Light Lens Lab Elcan 50mm f2 Review

[shirubadanieru]

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And lastly, some at f8 and f11

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[BradS]

really lovely. Thanks for sharing.

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[shirubadanieru]

Just for a comparison, here's the Elcan (left) VS the summicron 6elements 35mm V2 (right) that's been repainted. Their design / size is pretty much the same! Really tiny lens!

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[pippy]

Well; I've been having a bit of a look around for the LLL ELCAN and if tracking-down the 8 Element in the UK wasn't easy(*) trying to find an ELCAN in England is akin to the search for Rocking-Horse Manure. I've also had a look at the SH Cameras website and it appears that both B-Paint and S-Chrome versions are out of stock.

Looking at the price of the 8 Element it might well be the case that, even allowing for duties and taxes, importing the LLL ELCAN with hood + filter directly from SH Cameras will be financially worthwhile in comparison with waiting to see what the asking price will be here in the UK once production re-starts - always assuming it will(!).

At least this imposed 'pause' will give me a bit more time to think things through...

Philip.

* I only saw two advertised anywhere; one on the 'Bay and the other from a London dealership.

Edited January 12, 2022 by pippy

[shirubadanieru]

7 hours ago, pippy said:

Well; I've been having a bit of a look around for the LLL ELCAN and if tracking-down the 8 Element in the UK wasn't easy(*) trying to find an ELCAN in England is akin to the search for Rocking-Horse Manure. I've also had a look at the SH Cameras website and it appears that both B-Paint and S-Chrome versions are out of stock.

Looking at the price of the 8 Element it might well be the case that, even allowing for duties and taxes, importing the LLL ELCAN with hood + filter directly from SH Cameras will be financially worthwhile in comparison with waiting to see what the asking price will be here in the UK once production re-starts - always assuming it will(!).

At least this imposed 'pause' will give me a bit more time to think things through...

Philip.

* I only saw two advertised anywhere; one on the 'Bay and the other from a London dealership.

I got mine from 9days.hk you can reach out to them on instagram & they ship worldwide

[pippy]

1 minute ago, shirubadanieru said:

I got mine from 9days.hk you can reach out to them on instagram & they ship worldwide

Ah! Only problem is I don't / won't 'do' Instagram...thanks for the thought, though!

I still have to give the thing some more consideration anyhow and I'm not in a rush. If it is to be then it will be. If not? No worries; I still have a few different 50s to keep me entertained.

Philip.

[shirubadanieru]

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16 minutes ago, pippy said:

Ah! Only problem is I don't / won't 'do' Instagram...thanks for the thought, though!

I still have to give the thing some more consideration anyhow and I'm not in a rush. If it is to be then it will be. If not? No worries; I still have a few different 50s to keep me entertained.

Philip.

They have a site / email too although you wont see the lens listed there you can drop them an email

[shirubadanieru]

@pippy (or anyone else) I just got contact from Light Lens Lab that they have a black paint Elcan 50mm ready (M mount), unfortunately I had already purchased the silver Elcan, so I will be cancelling it unless someone is interested in purchasing. These lenses will be extremely hard to get outside of Hong Kong / China for a while, so if you are interested, please contact me via Email by Jan 20 End of Day and we can communicate with Light Lens Lab directly to have the PayPal sent to you and the lens shipped to your address. 

Edited January 19, 2022 by shirubadanieru

[tsleica]

Got my LLL Elcan a couple of weeks ago.

Stellar lens indeed!

Aside from the fact that they ditched the sapphire for plastic red dot...

It really hits the mark.

I like the aperture "backwards" as the thumb can move it more quickly by pushing to the right F stop vs pulling it..just faster and more ergonomic.

[shirubadanieru]

58 minutes ago, tsleica said:

Got my LLL Elcan a couple of weeks ago.

Stellar lens indeed!

Aside from the fact that they ditched the sapphire for plastic red dot...

It really hits the mark.

I like the aperture "backwards" as the thumb can move it more quickly by pushing to the right F stop vs pulling it..just faster and more ergonomic.

Yeah after further using it, I actually prefer this to the 8e remake, as I feel it has a very unique rendering unlike the Summicron 50, while being half of the size. The only flaw I've found is that chromatic aberration sometimes is quite pronounced in some situations. 

