Official: Light Lens Lab 35mm f/2 "Apochromatic"
p.4 #1Official: Light Lens Lab 35mm f/2 "Apochromatic"
Picture this: LLL 50mm f/1.4 APO. I wouldn’t be surprised if they did f/1.4. That’d be exciting.
Aug 16, 2026 at 05:13 PM
p.4 #2Official: Light Lens Lab 35mm f/2 "Apochromatic"
raizans wrote:
Picture this: LLL 50mm f/1.4 APO. I wouldn’t be surprised if they did f/1.4. That’d be exciting.
I'm pretty sure they're working on a 50mm f/2 APO lens right now, with plans for other focal lengths in APO designs. But developing an APO lens with an f/1.4 aperture means a very big lens, and the M platform likes small lenses. They could design a lens similar to the latest Leica 50mm f/1.4 Lux ASPH, which has great axial CA correction but isn't really APO by today's standards.
Picture this: LLL 50mm f/1.4 APO. I wouldn’t be surprised if they did f/1.4. That’d be exciting.
I'm pretty sure they're working on a 50mm f/2 APO lens right now, with plans for other focal lengths in APO designs. But developing an APO lens with an f/1.4 aperture means a very big lens, and the M platform likes small lenses. They could design a lens similar to the latest Leica 50mm f/1.4 Lux ASPH, which has great axial CA correction but isn't really APO by today's standards.
Aug 16, 2026 at 05:36 PM
p.4 #3Official: Light Lens Lab 35mm f/2 "Apochromatic"
Yes I remember reading recently somewhere that LLL is working on 28mm/50mm/75mm and some other numbers but all f2 and apo lenses.
Aug 16, 2026 at 07:55 PM
p.4 #4Official: Light Lens Lab 35mm f/2 "Apochromatic"
Somewhere they already said that in 2027 they will bring a new 50mm.
Aug 16, 2026 at 09:56 PM
p.4 #5Official: Light Lens Lab 35mm f/2 "Apochromatic"
lens_payoff_0l wrote:
Yes I remember reading recently somewhere that LLL is working on 28mm/50mm/75mm and some other numbers but all f2 and apo lenses.
https://leicarumors.com/2026/08/11/light-lens-lab-to-release-five-mode-apochromatic-lenses-for-leica-m-mount.aspx/
Yes I remember reading recently somewhere that LLL is working on 28mm/50mm/75mm and some other numbers but all f2 and apo lenses.
https://leicarumors.com/2026/08/11/light-lens-lab-to-release-five-mode-apochromatic-lenses-for-leica-m-mount.aspx/
Aug 17, 2026 at 01:00 AM
p.4 #6Official: Light Lens Lab 35mm f/2 "Apochromatic"
Fred Miranda wrote:
And then along come LLL, promising the same thing. In a smaller package. With close focusing. For less than 25% of the price of the Leica. Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in again. I really don't mind the size of the Voigtlander, and I haven't ever really missed the ability to close focus. But if someone's offering them I know I'll feel like I'm missing out.
So my only hope is that there's a flaw - something (anything) I can tell myself is a good reason not to spend £1600 on a lens I really don't need.All I needed was a 35 Lux, the a Cron APO, then a Lux V2, then the LLL 11873, then an 8e, then MS-Optics 35 1.4…..you’re lucky you’re only on #2. And what the hell, pre-ordered this one too, see how it compares to the real dealMy all-time favorite is the 35 Lux FLE (0.7m MFD). If I could only keep one lens, that would be it.
I got the FLE recently and its really grown on me a lot. It has a touch of glow wide open than gives it a bit of character that I didn't technically appreciate off the bat because while its a pretty well corrected lens, there are 35s on Sony that have a lot more bite wide open. Also, f1.4 on a rangefinder is harder than F2 to focus than I thought. It wasn't till I mounted it on the a7rc with the LMEA9 that I realized how sharp it actually is wide open, but also how pleasing and interesting the character is outside being razor focused on the eye.
