 50/1 Noct and 75 Lux:
rji2goleez wrote:
21 already! I feel like I've watch your kids get grow older through you pics over the years. Congrats!
21 already -- tell me about it. Time flies!
BTW, Good news for those who intend to auto-focus the Light Lens Lab 35mm f/1.4 Aspherical using an AF adapter. I just tested the Techart EA9 combo and focusing point is very sticky even outside the center area. Very precise AF focusing with this lens on my A7CR Kolari.
LEICA M10-PNoctilux-M 1:1/50 lens50mmf/3.41/90s4000 ISO0.0 EV