[tsleica]

Quote

Yeah after further using it, I actually prefer this to the 8e remake, as I feel it has a very unique rendering unlike the Summicron 50, while being half of the size. The only flaw I've found is that chromatic aberration sometimes is quite pronounced in some situations.

It is just a good feelin' lens...glad they duped it..

Nothing fancy..just a fun to use and good lens..

If you need to have the "Best" in town..get the apo..

But sometimes..the prettiest gal on the block..

Is not the best.. for you..

 

Edited January 31, 2022 by tsleica

[Peter Zapp]

 

[shirubadanieru]

Rigid 50mm Summicron VS Elcan 50mm 

Both shot at f2 and at 1m. Interesting that the color / sharpness / pop is fairly similar, but the bokeh shape is very different (Elcan is rounder)

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[shirubadanieru]

And for size difference between both lenses, here you go! 

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[pippy]

I do still like the idea of the ELCAN; especially the compact size. It will be interesting to see if LLL continue to manufacture them and if any appear here in the UK as, cost-wise, import duties / taxes add a very hefty percentage on top of the initial purchase price.

Out of interest, Shirubadanieru, do you find the 'wrong-way' aperture ring slightly confusing or awkward in 'real-life' shooting?

Philip.

[shirubadanieru]

14 minutes ago, pippy said:

I do still like the idea of the ELCAN; especially the compact size. It will be interesting to see if LLL continue to manufacture them and if any appear here in the UK as, cost-wise, import duties / taxes add a very hefty percentage on top of the initial purchase price.

Out of interest, Shirubadanieru, do you find the 'wrong-way' aperture ring slightly confusing or awkward in 'real-life' shooting?

Philip.

If it turns in the 'right' way, it would obviously make more sense, but not a big deal. I used to have Nikon ltm lenses which also turn on the opposite way, so just a matter of getting used to it. I do like the lever & I think that lever makes it easier to get used to somehow. 

Rendering wise I do find the rigid being the closest summicron to the elcan with a very different bokeh. 

[tsleica]

Pushing the aperture ring to stop down..w/thumb..

Is a lot nicer then having to pull it..

So it is actually a better design..

And if you have to pull it w/thumb to open wider..the tab is in a better position to actually do this.

LLL is right on the money with this lens..even if a total rip off..

I dont think this will be very popular lens though..as on spec..it doesnt add up..

But in usage..its a lil cracker of a lens..

Basically what Leica should have been doing all along..making small lenses that were good enough..

Instead of the monstrously expensive ASPH lenses..for shooting brick walls and counting pixels..

And way more weight and not a lot of character..or fun..to them..

But that doesnt sell to rich people..

Edited February 20, 2022 by tsleica

[pippy]

2 hours ago, tsleica said:

...LLL is right on the money with this lens..even if a total rip off...

Whilst I am in near-total agreement with practically all you wrote in your post #57, tsleica, I don't understand how you can consider the LLL ELCAN to be even overpriced never mind a 'total rip-off'. When all the circumstances - and there are a great many nigh-on unique facets to its existence in this day of mass-produced offerings - surrounding its genesis and creation are taken into consideration I actually think that, if anything, it's underpriced. It really is rather a special thing in its own little way.

The only ones I can see advertised at the moment are from an outlet in Thailand (if anyone has more links please feel free to post!) and price-wise they work out at being near-as-dammit £700. To put this into perspective this is £150 less expensive than - for example - the only 50mm f2 currently offered by Voigtlander and sits roughly in the middle of the majority of that company's comprehensive 50mm range.

I very much doubt that the lens will ever be offered on the 'New' market here in the UK which is, IMO, a great pity.

Philip.

[tsleica]

No..

Its a great deal at discount..which is what I got from my dealer...if you want the connection..PM me..

The rip off part comes..from LLL... rippin off Leicas designs..

 

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[shirubadanieru]

49 minutes ago, tsleica said:

No..

Its a great deal at discount..which is what I got from my dealer...if you want the connection..PM me..

The rip off part comes..from LLL... rippin off Leicas designs..

 

ahaha well they are not protected by any laws, and anyone is free to use them. I think LLL are doing this out of 'love' (and business of course, otherwise it would make no sense to do it), as they truly are focusing on doing the remakes as close as possible to the original thing, while slightly changing the measurement of the glass to ensure no 'new glass' end up being fitted into the old original lenses. 

I did wish Leica just focused on releasing more of these remakes rather than every year launching heavier and bigger lenses : p in the meantime, LLL is the best option out there.