Light Lens Lab 75mm F2 SP-II review – Cinematic charm at 75mm

Use code KEITHWEE for a 5% discount at Light Lens Lab here for a limited time. Every bit of savings counts.

Introduction

There is something especially appealing about lenses that do not try too hard to be perfect.

The Light Lens Lab 75mm ƒ2 SP-II (Speed Panchro II) feels like one of those lenses. On paper, it is a relatively compact M-mount 75mm with an ƒ2 aperture. In spirit though, it appears to be aiming for something far more specific: to carry forward the SP-II idea of vintage rendering, smooth tonal transitions, and that uniquely gentle cinematic character which made the 50mm sibling such an interesting lens in the first place.

My review of its sibling, the Light Lens Lab 50mm ƒ2 SP-II is here.

What makes this one especially intriguing is that Light Lens Lab is not merely stretching the same concept to a longer focal length for the sake of selling more lenses.

Light Lens Lab frames the 75mm ƒ2 SP-II as part of a broader expansion of the SP-II family, retaining the classic Double-Gaussian approach with achromatic elements while promising improved sharpness and detail resolution over what one might stereotypically expect from a “vintage-inspired” optic.

It is also rather refreshing that this is not positioned as a modern 75mm that happens to have a nostalgic exterior. Instead, it appears to be a lens with a very deliberate visual agenda. In a market where many lenses compete over charts, correction, and edge-to-edge perfection, the 75mm ƒ2 SP-II seems to make a different argument: that character is still worth chasing.

In fact, I am going to even say the Light Lens Lab 75mm SP-II is an improvement over the 50mm SP-II sibling optically

Let’s take a deeper look.

tl:dr

The Light Lens Lab 75mm ƒ2 SP-II looks to be a very compelling lens for photographers who value rendering and character over technical sterility.

It brings the SP-II concept into a 75mm focal length with a classic double-Gaussian optical design, ƒ2 maximum aperture in a compact 310g body. On paper alone, that is already a rather attractive proposition for an M mount 75mm lens.

More importantly, the rendering sounds especially promising. Wide open, it is intended to deliver a smoother, cinematic look with soft transitions and rounded blur. Stopped down, it apparently becomes appreciably crisper and more controlled, in fact ‘modern’.

At USD $749 for the chrome version and USD $799 for the black paint version, it is not inexpensive in absolute terms, but in the context of what it is trying to evoke and compared with the rarity and cost of original vintage optics with similar appeal makes the Light Lens Lab 75mm ƒ2 SP-II rather sensibly positioned.

Technicalities

The Light Lens Lab 75mm ƒ2 SP-II follows the established optical philosophy of the Speed Panchro II (SP-II) series and employs a classic Double-Gaussian design with achromatic elements to deliver a distinctive vintage rendering while retaining its signature character, with improved sharpness and detail resolution for modern sensor.

• Double-Gaussian optical design with achromatic elements
• 8 elements in 5 groups
• Aperture range of ƒ2 to ƒ22 with a 12-bladed diaphragm
• Minimum focusing distance of 0.7 m
• E43 filter diameter
• Aluminium alloy construction at 310 grams
• 73 mm length x 54 mm diameter
• Includes a A46 clip-on Reid-style hood

An interesting point is that while the listed design frame coverage is 35mm full frame, Light Lens Lab also says the lens supports digital sensors up to 44 × 33mm, which opens up adaptation possibilities for medium format systems such as Fujifilm GFX and Hasselblad X.

Handling and Performance

From a handling perspective, the Light Lens Lab 75mm ƒ SP-II has the fundamentals right.

One of the first concerns with any 75mm lens on a Leica M body is whether it becomes too long, too dense, or simply too awkward to feel natural in use. At 310g and 73mm long, the lens remains well-balanced on an M camera, which is important because a lens of this focal length should still feel like an extension of the camera rather than a burden hanging off the front of it.

Given the length of the lens, there is a slight amount of rangefinder blockage though it is not likely to affect one’s handling of it adversely.

