There are essentially 3 versions of this lens. The sample in the video is the latter Minolta version that included multi-coating. Confirmed by the location of the serial number, which is not on the front of the lens; it was moved to the body of the lens. The optical design is the same for all versions. But where it was made and lens coating differs depending on which version. The versions are... Leitz 40mm f2 Summicron-C, made by Leitz Wetzlar Germany - single coated. Made with/for the Leica CL labeled body. Minolta 40mm f2 M-Rokkor (some with 'QF' & serial # on the front of the lens), made by Minolta Japan - single coated. Made with/for the Minolta Leitz CL labeled body. Minolta 40mm f2 M-Rokkor (NO serial # on the front of the lens), made by Minolta Japan - multi coated. Made with/for the Minolta CLE body. Regardless, all excellent lenses.
This is my favorite lens on a M11. All my 35 Leica stay in the drawer, even the most expensive ! I got mine new old stock from Japan. It is razor sharp and the color rendering is beautiful. It was already my favorite lens in the 80’s on a Minolta CLE. A real gem.
This isn't Leica glass inside a Minolta. It's the opposite. While Minolta was partnered with Leica they actually made as good or even better lenses/bodies than Leica, which is rumoured to be one of the reasons why Leica abandoned their partnership with Minolta. Minolta was one of *the* best photography brands out there, and it's sad they never got the recognition they deserved because they made glass as good or better than their competition (including Leica)
You got a couple of facts wrong. It's not a Leica lens that was rebranded. This lens was made in Japan, by Minolta, in Minolta factories, using Minolta glass and coatings. The optical formula may have originated from Leica, but this lens is a genuine Minolta lens, with Minolta glass. The previous 40mm with Leica branding for the CL is made in Germany, by Leica but it lacks multi-coating which hardly any manufacturer at the time was doing in house. The exception was Minolta. They produced all the glass and coatings for their own lenses and were contracted by other manufacturers for lens coatings. The Minolta M-Rokkor 40mm is hence a better lens than the Leica 40mm Summicron.
I LOVE this lens! It’s my carry all, go anywhere shoot anything lens. I much prefer it over more expensive Leica glass, not only for its size but versatility and speed. Highly recommended!
I’ve been using this lens, and also the Leitz Summicron-C version (they’re basically the same), on a Sony A7iii via a Techart Pro AF adapter. Works great. The lens has a fairly shallow exit pupil and so doesn’t suffer much if at all from the corner smearing that affects many M mount lenses.
I get what you mean having a 40mm and having a bit more reach than a 35mm. That being said,I shoot with a slightly longer lens than a 50mm. I shoot a Voigtlander Nokton 58mm f1.4 on my Nikon FM and I personally love the extra 8mm of reach! I just like having a slightly different focal length from the standards. ( I don't know why lol). 58mm over a 50mm and 40mm over a 35mm.
Shooting anything longer on an SLR is a little easier to handle since what you see through the finder is your actual frame. I have the Zeiss ZM 35 2.8 and 50 f2 as well as this Minolta 40 and given the M2 and M6 both don't have the 40 framelines it can be a little tricky trying to guess what the outcome may be. With that being said, if you use any gear long enough you will probably get the feel for it and it will end being more of an educated guess at some point.
@@GxAce That's a shame, but c'est la vie. You make Great content btw, love the neuromancer helmet. If I ever bump into you at a future defcon, beers on me 🍻
I'd like to find a Rokkor for my Leica CL (just have a 50mm...), but they are expansive these days! And I have a Rokkor 40mm 1.7 on the Minolta 7sII that I found for 4€ at a garage sale... I really like the qualiy of the lens, its rendering and background blur!
Based on experience with that the 35 1.4 it's got some nice contrast but they are not sharp wide open at all, though I would bet it's sharper at f2 than the 7artisans. I am by no means a Leica snob, I'm just not 100% sold on the 7artisans stuff at this point. You seem to get exactly what you pay for, a cheap looking, cheaply built lens. The Voigtlander lens on the other hand is built rather nicely, and the quality control I have to imagine is a lot better.
