I did it... Leica 35mm Steel Rim Reissue Review (pre ASPH Summilux F1.4 ft. Leica MP)

[@Nerdzombiedisco]

The reissue, to my eyes, lost a bit of magic. Your older version renders so much intangible goodness. More dreamlike. I've seen enough, so I don't need another video for comparison. I appreciate your videos. Subscribed. Cheers!

[@jeremy-t]

Yes.. Indeed a lot of that glow is gone.. Glad you enjoyed it! :)

[@Fjalll]

I found the round hood for the V2 Summilux isn't too bad. I've put a small black rubber band in the groove where the hood clamps on to, preventing it from rotating. You can then put the tabs at the 12 and 6 o'clock positions to avoid it getting in the way. I think the square hood meant for the Summicron 35mm asph is doing a better job for flare anyway, although without any filter.

[@jeremy-t]

Oh man, wish I heard from you sooner... 😅 Thanks I'll try to find a rubber band that fits! I have the square hood on the ASPH summicron, it doesn't quite fit on the pre-asph Summilux sadly.

[@inpictured]

@@jeremy-t did you have any issues with backfocusing with this lens? I bought the new steel rim (11301) 2 days ago and it focuses too far throughout all distances and all apertures. I have few cameras and few lenses and it’s definitely this lens fault. I know I should send it back but it’s so annoying.

[@damium5]

Thank you very much for this video!!

[@jeremy-t]

You're welcome~ 🙂

[@lugentaubner6853]

What interest me most is how the reissue compares to the v2 in point of focus shift. Thanks!

[@jeremy-t]

Focus shift, got it! :)

[@prestigio1313]

Hi Jeremy, first of all, I like your review.👍 I took my Steel Rim copy personally to Leica Customer Service in Wetzlar. The wobbling of the aperture ring is due to the design and cannot be completely eliminated. If it were, it would no longer be possible to move the aperture blades. This is due to the old design and is intended as a "reminiscence" of the old lens. Of course, it´s up to you what you think about the last argument.🙄 How ever, there is no reason to send in the lens because there is nothing to repair. Greetings from Germany Luv

[@jeremy-t]

Hey Luv. I see! Haha! Great reason… but anyway wow! You saved me a ~3 month wait from here in Singapore. Thanks for the heads up!!

[@prestigio1313]

Wobble-Update Hi Jeremy, I couldn't get comfortable with the reminiscence thing. So I had my lens at Customer Service again. This time they got it right, no more wobble at all. So, if you don't want to reminessce for the feeling of the original Steel Rim... Greetings Luv

[@jeremy-t]

@@prestigio1313 wow that’s awesome news!! Thank you!!

[@stephthemolerat]

Love the photos!! ❤

[@KeeeeenW]

I recently visited the Leica shop in New York and they told me that Leica had a QC issue with the steel rim reissue which are now fixed. They expect to get more shipment next month (04/2023).

[@jeremy-t]

That’s great news!!

[@peterpiao6124]

I have exactly the same issues with my reissue. The aperture ring isn't tight and infinity lock engage mechanism isn't pleasant. Personally I think Leica has QA issues or simply design issues. I hope they will do something to address these issues. But besides all the issues, it renders beautifully. Really enjoy your channel, I was surprised that you are using exact some lens and cameras lol. I have a Canadian version from 1983 (I bought it from someone from Midland, Ontario ! I live in Ontario). I did some comparison on my M9 and film MP. Reissue improves contrast a bit from my 1983 copy noticeably but not a lot (even my 1983 copy has cleaning marks on the front element). I have tried Color Plus 200 using the reissue at F1.4 - 2.2 it definitely produces more contrast. For digital image from M9, 1983 copy has slight yellow cast (due to age and coating ... scratch) and reissue definitely renders better (a lot more controlled). Glow is a little more controlled for me (not a lot, just a little more to be noticed). I'm glad that the glow is the same and everything just has a little more control from my 1983 copy. I have been using this lens for more than 10 years. Please give us your comparison and your story on the lens back to Germany. I will send my copy to Germany as well before the warranty expires. Summilux spherical represent Leica design small , light weight, versatile. Really love this lens. Hope to your more of your videos !

[@jeremy-t]

Really hope they're able to fix it too.. So far I've been enjoying it too! Will definitely put out an update when I've sent it in...Great to hear you've been liking it on colour and digital.. I haven't yet tried in colour.. Really looking forward to it!

[@FrankDavalos]

I don't know if this was already commented... but did you learn more about the filter/hood debaucle? I know with my 35mm ASPH V5, I could only use the hood with a Leica filter, not a B+W filter -- I wonder if it's the same thing here?

[@jeremy-t]

Hey Frank! So far I’ve only heard that Leica is in the midst of producing a new hood that solves this problem. I also haven’t manage to find a filter that works with the ollux hood!

