Fred Miranda published his review of the new Thypoch Simera 75mm f/1.4 ASPH lens for Leica M-mount – currently in stock at:
- US: Amazon | B&H Photo
- Europe: Foto Erhardt | WEX Photo
- Worldwide: Thypoch website
Here is the final review conclusion:
The Simera 75mm f/1.4 ASPH. offers a well-balanced mix of smooth rendering and solid performance. At wider apertures, it provides good resolution but doesn’t capture the finest details, showing noticeable improvement when stopped down. By f/2.8 in the center, f/4 in the mid-zone, and f/5.6 in the corners, the lens reaches optimal resolution and contrast. Compared to the Voigtlander 75mm f/1.5 Nokton, the Simera performs slightly better in the mid-field, while the Voigtlander has an edge in the extreme corners. At the center, both lenses perform similarly. Also, the Simera renders a slightly wider field of view and warmer tones.
Chromatic aberration control is one of the Simera’s strongest points, outperforming the Voigtlander in this regard. The lens also produces minimal distortion, with only a slight pincushion effect. Its bokeh is smooth and natural, with round specular highlights even at small apertures, due to its 16-blade aperture design. Unlike the 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. counterpart, which produces well-defined sunstars starting at f/4, the 75mm requires much smaller apertures to achieve similar clarity in its sunstar rays. Despite minor focus shift, stopping down and refocusing ensure optimal sharpness. The Simera maintains excellent optical performance even when adapted to a Sony A7R II, showing no significant degradation despite the thicker sensor stack.
The Simera 75mm f/1.4 ASPH. is a strong option among fast 75mm lenses, offering a refined, modern rendering that suits professional portrait and landscape photography. However, some may find its look too smooth and abstract, lacking a distinctive character. Its flat field curvature ensures consistent sharpness across the frame, making it a solid choice for architectural work. While the Voigtlander 75mm f/1.5 Nokton performs similarly in rendering and resolution and remains a strong alternative, particularly for its better corner performance at wide apertures, the Simera stands out for its mid-field sharpness and superior chromatic aberration control, making it a compelling choice for those seeking a well-rounded 75mm lens.
Pros:
- Compact and lightweight for a fast 75mm lens.
- Floating design maintains high resolution and contrast even at MFD (0.60m).
- Low distortion.
- Flat field curvature ensures even sharpness across the frame
- Solid build with tight tolerances; my copy was well-centered and calibrated with the rangefinder.
- Aperture mechanism produces rounded specular highlights when stopped down.
- Smooth and modern rendering with seamless focus transitions.
- Unique “mechanical dots” depth of field scale replaces the classic scale.
- Great chromatic aberration control (both lateral and axial).
Cons:
- Inconsistent spacing between aperture markings.
- Varying stop increments, transitioning from 1/3 to 1/2 to 1 full stop on small apertures.
- Short focus throw requires precise focusing.
- Prone to veiling flare when shooting against the light, which can create a unique effect depending on the application.
- Sunstars become well-defined only at f/8 and smaller apertures.
- Corners aren’t as sharp at wide apertures.
Read the full review here.
Previous Fred Miranda reviews can be found here.
Additional information on the Thypoch Simera 75mm f/1.4 ASPH lens for Leica M-mount can be found here:
Thypoch announced a new Simera 75mm f/1.4 lens for Leica M-mount
Thypoch Simera 75mm f/1.4 ASPH lens for Leica M pre-order links and sample photos
