Since bursting onto the images scene from seemingly nowhere, Thypoch instantly made waves within the images neighborhood by difficult Leica‘s legendary lenses for construct high quality and optical capabilities – however aiming to take action at a fraction of Leica’s hefty costs.
The primary two lenses from Thypoch in its Simera vary are twin wide-aperture prime lenses – the Simera 28mm f/1.4 and Simera 35mm f/1.4 lenses. So the vary is pretty restricted proper now, however as Thypoch has rapidly launched the Eureka 50mm lens, in addition to increasing the Simera lenses to most different lens mounts, we is perhaps on the cusp of much more lenses from Thypoch within the coming months.
It is fairly clear simply how impressed by Leica’s lenses Thypoch is, because the Simera lenses borrow quite a lot of design queues from Leica, though there’s sufficient new right here that they can not simply be dismissed as low-cost knockoffs.
So let’s have a look and see if the Simera lens can compete, or if Leica’s explicit magic is simply too exhausting to mimic.
(Picture credit score: Gareth Bevan / Digital Digicam World)
Thypoch Simera 35mm f/1.4: Specs
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Lens Mount
Leica M (additionally accessible in Sony E, Nikon Z, Canon RF, Fujifilm X)
Most Aperture
f/1.4
Minimal Aperture
f/16
Angle of View
64°
Minimal Focus Distance
1.3′ / 0.4 m
Optical Design
9 Parts in 5 Teams
Diaphragm Blades
14
Focus
Guide Focus
Filter Measurement
49 mm
Measurement
2.1 x 2″ / 54 x 50.8 mm
Weight
11.5 oz / 325.5 g
Thypoch Simera 35mm f/1.4 ASPH: Value
When in comparison with any Leica alternate options, the Thypoch Simera 35mm affords wonderful worth for cash and is priced very competitively with handbook focus lenses from different producers. Though excluding a number of corporations like Voitlander, there should not many lenses that fairly have the identical really feel and construct high quality because the Simera. And even coming near Leica’s costly lenses when it comes to high quality, makes it a gorgeous possibility for photographers on the lookout for a high-performing prime lens with out breaking the financial institution.
Thypoch Simera 35mm f/1.4: Design & Dealing with
The Simera 35mm lens boasts a glossy, all-metal physique in both all-black or a two-tone silver model. The physique is product of an aluminum alloy, fairly than brass like some Leica lenses, or the newer Thypoch Eureka lens. However this steel development exudes sturdiness and a premium really feel that feels prefer it belongs to a lens that ought to value considerably extra.
That is no light-weight polycarbonate lens, however regardless of the premium steel supplies, the lens nonetheless manages to be comparatively compact and light-weight, making it a wonderful companion for road and journey images, and weightier merchandise are par for the course with Leica cameras and lenses.
The main focus ring is easy and well-damped, making handbook focusing straightforward and exact, and it feels important to remind everybody that it is a handbook focus-only lens (for a handbook focus-only digicam). The main focus ring has raised and textured bumps, that not solely do aesthetically look very good but additionally assist with discovering and gripping the ring.
(Picture credit score: Gareth Bevan / Digital Digicam World)
The one factor I don’t actually like in regards to the focus mechanism is the infinity lock swap. It is a little catch that locks the main focus in infinity, nevertheless, I discover it is vitally hardly ever needed to do this, and actually, it slows down focusing in key moments as I saved discovering myself struggling to launch the catch. The main focus rocker on Leica lenses is a lot simpler to make use of, and I’m glad to see that for the non-M variations of this lens, Thypoch has used that design, though alas the present M-mount Simera continues to be made with the infinity lock swap.
Shifting on to certainly one of my favourite design prospers I’ve seen on a lens in a very long time – the depth of area indicator. It is a collection of dots on the lens which might be stuffed in with a pink background to point the space from the lens that will probably be in focus relying on the aperture used. It is perhaps a kind of options that must be seen to actually respect, however it’s only a fantastic flourish that I actually love about this lens.