[@swcblad]

yes the leica filter is thinner.

[@wilfredshum3703]

Thanks for the video. I don’t think I will pay top money for this reissue version since I already have enough vintage lenses. However, I would like to see your comparison between the two versions in digital color photography.

[@jeremy-t]

You got it!! Thanks Wilfred! :)

[@iH1gH]

Great video! It would good for the purpose of the comparison video to maybe show a couple of colour film images side by side, you mentioned your thoughts on how it performs in colour in this one so if you could show a couple of examples that would be great!

[@jeremy-t]

Thank you! :) Colour pictures.. you got it!

[@charlesmason58]

Just and FYI. I have a friend who is pretty inventive. He bent a piece of paper clip to connect the tab on the hood to the tab on the f/stop on his 35mm/1.4 pre asph lens. He even sent the idea to Leica, who ignored the homemade remedy. Now, he simply rotates the hood to change f/stops. Pretty cool, really. Very un-Leica though!

[@jeremy-t]

Wow.. That's really clever.. Can't wait to try it out!

[@choctoby6418]

Great video and can't wait for the next one. I think it would be interesting to see how each lens handles backlight. Just subscribed. Keep it up!

[@jeremy-t]

Backlight.. Got it! Awesome, thank you!

[@MoghulVeyron]

Do you prefer the Ollux lens hood or the circular? Also it’s normal for the lens to get less smooth towards infinity lock, it’s also like a little pre warning

[@jeremy-t]

Definitely the Ollux (cosmetically).. It's just too iconic! Thanks for the info!

[@howardko]

Do you always use the hood with the reissue? Is there a noticeable difference in image quality/contrast?

[@jeremy-t]

Yes I do, it helps flare slightly, but I use hoods mainly to protect the front from physical damage!

[@Dr_Pessimisto]

Another excellent video! Thank You! Jeremy, from Your experience, which 35 has the most similar character to 50 summicron v4? I have CV Nokton 35, 1.4 V2 MC. But at 1.4 it looks like loosing a lot of details/resolution. And the glow during daylight sometimes is too much for me.

[@jeremy-t]

Thank you!! That's a great question.. The 50mm v4 cron is a unique one.. The closest thing that comes to mind is the LLL 8 ele 35mm clone.. Nothing from Voigtlander really does a similar thing.. The 35 f1.5 is really modern, and the F2 is much more "clinical" and technically proficient.. Even the Zeiss 35mm F2 biogon might be similar in terms of tones (colours, contrast etc), but the background blur characteristic is completely different. But yeah, check out the LLL 8 ele! :)

[@perfectly_boring]

curious about the contrast difference between the two. I got the reissue because I was looking for a lower contrast lens for BW, but I think leica might have updated the coatings to be too modern

[@jeremy-t]

Yes, the steel rim reissue does have a higher contrast than the vintage piece! In the comparison pictures at the end of the video you can see that, especially in the blacks. A full video on this will be out soon!

[@perfectly_boring]

@@jeremy-t Yeah I noticed that, and it's surprising to me they wouldn't maintain that aspect, as it seems like the main selling point of the lens (to me at least). I guess I'll have to sell my reissue and get the original. I am not a fan of the glowing effect on color anyway with the reissue, so the updated coatings gives me no benefit

[@emmanueltsI5]

My God, what is going on with Leica QC.. Thx for the video. Have fun with the lens! PS: leicarumors mentioned that Leica will revise the hood design and try to fix the filter compatibility issue.. Let's see :)

[@jeremy-t]

Oh man thats great to know! Hopefully they'll come up with a solution! :)

[@algranoconPablo]

Do you know if there is a Voigtlander that does this effect? I already have the FLE and I dont want to have 2 summilux

[@jeremy-t]

Not really. You can check out the MS optics 35/36mm, its closer to the pre-A and does that "vintage lens" thing.. Alternatively the LLL 35mm 8E is a great option too - probably the closest non Leica lens to the SR reissue (at F2)

[@FlorianEgger-ex1ny]

what do you think about the Nokton 1.4? appearantly it should be quite close to the pre asph?

[@jeremy-t]

Hello! I find the nokton to be a very different lens, it has more barrel disrortion, the background blur characteristic is smoother and overall gives a different image :)

[@FlorianEgger-ex1ny]

@@jeremy-t thanks for you answer! im currently looking into getting a softer more vintage looking 35mm lens for my analog black and white photography, but i dont really want to spend more than 1k on that lens :D

[@jeremy-t]

Check out the LLL 35mm 8E clone! I’ve been using that for the past few months to form an opinion on it.. Long story short, it’s amazing. It renders somewhere between the vintage pre-A and the SR Reissues. Slightly less glow than the vintage piece, not as much contrast as the SR. In terms of character and rendering, definitely from the same “vintage Leica” family.

