Funleader 35mm f1.4 for Leica (Artizlab) Review
New for 2025 is the Funleader 35mm f1.4 Leica M mount lens, made by Artizlab. This Funleader lens is a remake of the classic 1960s famous Leica Summilux 35mm f1.4 Pre-ASPH v2 lens but at a fraction of the price. Here I test and compare the Artizlab 35mm f1.4 lens including a full YouTube review. (Artizlab are a brand new lens brand for Leica M users supported by Funleader).
New Leica lens for 2025
Kicking off 2025, the first new lens to land is the Funleader 35mm f1.4 Artizlab lens. This is a homage to the classic 1960s Leica Summilux 35mm f1.4 Pre-ASPH version 2 and shares many similarities as we’ll see. Can you spot it from the photo shared below!?
UPDATE: Funleader Artizlab 35mm f1.4 version 2
Funleader released their Funleader Artizlab 35mm f1.4 version 2 update (on sale now). You can now buy the lens in both the original black finish but also stunning silver. The new lens is optically identical to the original reviewed below but with a few minor tweaks. Some user had reported that the lens was a tight fit on Leica M film cameras and the infinity stop was off so they fixed those.
*Note all Artizlab lenses on sale in the Funleader store currently will be the version 2 even if not marked as such – I had a few of you asking me.
So good it made me buy a silver Leica M4!
Subscribe to see the video to come but I was so impressed with this lens that I wanted to use it on a silver camera. To begin with I used it on my silver Leica M3 with a Light Lens Lab 35mm metal viewfinder on the cold shoe but eventually it pushed me to buy a silver M4! (Note – Leica M4 has 35mm frame lines but the Leica M3 doesn’t).
Full Leica M4 blog to come and you’ll see me using this lens. Follow me so not to miss it!
Leica Summilux 35mm f1.4 Pre-ASPH (v1 + v2)
To quickly recap and to set the stage, let me first tell you about the Leica Summilux 35mm f1.4 Pre-ASPH lenses. Leica released their first fast aperture 35mm lens in 1961, the version 1, also known as the Steel Rim. (Leica later re-released this lens so you can buy their remake lens in the shops today).
Next came the version 2 Leica Summilux 35mm f1.4 Pre-ASPH which now lacks a filter thread and look near identical to the Funleader Artizlab 35mm f1.4 homage lens. The main difference to the external design (other than the writing) is Artizlab made their lens to include the infinity focus tab lock found on the v1 Summilux (absent on the v2).
Hat’s off to Artizlab for making this lens but if they were true photographers they should have made the lens to include the filter thread and not include the focus lock. Street photographers hate the focus lock design and it’s a real pain if you are working close to infinity (Your lens keeps locking out).
Perhaps they added the focus lock to make the lens less of a copy to the version 2 or for the retro appeal.
(Lens focus locks are common on vintage Leica lenses (and copies of such lenses). The Light Lens Lab 35mm f2 8-Element lens also has an infinity lock. (See this video).
Artizlab lens from Funleader
You might ask, who are Artizlab? I asked the same question to Funleader. My Funleader contact’s reply was, quote –
“The brand was founded by passionate Leica collectors and photography enthusiasts with a vision to bring the charm of traditional photographic craftsmanship to a broader audience. Currently, Funleader is helping Artizlab introduce its first offerings to the market”.
The Artizlab 35mm f1.4 Leica M mount lens is their first offering to the market. I’m excited to see what else they have planned for us! (Thypoch were new in 2024 and they had a fantastic year bringing us a whole series of great lenses).
Artizlab 35mm f1.4 – In the box
What’s in the box? The lens arrives in an Artizlab branded box, not Funleader. You receive –
- Artizlab 35mm f1.4 lens (M mount, black only)
- Series VII UV filter (This means not threaded*)
- Metal push-on round vented lens hood (holds filter)
- Metal push-on lens cap
See the YouTube video for a visual of the items received (below)
Lens testing in the Czech Republic
To test this lens I flew to the Czech Republic (Prague) and met up with a few Patreon friends. (See behind the scenes videos on Patreon). I was testing the lens on the Leica M10-P for most of the photos that you see in the YouTube video. This camera-lens combo gives a nice size for travel and walkabout.
Funleader 35mm f1.4 sample photos
If you are looking for Funleader 35mm f1.4 sample photos check out the YouTube video linked at the end of this article. Here are a few edited samples shot with my converted Leica M10(P). RAW + B&W LR preset added (MrLeica M262 preset pack – I mix and match my presets).
Artizlab Funleader 35mm f1.4 on film
Here a some sample photos using the Funleader 35mm f1.4 on film in Porto. I stopped down to f2 or greater for improved sharpness. Photos were captured with the Leica MDa or Voigtlander Bessa T. (Watch the video on YouTube).
