LLL got competition

[agfa100]

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Another shot with the ArtraLab 35mm f 1.4 this time shot at f 2.0 @iso of 10,000 with my A7s.

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[sinjun]

I've had the opportunity to test the Peace Lens 35mm Summilux steel rim copy against a Leca 35mm Summilux pre-asph titanium. The latter has been cleaned and adjusted fairly recently so I have no reason to believe that it is anything other than a good copy. Here are my main observations:

(1) The Peace lens rangefinder coupling is optimised for around f2 - 2.8 so at f1.4 it front focuses a bit, and at f4 is starts to back focus a little but the subject remains within the zone of focus. This calibration seems to minimize overall focus shift but requires you to adjust  for the front focus if you are using apertures wider than f2 - 2.8. Compared with this, the Leica is optimised for f1.4, but this means that by f4 there is quite a lot of back focus. I’m happier with the Peace lens optimisation but can cope with either.

(2) The peace lens has more glow than the Leica lens. This was expected -  I knew this already from reviews on Youtube. Overall I would prefer less, but I can live with it. It actually is mainly a problem when image elements are saturated, e.g. around lights.

(3) I found the Peace lens actually to be a little sharper than the Leica at f1.4 and short distances.

(4) At infinity and at smaller apertures (e.g. f8) the Leica is sharper at the edges but less sharp in the centre than the Peace. This is in part due to field curvature in my copy of the Leica whereby the centre comes into focus before the infinity stop, while the edges continue to sharpen as you turn towards infinity. Regarding field curvature, the Peace lens focuses closer at the edges of the frame whereas the Leica has a flatter field at shorter distances, but the shape of the Leica focus field becomes more complex but markedly outward curving at longer distances, unlike that of the Peace lens.

(5) The lens physically seems to be an amazingly good copy of the original steel rim, and, in my opinion, aesthetically nicer than Leica’s reissue. 

Jimmy Cheng also tested the Peace against a Leica pre-asph titanium - well worth checking out on Youtube -  and seemed to find a lower overall contrast with the Peace lens, which I don't see in my comparison.

Here is an example of a test scene shot at f1.4. First is Leica, then Peace. 100% crops to follow. Careully focussed with EVF and shot with M10-d. Focus on the robot's teeth. Images are all as shot with no contrast or other adjustments. Exposure was the same for both lenses.

 

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Edited June 12 by sinjun

[sinjun]

Now 100% crops - Leica followed by Peace.

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Edited June 12 by sinjun

[sinjun]

Now same test but at f2. Leica followed by Peace again.

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[Vanillasludge]

I had an Asanuma that looked like this back in the 70’s.  I guess I should have kept it for it’s magical glow….

[budrichard]

Just received the new silver Artizlab 35mm f1.4

Supposedly different than the former black version.

Outside of the focus lock, its very well done.

Shot my roof at f8 and the focus is on and the picture is very good/

Have to shoot it in low light to see the f1.4 performance.

More to come.

BTW Had to dumb down the roof pic to get it to load.

-Richard

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Edited August 25 by budrichard

[sdk]

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Another reason not to use lead glass types in lens production is the cost of disposing of the "grout" or waste shards and dust containing lead. These would be hazardous waste, at least to most advanced industrial nations which have improved safety since the 1970s (thought the EPA and OSHA regulators in the USA are being neutered now, which will cause future harms to people and the environment here). While China has a history of ignoring environmental, health & safety hazards in the recent past, they are slowly improving regulations now that they realized carelessness leads to health problems. There is likely no safe level of lead exposure. You want it to be undetectable or close to that in water and air at home and at work. 

[Graslund]

On 6/12/2025 at 11:00 PM, sinjun said:

I've had the opportunity to test the Peace Lens 35mm Summilux steel rim copy against a Leca 35mm Summilux pre-asph titanium. The latter has been cleaned and adjusted fairly recently so I have no reason to believe that it is anything other than a good copy. Here are my main observations:

(1) The Peace lens rangefinder coupling is optimised for around f2 - 2.8 so at f1.4 it front focuses a bit, and at f4 is starts to back focus a little but the subject remains within the zone of focus. This calibration seems to minimize overall focus shift but requires you to adjust  for the front focus if you are using apertures wider than f2 - 2.8. Compared with this, the Leica is optimised for f1.4, but this means that by f4 there is quite a lot of back focus. I’m happier with the Peace lens optimisation but can cope with either.

(2) The peace lens has more glow than the Leica lens. This was expected -  I knew this already from reviews on Youtube. Overall I would prefer less, but I can live with it. It actually is mainly a problem when image elements are saturated, e.g. around lights.

(3) I found the Peace lens actually to be a little sharper than the Leica at f1.4 and short distances.

(4) At infinity and at smaller apertures (e.g. f8) the Leica is sharper at the edges but less sharp in the centre than the Peace. This is in part due to field curvature in my copy of the Leica whereby the centre comes into focus before the infinity stop, while the edges continue to sharpen as you turn towards infinity. Regarding field curvature, the Peace lens focuses closer at the edges of the frame whereas the Leica has a flatter field at shorter distances, but the shape of the Leica focus field becomes more complex but markedly outward curving at longer distances, unlike that of the Peace lens.

(5) The lens physically seems to be an amazingly good copy of the original steel rim, and, in my opinion, aesthetically nicer than Leica’s reissue. 

Jimmy Cheng also tested the Peace against a Leica pre-asph titanium - well worth checking out on Youtube -  and seemed to find a lower overall contrast with the Peace lens, which I don't see in my comparison.

Here is an example of a test scene shot at f1.4. First is Leica, then Peace. 100% crops to follow. Careully focussed with EVF and shot with M10-d. Focus on the robot's teeth. Images are all as shot with no contrast or other adjustments. Exposure was the same for both lenses.

 

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Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Great summary! 
i also purchased a Peace lens of couple of months ago and used it daylily.

I'm more for a 50mm generally speaking, but I really enjoyed this lens and its character. The glow can be a bit too much depending on the situation and the lighting, but form the most I like this much more the Nokton 35mm v2 S.C or the Nokton 40 S.C. Haven’t tried the Artizlabz yet so can’t speak of it.

Unfortunately in the beginning of August the lens broke and needed a service.

it was possible to move passed the 0.7m mark and needed to go back to Peace lens lab. No problem, the seller that I purchased it from was very quick and replied with a solution.

it will be gone for 6-7 weeks which of course sucks, but it’s a small production team and it’s still quicker then sending a lens to Leica

I had almost the same thing happen to my LLL 35mm HCB Version too and that took way longer to solve. Bought it from a seller outside LLL which could have explain things, but I bought the Peace lens on the very same premise.