Mandler Made a Leica Lookalike 50mm Lens: But Does It Take Leica-Quality Photos?

Photographers who have already reviewed the new Mandler 50mm f/1.4 Pre-A M-mount lens immediately compare its image quality to the Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 E46 pre-aspherical design. My attitude is, who cares!

Yes, this new Mandler lens is visually a near-exact copy of the Leica lens, though its optical design is different. Put the two together and you can’t tell the difference unless you look at the white wording on the front. Yes, it’s made to be an affordable alternative to Leica's famously expensive optics. Yes, Mandler seems determined to recreate the Leica experience as closely as possible.

Looking like a Leica is one thing. Producing photographs that look like they came from a Leica lens is quite another. That’s what everyone reviewing this lens is focused on. But when I received my Mandler 50mm, I decided that wasn’t something that was worth giving too much thought to.

First Impressions

Having spent some time using the Mandler 50mm f/1.4, my first impression is that this is an incredibly well-made lens.

It's easy to assume that a lens costing a fraction of the price of a Leica equivalent will involve some compromises in manufacturing quality. That certainly isn't my experience with the Mandler. There are two versions of this lens: a brass version with a silver finish that weighs 385 g and an aluminum version with a black finish weighing 290 g. I have the brass version, and its weight feels reassuringly solid. The machining is excellent, the focusing ring is buttery smooth with just the right amount of resistance, and the aperture ring has a satisfyingly clicky precision to it. There's a real sense of quality when handling it.

Mandler has gone to great lengths to recreate the aesthetic of the classic Leica Summilux. The proportions, engraved lettering and markings, and extending lens hood are remarkably similar. Some might consider this a little too close to the original. I can understand that argument. But I suspect there are plenty of photographers who will appreciate being able to enjoy this particular design without spending several thousand dollars. The brass version of the Mandler I’m testing costs $568 (the aluminum version is just $368), whereas a good used version of the Leica original can set you back as much as $4,000.

What matters to me is that the Mandler doesn't feel like a cheap imitation when you pick it up. It feels like a properly engineered, quality piece of photographic equipment.

Image Quality

This is where the Mandler really starts to make sense to me. It’s irrelevant what the image quality of another lens is like. If this is the lens on my camera, all I’m interested in is how it performs for me. I’ve found the image quality to be very good indeed. Wide open at f/1.4, it produces the kind of rendering that makes vintage lenses so appealing. There's a lovely character to the images, with pleasing out-of-focus rendering and a slightly softer, more organic look.

Sure, the corners will be soft wide open—most lenses like this are—it’s not trying to produce clinically perfect images at maximum aperture, and that's part of its appeal.

Stop the 12-blade aperture down, however, and things change quite noticeably. Sharpness improves, contrast increases, and the images take on a much crisper, more modern appearance.

I particularly like this combination. You have the option of using the lens wide open when you want a little character, but you can also stop down and enjoy very sharp, detailed results.

For the kind of photography I enjoy, that's a very appealing combination.

Okay, So How Does It Compare With Leica?

Naturally, comparisons with the Leica Summilux are inevitable. I've heard from photographers who have tested both lenses side by side and believe the Mandler comes remarkably close to the Leica in terms of image quality. Some say the Mandler is sharper.

That's interesting, but I find myself asking: Does it really matter?

I don't think every lens needs to be judged by how closely it replicates a much more expensive alternative. And I certainly don't think the value of the Mandler should depend on whether someone can demonstrate that it's 90%, 95%, or 98% as good as a Leica.

I'm much more interested in what the lens actually delivers on its own merits. Does it feel well made? Absolutely. Does it produce attractive images? Yes. Does it have a rendering character that I enjoy? Very much so. And the big one for me personally is, does it feel good to use? Do I want to actually choose to use it? A huge yes.

Most manual lenses being made in recent years are always preferable to all the cheap plastic lenses being made when it comes to user experience. But this Mandler 50mm, it’s right up there in the growing metal manual-focus M-lens choices for feel and ease of use.

I'm not particularly interested in spending my time trying to establish whether a photograph made with the Mandler is marginally sharper or softer than one made with a Leica or any other similar lens. Keep your test charts and pixel-peeping, I simply want a lens that I enjoy using and that produces photographs I'm happy with.

The Mandler does that.

Final Thoughts

I find the Mandler 50mm f/1.4 a very interesting and welcome addition to the growing selection of affordable Leica M-mount lenses.

Its resemblance to the classic Leica Summilux is remarkable. In terms of appearance, Mandler has recreated the look of that lens with astonishing attention to detail. More importantly, the manufacturing quality is every bit as impressive as the styling suggests.

But for me, the real attraction isn't how closely it resembles a Leica. It's how well it performs as a lens in its own right. Wide open at f/1.4, it produces lovely vintage character and appealing organic rendering. Stop it down and you get very sharp, crisp images. It's a very desirable combination, and that's really all I need to know.

I've heard people who have compared the Mandler directly with the Leica claim that it's remarkably close in image quality. That's certainly worth noting, but I don't think it's the most important thing to be concerned with. The Mandler doesn't need to be a Leica Summilux to be a very good lens. It just needs to produce images that I enjoy, feel good to use, and offer good value for money.

And on those counts, I've been exceedingly impressed. I’m a big believer that we should spend a little less time comparing lenses and a little more time using them to make photographs. Somewhat ironic, I suppose, coming from someone who gets to review many lenses!

The heavier brass version feels so good, and on my solid brass M3, it’s a perfect pairing with some reassuring heft. But I do mostly street and travel photography with my Leica gear, and want it to be as light as possible. For this reason, I think the aluminum version is the better option. And it’s $200 cheaper too, at $368.

The Mandler 50mm f/1.4 E46 Pre-A gets an easy 9.5/10 rating from me. It may just be my new favorite 50mm prime.