How do Light Lens Lab lenses hold up on a Leica M11?
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- Опубліковано 5 жов 2024
- I recently picked up the 50mm f/2 SP II & the 35mm f/2 Eight Element from Light Lens Lab and tried them out. Here are some thoughts, and a comparison with my usual kit, Summilux lenses.
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I would say companies like LLL/Voigtlander really fills the void in the current Leica line-up, meaning small/light lenses like the old summicrons and summiluxes before the introduction of aspherical elements. The lenses Leica make these days are optically superior, but a bit big/chunky for a light weight rangefinder experience. But actually it's really not what we rangefinder shooters want some times. As we have perfect alternatives like Sony G lenses (which are better than the current Leica offerings when it comes to optical quality). Leica should really expand their vintage line and start to re-introducing those small old-design lenses with modern coating/technology.
Can’t say I agree whatsoever. I’d assume based on your comments you don’t actually use any Leica glass. Sony GM glass has nothing on Leica SL lenses. Used GM for years, bokeh can be okay but otherwise colour is very poor and sharpness isn’t comparable.
Voigtlander and LLL make some great gear, but it’s not filling a void that Leica doesn’t have, Leica simply doesn’t play in that environment and nor do they pretend to.
@@evelvete go try 50 1.2gm and Leica 50 APO. I have a few dozen Leica lenses and I know what I’m talking about.
If you’re talking ‘M’ apo 50, sure, but it’s also tiny in comparison. But I’m talking ‘SL’ glass, not ‘M’. Do you use Leica bodies or is everything adapted to Sony?
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for your honest thoughts on this and this video. Personally not a fan of LLL Lenses. If someone wants cheap and cost is a factor, it's worth looking at but even then there's voigtlander, ding, thypoch as good options. I bought two separate lenses and both of them had back focusing issues and flare which I wasn't a fan of and sit well with me. Instead I bought some vintage Leica / Leitz glass and even though it's more money, I'm much happier with it. The SPII is known to have that blue cast in it and I've seen on reddit and on forums people raise it and that they're not happy with it.
I think they’re much better at f/4+, but below that they look like TTArtisan lenses and I personally don’t use those lenses.
"cheap"? The Light Lens Lab 50mm f/1.2 ASPH "1966" Brass Body, Black Paint: is $2299
LLL is about recreating the originals not cheap alternatives.
@@Mr_Quimper It is fantastic and recreates the originally perfectly, although it is a little sharper wide open.
If I wasn’t expecting a baby next month I would have totally signed up for your workshop! I always dig your videos man!
Thanks man! There will be more in the future. We’re just getting started!
What does that have anything to do with the workshops. I had a kid and took them to ShutterFest at 3 months old
Great video. I have all of these lenses except the LLL 35. I’ve used the 35 1.4 for over 10 years. It is a versatile lens that is perfect for street photography. in 2022 I used it extensively in Paris on a M10 Monochrom. Exceptional images. I’ve found that the 50 LLL is great for getting portrait shots with the M11P. I usually shoot in an intimate setting such as a bar or restaurant. The 50LLL gives a classic film rendering. I’m waiting for the LLL 50 1.2 for the same reason. If I want sharpness and great color, my default is the 50 APO. Love your work. Would like to join you on a shoot some day.
I do like the look of the 50, but I don’t like it at f/2. I like it at f/4 or higher. I’ll try it indoors and see what happens! Thanks for sharing, and for the kind words. Come to the bay and we’ll photo walk!
They’re pretty fun, I’ll agree with the random infinity lock on the 35. That lens has been living on my M6 for awhile now. Figure that’s the best spot for it. Sings on film. Just need to get the hood for it.
I do want to get the rigid version of that 50mm mostly just because I’ve always loved the look of that thing.
I do like them, and haven’t used them on film yet. Part of my summer plans for sure!
