Great review on this one! The owner of LLL is a pretty famous Leica collector in China and he had to source the lead glass for a long time in order to make this 8 element copy. Other than his second project (Elcan 50) I think he’s also targeting to replicate the null series camera as well as the famous 50/1.2.. very ambitious. Of course I do hope in the future they come up with their own design and product.
I think they the LLL is already a modern legend, completely replicating expensive vintage leica gear and not compromising on quality, I feel there is a certain romanticism in that.
I've owned this lens for over a year and it completely rocks - I use it primarily with an M10M and it really delivers a classic, Leica type glow, when used wide open. I don't understand the concept of collecting lens and cameras for the purpose of having a shelf queen - ludicrous really, but I understand the value of money, and when I looked at the various used original 8 element lenses available, they were all $4,000+ USD and in dubious condition generally, so taking the risk on this felt like a wiser monetary decision. One question - when you shot with the APO and the LLL indoors for the comparison, did either lens have a hood? The haze from the LLL seems like that could have been caused by no hood, as it does tend to flare a bit, so want to fully understand the comparison's parameters. nice review.
Thanks Robert. Yes I agree, paying so much for a lens and not really using it is a waste. Unless one knows it will continue to go up in value. No both lenses didn’t have a hood on them for the test as I wanted it to be fair. So yes the flare could be part of this where it’s more controlled on the APO
@@btonelli thanks; makes sense - I do find that when used with a hood the Light Lens Lab still can flare but it a more controlled, and subjectively pleasing manner. Will be keen to recommend you review their soon to be released 50mm f2 Elcan replica due out any minute.
@@robertstacy8438 yes I also found the flaring is much better with the hood. I should be seeing the Elcan very soon. Will post up a video asap on it as soon as I can
I can't believe you're no longer with Tech 360! I've always greatly enjoyed your reviews, Leica and others, so I've already subscribed here. Regarding the Light Lens Lab 35mm f2, the vignetting is a bit much so I'll be keeping my Summicron 35mm ASPH, thank you. The Summarit-M 35mm f/2.5 is a great option in this price range.
Hi Paul! Yes I left a number of months ago, and went over to Geek Culture who is also based in Singapore. Tech360 wasn’t keen on me releasing a “goodbye” video which was unfortunate. Thanks for the sub here! As for the vignetting yes it’s not for everyone and the Cron ASPH is a great lens and even the Summarit. The LLL is for those that enjoy that classic rendering with all the quirks etc
Really enjoyed this, Bobby. I’ve recently bought a black paint MP. Have just added a silver 35mm and 50mm Elcan from Light Lens Lab. They’re fabulous. They’re in design stage of 50mm Rigid Summicron. Hope you get a chance to review a prototype soon.
Used to own the original & loved it...but nom with leica lens prices getting out of hand, LLL homage lenses are simply amazing. Got the 35 in black paint & pre ordered the Elcan. Thanks for the review!
A quality review in a quality video. You shine a light on a niche product that should be of interest to photographers wanting to take a walk in the wilder side and to seek less conventional alternatives.
hello... excellent report... a question... I wanted to buy one of these lenses to use it on my new leica m11 monochrome, which one do you recommend this... or the new Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. I know the prices are different, worse, which one would you choose for black and white photos?
Thanks. This is tough because they are two different lenses entirely. The 50 Lux is sharper and more modern rendering. This 35 renders like the 8 element cron which is softer with vignetting. The Lux will maximise the resolution in my opinion where as the LLL will be much softer
was this significantly cheaper when you purchased it? and does popflash ever do sales? i thought i remembered one reviewer saying they picked it up during a sale (can't remember who, or if it was another LLL lens, else i'd ask them). i just discovered the company recently so i wouldn't know. wondering if this would work well for me, mainly do video but i want a manual 35, i got the voigtlander 65mm apo for my sony and i fell in love
I’m based in Singapore and got it from here. Price wise they are around 1k plus depending on the version one wants to get. The lenses are extremely well made and reason they hold their value. Arguably better made than Voigtlander lenses This lens for video may be difficult to use due to size but for photography it’s great, but soft with a bit of vignetting
@@btonelli ahh, ok... i was just wondering if you got yours before they raised the price. Bc when these first came out they were like half the price, but it was impossible to find them, so they started fetching more on the used mkt than direct, which led to LLL raising it. so it's certainly not a knock on quality, i've heard mostly glowing reviews about the build and it's gorgeous, i was sorta just wondering if your calculus was based on the old or new tag. I never buy lenses new, or at least have yet to for my first dozen, but I've seen some copies of this hitting the used mkt lately and I was sorta wondering if I should pick one up to try... thanks much!