If I stayed away from forums I too could probably just happily live with the 35 lux FLE. It's pretty compact for what it is vs what I'm used to in fast 35's. But I couldn't ignore the allure of the 35 APO cron when researching 35's for M mount. The Leica is way more than I'm willing to spend for a lens but the LLL fits in the range where I'd give it a shot. My worry is that it might actually be too technically corrected in real world shooting for lifestyle and portrait type stuff.
rsolti13 wrote
Matt White wrote
People seem really excited, but would it be very wrong of me to hope that this lens is disappointing? The thing is I have the VM 35mm Apo. It's fantastic - so good I thought I was done with 35s forever. Like I'll never need another. Sharper than I could ever need. Rendering that pleases me enormously. Great build quality. All for less than 15% of the price of the Leica equivalent. How great is that? What more could I ever need?And then along come LLL, promising the same thing. In a smaller package. With close focusing. For less than 25% of the price of the Leica. Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in again. I really don't mind the size of the Voigtlander, and I haven't ever really missed the ability to close focus. But if someone's offering them I know I'll feel like I'm missing out.
So my only hope is that there's a flaw - something (anything) I can tell myself is a good reason not to spend £1600 on a lens I really don't need.
I got the FLE recently and its really grown on me a lot. It has a touch of glow wide open than gives it a bit of character that I didn't technically appreciate off the bat because while its a pretty well corrected lens, there are 35s on Sony that have a lot more bite wide open. Also, f1.4 on a rangefinder is harder than F2 to focus than I thought. It wasn't till I mounted it on the a7rc with the LMEA9 that I realized how sharp it actually is wide open, but also how pleasing and interesting the character is outside being razor focused on the eye.
If I stayed away from forums I too could probably just happily live with the 35 lux FLE. It's pretty compact for what it is vs what I'm used to in fast 35's. But I couldn't ignore the allure of the 35 APO cron when researching 35's for M mount. The Leica is way more than I'm willing to spend for a lens but the LLL fits in the range where I'd give it a shot. My worry is that it might actually be too technically corrected in real world shooting for lifestyle and portrait type stuff.
Aug 17, 2026 at 10:17 AM
p.4 #7Official: Light Lens Lab 35mm f/2 "Apochromatic"
Mystik wrote:
And then along come LLL, promising the same thing. In a smaller package. With close focusing. For less than 25% of the price of the Leica. Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in again. I really don't mind the size of the Voigtlander, and I haven't ever really missed the ability to close focus. But if someone's offering them I know I'll feel like I'm missing out.
So my only hope is that there's a flaw - something (anything) I can tell myself is a good reason not to spend £1600 on a lens I really don't need.All I needed was a 35 Lux, the a Cron APO, then a Lux V2, then the LLL 11873, then an 8e, then MS-Optics 35 1.4…..you’re lucky you’re only on #2. And what the hell, pre-ordered this one too, see how it compares to the real dealMy all-time favorite is the 35 Lux FLE (0.7m MFD). If I could only keep one lens, that would be it.I got the FLE recently and its really grown on me a lot. It has a touch of glow wide open than gives it a bit of character that I didn't technically appreciate off the bat because while its a pretty well corrected lens, there are 35s on Sony that have a lot more bite wide open. Also, f1.4 on a rangefinder is harder than F2 to focus than I thought. It wasn't till I mounted it on the a7rc with the LMEA9 that I realized how sharp it actually is wide open, but also how pleasing and interesting the...Show more →
I actually secretly wish there was some glow on the FLE, but I don't detect much since it's corrected for SA. Yes, it's not as well corrected as a clinical APO lens, but it's far from being on the glow side like the Leica 35mm f/1.4 or f/2 "pre-ASPH" lenses or even the LLL 35/1.4 AA. I'd say for general use it's as "perfect" as it can be, just because I happen to like its imperfections in the rendering, like the noticeable outlining and more structured look. My second favorite on 35mm is actually the Voigtlander 35mm f/2 Ultron, which follows a similar signature but at f/2 and in a smaller package.
Fred Miranda wrote
rsolti13 wrote
Matt White wrote
People seem really excited, but would it be very wrong of me to hope that this lens is disappointing? The thing is I have the VM 35mm Apo. It's fantastic - so good I thought I was done with 35s forever. Like I'll never need another. Sharper than I could ever need. Rendering that pleases me enormously. Great build quality. All for less than 15% of the price of the Leica equivalent. How great is that? What more could I ever need?And then along come LLL, promising the same thing. In a smaller package. With close focusing. For less than 25% of the price of the Leica. Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in again. I really don't mind the size of the Voigtlander, and I haven't ever really missed the ability to close focus. But if someone's offering them I know I'll feel like I'm missing out.
