Mandler 50 mm f/1.4 Pre-ASPH mimics Leica Summilux for the equivalent of $280
Mandler is a relatively young optics company from China that has made it its mission to copy older, but still highly sought-after, Leica lenses and to offer these copies at a significantly lower price than the originals. The manufacturer’s latest lens is a copy of the Leica Summilux-M 50 mm f/1.4 Pre-ASPH., specifically the third version of the lens from 1992.
This is ironic for a company named Mandler, since the manufacturer isn’t copying the older lens developed by Walter Mandler, but rather the version designed by Peter Karbe. The lens looks almost indistinguishable from the original Leica model, although the Mandler version is slightly thicker, and the black version features yellow lettering instead of red. Like the Leica version, the lens uses 46-millimeter filters and an optical design consisting of seven elements in five groups.
As Mandler’s MTF curves show, the lens isn’t particularly sharp at wide-open aperture, fine details are barely rendered, especially at the edges of the frame. Even at f/5.6, the lens can’t keep up with more modern alternatives. The lens is primarily designed to emulate the look of the original Leica, giving photos a charming retro look and soft bokeh, which makes the lens particularly well-suited for portraits. The lens is 55 millimeters long with a diameter of 53 millimeters, making it slightly longer and thicker than its Leica counterpart. In return, the Mandler lens can focus closer at a minimum focus distance of 0.5 meters.
Pricing and availability
The Mandler 50 mm f/1.4 Pre-ASPH full-frame lens is set to hit the market "soon." The black version, which is made of aluminum and weighs 150 grams, costs ¥1,888 ($280). The manufacturer lists the price for the silver version, made of copper and weighing about 200 grams, at ¥2,688 ($399). The lens is available with either a Leica M-mount or an M39 screw mount, but can be used on most mirrorless system cameras with an adapter.
Source(s)
Mandler, via LeicaRumors
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