@@btonelli I think most were sold in china and are readily available second hand… but much more expensive in the West…. Wondering about their new 50mm Elcan
Hello. A lot of positive opinions and comments. I have a problem though. I bought a 35 f2 from LLL. It fit fine on my Leica M5. It will NOT mount nor on my M-A nor the Leica 240! The mounts do not fit properly. I took it to a shop and they had the same problem with the same camera models. It was possible to slightly "force" it on the MA but the frame lines did not work properly. Afterward there were metal shavings inside the camera! This is very, very odd and I advise anyone buying one to make sure it will fit the mount properly, and take in the camera(s) before buying. Oddly, I also bought a 50mm Elcan from LLL. It worked absolutely fine on the MP. But I traded in the MP for the M-A. The 50mm Elcan has exactly the same problem! PS I will add that when the Elcan did work on the MP it worked very well, great image quality. But I am now disappointed to have a lens now that will not fit on my new Leica cameras.
@@btonelli Hello and thanks for your reply. Yes, it fits well on the MP. No problem. It does not fit the well nor on the M-A nor MP type 240. It I can "squeeze" it on the frame lines go awry. I also have the 50LLL and that's even worse. Yes BTW I tried several models when I returned to the shop. Same thing.
there is a safari version of this lens, and i wanted it so bad.. but couldnt make sense of spending 500-600 more dollars than the black brass i got ($945) ...
Maybe it's a superb lens, but sooner or later we'll lose to the Chinese dragon and there will be no jobs for us if we continue to buy all stuff from China. Amazon and eBay are killing the real and professional camera stores. Big isn't always beautiful. Keep that in mind and support your local dealer and the original manufacturers.
@@austinroot6234 I just published my review of the Leica MP film camera you see in this video. There are things I like and struggle with which I talk about in the video
@@leeguanxue hi Xander I use to own one and tried a few but I find the make while decent is not consistent. If a special lens comes around perhaps but currently don’t know of any available
I'm really impressed with what LLL has been making and I'm glad companies are going back and recreating classic lenses (like what Meyer Optik has been doing, too). I'm super hyped for the Speed Panchro II (I preordered mine as soon as I was able to).
@@btonelli I've been using it the last couple weeks. Image quality is very similar to my 1950s Voigtlander Nokton 50mm f/1.5 stopped down to f2. Very bubbly bokeh.
@@btonelli I've been shooting it on my GFX. On that medium format sensor, it vignettes about as badly as my Summicron V3. It has hard-edged vignetting in the corners. Most of my M-mount lenses have the same problem. I'm guessing it has to do with the size of the mount or the rangefinder coupling getting in the way. Weirdly enough, older LTM lenses have less vignetting on the GFX. Either way, I crop in a little and still get great photos. I'm really enjoying the speed panchro 2, but I'm not sure if I like it enough - compared to all my other vintage glass - to keep it. I'll continue using it and the other lenses I have that are similar, and probably sell one or two of them.
@@KingGameReview yes I haven’t gotten a copy for review it. Using M lenses on the GFX is tough. Best to crop to 35mm mode on it. The panchro shines with good background separation and shapes to capture that Cooke look plus flaring.
