The Light Lens Lab 50mm f2 Cooke Speed Panchro Replica recreates a legendary cinema lens from the early 1900s in Leica M mount. The original Cooke Speed Panchro lenses are known for a "Cooke Look:" warm color tone and gentle barrel distortion / vignetting combined with smooth focus transitions. Available in a range of different focal lengths, the Cooke Speed Panchro lenses established themselves as some of the premier optics for cinema work, especially for portraiture. Speed Panchro lenses are often found today as full sets re-housed in modern cinema barrels. 

Still photographers also appreciated the character of the Speed Panchro lenses, and original conversions to Leica M mount can be found -- for many thousands of dollars. As in the case of their other re-creations, Light Lens Lab's 50mm f2 Cooke Speed Panchro Replica seeks to bring the unique imaging qualities of this rare lens to a much wider audience. While the copy we tested was an early prototype, we were impressed with its distinct character. This is not a lens for every subject, but the glowing band of highlight flare that rings the center of the image presents unique creative opportunities. We look forward to Light Lens Lab's announcement of production copies of this lens. 

Shot wide open, the Light Lens Lab 50mm f2 Elcan replica comes into its own. Subjects are separated dramatically from the background, and the high center sharpness provides detail for the eye to rest on. Bokeh quality is unique: the LLL 50mm f2 renders softly defined, very circular orbs that provide a delicate look without the field curvature "swirl" seen in so many vintage lenses at max aperture. Overall, the LLL 50mm f2 Elcan is a very capable optic that offers an especially dimensional character with its center-weighted sharpness and smooth bokeh, as seen in this portrait of staff member Jackson.

The extreme rarity of KE-7A cameras and 50mm f2 Elcan lenses puts them firmly out of reach for all but the most connected Leica collectors, which is part of why we were so excited to see this Light Lens Lab recreation. The original 50mm f2 Elcan has a very distinct set of optical qualities deriving from its unique construction. The high refractive index of the Lanthanum glass gives the Elcan excellent center sharpness, but the 4-element construction limits corner resolution compared with the 6-element Summicron. This combination of high contrast and detail in the center with less corrected edges lends the original Leitz Elcan a "3-D" pop when shot wide open. 

The LLL 50mm f2 Elcan replica achieves impressive optical performance, especially considering its relatively simple 4-element "Ultra-Astigmat" design. Stopped down, it produces sharp and contrasty images, with the corners remaining less highly resolved than the center. Color is punchy, with a slightly warm cast apparent from the lens coatings. Flare resistance is generally good, but shooting into the sun can provoke dramatic rainbow ghosting. 

Like the Lens Light Lab 8-Element Summicron, the 50mm f2 Elcan replica is full brass and is exceptionally well built and finished. The Elcan exudes quality, with a beautifully damped focusing ring that adjusts easily with the large brass tab. A square "Bart Simpson" tab on the aperture ring adjusts the aperture, which moves in the opposite direction as on other Leica lenses. This can take some getting used to for regular Leica users -- apparently the aperture scale was reversed to match the aperture direction of the Nikon lenses also used by the US Navy. 

The Light Lens Lab 50mm f2 Elcan is the second Leitz replica optic created by the Chinese lens maker, following their successful recreation of the 35mm f2 8-Element Summicron. This LLL 50mm f2 is a rebuild of the Leitz 50mm f2 Elcan, an extremely rare lens that Leitz Canada produced for a US Military contract in the 1970s.

Delivered as a set with a special version of the Leica M4 under the designation KE-7A, the 50mm f2 Elcan was designed by famed German optician Dr. Walter Mandler. The performance of the contemporary Leitz 50mm f2 Summicron lens exceeded the requirements of the military contract, so Mandler designed the Elcan as a less expensive replacement. Essentially a simplified Summicron, the Elcan is constructed with 4 optical elements in 4 groups, as opposed to the 6-element Summicron. The elements in the Elcan are all air-spaced (not cemented) to improve durability and impact resistance.

Leitz was able to achieve the optical performance necessary with fewer lens elements by using special LaK9 glass containing Lanthanum, a radioactive element with exceptional optical properties. Fewer elements also allowed Leitz to shorten the barrel of the lens considerably compared with the Summicron. In total, Leitz Canada delivered 500 KE-7A kits containing 50mm f2 Elcan lenses.

Summer is Leica season. Here at Blue Moon we have an excellent selection of new and used Leica M and M39 lenses to help capture your long-light adventures. Take a look at our inventory on our site, or give us a call - we always have something new and exciting in the world of Leica optics.