Light Lens Lab APO aims to outperform $9,500 Leica lens at fraction of its price
Light Lens Lab has been best known for reproducing retro lenses and offering them at a relatively affordable price. Now, however, the manufacturer is replicating Leica’s best current 35 mm f/2 lens, namely the APO-Summicron-M 2/35 ASPH. Aside from the smooth surface of the focus ring, the design of the barrel was copied directly from the Leica lens.
However, while the Leica APO-Summicron is only available in black, Light Lens Lab also offers a silver version as well as a limited edition made of titanium. The optical design was apparently not directly adopted from Leica, as Light Lens Lab uses eleven lenses in six groups – one more lens than the original. Just like the original, the replica features apochromatic correction and is equipped with four aspherical lens surfaces. The minimum focus distance is also 0.3 meters.
As the manufacturer’s sample photos show, no purple fringing is visible even along edges with extremely high contrast. The bokeh isn’t quite as smooth as Leica’s, but according to Light Lens Lab’s MTF curves, the replica is actually sharper than the original. However, it remains to be seen whether the manufacturer can meet the planned manufacturing tolerances and actually deliver this level of sharpness.
Pricing and availability
Pre-orders for the Light Lens Lab 35 mm f/2 APO lens will open on August 10. The version with a smooth focus ring will ship starting in late September. A version with a knurled focus ring will follow in December. According to LeicaRumors, the aluminum version in silver or black costs $2,000, while the manufacturer is expected to price the limited-edition titanium version at $2,300.
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