Fred Miranda wrote:
Nice images but honestly it does not render like the Leica 50/1.4 Lux pre-apsh.
I see Mandler lenses as "look what we did using the original as a starting point. Also did we mention it's only $350?".
I think this approach produced something really unique for their KOB, and it looks like the same will happen for the 50. Call it the Elcan 66mm approach
highdesertmesa wrote:
I see Mandler lenses as "look what we did using the original as a starting point. Also did we mention it's only $350?".
I think this approach produced something really unique for their KOB, and it looks like the same will happen for the 50. Call it the Elcan 66mm approach
To be clear, I'm not even talking about the price tag...I'm just looking at how heavily they're marketing this new lens as a replica of the pre-asph 50mm Summilux, with a few modern tweaks. While I do enjoy its rendering overall, I just don't see the resemblance to the Leica original. Honestly, I wish they had actually replicated the Leica's performance and unique rendering style, just with less axial CA!
Is this the case with their 35/2 cron pre-asph as well? It's not similar to the Leica's draw?
I am pretty disappointed by Keith Wee's review when I followed the link--not because the files look bad but because I hoped they would somewhat resemble the 50 Lux pre-asph draw.
Also, Keith Wee's review reads like he was fed talking points. Oh well.
Perhaps the Peace 50/1.4 will do/does better. I know their 35/1.4 follows the Lux optical signature closely.
nehemiahphoto wrote:
Also, Keith Wee's review reads like he was fed talking points. Oh well.
I can't say for certain, but it did feel like their review wasn't up the the usual standard and felt heavily a.i.-assisted.
I suspect we'll be seeing more ChatGPT-written reviews in the coming months given the ease of plugging in a few bullet points and getting cheap prose in return.
sarkleshark wrote:
Ebay is asking $1600 for the Peace 50 1.4. Why not just buy a clean copy of the original?
I like trying out non-Leica lenses. I have a 50 Cron and a 50 Lux, but I still paid to get a Peace 50 in green (also the 35 in green) because it's a new promising lens in a color I like. Also if you can find someone in HK who can buy some of these lenses they can end up significantly cheaper than eBay. Many are hesitant to post on eBay because shipping to the US from many countries right now is still complicated and painful. I paid extra to get the Mandler 35 early from China and although I haven't used it a ton, I think the quality was still worth the slightly elevated price I paid before they were shipping to the US.
That being said, I might personally wait on this Mandler 50 due to a couple reasons: there are a lot of great 50's out there, I have multiple 50's on the way, and they might release this one in green down the line like they are doing with their 35.
The value and quality that Mandler is providing at the prices they are offering is pretty solid, though I suspect prices will continue to creep higher as they release new products provided demand stays strong.
I personally would wait until Peace sorted out distribution in the US. Sellers were asking $1100+ for the Polar Solaron, which morphed into Mandler. I suspect the real price of Peace lenses is similarly much less.
Fred Miranda wrote:
To be clear, I'm not even talking about the price tag...I'm just looking at how heavily they're marketing this new lens as a replica of the pre-asph 50mm Summilux, with a few modern tweaks. While I do enjoy its rendering overall, I just don't see the resemblance to the Leica original. Honestly, I wish they had actually replicated the Leica's performance and unique rendering style, just with less axial CA!
Is this the case with their 35/2 cron pre-asph as well? It's not similar to the Leica's draw?
Their 35 KOB replica is in some ways similar in draw to the original, but it’s definitely its own thing due to the higher central sharpness and more pronounced field curvature. Looks like for the 50 they changed glass types for the front (HRI) and rear element (ED). I don’t have any experience with the original Leica version, but in the article they make it fairly clear the Mandler is inspired by the original but it’s something different. I only mentioned cost since for me it lowers expectations: I wasn’t expecting a LLL style faithful reproduction with their special lead-infused lanthanide glass.
sarkleshark wrote:
Ebay is asking $1600 for the Peace 50 1.4. Why not just buy a clean copy of the original?
I was able to get my Peace Lens 50mm from Tradera (basically swedish ebay) there's a seller there that always has them available in both aluminum and brass, while I'm sure I probably paid like double the actual retail it's still half what the ebay sellers are trying to get.
