Untested advice from ChatGPT: The following comes from ChatGPT. I am unable to verify the content from personal experience. I have entered this advice onto this blog as part of my own research and developing understanding of the area. Readers should verify this content with other third party sources before following the advice given.
🧾 Overview
- First on market 2023 from Indian firm, Thypoch.
- Compact, relatively affordable.
- Uses a floating elements design (uncommon at this price), allowing closer focusing (0.45 m).
👍 Strengths
Image Quality
- Sharpness:
- Good in the center even wide open.
- Improves significantly stopped down (best ~f/8).
- Bokeh:
- Smooth, modern rendering.
- 14 rounded aperture blades keep highlights circular.
- Low distortion:
- Minimal and rarely needs correction.
- Chromatic aberration:
- Well controlled overall (especially lateral CA).
- Sunstars:
- Surprisingly good despite rounded blades.
- Optical balance:
- No major flaws typical of fast compact 35mm lenses.
⚖️ Average Performance
- Vignetting: Typical for a fast compact lens.
- Flare resistance: Decent but not outstanding.
- Coma: Noticeable wide open; improves by f/5.6.
- Size/weight: Reasonable but not class-leading.
👎 Weaknesses
Handling (main criticism)
- Focus ring:
- Too narrow and awkwardly placed.
- Very short throw at close distances → hard to focus precisely.
- Infinity lock:
- Annoying and slows down shooting.
- Aperture ring:
- Irregular click spacing makes it hard to use by feel.
- Overcomplicated depth-of-field scale that isn’t very useful.
Optical Issues
- Focus shift: Noticeable (especially around f/2.8).
- Wide-open softness at close focus (improves when stopped down).
📷 Best Use Case
- Works best on Leica M cameras (optimized for thin sensor stack).
- Suited for:
- Street photography
- Environmental portraits
- Less ideal for:
- Fast-paced shooting (due to handling quirks)
- Sony mirrorless bodies (weaker edge performance)
🧠 Final Verdict
- A well-balanced optical performer with no major flaws.
- Strong value for money, especially given the floating elements design.
- However, handling is the biggest drawback and may be a dealbreaker.
- In short: A technically solid, optically pleasing lens—but ergonomically frustrating. Worth considering if you can tolerate its quirks.