It is a great lens. I love the color rendering from this lens on my A7R-III, A6300 or the M10-P.I love the bokeh out from this lens so much. However, the 50mm frame line problem is so annoying as you said.
Its awesome! I actually sold mine a little while ago to pair down on gear, but now I find myself missing it a lot. It's so small and easy to use and is, in my opinion, the best focal length.
The Leica 90 f4 is the cheapest Leica lens, decent quality all metal it can be found as a Leica Made In Germany or as a Minolta Rokker. Coating peal can be an issue so check out any glass carefully Also the Leica version has a strange filter size.. I got an almost perfect Leica version for just £200 - love it's small size and great images. 😎😎😎
Hi. Thanks for this upload. I am looking for a leica glass for my x-e3 Fuji. Is it good for monochrome from a microcontrast perspective? Would this suit that need?
Great lens, have used it with my M2 in the past, love the ergonomics and small form factor. However, the bokeh is dog ugly wide open and very busy especially when having foliage/trees in background. The water lens they call it. If the bokeh was better, I'd buy it over my 35mm summicron ASPH and save myself $1500.
Leica screwmount lenses are cheaper (not an m mount tho, but with a leica or voigtlander adapter it's just as good) and i whould rather have a summitar or an elmar on my M since it gives me the correct framelines. The 40mm f2 is a good lens, but i think that if you are not shooting a CL or a CLE, just don't even bother, but if you really have to use it cause you like it's rendering, you should at least get an external viewfinder for 40mm lenses.
No, the optical design comes from Leitz. It’s based on the v2 & v3 35mm Summicrons of the same era. The Rokkor version uses Minolta glass, and in later production is multicoated, while the Leitz Summicron-C version uses Leitz glass.
David Kieltyka hey so what other lenses would compare to is this. I’m interested you said Minolta made this one. Is there one from Minolta md or a different mount ? I’m looking to adapt something like this to my xt3
If this lens is based on the summicron 40mm, then I'd say, this is the softest leica lens you'll ever get. I am a fan of summicron 40mm don't get me wrong,if anything it's maybe my faveourite lens I have used,but it's not sharp and it's not for every kind of photography.It can get some incredible looking photos with fast films like delta 3200iso that would remind you of pictorialism but it's not clinicaly sharp.
Um what the crap. Don’t buy up the CLE glass for your leicas. You want to buy a Leica you gotta pay the Leica tax.Get a voightlander lens if you’re cheap. The CLE people need these.
It is a Minolta lens, with Minolta glas. IT IS NOT A LEICA LENS! It is a good lens in M-Mount, but not a Leica lens by any means, the original version came withe the Leica / Minolta CL partnership, but the version you are using is a later version which has multicoating and was made available for the CLE which does not have a Leica equivalent.
Leitz lens design, Minolta manufacture. I’ve owned the Leitz Summicron-C, made by Leitz, since the late 1970s and a Rokkor since the mid ‘90s. The build and performance are basically the same.
You really need to retake that footage of yours, because Minolta makes lenses for Leica during that period, not what you have said the other way around, no offence, just let you know.
There are essentially 3 versions of this lens. The sample in the video is the latter Minolta version that included multi-coating. Confirmed by the location of the serial number, which is not on the front of the lens; it was moved to the body of the lens.
The optical design is the same for all versions. But where it was made and lens coating differs depending on which version.
The versions are...
Leitz 40mm f2 Summicron-C, made by Leitz Wetzlar Germany - single coated. Made with/for the Leica CL labeled body.
Minolta 40mm f2 M-Rokkor (some with 'QF' & serial # on the front of the lens), made by Minolta Japan - single coated. Made with/for the Minolta Leitz CL labeled body.
Minolta 40mm f2 M-Rokkor (NO serial # on the front of the lens), made by Minolta Japan - multi coated. Made with/for the Minolta CLE body.
Regardless, all excellent lenses.
This is my favorite lens on a M11.
All my 35 Leica stay in the drawer, even the most expensive !
I got mine new old stock from Japan.
It is razor sharp and the color rendering is beautiful.