I have both LLLs and love them. Having said this they are lenses which I use to create a special vintage look. The 35 flares beautifully and the 50SP2 has this special glow in certain light situations. Otherwise the Leica Summicron or Summilux lenses are sharper and have better micro contrast. So the LLLs , as much as I lover them are not the perfect allrounder like the current Leica lenses. But their build quality and special look at a more affordable price ( still not cheap) make them a nice addition to my kit.
Thanks for sharing!
It was a bit difficult to actually see the differences in lenses just because of the format of this video. In the future it might be more helpful to show two photos side by side instead? Appreciate you!
Thanks for the feedback. I did show them back to back at the end, but side by side is hard in a 16:9 format.
Look at the LLL 50mm 1.2 ASPH ‘1966’. Great rendering like the original Noctilux AA.
Yeah I love what I’ve seen about that one!
@@davidherring Just got it recently and I love how it renders very much as the original relegated to bank vaults due to the 50-70k price tag.Not a lux replacement of course - but much more character.
hi Dave, i dont know if you have tried the Voigtlander 35 and 50 APO Lander, they are simply incredible, granted they are a little bit bigger than the Leica, however they punch neck and neck with them, 2k v 16k of Leicas, to be able to be neck and neck with them is simply insane, if you have not tried the apo please do! you will be blown away
I haven't but I definitely ant to try them!
I have the 35 summilux and the 8 element LLL 35. I like the 8 element for color/character and for flare wide open.
I need to make it flare, which is something I haven’t done yet. Thanks for sharing!
Interesting comparison, I’m surprised the LLL is as noticeable of a difference as it is. It would be intresting to see a vintage Leica lens compared to the new LLL equivalent.
If I had access to the originals these are based on, I’d 100% do it!
Well, price differential wasn’t discussed and is obviously huge. Also, comparing a Cooke to any other 50mm is fraught with difficulty, no? Fun review. Thx!
I think I said multiple times “we’re just using the Summilux as a baseline” and did not title this as a comparison. Thanks for watching.
@@davidherring ...and yet, by putting these images up, side by side. It becomes a comparison by default. I really confused as to what your intention was? It appears to be an exercise in confirmation bias.
Hey man just hope you enjoyed the video ✌🏼
@@davidherring you did, but clearly by showing images vis a vis each other and closing with “I won’t be keeping these lenses,” there was an inherent comparison and judgement. Appreciate your time and DID enjoy it, but perhaps would like to see you shoot the Cooke in a portrait/cinematic way, as it is intended. JMHO…
I own an M11-P and the Voigtlander 28/2 35/1.5 & 50/1.5
It seems like Leica finds a way to make lenses that have both modern sharpness and pleasing character. Where as other companies make lenses that are clinically perfect (Sony G Master) or full of character at the expense of sharpness.
Well said!
Leica has more character and less vignette at F2. Also, I noticed some flare in the LLL lens. Thanks for the video.
Yeah the SPII flared from reflection off the tractor. That was surprising. At f/2 both LLL lenses are significantly softer as well.
I am glad that there are loads of amateurs willing to buy the stuff from all those 'cheaper' manufacturers because it takes the pressure off the real thing. Go for it.
I know a lot of pros who use a range of lenses from various manufactures, including these from LLL. Thanks for the comment.
Snobbery nonsense, hence “artist” in username.
I’ll trust reviewers that spend their own money or that buy it after the review. There are reviewers that will buy it and then sold it.
Cool, just my opinion and why I sold these lenses.
One needs to recognize that LLL recreates the originals as closely as possible. Even recreating the original glass compositions. So no they will not be as sharp as a modern lux. But you get the character of classical very expensive collectors glass.
Totally get that, and expected that. I actually appreciate it. I just don’t like the infinity lock.
@@davidherring Have you looked at the Meyer Optik Goerlitz Biotar lenses?
Being honest. It’s gotten to that point where I don’t care what your video is about…. I’m watching it!!! Great little video and well done for sticking to the two a week :) J
Oh man thank you! Appreciate the support!
That LLL 35 has an interesting blue cast to the photos. (Unless that was an AWB thing)
Certainly an AWD issue. LLL aims to recreate the original as much as possible.