[@FlorianEgger-ex1ny]

@@jeremy-t oh yeah i thought about that but since i already have and love the ultron for my m10r i was kinda looking for something with that extra stop of light and a bit of a glow 🙈😁

[@mitismee]

can i use this re issue with a diffusion filter ( 20% diffusion ) to match the glow on the vintage one ? or that would be too much glow ?

[@jeremy-t]

That’s a good question! Something to test..

[@mitismee]

yeah that would be cool if you can get a diffusion filter and snap it on the re issue version to see if the Glow effect is matching the classic one, maybe do a video on Pov shooting with that as well@@jeremy-t

[@riswanc]

Thanks jeremy for the introduction, i got my copy too, while i dont use hood very much, so it’s oke .. the wobbly happened because leica intentionally wanna make a real replica experience with the original steel rim? I thought i read a reply somewhere in the forum lol but don’t quote me on that..

[@jeremy-t]

Wow that’s the first time I’m hearing that… haha!

[@DanielCaiMedia]

Kinda wish they extended close focus to 0.65m like the old goggled version (ironically for the M3). I was disappointed by that upon release, so I ended up modding my pre-asph V2 to 0.7m close focus myself. Also gonna make a steel rim style threaded front ring. Also I second Fjalll's suggestion of the rubber band in the groove. I personally use dental bands but black bands would look better. I'll need to find myself some.

[@jeremy-t]

Oh man! How did you mod it?? Please teach me! haha! And I'd love to be able to have threads on my v2 too..

[@DanielCaiMedia]

@@jeremy-t Essentially I've removed the close focus hard stop from the lens to allow it to focus closer than 1m. Conveniently, part of the rangefinder cam helicoid jams into the lens block helicoid's follower at around 0.7m close focus, which could act as a makeshift hard stop. I plan to reinstall the original hard stop but at 0.7m, mainly to prevent putting extra stress on the helicoid follower (would be very bad if it breaks off). If you file down the helicoid follower or the helicoid a bit (doesn't affect function, might affect strength), you could probably reach 0.65m or closer. As for the steel rim style threaded front ring, I plan to get a few machined, which I'll then get finished in steel and/or black. I'll also make the models/drawings available for anyone that wants them. The front ring (for my lens at least) pops off with 3 grub screws. I do wanna note that these grub screws all over the lens seem very fragile. The previous owner of this one stripped a few of them and I had to drill them out and retap the holes.

[@jeremy-t]

Just saw this… That sounds amazing! Filter threads would be great….. You sound really experienced.. Man.. If you sold the parts + tools required to replace that front ring, along with a simple video with some instructions.. I’m sure many, many people (myself included) would deeply appreciate it, and I’ll be your first customer!!! 😁 I’d love to learn how to replace that front section, but I don’t know anything about working with lenses!

[@DanielCaiMedia]

@@jeremy-t I plan to make the front ring part available to purchase and installation will be as simple as unscrewing/screwing 3 small screws. Still working out what filter size to do, vignetting limitations, and whether to retain hood compatibility. By the way, what's a good way to directly contact you? I have messaged you on your Instagram but it seemed inactive hahaha

[@DanielCaiMedia]

@@jeremy-t Also, I have posted my close focus mod to Rangefinder Forums, L-Camera-Forum, and the /r/Leica subreddit, if you wanna take a look. Some users on RFF have also shared some interesting oddities, like a late Summilux that focuses to 0.75m from the factory!

[@yuriishevchenko9843]

Is the ollux hood can fit to old version lux?

[@jeremy-t]

Hello! No it can't, it clips into the steel rim of the new one!

[@StuartWeir]

Might be dumb but… where do you get the rotary machine for the Jobo? 😂

[@jeremy-t]

Hey Stuart! Link in the video description :)

[@swcblad]

the old ollux hood is very expensive.

[@jeremy-t]

Yes it is!

[@DecentGatsby]

Never liked the Infinity lock. Why? Just have a hard stop. That feature was left in the 60’s for a reason-no one liked it.

[@jeremy-t]

Yes… I wish there was some way to disable it!

[@ariebood9238]

I have watched your review two times, simply because it is the third in a few months, I heard of serious quality issues of brand new Leica equipment. For me it is a clear sign, the company needs to introduce some Japanse management. The marketing department of Leica likes to show us, fantastic videos of clean rooms, where each product is passing a "final control" . Nothing wrong with that, but how is it possible, brand new M11 cameras are electronically "dead", a rangefinder of an MA is not adjusted and machined parts, not fullfilling tight tolerances and specifications are assembled by skilled technicians, knowing what they are doing, is wrong ? I hate to say it, but it seems, the management of Leica has insufficient control over the company.

[@jeremy-t]

Wow… I haven’t heard of all those other things happening.. Yes I do hope things turn around!!