Review: Light Lens Lab ELCAN 50mm f/2 replica
Light Lens Lab (LLL) caused quite the ruckus last year and they’re at it again in 2021 with the release of the Light Lens Lab Elcan 50mm f/2 replica. Leave it to the Middle Kingdom to reproduce the legendary ELCAN lens that accompanied the ultra rare military-spec Leica KE-7A. Like the previous Summicron v1 replica, this one took some time to trickle out to buyers but it’s finally here. If you’ve always wanted an ELCAN but don’t exploit labor and circumvent morals enough to be able to drop $30k on the set, then this lens could be for you.
ELCAN Background History
Noob Leica snobs will be quick to scoff at anything not made in Wetzlar, let alone the Great White North, eh? But the fact of the matter is Ernst Leitz Canada a.k.a ELCAN was/is good enough for military contracts and still exists today in the form of Raytheon ELCAN.
With the Cold War and drama in Europe in full swing after the end of WWII, manufacturing Leicas abroad became a goal and would open the export market. After much mulling the logistical choice came down to Midland, Ontario. Initially started as an assembling plant, Midland evolved into manufacturing as well after 3 years. Not only did they deal with mechanical designs they also established an optics design department after getting “on loan” from Wetzlar a little someone called Dr. Walter Mandler.
He never went back to Wetzlar and Dr. Mandler was key in establishing Midland as one of the foremost lens design departments in the world. If that name rings a bell, he also designed the legendary 50mm f/1 Noctilux, the landmark Summicron-M 50 mm/2.0, among many many others. It’s like getting Diego Maradona on loan and he decides to stay with your team. In fact the design department became so successful that most Leica lenses from that time were designed in Midland, not Wetzlar.
This prowess would catch the attention of non-civilian entities and ELC became the lens maker of choice for the US Defense Department and Naval Air Systems Command. According to Erwin Puts, Mandler found passion in the military side projects since he “found in the designs for the military and in the ELCAN lenses he could explore more exciting optical limits.” And thus the fervor over ELCAN military lenses exploded. Especially for the ELCAN 50mm f/2 that was paired with the Leica KE-7A made for the U.S military in the 70’s. Apparently only around 500 were produced.
The original ELCAN 50mm f/2 lens uses infrared-absorbing glass made with lanthanum, a radioactive element that helps achieve an exceptionally high refractive index for heat control in making the optics. Also the 50mm ELCAN lens was designed and manufactured to withstand a blast using special gaskets, which helped absorb the shock of an explosion.
For much more detailed history on Midland, check out this excellent post from the Leica Barnack Berek Blog. And hard core geekery with MTF curves and calcium fluoride content can be found at this LHSA viewfinder article here.
All that being said, it is remarkably doubtful that the LLL ELCAN is a faithful replica of its robustness amplifying features and rather just a copy of the lens design.
Light Lens Lab ELCAN 50mm f/2 replica Tech Specs
- For Leica M-mount, M39-mount version will also be available for an extra charge and it will include an adapter
- Weight: 200-235g depending on finish
- Dimensions: 36mm width, 51mm length
- Filter thread: 39mm (e39)
- Design: 4 elements in 4 groups, Ultra-Astigmat design
- Full brass body (except for the titanium version)
- Available in chrome, black paint, black paint with brassing, safari, bare brass, and titanium finishes
- Scheduled to be released in late October/November
- The pricing will start from around $1,500 and will go over $2,000 for the titanium version
Light Lens Lab ELCAN 50mm f/2 replica Build Quality & Ergonomics
The LLL ELCAN certainly doesn’t look out of place on a Leica M body. The finish looks nice and the machining of the barrel is clean and precise and the aperture rings clicks satisfyingly. It doesn’t come with a hood however the lens filter thread is a standard e39 so you’ll be able to use your existing ones as well ND filters and what not.
Made in China proudly engraved
There is one caveat if you’re familiar with the ELCAN is that the aperture ring goes in the opposite way of traditional Leica lenses. Looking down at the lens, the apertures are f16-f2 from left to right, where as usually its f2-f16 from left to right. Also, instead of a ridged ring the aperture ring has a smaller “nubbin” placed on top for ease of use with gloves.
Leica Summicron 50mm v4 vs. LLL ELCAN
Light Lens Lab ELCAN Sample Images (Digital)
The following are examples of the LLL ELCAN mounted with an adaptor to a Sony 7R.