Keith's images were fine, and I'm talking solely about rendering characteristics, not his photographic prowess. The lens didn't seem to have a ton of personality or look much like the Leica lens it's using as a launching platform. The price point is so low it kinda doesn't matter if you suffer from G.A.S like I do, but I'll probably sit this one out unless early reviews from folks here are super positive.
sarkleshark wrote:
Ebay is asking $1600 for the Peace 50 1.4. Why not just buy a clean copy of the original?
For those wondering about used prices, I picked up a like-new Leica 50mm f/1.4 Summilux E46 (v3 Pre-ASPH) right here on FM for $2,100 shipped last year. Paying $1,600 for a "replica" that doesn't even render or perform like the original Leica just isn't worth the money, in my opinion.
For those of you who speak Chinese, this is a pretty informative preview of 4th iteration prototype (close to production spec). Weirdly Youtube doesn't have subtitles or transcription to throw into a translator...
According to the reviewer, Mandler shared a letter detailing the development history of this lens. The first two iterations were way too sharp and modern, while the third one rendered too closely to the E46 original, which they thought would make this lens pointless. The fourth iteration in the review is a compromise, where Mandler felt the need to pull back and balance between character, image quality, and optical corrections, landing it between the pre-ASH and the ASPH.
nehemiahphoto wrote:
@cary.z@ "while the third one rendered too closely to the E46 original, which they thought would make this lens pointless"
Then why call it "Mandler 50/1.4 Summilux Pre-ASPH E46"?? ROLF
They're not saying "Summilux" on the product page. Still, they could have just called it the Mandler 50 f/1.4 and then talked about the E46 being the inspiration but not the end goal. In any case, their "pointless" reasoning according to the video is not because it's too much like the original, it's because Leica already did a remake with the current 50 1/4 Classic reissue.
Some samples I hadn't noticed yet are at the bottom the Mandler page for the lens:
Having the brass version of the 35 F/2, I'm curious to see what the aluminum feels like. This doesn't feel as substantial as my Voigtlander 35 F1/.5 feels. I may just go aluminum if I pick this thing up down the line.
Fred Miranda wrote:
For those wondering about used prices, I picked up a like-new Leica 50mm f/1.4 Summilux E46 (v3 Pre-ASPH) right here on FM for $2,100 shipped last year. Paying $1,600 for a "replica" that doesn't even render or perform like the original Leica just isn't worth the money, in my opinion.
Prices went up a bit since in average for this kind of lens. Picked up in July 2026 the Leica 50/1.4 E43 v2 pre-ASPH with 1/2 aperture stops and 12 blades in EX+ condition for $2400 including set of 3x Leica filters (UV, yellow, green) and Leica 12521G lens hood. I waited quite some time to find such deal from a reliable seller within the US. I agree that the asking price for the Mandler seems a bit steep in comparison. I purposely selected the v2 vintage version of this lens and have no regrets so far.
retrofocus wrote:
Prices went up a bit since in average for this kind of lens. Picked up in July 2026 the Leica 50/1.4 E43 v2 pre-ASPH with 1/2 aperture stops and 12 blades in EX+ condition for $2400 including set of 3x Leica filters (UV, yellow, green) and Leica 12521G lens hood. I waited quite some time to find such deal from a reliable seller within the US. I agree that the asking price for the Mandler seems a bit steep in comparison. I purposely selected the v2 vintage version of this lens and have no regrets so far.
The Mandler is crazy cheap at $368 aluminum/$548 brass. I think it was the Peace 50 1.4 being discussed.
For those of you who speak Chinese, this is a pretty informative preview of 4th iteration prototype (close to production spec). Weirdly Youtube doesn't have subtitles or transcription to throw into a translator...
According to the reviewer, Mandler shared a letter detailing the development history of this lens. The first two iterations were way too sharp and modern, while the third one rendered too closely to the E46 original, which they thought would make this lens pointless. The fourth iteration in the review is a compromise, where Mandler felt the need to pull back and balance between character, image quality, and optical corrections, landing it between the pre-ASH and the ASPH....Show more →
Great find on the video. See, I give zero ducks if this rendering looks like any of the pre-ASPH 50 f/1.4 Leicas or not, it looks like a great lens to have in the arsenal, especially for the price. The wide open at close distance rendering examples in the video remind me a lot of the Zeiss C/Y 50 f/1.4 and the later ZF/ZE iteration. The idea of having that rendering in M lens form factor is a win, at least to me.
