Are there any third party lens that replicate the Steel Rim well?

[mottykytu]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I know that Leica Steel Rim Reissued has been made well by Leica, but the cost is still very high

The LLL 35 1.4 project have been stopped for a very long time (seem like they drop the project)

any alternative 3rd party lens that replicate the 35mm Steel Rim well?

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[Simone_DF]

Voigtlander Nokton 35mm 1.4 V II, available in single and multi coated versions or Funleader Aritzlab 35mm f/1.4 Classic

[mottykytu]

3 minutes ago, Simone_DF said:

Voigtlander Nokton 35mm 1.4 V II, available in single and multi coated versions or Funleader Aritzlab 35mm f/1.4 Classic

The voigtlander Nokton is a great small 35mm 1.4 for a cheap price, but I think it render quite different from the Steel Rim, isn't it ?

[luigi bertolotti]

Why not looking for a classic used Summilux (not steel rim...) ? they are not difficult to find, nor too costly and can be very well CLA'ed if necessary. Steel rim (both reissue and old originals) are mainly collectibles, while thinking of 3rd party means that you look for a user lens : with a "standard" Lux you have a fine user item which also will keep a value.

Edited Saturday at 12:15 PM by luigi bertolotti

[TomB_tx]

1 hour ago, Simone_DF said:

Voigtlander Nokton 35mm 1.4 V II, available in single and multi coated versions or Funleader Aritzlab 35mm f/1.4 Classic

I've used the Nokton since it came out and agree it's a winner. Never had a steel-rim so I can't compare.

The Funleader Aritzlab I bought sure looked like the old Summilux, but the RF calibration was so far off it was unusable without live view. I sent it to DAG to calibrate and he said it was not designed or built to allow calibration, so be wary of QC.

[mottykytu]

1 hour ago, TomB_tx said:

I've used the Nokton since it came out and agree it's a winner. Never had a steel-rim so I can't compare.

The Funleader Aritzlab I bought sure looked like the old Summilux, but the RF calibration was so far off it was unusable without live view. I sent it to DAG to calibrate and he said it was not designed or built to allow calibration, so be wary of QC.

I remember u said DAG can Calibrate your LLL , but they cannot with the Aritzlab ?

Did you use the SC or MC Nokton ?

[mottykytu]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

1 hour ago, luigi bertolotti said:

Why not looking for a classic used Summilux (not steel rim...) ? they are not difficult to find, nor too costly and can be very well CLA'ed if necessary. Steel rim (both reissue and old originals) are mainly collectibles, while thinking of 3rd party means that you look for a user lens : with a "standard" Lux you have a fine user item which also will keep a value.

The V2 Summilux is still at very high price while the Rendering is completely different from the steel-Rim (which I'm looking for)

It also have a strange flare , especially when shoot directly to the light source or Night light bulb

[FrozenInTime]

3 hours ago, mottykytu said:

The voigtlander Nokton is a great small 35mm 1.4 for a cheap price, but I think it render quite different from the Steel Rim, isn't it ?

See https://www.jogeier.com/blog/leica-summilux-1-4-35mm-steel-rim-vs-voigtlander-nokton-1-4-35mm-quick-review/ 

 

[evikne]

3 hours ago, mottykytu said:

The voigtlander Nokton is a great small 35mm 1.4 for a cheap price, but I think it render quite different from the Steel Rim, isn't it ?

See the difference between SC and MC at the bottom of this page: https://www.voigtlaender.de/lenses/vm/35-mm-11-4-nokton-classic/?lang=en

[mottykytu]

39 minutes ago, FrozenInTime said:

See https://www.jogeier.com/blog/leica-summilux-1-4-35mm-steel-rim-vs-voigtlander-nokton-1-4-35mm-quick-review/ 

 

Actually I see quite a lot different at Wide Open , Surely when stopped down they will look very similar at F5.6 or F8 may be

Edited Saturday at 02:54 PM by mottykytu

[Simone_DF]

20 minutes ago, mottykytu said:

Actually I see quite a lot different at Wide Open , Surely when stopped down they will look very similar at F5.6 or F8 may be

I got the Nokton but not the SR, but from all the 1:1 comparisons I’ve seen online, the only differences I can see is that the SR has more glow and less vignetting. 
What other differences do you see, if I may ask? I’m curious now

[Derbyshire Man]

I've had the Summilux 35mm Pre-asph v2 (so steel rim optically but no steel rim and available to mortals) and the Nokton 1.4, it's not a patch on the summilux, it's reminiscent but seems to have worse focus shift that the original somehow. I think possibly as the V2 is set up to be slightly back focussed at f1.4 and it just works.

[TomB_tx]

1 hour ago, mottykytu said:

I remember u said DAG can Calibrate your LLL , but they cannot with the Aritzlab ?

Did you use the SC or MC Nokton ?

That's right - I sent both to DAG at the same time. He just stated the Aritzlab wasn't designed to allow calibration, but didn't explain why. Could be it uses glue to lock the parts in place, or it just relies on machined tolerances for focus accuracy and has no adjustment.

I've only used MC Noktons.

[mottykytu]

2 hours ago, evikne said:

See the difference between SC and MC at the bottom of this page: https://www.voigtlaender.de/lenses/vm/35-mm-11-4-nokton-classic/?lang=en

Seem like the SC go closer to the origin Steel Rim, but still not That Close

[mottykytu]

1 hour ago, Simone_DF said:

I got the Nokton but not the SR, but from all the 1:1 comparisons I’ve seen online, the only differences I can see is that the SR has more glow and less vignetting. 
What other differences do you see, if I may ask? I’m curious now

You know what make Leica Leica ? Yes, the glow, even before Digital ERA when what make Leica is only depend on lens not the Sensor, the Glow make Leica its name

BTW it is also different the way the lens rendering the object, of the link above you can easily tell @f/1.4 which is the vintage lens and which is the modern lens. When stopped down I must admit they are very simmilar

From the compression of the swirl Bokeh, the glow, the contrast, the Highlight, the color different (see how the green different in below pictures)... 

Both are at F/1.4 , now tell me, which is vintage Steel Rim and which is modern Voigt Nokton in 10 second, can you ?

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

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

Edited Saturday at 05:10 PM by mottykytu

[sinjun]

3 hours ago, mottykytu said:

The V2 Summilux is still at very high price while the Rendering is completely different from the steel-Rim (which I'm looking for)

What makes you think that the rendering of the version 2 Summliux pre-asph is completely different from that of the steel rim? It's not what I have heard.

[LocalHero1953]

1 hour ago, mottykytu said:

You know what make Leica Leica ? Yes, the glow, even before Digital ERA when what make Leica is only depend on lens not the Sensor, the Glow make Leica its name

You're looking at history from the PoV of 2025. When these old lenses were released, no one wanted 'glow'. It was seen as a defect because the glass quality allowed highlights to bleed into darker areas (abetted by the film emulsion). It's only now that we have what is pejoratively described as 'clinical' lenses and digital sensors which don't do this that people look at old lenses with romantic longing.

FTAOD I'm not averse to romantic longings - I have the Summilux 35 v2, the Summaron 3.5cm f/2.8 and Summitar 50. But I also have my quota of APOs and ASPHs.

Edited Saturday at 06:19 PM by LocalHero1953

[mottykytu]

22 minutes ago, sinjun said:

What makes you think that the rendering of the version 2 Summliux pre-asph is completely different from that of the steel rim? It's not what I have heard.

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1822132/

 

Read here, Owners of 3 lens did compare the 3 : Orginal Steel Rim, Reissue and the V2 Summilux

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[mottykytu]

14 minutes ago, LocalHero1953 said:

You're looking at history from the PoV of 2025. When these old lenses were released, no one valued 'glow'. It was seen as a defect because the glass quality allowed highlights to bleed into darker areas (abetted by the film emulsion). It's only now that we have what is pejoratively described as 'clinical' lenses and digital sensors which don't do this that people look at old lenses with romantic longing.

FTAOD I'm not averse to romantic longings - I have the Summilux 35 v2, the Summaron 3.5cm f/2.8 and Summitar 50. But I also have my quota of APOs and ASPHs.

Leica has been praised for their optical for so long, and the glow has always been there until the ASPH. So I think it is more of their signature rather than Technology Limitation. And their glow also has different look and feel than cheaper Competitor !

It is not until 2025 people praise Leica glow but decades ago.

 

The point is : if we spent that much for vintage, Leica character look, we must ask for those signature character, otherwise we can always buy a Voiglander APO and have better technical IQ than any pre ASPH Summicron for sure.

Edited Saturday at 06:23 PM by mottykytu

[jaapv]

6 minutes ago, mottykytu said:

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1822132/

 

Read here, Owners of 3 lens did compare the 3 : Orginal Steel Rim, Reissue and the V2 Summilux

To me, assuming any difference in one's photographs based on this amounts to ultra-geekery.