So my only hope is that there's a flaw - something (anything) I can tell myself is a good reason not to spend £1600 on a lens I really don't need.
I actually secretly wish there was some glow on the FLE, but I don't detect much since it's corrected for SA. Yes, it's not as well corrected as a clinical APO lens, but it's far from being on the glow side like the Leica 35mm f/1.4 or f/2 "pre-ASPH" lenses or even the LLL 35/1.4 AA. I'd say for general use it's as "perfect" as it can be, just because I happen to like its imperfections in the rendering, like the noticeable outlining and more structured look. My second favorite on 35mm is actually the Voigtlander 35mm f/2 Ultron, which follows a similar signature but at f/2 and in a smaller package.
Aug 17, 2026 at 10:47 AM
p.4 #8Official: Light Lens Lab 35mm f/2 "Apochromatic"
135mm f/2 APO! How big is that going to be? I wonder if the 1.4x viewfinder magnifier is strong enough.
Aug 17, 2026 at 10:49 AM
p.4 #9Official: Light Lens Lab 35mm f/2 "Apochromatic"
Ah - but that would just be the 50 Summilux ASPH then : )
The original 50 Lux ASPH (and its successor) is an Apochromatic design - as confirmed by Peter Karbe. It's just that they didn't market it as an APO-lens in 2004!
raizans wrote:
Picture this: LLL 50mm f/1.4 APO. I wouldn’t be surprised if they did f/1.4. That’d be exciting.
The original 50 Lux ASPH (and its successor) is an Apochromatic design - as confirmed by Peter Karbe. It's just that they didn't market it as an APO-lens in 2004!
raizans wrote:
Picture this: LLL 50mm f/1.4 APO. I wouldn’t be surprised if they did f/1.4. That’d be exciting.
Aug 17, 2026 at 12:24 PM
p.4 #10Official: Light Lens Lab 35mm f/2 "Apochromatic"
Hmm… I had the Summilux Asph once and it didn’t look like an apochromatic design wide open.
Aug 17, 2026 at 01:57 PM
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p.4 #11Official: Light Lens Lab 35mm f/2 "Apochromatic"
Mystik wrote:
I got the FLE recently and its really grown on me a lot. It has a touch of glow wide open than gives it a bit of character that I didn't technically appreciate off the bat because while its a pretty well corrected lens, there are 35s on Sony that have a lot more bite wide open. Also, f1.4 on a rangefinder is harder than F2 to focus than I thought. It wasn't till I mounted it on the a7rc with the LMEA9 that I realized how sharp it actually is wide open, but also how pleasing and interesting the...Show more →
This is what I like so much about the 50 Lux ASPH. It's sharp wide open, but with a slight amount of SA to make it more flattering. Stopped down a touch, sharpness and contrast increase considerably.
but the LLL fits in the range where I'd give it a shot. My worry is that it might actually be too technically corrected in real world shooting for lifestyle and portrait type stuff.
That's what negative texture and clarity settings are for...
With Lightroom you can easily have it create an auto mask of just face & skin and apply negative texture and clarity settings to de-tune the unflattering contrast and sharpness. This is my default approach for all event work now.
I got the FLE recently and its really grown on me a lot. It has a touch of glow wide open than gives it a bit of character that I didn't technically appreciate off the bat because while its a pretty well corrected lens, there are 35s on Sony that have a lot more bite wide open. Also, f1.4 on a rangefinder is harder than F2 to focus than I thought. It wasn't till I mounted it on the a7rc with the LMEA9 that I realized how sharp it actually is wide open, but also how pleasing and interesting the...Show more →
This is what I like so much about the 50 Lux ASPH. It's sharp wide open, but with a slight amount of SA to make it more flattering. Stopped down a touch, sharpness and contrast increase considerably.
but the LLL fits in the range where I'd give it a shot. My worry is that it might actually be too technically corrected in real world shooting for lifestyle and portrait type stuff.
That's what negative texture and clarity settings are for...