Really nice review! First review on this one I saw that actually gives me a feeling for the lens!! Thank you!! Do you by any chance have or had the Nokton 35 1.4 classic sc? I’m considering the LLL or the Nok as a daily runaround to not worry about. I like the flares of the Nok but the distortion is a big con. Unfortunately haven’t really seen any comparison between these two even though almost similar price range and new vintage lens. Almost tempted to just order both 😅
Thanks Chris much appreciated. I’ve tried it before but haven’t compared to the LLL. The LLL will give a more classic rendering, some vignetting etc. the VM will be a more modern rendering lens so it really depends on your preference. Build quality wise LLL is tops I feel.
@@btonelli 😅 Just kidding. You just need enough sharpness. People shouldn’t be so obsessed with it. Actually I went from the APO to the regular Summicron because the APO is just too sharp.
Great, review as always, thank you. I bought the version 6 in chrome for my M262, and it is now my main lens for this camera. Light lens labs also just released a 50mm f2 military spec Leica clone, hope to see your review of this lens once the production is available to general public.
Why anyone would shoot the LLL 35 8E on digital is beyond me. You lose nearly all of its character. Instead of looking cool wide open, it just looks soft.
by the way, in china the 8 element(LLL) sold at about 650 euro, and the elcan at 520 euro. it would be more preiswert to find a friend in china and order it for you.
@@btonelli i bought it in china.(after waiting in line for half a year..) elcan they say will on sale in november and december overseas, you can contact your distributor, they may can be ordered now
Great review on this one! The owner of LLL is a pretty famous Leica collector in China and he had to source the lead glass for a long time in order to make this 8 element copy. Other than his second project (Elcan 50) I think he’s also targeting to replicate the null series camera as well as the famous 50/1.2.. very ambitious. Of course I do hope in the future they come up with their own design and product.
Thanks!! I didn’t know this about the owner of LLL. Yes looking forward to some original pieces as well
I think they the LLL is already a modern legend, completely replicating expensive vintage leica gear and not compromising on quality, I feel there is a certain romanticism in that.
Agree 💯
Leica's lawyers may not view this encroachment, including use of Leica's own terminology, as particularly romantic.
@@jeremykeller211 Patents expired by now.
I've owned this lens for over a year and it completely rocks - I use it primarily with an M10M and it really delivers a classic, Leica type glow, when used wide open. I don't understand the concept of collecting lens and cameras for the purpose of having a shelf queen - ludicrous really, but I understand the value of money, and when I looked at the various used original 8 element lenses available, they were all $4,000+ USD and in dubious condition generally, so taking the risk on this felt like a wiser monetary decision.
One question - when you shot with the APO and the LLL indoors for the comparison, did either lens have a hood? The haze from the LLL seems like that could have been caused by no hood, as it does tend to flare a bit, so want to fully understand the comparison's parameters.
nice review.
Thanks Robert. Yes I agree, paying so much for a lens and not really using it is a waste. Unless one knows it will continue to go up in value. No both lenses didn’t have a hood on them for the test as I wanted it to be fair. So yes the flare could be part of this where it’s more controlled on the APO
@@btonelli thanks; makes sense - I do find that when used with a hood the Light Lens Lab still can flare but it a more controlled, and subjectively pleasing manner. Will be keen to recommend you review their soon to be released 50mm f2 Elcan replica due out any minute.
@@robertstacy8438 yes I also found the flaring is much better with the hood. I should be seeing the Elcan very soon. Will post up a video asap on it as soon as I can
I can't believe you're no longer with Tech 360! I've always greatly enjoyed your reviews, Leica and others, so I've already subscribed here. Regarding the Light Lens Lab 35mm f2, the vignetting is a bit much so I'll be keeping my Summicron 35mm ASPH, thank you. The Summarit-M 35mm f/2.5 is a great option in this price range.
Hi Paul! Yes I left a number of months ago, and went over to Geek Culture who is also based in Singapore. Tech360 wasn’t keen on me releasing a “goodbye” video which was unfortunate. Thanks for the sub here!
As for the vignetting yes it’s not for everyone and the Cron ASPH is a great lens and even the Summarit. The LLL is for those that enjoy that classic rendering with all the quirks etc
Really enjoyed this, Bobby. I’ve recently bought a black paint MP. Have just added a silver 35mm and 50mm Elcan from Light Lens Lab. They’re fabulous. They’re in design stage of 50mm Rigid Summicron. Hope you get a chance to review a prototype soon.