It was already my favorite lens in the 80’s on a Minolta CLE.
A real gem.
This isn't Leica glass inside a Minolta. It's the opposite. While Minolta was partnered with Leica they actually made as good or even better lenses/bodies than Leica, which is rumoured to be one of the reasons why Leica abandoned their partnership with Minolta. Minolta was one of *the* best photography brands out there, and it's sad they never got the recognition they deserved because they made glass as good or better than their competition (including Leica)
Minolta made (at the time) the best 35mm f/1.4, 100mm macro that does AF and 1:1, 200mm f/2.8, 500mm f/8. Sad that the A mount is dead.
Shang-Hsien Yang do you mean Minolta? They're the ones who originally made A-Mount glass. I don't remember Leica ever making A mount lenses.
Yes... thanks for pointing out that typo. It was a mistake on my part.
You got a couple of facts wrong. It's not a Leica lens that was rebranded. This lens was made in Japan, by Minolta, in Minolta factories, using Minolta glass and coatings. The optical formula may have originated from Leica, but this lens is a genuine Minolta lens, with Minolta glass.
The previous 40mm with Leica branding for the CL is made in Germany, by Leica but it lacks multi-coating which hardly any manufacturer at the time was doing in house. The exception was Minolta. They produced all the glass and coatings for their own lenses and were contracted by other manufacturers for lens coatings. The Minolta M-Rokkor 40mm is hence a better lens than the Leica 40mm Summicron.
I LOVE this lens! It’s my carry all, go anywhere shoot anything lens. I much prefer it over more expensive Leica glass, not only for its size but versatility and speed. Highly recommended!
I’ve been using this lens, and also the Leitz Summicron-C version (they’re basically the same), on a Sony A7iii via a Techart Pro AF adapter. Works great. The lens has a fairly shallow exit pupil and so doesn’t suffer much if at all from the corner smearing that affects many M mount lenses.
You are one of the very few reviewer that takes good pictures! Super cool channel!
Thank you!!
I get what you mean having a 40mm and having a bit more reach than a 35mm. That being said,I shoot with a slightly longer lens than a 50mm. I shoot a Voigtlander Nokton 58mm f1.4 on my Nikon FM and I personally love the extra 8mm of reach! I just like having a slightly different focal length from the standards. ( I don't know why lol). 58mm over a 50mm and 40mm over a 35mm.
Just subscribed! And I'll be waiting on the Kodak retina review!
Shooting anything longer on an SLR is a little easier to handle since what you see through the finder is your actual frame. I have the Zeiss ZM 35 2.8 and 50 f2 as well as this Minolta 40 and given the M2 and M6 both don't have the 40 framelines it can be a little tricky trying to guess what the outcome may be. With that being said, if you use any gear long enough you will probably get the feel for it and it will end being more of an educated guess at some point.
I have used the 40mm f2 for about 30 years now! Nothing to complain about! Regards Ulf
Its definitely an awesome little lens!
Really cool vibe, informative matched by greatness
Also the Voigtlander 40mm f1.4 M mount is a 21 Century lens, a nice choice too
Love the Defcon beanie!
Haha, Good eye! Unfortunately I lost it when I was overseas a few years ago :(
@@GxAce That's a shame, but c'est la vie. You make Great content btw, love the neuromancer helmet. If I ever bump into you at a future defcon, beers on me 🍻
I'd like to find a Rokkor for my Leica CL (just have a 50mm...), but they are expansive these days! And I have a Rokkor 40mm 1.7 on the Minolta 7sII that I found for 4€ at a garage sale... I really like the qualiy of the lens, its rendering and background blur!
Great pictures, man !! & a cool review. THX
Thank you!
I would like to ask Voigtlander 35mm f / 1.4 and 7artisans 35mm f / 2 for Leica M6 which is better?
Based on experience with that the 35 1.4 it's got some nice contrast but they are not sharp wide open at all, though I would bet it's sharper at f2 than the 7artisans. I am by no means a Leica snob, I'm just not 100% sold on the 7artisans stuff at this point. You seem to get exactly what you pay for, a cheap looking, cheaply built lens. The Voigtlander lens on the other hand is built rather nicely, and the quality control I have to imagine is a lot better.
hello. What would you recommend as en entry price similar price as the Minolta- Some canon LTE 35 mm could be an option ?