With Lightroom you can easily have it create an auto mask of just face & skin and apply negative texture and clarity settings to de-tune the unflattering contrast and sharpness. This is my default approach for all event work now.Aug 17, 2026 at 10:31 PM
p.4 #12Official: Light Lens Lab 35mm f/2 "Apochromatic"
'High resolution does not mean sharp. Sharp is different, sharp is how you reproduce that resolution. And you can do that in different ways.' - Art Adams of ARRI
I scoured the web for images taken with the apo-summicron-m and almost no one uses it for people. The best I found was this one, with some Leica PR images of models:
https://www.photographyblog.com/previews/leica_apo_summicron_m_35mm_f2_asph_photos
(you can expand them)
They look a little artificial to me, but it's a job well done. It's a strident look, a 'statement' vibe. LLL will give users something quite different, skin tones are very important to the Chinese imaging aesthetic.
35mm is a bold beginning for a lens range. The 50mm will be very interesting and popular, then what next? Cosina have made big moves into portrait FL APOs, where quite a gap exists for this genre of lens. But Chinese glass feels quite different. They seem to have a house style, as Schott and the Japanese do as well. A 75/2 APO at good money, well that would do well IMO. F2 means it can be light.
This is where the Europeans are at:
'Raw Optical Glass Melting & Production SCHOTT AG (Mainz & Jena, Germany): The dominant and *virtually singular* European powerhouse melting specialized raw optical glass blocks, slabs, and strips used across high-end precision photography, aerospace, and medical engineering.' Well, they are good one, a real good one.
I scoured the web for images taken with the apo-summicron-m and almost no one uses it for people. The best I found was this one, with some Leica PR images of models:
https://www.photographyblog.com/previews/leica_apo_summicron_m_35mm_f2_asph_photos
(you can expand them)
They look a little artificial to me, but it's a job well done. It's a strident look, a 'statement' vibe. LLL will give users something quite different, skin tones are very important to the Chinese imaging aesthetic.
35mm is a bold beginning for a lens range. The 50mm will be very interesting and popular, then what next? Cosina have made big moves into portrait FL APOs, where quite a gap exists for this genre of lens. But Chinese glass feels quite different. They seem to have a house style, as Schott and the Japanese do as well. A 75/2 APO at good money, well that would do well IMO. F2 means it can be light.
This is where the Europeans are at:
'Raw Optical Glass Melting & Production SCHOTT AG (Mainz & Jena, Germany): The dominant and *virtually singular* European powerhouse melting specialized raw optical glass blocks, slabs, and strips used across high-end precision photography, aerospace, and medical engineering.' Well, they are good one, a real good one.
Aug 18, 2026 at 01:57 AM
p.4 #13Official: Light Lens Lab 35mm f/2 "Apochromatic"
Here is a nice read in a May 2026 article on the 75/2:
https://www.milanswolfs.com/blog/light-lens-lab-75mm-f2-spii-review
They know what they are doing. Snips:
The Light Lens Lab Speed Panchro II 75mm f/2 is a vintage-inspired Leica M-mount lens designed for photographers who value character over clinical perfection.
a strong 75mm needs to remain compact, intuitive to use and offer a rendering that brings something more than just sharpness. Light Lens Lab has gradually evolved into a company that feels increasingly aligned with this philosophy.
they are bringing back something that is often missing today. Not just designs, but a way of rendering. Asian lens manufacturers have reached a very high level, both in build quality and optical performance. These lenses are no longer compromises. They are well-built, optically capable and offer a distinct visual identity.
They give photographers access to different rendering styles at a more accessible price point, without taking away from the experience.
In earlier conversations with Mr. Zhou from Light Lens Lab, one idea kept returning: ACDK.
Angénieux, Cooke, Dallmeyer and Kinoptik.
These are names that represent a different approach to lens design. Less focused on perfection, more focused on rendering and atmosphere. After years of working with Leica lenses, I found myself increasingly drawn towards these alternative optical philosophies. <end>
These are the kind of people they cater to. I'm pretty hopeful for the APOs. The company is getting there fast. cheers.
https://www.milanswolfs.com/blog/light-lens-lab-75mm-f2-spii-review
They know what they are doing. Snips:
The Light Lens Lab Speed Panchro II 75mm f/2 is a vintage-inspired Leica M-mount lens designed for photographers who value character over clinical perfection.
a strong 75mm needs to remain compact, intuitive to use and offer a rendering that brings something more than just sharpness. Light Lens Lab has gradually evolved into a company that feels increasingly aligned with this philosophy.
they are bringing back something that is often missing today. Not just designs, but a way of rendering. Asian lens manufacturers have reached a very high level, both in build quality and optical performance. These lenses are no longer compromises. They are well-built, optically capable and offer a distinct visual identity.