One design element one may hate or love is the focusing ‘prong’ tab, which thankfully can be removed (I see two screws holding the tab to the lens body) if one prefers to focus by holding the lens body instead.

The specifications also implies a very sensible user experience: 0.7m minimum focus distance, half-stop aperture settings that is easy enough to work with, and a hood that keeps with the lens’ vintage-inspired concept. It is all refreshingly straightforward. There is no sense here of unnecessary complication or gimmickry.

Wide open at ƒ2, this feels like a lens with character rather than one obsessed with perfection. At ƒ2, the rendering presents gentle tonal transitions and a rounded, softer drawing that gives images a distinct mood.

Noticeably in back-lit or scenes with strong light sources, the character of the lens takes center-stage, delivering a look that is pleasingly soft but yet with sufficient details, giving a ‘sharp enough’ look for portraits. The bokeh presents some cat’s-eye character toward the edges, giving a vintage-leaning signature.

The Light Lens Lab 75mm ƒ2 SP-II is a lens that flares readily, even with the supplied hood on, and again, this is a character that one can either see as adding more creative potential to the shot or seen as an distraction depending on personal taste.

That duality from wide open to stopped down is, to me, a real attraction here.

Stop it down and from ƒ2.8 and beyond, the lens seems to take on a different personality altogether, becoming crisper, cleaner and noticeably more clinical, though never cuttingly-sharp. To me, that contrast is precisely what makes it so compelling.

Also, as expected of the optical design intent, it is important to note that chromatic aberrations wise, the Light Lens Lab 75mm ƒ2 SP-II is not for the faint hearted.

The image below is a zoomed in of the above, and while aberrations are easily cleaned up in post-processing, the Light Lens Lab 75mm ƒ2 SP-II is not a lens suitable for those who expect APO-level clinical optical performance but then, you wouldn’t be even considering this lens if you are more keen on say, a Leica 75mm ƒ2 APO look.

With all these said, the Light Lens Lab 75mm ƒ2 SP-II is easily a lens I can fall in love with because of how Light Lens Lab have done the design intent of the SP-II idea of vintage rendering with a cinematic look right.

That matters because a lens like this is not meant to be anonymous. It should have a little romance to it, a little softness in how it transitions, and a little individuality in how it treats light and out-of-focus space.

Conclusions

The Light Lens Lab 75mm ƒ2 SP-II looks to be another thoughtful and rather attractive addition to the company’s growing SP-II family.

What I find most appealing about it is that it does not try to apologise for being a character lens. On the contrary, it seems to embrace exactly the qualities that make such optics enjoyable with smooth tonal transitions, visible personality, and an overall rendering that feels more lyrical than clinical.

At the same time, it also appears to stop down into a more disciplined and crisp performer, which should make it more versatile than the phrase “vintage-inspired” might initially suggest.

In many ways, this seems like a natural continuation of what made the Light Lens Lab 50mm ƒ2 SP-II so interesting in the first place. The earlier lens stood out not because it was the most technically perfect optic available, but because it offered photographers access to a distinctive visual style that would otherwise be difficult or expensive to obtain. The Light Lens Lab 75mm ƒ2 SP-II looks poised to do something similar, now with a focal length that should appeal especially to portrait, detail, and quieter documentary work.

For the photographer who wants a 75mm that is compact, handsome, and full of character, this looks like a very promising option indeed.

Thank you for reading.

Disclaimers:

1. All product photos and samples here were photographed by me. I believe any reviewer with pride should produce their own product photos. 

2. All images were shot with my personal sets of the Light Lens Lab 75mm ƒ2 Speed Panchro II on the Leica M10-R Black Paint.

3. This review is not sponsored.

4. I write as a passion and a hobby, and I appreciate that photography brands are kind enough to respect and work with me.

5. The best way to support me is to share the review, or you can always help support me by contributing to my fees to WordPress for the domain using the Paypal button at the bottom of the page.