Thanks for watching. Hoping to review them as well
Keep up the feed, Bobby. Engaging and entertaining review in your own very watchable and easy-going style.
Thanks Tad really appreciate the support
Congratulations on starting your own channel. Immediately subscribed and I'm looking forward to content, at your pace of course.
Thanks! Will be doing an upload once a week at least
Used to own the original & loved it...but nom with leica lens prices getting out of hand, LLL homage lenses are simply amazing. Got the 35 in black paint & pre ordered the Elcan. Thanks for the review!
Thanks for watching Daniel! Yes I agree I’m enjoying these homage lenses
A quality review in a quality video. You shine a light on a niche product that should be of interest to photographers wanting to take a walk in the wilder side and to seek less conventional alternatives.
Thanks Allen much appreciated
Hey Bobby, this is exciting! Congrats on your channel. Definitely subbed. Love your content, especially Leica related.
Thanks Hatef! Much appreciated
Hello from London. Big fan of your content. Very much looking forward to future episodes with pot of tea at hand. 🙏
Thanks Alfred!
hello... excellent report... a question... I wanted to buy one of these lenses to use it on my new leica m11 monochrome, which one do you recommend this... or the new Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. I know the prices are different, worse, which one would you choose for black and white photos?
Thanks. This is tough because they are two different lenses entirely. The 50 Lux is sharper and more modern rendering. This 35 renders like the 8 element cron which is softer with vignetting. The Lux will maximise the resolution in my opinion where as the LLL will be much softer
It’s been a while ….. i just know that you have your own channel when I”m searching for this lens review.
good to see you again Bobby :)
Thanks for watching!
was this significantly cheaper when you purchased it?
and does popflash ever do sales? i thought i remembered one reviewer saying they picked it up during a sale (can't remember who, or if it was another LLL lens, else i'd ask them). i just discovered the company recently so i wouldn't know.
wondering if this would work well for me, mainly do video but i want a manual 35, i got the voigtlander 65mm apo for my sony and i fell in love
I’m based in Singapore and got it from here. Price wise they are around 1k plus depending on the version one wants to get.
The lenses are extremely well made and reason they hold their value. Arguably better made than Voigtlander lenses
This lens for video may be difficult to use due to size but for photography it’s great, but soft with a bit of vignetting
@@btonelli ahh, ok... i was just wondering if you got yours before they raised the price. Bc when these first came out they were like half the price, but it was impossible to find them, so they started fetching more on the used mkt than direct, which led to LLL raising it. so it's certainly not a knock on quality, i've heard mostly glowing reviews about the build and it's gorgeous, i was sorta just wondering if your calculus was based on the old or new tag. I never buy lenses new, or at least have yet to for my first dozen, but I've seen some copies of this hitting the used mkt lately and I was sorta wondering if I should pick one up to try... thanks much!
Just bought the black paint version last week for my M9.. I’m impressed…. Much cheaper to buy in china…. But probably the best $800 lens I’ve bought
That’s a great price! Congrats!
@@btonelli I think most were sold in china and are readily available second hand… but much more expensive in the West…. Wondering about their new 50mm Elcan
Yeah. We have limited stock in SG but selling well. Should be able to test the Elcan next week or so. Video will be up soon after
Hello. A lot of positive opinions and comments. I have a problem though. I bought a 35 f2 from LLL. It fit fine on my Leica M5. It will NOT mount nor on my M-A nor the Leica 240! The mounts do not fit properly. I took it to a shop and they had the same problem with the same camera models. It was possible to slightly "force" it on the MA but the frame lines did not work properly. Afterward there were metal shavings inside the camera! This is very, very odd and I advise anyone buying one to make sure it will fit the mount properly, and take in the camera(s) before buying. Oddly, I also bought a 50mm Elcan from LLL. It worked absolutely fine on the MP. But I traded in the MP for the M-A. The 50mm Elcan has exactly the same problem! PS I will add that when the Elcan did work on the MP it worked very well, great image quality. But I am now disappointed to have a lens now that will not fit on my new Leica cameras.