They give photographers access to different rendering styles at a more accessible price point, without taking away from the experience.
In earlier conversations with Mr. Zhou from Light Lens Lab, one idea kept returning: ACDK.
Angénieux, Cooke, Dallmeyer and Kinoptik.
These are names that represent a different approach to lens design. Less focused on perfection, more focused on rendering and atmosphere. After years of working with Leica lenses, I found myself increasingly drawn towards these alternative optical philosophies. <end>
These are the kind of people they cater to. I'm pretty hopeful for the APOs. The company is getting there fast. cheers.
Aug 18, 2026 at 02:13 AM
p.4 #14Official: Light Lens Lab 35mm f/2 "Apochromatic"
First review of the LLL APO. Looks promising
https://www.macfilos.com/2026/08/18/a-hands-on-review-of-the-new-light-lens-lab-35-2-aa/
https://www.macfilos.com/2026/08/18/a-hands-on-review-of-the-new-light-lens-lab-35-2-aa/
Aug 18, 2026 at 07:52 PM
p.4 #15Official: Light Lens Lab 35mm f/2 "Apochromatic"
I'm guessing by "aspherical finishing" not as good as Leica's, they mean the onion rings in the bokeh. I didn't see examples in the photos though.
Aug 18, 2026 at 09:25 PM
p.4 #16Official: Light Lens Lab 35mm f/2 "Apochromatic"
spendychucky wrote:
I'm guessing by "aspherical finishing" not as good as Leica's, they mean the onion rings in the bokeh. I didn't see examples in the photos though.
I'll post samples showing the specular highlights once I get a review copy. None of the "aspherical" LLL lenses have clean inner structure. The LLL 50/1.2 "1966" is the worst offender, but I've learned to like it since Leica's original 50/1.2 also had rough bokeh.
I'm guessing by "aspherical finishing" not as good as Leica's, they mean the onion rings in the bokeh. I didn't see examples in the photos though.
I'll post samples showing the specular highlights once I get a review copy. None of the "aspherical" LLL lenses have clean inner structure. The LLL 50/1.2 "1966" is the worst offender, but I've learned to like it since Leica's original 50/1.2 also had rough bokeh.
Aug 18, 2026 at 10:52 PM
p.4 #17Official: Light Lens Lab 35mm f/2 "Apochromatic"
Even the 35mm FLE has relatively busy bokeh, especially outside the center and towards the edges. And you love that lens, Fred 😉
I’d really love to see a comparison between the first FLE and the pre-FLE ✨🙌
I’d really love to see a comparison between the first FLE and the pre-FLE ✨🙌
Aug 18, 2026 at 11:02 PM
p.4 #18Official: Light Lens Lab 35mm f/2 "Apochromatic"
Hol up, LLL say it will cover 44×33mm?
Hmmmm that interests me.
maly149 wrote:
First review of the LLL APO. Looks promising
https://www.macfilos.com/2026/08/18/a-hands-on-review-of-the-new-light-lens-lab-35-2-aa/
Hmmmm that interests me.
maly149 wrote:
First review of the LLL APO. Looks promising
https://www.macfilos.com/2026/08/18/a-hands-on-review-of-the-new-light-lens-lab-35-2-aa/
Aug 19, 2026 at 12:48 AM
p.4 #19Official: Light Lens Lab 35mm f/2 "Apochromatic"
OoOoh, I’ll definitely throw this thing on my X2D II and test that notion thoroughly.
Aug 19, 2026 at 02:12 AM
p.4 #20Official: Light Lens Lab 35mm f/2 "Apochromatic"
Please do, I'll wait before investing 😁
RomanMF wrote:
OoOoh, I’ll definitely throw this thing on my X2D II and test that notion thoroughly.
RomanMF wrote:
OoOoh, I’ll definitely throw this thing on my X2D II and test that notion thoroughly.
Aug 19, 2026 at 06:17 AM