Artizlab Revives a Leica Classic for Just $400
Artizlab has announced the Classic-M 1:1.4/50mm, a new 50mm prime lens that emulates the character and appearance of the classic Leica Summilux 50mm f/1.4 (E43) lens.
A vintage Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 E43 lens can fetch a pretty penny on the used market, easily costing thousands for ones in decent condition. Artizlab, like some competing companies on the market these days, hopes to capture the look and feel of a classic Leica lens in a package with a significantly more palatable price point. In this case, $399.
Like Leica’s classic lens, the Artizlab Classic-M 50mm f/1.4 is compact and lightweight. Although built from aluminum and brass, the lens weighs just 189 grams (6.67 ounces) and doesn’t obscure a rangefinder. It is 51.8 millimeters (just over two inches) long and accepts 43mm filters.
Speaking of rangefinders, the lens has standard rangefinder coupling and can focus down to 0.7 meters (2.3 feet). However, with live view or when adapted to non-rangefinder cameras, the lens can focus as close as 0.45 meters (1.48 feet). This is a manual focus lens, as expected.
Artizlab notes that thanks to its closer minimum focusing distance, its new lens is “more than a faithful recreation” of a beloved vintage Leica.
“The classic is now closer than ever,” Artizlab says.
As for its optical performance, the lens includes seven elements in five groups and a 12-bladed aperture. The original Leica E43 has the same layout, but image quality and rendering are about more than just the number of elements and their placement inside a barrel.
“There’s a reason photographers have chased vintage Leica glass for decades — a certain warmth to the tones, a softness to the transitions, a way of rendering light that feels less clinical and more alive,” Artizlab explains. “We tuned the Artizlab Classic-M 50mm f/1.4 toward that same character: natural color rendition, gentle highlight roll-off, and smooth, creamy bokeh from the 12-blade diaphragm.”
Photographers shouldn’t expect extreme sharpness or resolution here, Artizlab warns. This lens is “not about being the sharpest” on a test chart. “It’s about the feeling in the photograph.”
Sample Photos
Pricing and Availability
For those who want that vintage-inspired look and Leica aesthetics without the Leica price tag, the Artizlab Classic-M 1:1.4/50mm is another option in an increasingly crowded market. At just $399, it’s a relatively affordable way for modern photographers to experiment with a different type of lens, one that certainly doesn’t conform to modern standards.
The Artizlab Classic-M 50mm f/1.4 lens comes in black and silver colorways and is currently sold out. It should be back in stock shortly.
Image creditsArtizlab
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