Mandler 35mm F2: affordable Leica lens reproduction sold out

As the inaugural product for the Mandler brand, the Mandler 35mm F2 aims to provide users with a cost-effective yet professional camera lens option… but you’ll have to wait until March to get yours.

The Mandler 35mm F2 “7 elements” (Aluminum), the lens announced at the opening of the company’s website, sold out quickly, in both the black aluminum (M mount) and chrome-plated brass  (M mount) versions. On a note published on the website, the company says that “our silver aluminum lenses (M mount) are also running low in stock” and adds that “in the coming days, we will urgently replenish a batch of lenses to meet customer demand. However, due to the Chinese New Year holiday, our factory is currently closed, so a massive and sustained supply of lenses will be fulfilled after the holiday.”

Why are photographers so interested in having this lens? Well, because the Mandler 35mm F2 is a reproduction of a classic Leica lens, Leica Summicron 35mm F2, designed by Walter Mandel, a lens designer of Ernst Leitz Canada (Leica Camera), credited with the design of more than 45 Leica lenses for the Leica rangefinder cameras and Leica SLR cameras.

Born in Germany, Mandler moved to Canada in 1952, when Ernst Leitz decided to establish offices there, as part of the team. Although he was meant to stay there for a short period of time, he ended becoming a Canadian citizen and lived there until his death, in 2005. Mandler’s chief contribution to the optical engineering was his pioneering works in application of computer aided design in optical engineering and his ability to optimize Double-Gauss designs by means of the computer, and a particular method developed by him.

Mandler, the company,  used Walter Mandler’s name to define its goal. On its website the company states that it “was born as a tribute to the masters” and that “we do not chase trends; we remain faithful only to pure optics. We fuse China’s professional modern optical engineering with the legendary spirit of classic lenses. Each piece of glass speaks of reverence for light, and every frame carves an eternal moment in time.”

This is more than a photographic instrument, the company continues, “it is a visual symphony where cutting-edge technology carries forward a century of craftsmanship. Through nanometer-level precision, the soul of classical aesthetics is reborn in every ray of sculpted light, empowering the lens holder to become a poet of time one who writes history while capturing the future.”

The Mandler 35mm F2 is a fully handcrafted lens and a tribute to the classic Leica Summicron 35mm F2, known as the “King of Bokeh”. The Leica Summicron 35mm F2 “seven-element” lens, from 1979, was discontinued in 1996 but continues to be one of the most popular lenses from the company. It’s price, even second-hand – if you find one well preserved – continues to be quite expensive and a barrier for most photographers. A lens in good condition can cost more than $2000. One Chinese company offers an alternative, the Mandler 35mm F2 “7 elements” (Aluminum) for $348 USD, or $538 USD for the chrome-plated brass version.

The company claims that the optical components of the Mandler 35mm F2 “have been scientifically and rigorously redesigned to ensure imaging quality meets professional cinematography standards. Additionally, a range of specialized optical instruments has been introduced in the production and inspection stages to guarantee product stability and consistency.”

Promising to introduce more classic and vintage lens in the future, Mandler, the company, says that “we bridge the gap between heritage craftsmanship and modern advanced optical technology. Perfect for collectors, film shooters, and anyone chasing that vintage glow!”