Light Lens Lab 50mm f2 "Elcan" Review: This Is A Stunning Piece Of Craftsmanship!

[@lilytoh5404]

I have the original ELCAN 2inch F2 and I must say it’s a unique and fantastic lens. It’s very sharp with beautiful rendering of its bokeh and colour.

[@btonelli]

Would love to try yours one time!

[@duncaninvest]

thank you very much for sharing your views ... waiting for my copy to arrive, and to test it out 🙂

[@btonelli]

Thanks for watching. Enjoy!

[@mattelim]

“Splitting hair while looking at my beard” - I heard it here first. We certainly do need you to continue to do so for our benefit. Cheers!

[@btonelli]

Hahaha yes 😊

[@Russianspyonyou]

Thanks for the review! Glad to see you are doing well

[@btonelli]

Thanks for watching. Yes all is good 😊

[@brooksilg]

Great thorough review! Could you share an update on how this lens performed on film?

[@btonelli]

Thank you. This lens was designed more for film in my opinion since the 8 element was of that era, so the images have a nice dreamy feel to them wide open with decent sharpness

[@KingGameReview]

If I didn't already have a Summicron, I'd pick this up. I did preorder the Speed Panchro II, though. I can't wait for it to get here (says they're starting shipping in April). So hyped! I'm really impressed with what this company is making.

[@LukePrice-c2y]

I'm REALLY considering this lens.. thank you for the detailed review. This certainly has the small sizing and the classic rendering with the harder edged bokeh.. but i shoot GFX100 and I'm wondering how the vignetting is full sensor... I'm happy with the vignetting on my Voigtlander 50 1.5ii nokton as it's not smeary at all, also the 35 summicron asph is fine with just a correctable vignette no smearing... just wondering if anyone has tried this on their full sensor GFX? was it clean ?

[@btonelli]

Thanks for watching. I’ve tried it on the GFX, crop to 35mm for no vignetting. Also the lens is not designed to resolve 100mp so the images will be soft

[@LukePrice-c2y]

@@btonelli yup I've been doing research and it seems the 35 summicron asph is the better choice for full coverage... might get the Elcan one day though when I perhaps have an SL3 :)

[@kennethbradley]

Thanks for taking time to review this! If you were given the choice, would you choose this or the Voigtlander Nokton Classic 50mm 1.5 II?

[@btonelli]

Thanks for watching. Optics wise I would choose this

[@crispin8888]

Thank you for the video, as always, and the comprehensive opinions. I agree that the Summicron rigid is very nice (on film). And, after using so many lens over so many years, character overrules sharpness.

[@btonelli]

Thanks for watching. Yes the Rigid is definitely an impressive lens even after all these years

[@RenierVanNiekerk]

The aperture going the opposite direction was part of the design specification of the original the military requested that it turn the same direction as their Nikon gear

[@btonelli]

Gotcha. Thanks for the info

[@Visions_in_Toyko]

i just borrowed one of these off a friend, and the only thing that i really dont like after my first use is the position of the aperture ring tab, i find that i have to use my right hand to move the tab which is counter intuitive, I am going to gtest it out on my m3 and see what the images look like before i decide whether its worth getting

[@btonelli]

it’s something that takes some time to get used to.

[@Visions_in_Toyko]

@@btonelli I decided to grab a dual range instead. It just feels so good paired with the m3

[@btonelli]

@@Visions_in_Toyko congrats. The lens is made for the M3

[@skaterat321]

Good review! You have such an underrated channel!

[@btonelli]

Thank you! Appreciate the support

[@downtofun]

Thanks for the review!

[@btonelli]

Thanks for watching!

[@ChangLiuPhotography]

I have this lens and love it! need to use it more after watching your video! thanks for the review!

[@btonelli]

Thank you for the kind words and thanks for watching

[@wayneyung1262]

LLL lens is really well built, ONLY ONE thing I complaint is the final workmanship on this lens. If you take a closer look on the screws, I never see one in perfect shape. Hope LLL can pay attention to it.

[@btonelli]

I didn’t notice that with the copy I reviewed. Will keep a look out

[@Stealther]

@Bobby Did you perhaps get the photos mixed up at 2:40?