Did you try another 35 f2 LLL? I found it to be right fitting on the M3 but fits well on the MP.
@@btonelli Hello and thanks for your reply. Yes, it fits well on the MP. No problem. It does not fit the well nor on the M-A nor MP type 240. It I can "squeeze" it on the frame lines go awry. I also have the 50LLL and that's even worse. Yes BTW I tried several models when I returned to the shop. Same thing.
Finally your own channel!
Great video!
Thanks!
I see riceball :) looking forward to seeing this channel explode!!!
Thanks Peter!
let's show support here you should have done this long time ago honestly - Best of Luck
Thank you really appreciate it. Yes it’s a long time coming 😊
I’ve just realised that you are my clone from a passions POV🙌🏼👍 keep up the great content!
Thanks! 😊😊
Nicely done! Bring it on!
Love your “Safari” mic! 😂
Appreciate the support
there is a safari version of this lens, and i wanted it so bad.. but couldnt make sense of spending 500-600 more dollars than the black brass i got ($945) ...
Hi Bobby! always a big fan! great to see this channel, subscribed! ;)
Thank you! Appreciate the support
Hi Bobby, awesome review. Where can I buy this lens?
Thanks!! Riceball Photography in Singapore sells them
i dont understand why would u need more than 12mp resolution
Cropping
Keep it up! Next is the Voigtlander Heliar 50 1.5?
Yep on the list to come
Thanks for the review! Ordered one yesterday and can't wait to get my hands on it .
Thanks for watching. Congrats on the lens!
Great video. I am interested in this lens. How do you find the air quality in Singapore?
Thanks for watching. Air quality is okay. We are having a lot of humidity now though so it’s heavier air outside
Thank you. Best wishes.
great video, looking forward to seeing more. i would say that in this case i prefer the rendering of the modern APO lens
Thanks Marc! Yes the APO has a very nice rendering. Definitely more modern with a nice pop to the image
How does it compare to the voigt 35mm f1.5. Which one you would consider to get, or both of them would be nice to be in the collector
Different lens all together. The LLL is replicating the 8 element which is softer wide open and vignettes more.
Maybe it's a superb lens, but sooner or later we'll lose to the Chinese dragon and there will be no jobs for us if we continue to buy all stuff from China. Amazon and eBay are killing the real and professional camera stores. Big isn't always beautiful. Keep that in mind and support your local dealer and the original manufacturers.
Yes understand but this isn’t a lens made anymore. However I do agree to purchase locally when possible to support retailers.
Just found this video! I just got this lens with black paint. I love it so much. I have the M10P I hope to own a MP one day.
Thanks for watching Aústin! Congrats! Btw I’ll be having a review of the MP coming out tomorrow here so have a look when it’s published:)
@@btonelli subscribed :) how you like vs leica other film cameras.
@@austinroot6234 I just published my review of the Leica MP film camera you see in this video. There are things I like and struggle with which I talk about in the video
Too much drooling.
I go back to my Zorki 4k with the Jupiter 8 50mm F2 lens. I use a metal lens hood. Total cost £50
Haha yes there are always good finds that are less expensive, but I found these LLL lenses to be extremely well made
Thank you for the awesome review! You convinced me to get it straight after watching your review :)
Thanks Xander for the kind words
@@btonelli by any chance will you be reviewing reviewing any ms optics lens in the future?
@@leeguanxue hi Xander I use to own one and tried a few but I find the make while decent is not consistent. If a special lens comes around perhaps but currently don’t know of any available
Good work right out the gate. 👍
Thanks Alex!
I'm really impressed with what LLL has been making and I'm glad companies are going back and recreating classic lenses (like what Meyer Optik has been doing, too). I'm super hyped for the Speed Panchro II (I preordered mine as soon as I was able to).