Film was mostly Fomapan 100 and Kentmere 400. I develop my film with Kodak Xtol and digitise with the Leica CL and Valoi Easy35 (This video). Negatives are inverted with my MrLeica presets – film pack.
Leica Summilux 35mm f1.4 vs Funleader 35mm f1.4
So the big question, is how does this affordable homage lens compare to the original Leica Summilux 35mm Pre-ASPH lens it’s based on? If we compare Leica Summilux 35mm f1.4 vs Funleader 35mm f1.4 side by side you’ll see it’s not an exact copy. The Artizlab lens is mostly based on the version 2 Leica Summilux 35mm f2 Pre-ASPH but with a different optical formula.
If we look at the Leica Summilux 35mm f2 Pre-ASPH v1 (Steel Rim) vs Funleader 35mm f1.4 you’ll see the focus lock is the same on both lenses. The v1 and v2 Leica Summilux pre-ASPH lenses have the same optical formula of 7 elements in 5 groups.
Did you know that the optical formula of 7 elements in 5 groups used by the Pre-ASPH 35mm Summilux lenses is also found in the v4 (King of Bokeh) Leica Summicron 35mm f2 lens. If you stop the lenses down the results should be identical.
I don’t own the Pre-ASPH Leica Summilux 35mm f1.4 lenses but I have used the Steel Rim remake lens several times when teaching Leica workshops. The Steel rim is crazy soft but you can get some nice bokeh and rendering if you use it on a Light Lens Lab close focus adapter on Leica SL cameras.
If I get a chance to test both lenses side by side in the future I will share the results.
Funleader vs Leica vs Zeiss vs Voigtlander
How good is the new Chinese Funleader lens compared to the big brands? I shot all four lenses on film with my Leica M7 and here are the results. To my eyes the Funleader Artizlab 35mm f1.4 lens is one of the best performers yet costs the least! It also seems to pass light better than other lenses as the images are always slightly brighter in my test results.
*See the 27x 35mm lens review for test results on digital vs. 7 other popular 35mm lenses
Leica Summilux 35mm Pre-ASPH not ASPH
For completeness, if you are not up to speed on all the different Leica lenses, Leica have made the Leica Summilux 35mm f1.4 lens since the 1960s. Since then there have been multiple versions including the older “Pre-Aspherical” lenses and the modern aspherical lenses.
I have used the modern Leica Summilux 35mm f1.4 ASPH lens and you can see a review here. It’s a much bigger lens to the older Pre-ASPH versions and is not at all similar to the Artizlab 35mm f1.4 we are covering in this article.
Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f1.4 vs Funleader 35mm f1.4
Perhaps the closest comparison for most buyers will be Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f1.4 vs Funleader 35mm f1.4. Prices of both lenses can be comparable with the Funleader being the cheaper of the two lenses. The biggest advance of the Voigtlander Nokton Classic 35mm f1.4 lens is the close focus distance of 0.7m vs 1m for the Funleader lens.
I prefer the warmer tones of the Funleader lens vs the Nokton classic but you can easily fix colours in post. I just apply my MrLeica Lightroom presets to all my RAW files.
Photos from the Nokton lens are more predictable and slightly sharper than the Funleader and the lens has nicer flare (and less coma). If you prefer something a little more creative (or you want to save some cash) perhaps go for the Funleader.
Leica Summicron 35mm f2 vs Funleader 35mm f1.4
If you asked photographers to identify Leica lenses in a line-up, when you compare the Leica Summicron 35mm f2 vs Funleader 35mm f1.4 both lenses look 100% Leica. Funleader did a great job (like it or not) of making their lens look and feel like a real Leica lens.
I prefer the warm tones and flare of the Leica Summicron 35mm f2 to the Funleader Artizlab 35mm f1.4. The Leica lens also gives you the benefits of 0.7m close focus (vs 1m MFD) and 39mm filter thread (vs no thread). If you need an extra stop of light the Funleader lens gives you f1.4 vs f2. With both lenses stopped down I didn’t notice a huge difference between my two lenses.
Thypoch 35mm f1.4 vs Funleader 35mm f1.4
Comparing the Thypoch 35mm f1.4 vs Funleader 35mm f1.4 is like apples and oranges as they say. The Thypoch Simera 35mm f1.4 is twice as large as the Funleader Artizlab lens. I guess they complement each other well if you need an excuse to own two fast 35mm lenses.
Benefits of the 35mm Simera lens from Thypoch include better corrected optics for a more predictable and better controlled image quality (more modern, more perfect but not too much to be boring). For Leica M users that enjoy using LiveView or an EVF, the Thypoch gives you a close focus distance of 0.45m. This is a game changer compared to the limited 1m MFD of the Artizlab 35mm f1.4.