It is a great lens. I love the color rendering from this lens on my A7R-III, A6300 or the M10-P.I love the bokeh out from this lens so much. However, the 50mm frame line problem is so annoying as you said.
Its awesome! I actually sold mine a little while ago to pair down on gear, but now I find myself missing it a lot. It's so small and easy to use and is, in my opinion, the best focal length.
Hi GxAce. What ISO used with CineStill 800T in this video 400 or 800 ?
It was 800!
The Leica 90 f4 is the cheapest Leica lens, decent quality all metal it can be found as a Leica Made In Germany or as a Minolta Rokker. Coating peal can be an issue so check out any glass carefully Also the Leica version has a strange filter size.. I got an almost perfect Leica version for just £200 - love it's small size and great images. 😎😎😎
Nice review. What music is playing during the photo montage?
Hey! What adaptor do you use for the x pro2? Thanks
he's come a long way!
Nice. I enjoy the Voigtlander 40mm f2 on my F3, great all around focal length.
Did I see Belle Isle, the GM Rencen & Somerset?
Have you ever tried the Minolta M-Rokkor 28mm?
Really enjoyed your spartans football pic
Hi. Thanks for this upload. I am looking for a leica glass for my x-e3 Fuji. Is it good for monochrome from a microcontrast perspective? Would this suit that need?
Great lens, have used it with my M2 in the past, love the ergonomics and small form factor. However, the bokeh is dog ugly wide open and very busy especially when having foliage/trees in background. The water lens they call it. If the bokeh was better, I'd buy it over my 35mm summicron ASPH and save myself $1500.
Leica screwmount lenses are cheaper (not an m mount tho, but with a leica or voigtlander adapter it's just as good) and i whould rather have a summitar or an elmar on my M since it gives me the correct framelines. The 40mm f2 is a good lens, but i think that if you are not shooting a CL or a CLE, just don't even bother, but if you really have to use it cause you like it's rendering, you should at least get an external viewfinder for 40mm lenses.
It is a Minolta lens, rebranded "Leica".
Actually it's a Minolta rebranded into Leica, but hey who really cares :P
Michael I would love to see proof of this! I’m quite interested.
No, the optical design comes from Leitz. It’s based on the v2 & v3 35mm Summicrons of the same era. The Rokkor version uses Minolta glass, and in later production is multicoated, while the Leitz Summicron-C version uses Leitz glass.
David Kieltyka hey so what other lenses would compare to is this. I’m interested you said Minolta made this one. Is there one from Minolta md or a different mount ? I’m looking to adapt something like this to my xt3
Johnson George Walker Kimberly Gonzalez Matthew
If this lens is based on the summicron 40mm, then I'd say, this is the softest leica lens you'll ever get.
I am a fan of summicron 40mm don't get me wrong,if anything it's maybe my faveourite lens I have used,but it's not sharp and it's not for every kind of photography.It can get some incredible looking photos with fast films like delta 3200iso that would remind you of pictorialism but it's not clinicaly sharp.
Vocal fry.
Deep fried.
🤙🏽
:)
Um what the crap. Don’t buy up the CLE glass for your leicas. You want to buy a Leica you gotta pay the Leica tax.Get a voightlander lens if you’re cheap. The CLE people need these.
Lul wut?
It is a Minolta lens, with Minolta glas. IT IS NOT A LEICA LENS! It is a good lens in M-Mount, but not a Leica lens by any means, the original version came withe the Leica / Minolta CL partnership, but the version you are using is a later version which has multicoating and was made available for the CLE which does not have a Leica equivalent.
Leitz lens design, Minolta manufacture. I’ve owned the Leitz Summicron-C, made by Leitz, since the late 1970s and a Rokkor since the mid ‘90s. The build and performance are basically the same.
You really need to retake that footage of yours, because Minolta makes lenses for Leica during that period, not what you have said the other way around, no offence, just let you know.