Light Lens Lab ELCAN Sample Images (Film)
The following are examples of the LLL ELCAN on a Leica M6, Agfachrome CTx 100 and scanned on a Plustek Opticfilm 8200i.
LLL ELCAN vs. Leica Summicron v4
The following is a quick look at both lenses wide open at f2. Can you take a guess which was shot with what lens?
1A
1B
2A
2B
3A
3B
Results
qƐ ‘ɐᄅ ‘qƖ ǝɹǝʍ uoɹɔᴉɯɯnS ǝɥʇ puɐ ɐƐ ‘qᄅ ‘ɐƖ ǝɹǝʍ N∀Ɔ˥Ǝ ˥˥˥ ǝɥ┴
Final Thoughts
The Light Lens Lab ELCAN 50mm f/2 replica comparison versus the Leica Summicron 50mm v4 is applicable because they are roughly in the same price point. A decent user condition ‘Cron should set you back a grand a half or a bit more and personally makes a better choice if you don’t have a 50 and were in the market for one. But if you must have a taste of history, albeit a replica, the LLL ELCAN is a decent performer.
Again, it is rather delusional to think LLL matched the robustness of the OG ELCAN, and thus its cool military street cred. But the simple ultra-astigmat design gives pleasing results that has its fans and it is slightly smaller and lighter than a ‘Cron.
Cheaper Chinese knock-offs will always have its haters. Personally, I think a chance to have an affordable obscure option as a user is a boon. I use my 7Artisans 35mm f2 often; it’s sub-$300 and has the Sonnar look, which I adore. So if you LOVE the ELCAN and don’t have 30 grand, LLL has a pragmatic derivative. The ELCAN is quintessential Mandler. If you can’t have an original Picasso, ain’t no shame in hanging a print you love in your living room.
MN
You are honest to write : made in China proudly engraved…
As you know I don’t buy anything from this place.
From all free countries I can buy : from a dictature we use incomes to build more and more weapons : let you to finance
By the way, here very hard purple/magenta colours which is typical of this proudly made
what an ignorant thing to write. Do you think LLL is sending any money to the government?
“ignorant” needs a mirror effect!
The economic power of country is the result of her economic activities: when you buy many goods from Dutch you make economic power of Dutch stronger, the same for Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany, France, Australia or USA, or any other country. After, we can have a look what this country does. If this is spreading of pandemic made in lab, torture/kill people who believe, exploite workers, be number one for pollution, make many dangerous weapons (is it for peace), taken sea and lands who are not belong to them, raped a tennis player and make her disappear, bully Australia, … … if they don’t send an envelop directly to the party, all the sales made by this country are the economic power, and personally I care what they do with. Considering quality is often not good, workers are paid low, so they make big margins, and when I see the behaviours of this country under this dangerous president, sorry I don’t buy good from them, especially replica, because they only copy, … Leica likely has already stopped is funny cooperation with Huawei. What Leica does there ? So what is “ignorant” ?
So true but they don’t see it that way. They never will.
I say to be short : when I buy a thing I care really about what I buy.
Why people buy cameras hunt by Bellamy despite there is a cost? Because he hunts the cameras. You can find cheap cameras on their Chinese neighbours, there are many markets where you can find also copies of Leica, … but, mostly after a while, it was cheaper but it stops to work.
Secondly, I really like the author reviews, I read often some of his top reviews, but it is not because I really love the review of someone that I have to swallow all.
I give you only one example of many you can find every day, read well about how they are : https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20211120-protests-cast-spotlight-on-chinese-factories-in-serbia
here this is workers from VietNam one of my favorite country who protest against the incredible conditions in a Chinese factory in Serbia … a nightmare, poor people.
For me to know really from who we buy precisely it is the opposite to be ignorant.
Oh I forget.
they are great in commerce because they sold to you 1500 $ something which is factory cost nearly 150 $ (I am nice). Why all the biggest brands produce there despite prices have increased because they can produce cheap and this is the problem : it kills our own industries.
Thank you.
Yesss the true Alcan is crazy expensive and not so magic for the price: But we can afford it or not, … this is the game, do you want a copy of Rolls Royce to show off?
Clearly worse than the Elcan.
Not at all. If Michael Nguyen had tricked you and flipped the images you would have said the same
I normally like what he does. Nobody is perfect. It can happen to test a lens without no interest.