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 →
That channel also has a review of the upcoming Peace Lens 50 1.2 which I haven't seen anything really posted about, but yet another option.
Another channel's look with dubbing:
I have the Peace 1.4, a Peace 1.2 on order (supposedly will take about a month to process my order), and contemplating the Mandler 1.4 but my 50's are starting to outpace my 35's... one thing of note is the Peace was only available in aluminum for me to order, but the dubbed video says the black version is brass. Not sure if that was a prototype or a transcription issue confusing it with the Leica.
Mandler seems to be priced better than the Peace options thus far with their brass 50 being cheaper than the Peace aluminum 50 (my price is inflated due to middleman + custom paint however), but will have to wait for the Mandler 50 to release to see if the quality is still the same level as their 35.
I'm finally getting settled on my move (retired from USAF out of Japan, moved the family to Bangkok), and I've already contacted the dealer here in Thailand that I got the Mandler 35 from.
I don't have that lens anymore, but I miss it. I've hopped on the preorder list for the 50. I love a good small "classic" 50/1.4, and this looks to fit the bill.
Now I just need to find an LM-NZ adapter that I'm happy with.
endergemini wrote:
I have the Peace 1.4, a Peace 1.2 on order (supposedly will take about a month to process my order), and contemplating the Mandler 1.4 but my 50's are starting to outpace my 35's... one thing of note is the Peace was only available in aluminum for me to order, but the dubbed video says the black version is brass. Not sure if that was a prototype or a transcription issue confusing it with the Leica.
Mandler seems to be priced better than the Peace options thus far with their brass 50 being cheaper than the Peace aluminum 50 (my price is inflated due to middleman + custom paint however), but will have to wait for the Mandler 50 to release to see if the quality is still the same level as their 35.
From all I have read and experienced, there is a somewhat different philosophy between Mandler lenses and Peace lenses. Whereas Mandler, whether by design or not, make modifications to Leica's original optical formulations so that there are improvements or changes in some areas while also maintaining the physical appearance of the outer lens construction. In contrast (no pun intended), Peace lenses strive to emulate the optical properties of the original Leica lens formulations, so they closely perform to the original. I'm excluding the upcoming Peace 50mm f1.2 lens, as I have not heard anything about it's performance or design goals.
highdesertmesa wrote:
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:
It’s funny though, because the Leica re-issue does not really draw like the original 50 lux pre-asph v2 or v3. So, the logic here of Mandler is still off from my perspective. Similarly, I thought it was stupid when Leica did a “reissue” that didn’t draw like the original either.
Having said all that, always nice to have more options, the rendering and price look nice on the new Mandler lens.
highdesertmesa wrote:
[...] 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.
I echo that approach. Objectively, for a sub-$500 lens, it checks a heck of a lot of boxes, all wrapped up in a pretty package. I can see it being a perfect travel lens, given its size and close-focusing ability.
Minor quibbles could be the super short focus throw between 5m - infinity (inherited from the Leica v3 design?), and the lack of haptic detent when going past 0.7m. Not enough to be deal breakers though.
My buddy got a late production 35mm Mandler and the build quality is impressive. Can't wait to get my hands on this one.
P.S. - re: Peace 1.2 endergemini wrote:
That channel also has a review of the upcoming Peace Lens 50 1.2 which I haven't seen anything really posted about, but yet another option. [...]
Both previews mention that the 1.2 feels like an "extension" of Peace's existing E43 1.4, with similar rendering characteristics, rather being than a copy of, say, the 1.2 Noctilux. Interesting approach, though there's now a large overlap between the two...
Martin's video mentioned that the black version would be offered in either aluminum or brass, while silver is aluminum only.
cary.z wrote:
I echo that approach. Objectively, for a sub-$500 lens, it checks a heck of a lot of boxes, all wrapped up in a pretty package. I can see it being a perfect travel lens, given its size and close-focusing ability.
Minor quibbles could be the super short focus throw between 5m - infinity (inherited from the Leica v3 design?), and the lack of haptic detent when going past 0.7m. Not enough to be deal breakers though.
My buddy got a late production 35mm Mandler and the build quality is impressive. Can't wait to get my hands on this one.
P.S. - re: Peace 1.2
Both previews mention that the 1.2 feels like an "extension" of Peace's existing E43 1.4, with similar rendering characteristics, rather being than a copy of, say, the 1.2 Noctilux. Interesting approach, though there's now a large overlap between the two...
Martin's video mentioned that the black version would be offered in either aluminum or brass, while silver is aluminum only....Show more →
I might be the only M lens owner that hates the 0.7m detents on close focusing lenses. The problem for me is 1) most M lenses still work with the rangefinder to around 0.6m, and 2) it’s so ridiculously obvious then lens decouples from the rangefinder at close distance because the rangefinder patch stops moving, in which case I move it back slightly until I see the patch move, then I keep the focus ring there and focus by moving my body slightly back and forth to align the patch. But the worst thing about the detent is when your subject is just slightly closer or further than 0.7m because the focus likes to snap into the detent, making fine adjustment in focus nearly impossible. Think of how people make the same complaint about infinity locks since they cause the same issue just at longer distances.
nehemiahphoto wrote:
It’s funny though, because the Leica re-issue does not really draw like the original 50 lux pre-asph v2 or v3. So, the logic here of Mandler is still off from my perspective. Similarly, I thought it was stupid when Leica did a “reissue” that didn’t draw like the original either.
Having said all that, always nice to have more options, the rendering and price look nice on the new Mandler lens.
I’ll be checking out Peace for actual replicas.
I’ve read that about the Leica 50 1.4 Classic, and it makes sense if you think about it: most any lens made today simply cannot replicate the original perfectly because of materials and techniques no longer feasible. The only real dead ringer to an original might be the LLL 8E, which is crazy close to the original. But Leica can’t use lead-infused lanthanide glass like LLL can in China due to environmental regulations. Further, I believe LLL used true old stock lanthanide glass for their 8E but have since moved to making their own. All those variations in glass types will affect the rendering, especially for Leica when they use lanthanide plus the modern rare earth cocktails that substitute for lead and thorium, the result of which is much better performance but also a departure from the original.
Both previews mention that the 1.2 feels like an "extension" of Peace's existing E43 1.4, with similar rendering characteristics, rather being than a copy of, say, the 1.2 Noctilux. Interesting approach, though there's now a large overlap between the two...
Martin's video mentioned that the black version would be offered in either aluminum or brass, while silver is aluminum only.
I was able to place an order for a custom green one but my middleman said that they told him only aluminum was available after asking about brass. I think it may come down to their costs. It is a little weird though because they were able to do the 50/1.4 in brass and green for me. It does seem odd that they would release such a similar designed 1.2 so soon after the 1.4 but maybe once I get the 1.2 in I can do some side by sides if I can find the time. Might have to order the Mandler as well to have a complete look at these newer lenses.
Mandler has an extreme advantage in that they actually have a site that sells outside of China. Peace is for now relegated to what shows up on eBay or Tradera or going through middlemen which all further increase the price and limit their reach for establishing themselves as a lens option.