Wide open (for softer, more arty, classic look photos) or stopped down (for increased sharpness) I would pick the Funleader 35mm f1.4 for the size and “dual-look” performance.
For portraits with Leica M cameras I would select the Thypoch Simera as I need to get closer for my portrait style/ model photography.
7Artisans 35mm f1.4 vs Funleader 35mm f1.4
If you cast your mind back to 2022, 7Artisans released their 35mm f1.4 M mount lens. Size wise, it is similar to the Thypoch Simera 35mm f1.4 pictured above, so probably twice that of the Artizlab lens.
I no longer have the 7Artisan 35mm f1.4 so I can’t test vs the Funleader 35mm f1.4. I did how ever test the lens against the Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f1.4 at the time and the lens did a good job. See here.
MrDing 35mm vs Funleader Artizlab 35mm
Here I compared the updated Funleader Artizlab 35mm f1.4 silver against the new MrDing 35mm f1.8 Pactcron.
Light Lens Lab 35mm f1.4 Summilux?
For those of you that follow the Light Lens Lab brand, you might have seen news of a Light Lens Lab 35mm f1.4 Summilux remake lens in 2024. As I understand LLL are planning to release a remake of the highly regarded Leica Summilux 35mm f1.4 AA lens (double aspherical). I believe there were unforeseen delays in 2024 so hopefully we will see it released in 2025.
The lens Light Lens lab are looking at is a different optical formula to the pre-ASPH Summilux lens that Funleader based their Artizlab 35mm f1.4 lens. These two lenses will be completely different (Leica Summilux 35mm f1.4 AA is twice the size for starters). I have used the 35mm f1.4 AA lens in the past thanks to my awesome Leica workshop students.
Artizlab 35mm f1.4 testing continues
As a photographer that loves classic lenses I’m going to add the Funleader Artizlab 35mm f1.4 to my kit bag for 2025 for more testing. I love the small size and lightweight and at f2 I can get similar(ish) results to my Leica Summicron 35mm f2 v2 for black and white.
I want to now use the lens in lots of different lighting conditions so I can find the sweet spot to make it shine. I also plan to test it with more of my compact 35mm lenses so I know what is the best to carry (for film and digital).
Leica SL + 35mm f1.4 Funleader lens
For my model photography work, using the 35mm Funleader lens on my Leica SL mirrorless camera will allow me to use the Light Lens Lab M-L close focus helicoid adapter. This overcomes the lens issue of a limited 1m close focus distance. I could do the same with my Lumix S5 camera too which is also L mount.
Funleader Artizlab 35mm f1.4 for APS-C
If I want a compact 50mm equivalent lens setup, I will now use the Artizlab 35mm f1.4 lens on my Leica CL camera. The APS-C body gives me a 1.5x crop so 35mm = 50mm approx. If you use any APS-C camera (like Fuji-X etc) you can benefit from this small compact lens.
The added benefit of using the Artizlab 35mm f1.4 on an APS-C camera is you only use the sharper central portion of the lens image circle. No more problems with vignetting or soft corners.
Leica CL + Artizlab portraits
When I want to travel light I carry the little Leica CL for digital photos. Here is an example photo using this combination for photoshoots in Budapest.
Lumix S9 + Artizlab 35mm
Small cameras need small lenses, right! For that reason I use the Funleader Artizlab lens on my full frame Lumix S9 camera too –
Funleader 35mm f1.4 price?
With the current economic climate, the exchanges rates are changing by the day for GBP-EUR, GBP-USD etc. Rather than quote a price today which will be wrong by tomorrow, click this link to get the correct price in your country.
Conclusion
Exciting times! Artizlab (via Funleader) now makes it possible to buy a lens similar to a £3K (used price) 1960s Leica lens for a fraction of the price. Is the Funleader 35mm f1.4 lens the perfect lens for everyone? Absolutely not.
Pixel peepers, you will hate this lens so much with those soft corners and strong coma when shot wide open. If however you are trying to make art, like me, (rather than capture an exact and perfect representation of a scene), you might just love it. (Equally, just stop down as from f2 onwards the results (sharpness) are very impressive!)
Pros
To summarise, here are the main reasons why I like the Artizlab 35mm f1.4 –
Cons
The lens is definitely not perfect. These are the biggest drawbacks I see with the Artizlab 35mm f1.4 lens –
YouTube – Funleader 35mm f1.4 Artizlab
Watch the full Funleader 35mm f1.4 Artizlab review on YouTube for more info and photos
Alternative 35mm f1.4 lenses for Leica?
I’ve reviewed many 35mm lenses for Leica M mount. Check out the 35mm playlist for more videos/ reviews or visit the 35mm lens review list.
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