[@btonelli]

Hi. No I didn’t. What brought you to the conclusion?

[@Stealther]

@@btonelli look at the bokeh in the F4 shot compared with the 2.8

[@Stealther]

@@btonelli do you see what I'm talking about?

[@btonelli]

@@Stealther I don’t unfortunately. You are the only comment I’ve gotten on this

[@Stealther]

@@btonelli Surprising that you don’t see it. Your 2.0 photo looks correctly labeled while in your 2.8 photo your ears are more in focus and the bokeh is smaller than in the photo you labeled f/4.0. This clearly indicated they are mislabeled. Not a big deal, people make mistakes in editing all the time but if you don’t see it then it hurts your credibility as a reviewer, doesn’t it?

[@robertstacy8438]

I have owned this lens for about a week; it is really well made. Can't deny that it is a major step up from their 35mm f2, and that was also pretty impressive as a 3rd party. The focus tab is counter intuitive, but is faithful to the original design - however, I think it would have been ok to not be so ardent about it. Optically it is pretty excellent - can't diss it - it is a classic render. I can't comment on how it compares to the original but I am not unhappy - I have a 50mm APO and I think the LLL is a nice creative option for a specific look. My biggest issue that I have encountered is that the IROOH hood that I have for the 35mm just doesn't mount properly on this lens. I honestly find it iffy with their 35mm as well - nevertheless, livable for now. I think Light Lens Lab's greatest contribution is two fold - one is that it is giving enthusiasts without a massive budget to use some classic designs, as those older Leica lenses are just unobtainable for most people. The second thing they are doing, hopefully at least, is getting other 3rd party manufacturers to up their design game. The one which I hope takes the most note is Zeiss, which optically does make a beautiful family of lenses, but for the life of me I cannot figure out their resistance to a Leica style focus tab. It is easy to dismiss LLL as a cheap knock off and categorize it as just another 7 Artisans or TT Artisans clone. And not innovative. etc., This is simply not the case, and to simply it on those terms is most often given by those who have never touched these lenses. There is something special going on here and I look forward to see what comes next.

[@btonelli]

Agree 💯. The lens hood fit well for me but I really needed to push in the tabs to fit it on. I feel the original Leica hood is slightly better but at a premium. Yes many will discount LLL like you said but I think in time there will be a following that will be like what MS Optics gained originally. Hopefully they can maintain the build quality and optics going forward

[@cesarebonazza]

What adapter did you use with the R5 ? Great review thx

[@btonelli]

Thanks. K&F concept

[@pastel6714]

so good. Is the result similar to the 50mm summicron 1st lens?

[@btonelli]

Very similar

[@calvinchann1996]

Ultimate question. Will you buy it? No idea when these will get to Europe.

[@btonelli]

It’s very tempting 😊

[@ccoppola82]

Nice review. I don’t need any other lenses but this one and the new 50 1.5 heliar from voigtlander are tempting to me for a classic look.

[@btonelli]

Thanks for watching. I actually like this more than the 1.5 which I tested this against but didn’t put it in the video due to time.

[@ccoppola82]

@@btonelli oh you tried the heliar? Interesting. All I see is samples online and I’m on the fence. I love classic lenses but it seems to be walking the line of TOO MUCH character.

[@btonelli]

@@ccoppola82 yes will be doing a review on it soon. Wide open it’s difficult to nail focus, and the image is quite soft. Stopped down it sharpens up like most lenses. Bokeh is unique. I like to but not for everyone especially if someone likes a more modern look

[@MGraslund]

Thanks for a great review! Not many out there yet and this lens will probably sell well, as did their 8-element 35mm. I been really looking for this type of a lens for a couple of years while shooting Leica. I mostly shoot film and been missing a small/fast focusing and somewhat fast 50mm. The “newer” Leica 50mm Summarit f2.5/f2.4 was never a real option based on the close focus at 0.8m and at that price point I can live with the lager size of the Summicron or why not the Nokton f1.5. The very same goes at the serious overpriced (Voigtlander 50mm f2.5 color skopar which is followed by a bunch of faulty “facts” regarding built materials) My main problem with this particular lens is that the original Leica lens is a collectors item and while this might not be priced at that price point, it’s still a premium priced lens coming in at between 1500-over 2000$ depending on the version. I do get that this is a special lens and that’s also a part of why I want it… but not the main reason. Unfortunately I don’t think that I can justify a purchase purely based on that, which is a bit sad…Got too many special 50s already. In theory though, this lens should outperform the original lens depending on the lighting situation, based on a more modern coating (I guess anyways). They really should make a copy of the original lens hood too though. …then I have to buy one.

