p.1 #3Lailens lens 35mm F3.5 Full Frame Pancake LTM
The DJ Optical version has been up on Shoten and AliExpress for a little bit now but I also saw that LAILENS version added to eBay yesterday. I ordered it to try it out since I have liked my LAILENS 50 1.1 other than some focus adjustment issues. At 3.5 it is a little slower than some of the other pancake options that have come out (though in 28mm) but also looks like it has more of a unique rendering.
p.1 #5Lailens lens 35mm F3.5 Full Frame Pancake LTM
endergemini wrote:
The DJ Optical version has been up on Shoten and AliExpress for a little bit now but I also saw that LAILENS version added to eBay yesterday. I ordered it to try it out since I have liked my LAILENS 50 1.1 other than some focus adjustment issues. At 3.5 it is a little slower than some of the other pancake options that have come out (though in 28mm) but also looks like it has more of a unique rendering.
The DJ-Optical one on AliExpress is listed as "white paint" which alludes to the Ilford inspiration as well which is why I was wondering of both the DJ-Optical branded lens and the DJ-Optical made but LAILENS branded one might share the same optical design.
It also looks like that eBay seller added more stock to the listing as I am now seeing 2 in stock using that link after it showing sold out earlier.
Regarding price it may seem a bit high but tariffs on Chinese lenses are ~35% right now and the eBay listing includes import/duties with free shipping so there is that.
p.1 #11Lailens lens 35mm F3.5 Full Frame Pancake LTM
Sorry for the double post but I remember that LAILENS had their first website taken down due to copyright/naming as it was "leicalens.com" but it looks like they have relaunched it at "laicalens.com".
Interestingly they have a post acknowledging the first site being taken down in their community tab and under their products they show both the LAILENS 50 1.1 KP and the Shoten TRIBUTE 50/1.1 alongside the new 35/3.5 and an upcoming 50/1.5.
I find it curious they are showing the 50/1.1 Zunow replica as non Shoten/TRIBUTE branded but have links to Shoten that accidentally redirect to the eBay page that is selling the 35/3.5 and there doesn't seem to be any mention of DJ-Optical that I can find so far. They also refer to themselves as "Mirror Forge/Foundry".
Just thought you guys might enjoy a little bit of a rabbit hole of new info as it looks like they have launched a lot of pages within the last few days.
p.1 #13Lailens lens 35mm F3.5 Full Frame Pancake LTM
A response from the company asking whether or not their new 35/3.5 lens is the same as the DJ-Optical currently up on Shoten and AliExpress as well as whether the KP and TRIBUTE are the same:
"The TRIBUTE 50/1.1 and KP 50/1.1 do not share the exact same optical formula; the difference lies in just two glass elements. This (their new 35/3.5) does not share the same optical design as the DJ-Optical 35mm f/3.5 sold on AliExpress and Shoten."
My lens is already in LA as of today so hopefully I should have it to me sometime this next week, though eBay tracking is still showing the 30th to the 6th for delivery window.
p.1 #14Lailens lens 35mm F3.5 Full Frame Pancake LTM
endergemini wrote:
A response from the company asking whether or not their new 35/3.5 lens is the same as the DJ-Optical currently up on Shoten and AliExpress as well as whether the KP and TRIBUTE are the same:
"The TRIBUTE 50/1.1 and KP 50/1.1 do not share the exact same optical formula; the difference lies in just two glass elements. This (their new 35/3.5) does not share the same optical design as the DJ-Optical 35mm f/3.5 sold on AliExpress and Shoten."
My lens is already in LA as of today so hopefully I should have it to me sometime this next week, though eBay tracking is still showing the 30th to the 6th for delivery window....Show more →
They definitely don't look like the same optical design at all, but it's good to have that confirmation.
The Lailens 35/3.5 looks cool, but at that price point, I'd personally look into the original Leitz Elmar 35mm f/3.5 LTM. I have one, and it collapses down to a tiny footprint on the body. The rendering has classic character, and the resolution is surprisingly sharp for a vintage lens.
p.1 #15Lailens lens 35mm F3.5 Full Frame Pancake LTM
What is "Optical design: Anastigmat" supposed to mean? As far as I know that isn‘t a defined design. Is it a 3/3 Triplet, or something like a 4/3 Tessar, Elmar or early Hektor design?
p.1 #16Lailens lens 35mm F3.5 Full Frame Pancake LTM
Nevermind... I found it! They apparently don't write it anywhere, but in the corresponding video they show a 4/3 Tessar design, and also show the 3 groups (likely 2 single and 1 cemented).
So overall an f/3.5 Tessar doesn't seem very interesting, but I've learned to not judge a book by its cover as far as lenses are concerned. Perhaps it's a great one after all.
p.1 #17Lailens lens 35mm F3.5 Full Frame Pancake LTM
So I've asked and I think the creator (?) confirmed the 4/3 Tessar-type design. I think it would be very interesting to compare this lens to the MS-Optical Super Triplet Perar 35 mm f/3.5
Triplet and Tessar, both (likely slightly) outside of their comfort zone in terms of focal length... If someone plans on getting both (not me unfortunately, since these aren't cheap lenses) I'd be very curious to know how they compare!
p.1 #18Lailens lens 35mm F3.5 Full Frame Pancake LTM
First thing I saw when just looking at the exterior photos of this lens is the big letters with Lailens and Ilfort Limited. I find it disturbing even the lens design otherwise looks very nice. The company should pay every buyer some money to mount and use this lens with this big advertisement of company name on it.....especially when the name is fairly unknown.
p.1 #19Lailens lens 35mm F3.5 Full Frame Pancake LTM
I received the lens the other night so took a few quick pics of it and some really quick snaps outside just as a fast reference. Will hopefully get to take it out for some better shots soon but figure I might as well give what I have for now.
The build quality seems to be pretty solid. Focusing is mostly smooth with some slight roughness near MFD. Aperture clicks are nice, but there is a noticeable "thunk" when hitting the last click fully open or closed. The lens comes with a leather clamshell case + leather carrying pouch that is the same as the one supplied with the LAILENS 50/1.1.
The lens is coded for the Summarit 35/2.5 profile and that seems to correct a lot of the distortion and vignetting.
There is an issue where I am seeing a veiling flare-type issue in the corner(s) in some shots (showed up on an indoor pic in non-harsh light and in the pic with the magenta flower) and I am wondering if it is due to the built in filter on the front. I can't find a way of easily removing it as it doesn't want to unscrew or pull off. I have asked who I believe is the designer but have not heard back yet. This occurred with no hood attached, I have not verified if the hood fixes it.
I will definitely have to see how this lens performs in better lighting situations and everyday use, but the results are interesting. I'm not sure how often I will use it since it isn't that much smaller than some of the other (faster) 35's I have, so time will tell if the rendering speaks to me.
The pics taken with the LAILENS have not been adjusted other than imported into LR with the M11 profile applied and then exported into JPEG Large, along with the lens corrections automatically applied by LR due to the coding.
p.1 #20Lailens lens 35mm F3.5 Full Frame Pancake LTM
Very nice to see some samples! Looks good. I'm still not sure if a 35 mm Tessar necessarily has a unique enough look to make it worth the price, but it does seem to do quite well in terms of coverage etc. In terms of sharpness/detail it's really hard to judge since the shots are small. It would be interesting to see how it fares compared to a original Zeiss 35 mm Tessar... I've recently learned about Omnar, who rehoused some of these: