Jump to content
🇩🇪 Neu: Leica SL3 Reporter ×
🇺🇸🇬🇧 New: Leica SL3 Reporter ×

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

mottykytu

By mottykytu
in Leica M Lenses

 Share

Recommended Posts

mottykytu

mottykytu

Posted
Posted

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?

Link to post
Share on other sites
  • Replies 61
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Posts

pippy
pippy

Here is a schematic diagram which shows the optical design of the Summilux v1;

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!

  Here, by way of contrast, is a schematic diagram which shows the optic
Vanillasludge
Vanillasludge

Some history and a probably unpopular opinion: I’ve been shooting Leica’s since “back in the day” (The 70’s) and I can tell you that before the internet, we did not want “glow”. In the late

costa43
costa43

You say strange flare, the 35mm Summilux pre-ASPH says hold my 🍺

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!

Posted Images

mottykytu

mottykytu

Posted
  • Author
Posted
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 ?

Link to post
Share on other sites
luigi bertolotti

luigi bertolotti

Posted
Posted (edited)

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 by luigi bertolotti
  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites
TomB_tx

TomB_tx

Posted
Posted
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.

  • Like 2
Link to post
Share on other sites
mottykytu

mottykytu

Posted
  • Author
Posted
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 ?

Link to post
Share on other sites
mottykytu

mottykytu

Posted
  • Author
Posted

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

Link to post
Share on other sites
Simone_DF

Simone_DF

Posted
Posted
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

Link to post
Share on other sites
Derbyshire Man

Derbyshire Man

Posted
Posted

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.

Link to post
Share on other sites
TomB_tx

TomB_tx

Posted
Posted
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.

Link to post
Share on other sites
mottykytu

mottykytu

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)
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 by mottykytu
  • Like 2
Link to post
Share on other sites
sinjun

sinjun

Posted
Posted
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.

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites
LocalHero1953

LocalHero1953

Posted
Posted (edited)
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 by LocalHero1953
  • Like 2
Link to post
Share on other sites
mottykytu

mottykytu

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)
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 by mottykytu
Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...