[@btonelli]

Thanks for the kind words Karl. Yes the price is definitely premium depending on the market. Because LLL doesn’t have a web store or main outlet dealers can charge what they want which makes the prices fluctuate greatly. Also because they don’t make many it commands a premium. As far as optics from what I understand they wanted to replicate the 50 Elcan as close as possible and from what I understand that’s even matching the lens coating etc. as I see it, they don’t have the branding of a Voigtlander, but in terms of build quality LLL is equal to Leica in my humble opinion which is no small feat for a smaller lens manufacturer.

[@johnkanjian3479]

The original version of the aperture ring is counterclockwise,This is reproduced according to the original design without any changes, Lightlenslab elcan 50mm I have two lens

[@btonelli]

Thanks for this. How do you find the Elcan vs the LLL?

[@geoffreyinniss6036]

Which adapter did you use on the R5

[@btonelli]

K and F concept

[@geoffreyinniss6036]

@@btonelli Thanks

[@capturing_reality]

Nice review- what do you reckon - trade-in my Voigtlander 50APO for this?

[@btonelli]

Thanks. Hmm depends if you like the rendering and the way it operates. The 50 APO is a good lens, I would prob keep it

[@capturing_reality]

I do love the rendering on the APO. Thank you for the considered response 🙏🏾

[@btonelli]

@@capturing_reality no prob

[@CharlesTay]

Great video

[@btonelli]

Thanks Charles!

[@CharlesTay]

After watching, I drop by riceball and got the lens ;-)

[@btonelli]

Enjoy it!

[@anthonymiller8979]

Nice alternative to a Ver 3 or 4 Summicron. Half the price of a used Cron and half the size too.

[@btonelli]

Yes indeed

[@anthonymiller8979]

Been enjoying mine and could even see it as my only 50mm. The odd aperture ring is not an issue for me as I usually look at a scene and decide what aperture I want before bring the camera to my eye so it is easy to set. I adjust speed with the camera to my eye, not aperture.

[@alansmith5534]

Hi guy! The real elcan aperture ring also moves the opposite way from the other Leica lenses. I think they did that on purpose, but it's still a little bit weird.

[@btonelli]

Yeah it’s odd but perhaps some reasoning why we don’t know haha

[@directedbydon]

@@btonelli it is a replica of the 50mm elcan on the ke-7a. It moves in the opposite direction. I’m guessing for military purposes? Maybe the rifle was in the other hand.

[@anthonymiller8979]

The Leica 50mm f1.5 Summarit also has an aperture ring reversed from what we consider "normal"

[@jpoconnor5744]

One story is that the aperture direction was reversed from the direction normally used by Leica to match the Nikon direction since the military also used a lot of their equipment.

[@jeremykeller211]

For LLL to refer to its lenses as Elcan or Summicron is probably legally actionable. You can be certain that Wetzlar lawyers are watching.

[@btonelli]

They don’t call them by these names. But they are homage lenses and reference them in design inspiration when you read the manual or go to their site.

[@cerclerouge3679]

Elcan is out of copyright apparently

[@pnk4444]

yeah what about the quality control ? the lens has focus issue at least on my M11 , disappointed that you and others never have updated info on this , it is known . ugh

[@btonelli]

I didn’t experience any quality control issues with the piece I had. Other users I know that purchased it said the same. Also Light Lens Lab discontinued the lens after a short run so I’m not sure how an updated video would help?

[@senshanxiaodao]

China No.1

[@kevin-parratt-artist]

The word "China" will never be seen anywhere near any Leica of mine. 😡

[@btonelli]

Missing out on some good lenses that cost a premium or very hard to come by from Leica

[@magiccarpetrider4594]

I bought a quite a few leica bodies and many, many leica lenses in Hong Kong.