Mandler’s 35mm f/2 “7 Elements” Lens Is Here

credits: Mandler

Chinese newcomer Mandler first announced its debut lens back in May, and it is now officially available. The Mandler 35mm f/2 “7 Elements” is a compact manual-focus prime for Leica M and LTM mounts, modelled after the classic Summicron formula. Mandler takes its very name from Leica’s rich history, the company is named after Dr. Walter Mandler (1922–2005), who designed more than 45 of Leica’s most beloved lenses. Optically, the lens uses a traditional double-Gauss layout with seven elements in five groups. It takes small E39 filters, focuses from 0.7 meters to infinity, and measures 34mm long. Weight is 138 grams for an aluminium version or 210 grams for a brass model.

Mechanically, the lens is fully manual and rangefinder-coupled, with no electronic contacts at all. The focusing helicoid uses a relatively short throw, which makes quick distance changes easy. The preset aperture system uses two rings, one sets the aperture you want to use, while the other opens or closes the diaphragm instantly between wide open and that preset value. It is an old-school design, but still very practical for zone focusing or fast shooting. The 10-blade diaphragm keeps the opening fairly round across most settings, which helps avoid harsh polygonal highlights when you stop down.

Field curvature is present but gradual, so sharpness falls off smoothly toward the edges instead of dropping off abruptly. Chromatic aberration is reasonably well controlled thanks to modern glass and coatings, and distortion stays under one percent, so straight lines do not look warped. The lens is priced at $348 USD.

You can see full details on Mandler’s website here