All of these were shot at 5200 and that blue cast does exists. Plenty of forum discussions on it.
@@davidherring I have it and the original 8e and theris no blue cast at all. What people wondering is the coating color which is blue. That has nothing to with the image it produces. The original 8e had blue reflecting coating but a few later models had amber colored coating.
Sorry, non related question, did you experience camera shake with m10-r vs m10 vs m11 with same shutter speed? Trying to figure if this an actual issue or a fixable one to adjust shutter speed. Thank you. Watched your other videos but not sure.
I’ve never experienced camera shake as an issue, but I rarely shoot slower than 1x-2x the focal length. I just crank ISO. Sharp and grainy > blurry and clean.
I've been using leica lenses both asph and non asph, but I don't think a 35 summilux asph is a good bench mark for comparing LLL lenses. cause LLL made those lenses as a homage to the original 8e and other iconic lenses. Which tbh really does give the real leica loo which to be honest asph lenses doesnt have that look anymore. It just became all about sharpness and contrast which I really find boring. No offense, 35 lux asph is a beautiful lens.
Thanks for the comment.
I've always appreciated the clinical sharpness of Leica lenses, similar to my GM lenses. However, I often find myself reducing the sharpness when editing my photos. Given this, is the additional $3K investment really worth it for me?
I typically have clarity down between -10 and -20 on every edit.
The infinity lock is faithful to the Leica original. And for a Leica user who can’t afford a genuine Summicron or Summilux, the LLL 35mm is an excellent buy - in another league compared to the earlier Chinese lenses from 7Artisans and TTArtisan.
I think the LLL sits competitively with lenses from Voigtlander at the 35mm focal length. I would venture to say this lens would be more for someone who wants that specific look. A better all-around 35mm at this price point would be the Voigtlander Ultron VMII.
I don't care for the LLL as depicted here I think your presets lend more desirable character than the lenses. The shot of the tractor had a blue cast in the middle. The bokeh is also a bit different it feels like the edges of the photo are spinning more instead of a straight spherical bokeh as well as vignetting in the corners and less pleasing skin tones. The lenses are also just less sharp in general and to me that's a pass like you said play with them and sell them on.
I think it has its strengths. But I’m always just going to grab my Summilux lenses.
LLL = Not contrasty & pleasing to view.Leica = clinical & has a harder edge.
I sold the LLL lenses. They just weren’t for me.
Colour grading the LLL images could illustrate a film like character not so digital.
A lot of these new M lens manufactures are doing this vintage "infinity lock." I think that was a terrible design and they need to stop doing it. Both light lens lab and thypoch are doing it. All reviewers love the lens and most of their complaints are the infinity lock.
Because the original versions of all of these lenses had an infinity lock. They’re staying true to that experience.
I agree. I don’t know why they’re adding this. I don’t know one person who likes it. This is an area progress was great in!
@@davidherring lol oh I agree with ya, doesn’t mean it’s a good experience
Probably because Leica heads are notoriously stuck in the past when it comes to design and convenience and call it “the true photography/rangefinder experience” when asked why they won’t accept changes
Or maybe they just don’t actually want more technology interfering with their image making process? More/new tech doesn’t mean it’s going to make you a better photographer.
I would never put Chinese lenses on my Leica personally. if the cost is an issue there are ton of old Leca lenses to choose from. Also old Russian lenses for leica are great too. After the war Russians took over Germany and used the same lenses just renamed them for a few years. I recommend looking into these. thank you
I don't think there's anything wrong with these lenses. Every tool can have a use no matter where it's made.
So if the identical lenses were made in… let’s say.. Portugal, you’d consider it? 😂
@@bjmarchives yes. I don’t trust Chinese lenses.
@@tjmanou6422truly this is the very reason why I lost interest in the Cooke SP3 lenses. Seemed too good to be true, turned out to be from a third party manufacturer in China. No thank you.
@@davidherring why would anyone pay $9k for the body and $500 for a lens I have no idea. I understand if they are saving up but I don’t those lenses. I rather get old Leica l names from the 50s