I want it too but needs to be black for me. I got the Elcan and am very impressed. Worth getting as LLL have announced its discontinuation
Should be reviewing the Panchro soon
@@btonelli I've been using it the last couple weeks. Image quality is very similar to my 1950s Voigtlander Nokton 50mm f/1.5 stopped down to f2. Very bubbly bokeh.
@@btonelli I've been shooting it on my GFX. On that medium format sensor, it vignettes about as badly as my Summicron V3. It has hard-edged vignetting in the corners. Most of my M-mount lenses have the same problem. I'm guessing it has to do with the size of the mount or the rangefinder coupling getting in the way. Weirdly enough, older LTM lenses have less vignetting on the GFX. Either way, I crop in a little and still get great photos. I'm really enjoying the speed panchro 2, but I'm not sure if I like it enough - compared to all my other vintage glass - to keep it. I'll continue using it and the other lenses I have that are similar, and probably sell one or two of them.
@@KingGameReview yes I haven’t gotten a copy for review it. Using M lenses on the GFX is tough. Best to crop to 35mm mode on it.
The panchro shines with good background separation and shapes to capture that Cooke look plus flaring.
Glad you got your own channel bro! Subbed
Thank you!
Good move. Looking forward to more shizz from ya. Cheers! 🍻
Thanks much appreciated!
@@btonelli No prob. Be safe and happy shoothing Bobby.
Ì prefer the Light lens Lab one
Light lens lab version is newer so will have a better rendering I feel
Great video! What leather strap is that?
Thanks Daniel. From LuigiCases
Really nice review! First review on this one I saw that actually gives me a feeling for the lens!! Thank you!!
Do you by any chance have or had the Nokton 35 1.4 classic sc?
I’m considering the LLL or the Nok as a daily runaround to not worry about.
I like the flares of the Nok but the distortion is a big con.
Unfortunately haven’t really seen any comparison between these two even though almost similar price range and new vintage lens. Almost tempted to just order both 😅
Thanks Chris much appreciated. I’ve tried it before but haven’t compared to the LLL.
The LLL will give a more classic rendering, some vignetting etc. the VM will be a more modern rendering lens so it really depends on your preference. Build quality wise LLL is tops I feel.
Great review
Thank you 🙏
Good luck Bobby, keep up!
Thanks Nikola
Looks good.
Thanks. Yes it’s a beautiful lens
Hahahahaha!
"Original Cron a safe queen." Muahahahahaha!
The 8 element? Very rare and in mint condition it commands a high price
The only question that matters. “Is it sharp”
For a vintage lens wide open it’s not bad
@@btonelli 😅 Just kidding. You just need enough sharpness. People shouldn’t be so obsessed with it. Actually I went from the APO to the regular Summicron because the APO is just too sharp.
@@carlosmcse haha yes. Agree. My dream lens is the APO but yes at times it’s too sharp
Great, review as always, thank you. I bought the version 6 in chrome for my M262, and it is now my main lens for this camera. Light lens labs also just released a 50mm f2 military spec Leica clone, hope to see your review of this lens once the production is available to general public.
Thanks Danny. Yes looking to do a review as soon as it’s available
Why anyone would shoot the LLL 35 8E on digital is beyond me. You lose nearly all of its character. Instead of looking cool wide open, it just looks soft.
Most people have digital cameras in 2024. If you say film only you really alienate an audience
The reason you buy a leica camera is to experience the leica lens. Thats all.
Some may feel this way but the camera bodies are also built extremely well
i've gotten the elcan 50 2 made by light lens lab, it's also quiet great, good quality and old-school design, worth a try
Ohh nice!!! Can’t wait to try!
by the way, in china the 8 element(LLL) sold at about 650 euro, and the elcan at 520 euro. it would be more preiswert to find a friend in china and order it for you.
@@FUCKTHEPOPO-ACAB did you purchase in China? So far I’ve only dealt with Riceball who is the distributor in Singapore
@@btonelli i bought it in china.(after waiting in line for half a year..) elcan they say will on sale in november and december overseas, you can contact your distributor, they may can be ordered now
@@FUCKTHEPOPO-ACAB yes the distributor said his prototype unit will be in soon so I can test that