(Picture credit score: Gareth Bevan / Digital Digicam World)
Thypoch Simera 35mm f/1.4: Efficiency
By way of picture high quality, the Simera 35mm lens stunned me lots. It delivers sharp, crisp photographs with minimal distortion. The lens handles chromatic aberrations nicely, and the colour replica is correct.
As with all handbook focus lenses, it’s usually exhausting to tell apart if the lens shouldn’t be sharp or if I’ve missed focus, however on the entire, heart sharpness was typically excellent, with the lens capturing some stunning element, particularly shut up. In direction of the perimeters, the lens was a bit of delicate extensive open, though this is not solely surprising, and the perimeters did sharpen up significantly because the aperture was narrowed.
One of many key options of a Leica lens is the distinctive ‘Leica Look’ and whereas I received’t say this lens replicates any Leica 35mm lens precisely, the lens has a Leica-esque distinctive contrasty look to its photographs, that I’d affiliate with Leica, and on-line, I don’t assume anybody would be capable of inform the distinction. I feel you might simply combine and match with some other Leica lenses in your assortment and they might mix fairly seamlessly collectively.
(Picture credit score: Gareth Bevan / Digital Digicam World)
The lens’ quick f/1.4 most aperture is right for low-light situations, and as Leica M cameras should not have IBIS, having the ability to shoot with quicker shutter speeds in these conditions is pretty important. The broader aperture additionally achieves a shallow depth of area, and at f/1.4 aperture the background blur and topic isolation have been actually pleasing, with Leica-like softness in out-of-focus areas.
Thypoch Simera 35mm f/1.4: Pattern Photos
(Picture credit score: Gareth Bevan / Digital Digicam World)
(Picture credit score: Gareth Bevan / Digital Digicam World)
(Picture credit score: Gareth Bevan / Digital Digicam World)
(Picture credit score: Gareth Bevan / Digital Digicam World)
(Picture credit score: Gareth Bevan / Digital Digicam World)
(Picture credit score: Gareth Bevan / Digital Digicam World)
(Picture credit score: Gareth Bevan / Digital Digicam World)
Thypoch Simera 35mm f/1.4: Verdict
Let’s face it, Leica gear is dear, you could have ended up with a Leica M digicam, however can’t afford to flesh out your lens assortment with premium Leica glass. Properly, the Thypoch Simera 35mm f/1.4 lens is right here to save lots of the day.
Whether or not you’re capturing portraits, landscapes, or road scenes, the Simera 35mm is a flexible and fantastically constructed lens that delivers nice optical efficiency, the lens has the creamy out-of-focus areas and excessive distinction look that quite a lot of Leica shooters search. The lens can be a standout alternative for anybody looking for a high-quality prime lens that gives stable steel development and spectacular design with neat little options just like the pink focusing dots. Thypoch is de facto out to problem lenses popping out of Wetzlar.
In fact, the largest issue is the worth in comparison with Leica lenses. At $699 (on the time of writing), this places the Simera lenses at a whole bunch or hundreds of {dollars} lower than Leica lenses, so you may develop your lens assortment quicker – Thypoch simply must make extra lenses!
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Options
A large-aperture handbook focus solely prime lens, it doesn’t promise greater than it delivers, and delivers on what it guarantees.
★★★★★
Design
Lovely and strong all-metal design, the depth of area indicator is a pleasure, however the focus lock swap is a frustration.
★★★★
Efficiency
Wonderful picture high quality with a Leica-esque look to photographs, though different lenses obtain extra sharpness across the edges..
★★★★
Worth
For the gorgeous construct high quality and optical efficiency on provide right here, the Simera 35mm lens is unimaginable worth and price including to any assortment.
★★★★★
(Picture credit score: Gareth Bevan / Digital Digicam World)
✅ Purchase it…
In case you are on the lookout for a lens that may compete with these from Leica, however don’t carry these first-part worth tags.
You need an inexpensive third-party lens with unimaginable consideration to element in construct high quality.
🚫 Do not buy it…
If you wish to know you could have the precise Leica Look, then it is protected to stay to first-party lenses.