Manual Lenses for Nostalgic Imagery - Thypoch Simera 35mm F1.4 (January 2025 Issue)

Over the next six months I will introduce you all to a variety of manual focus lenses that draw from legacy designs of the past whilst giving their own unique spin. I will start the series off by introducing you to a manufacturer called Thypoch. Founded in October 2023 and based out of Hong Kong, Thypoch lenses have been designed to do one thing and one thing only, topple Leica off its throne. Whist these lenses were indeed designed for Leica M rangefinders they also have many features that make them very attractive to the Fujifilm ecosystem. These lenses are for the first time (to my knowledge) that a lens manufacturer has squarely targeted a space left vacant on X-Mount. The premium lens. These lenses are designed for the express enjoyment of ownership and joy of making images. Featuring a full metal build from mount to filter thread, everything from the markings to scalloping is precise and perfect. Along with said filter thread the lens also comes with a chrome bayonet for the included square metal lens hood a very welcome inclusion and can be an expensive add-on item even for Fujions. You will find on the barrel multiple dots, that show red depending on your aperture, giving a visual aid as to your depth of field. A redundant leftover from the film era and an idea initially implemented by the Alpa Kern Switar in the 50’s, yet a charming addition all the same. These lenses also vary slightly from their Leica M counterparts, offering a focus tab and smooth continuous focus throw down to 0.45m that make them far more useable on a mirrorless system unhindered by parallax issues that the Leica rangefinders have to account for. The 35mm Simera has an aperture range of F1.4 to F16 and has a switch to click or de-click the aperture. The aperture itself is very smooth to operate and the clicks whist tactile are not overpowering and have just enough tension to keep the ring at your chosen F-Stop. The only downside I can find is that unlike Voigtlander, its nearest competitor, Thypoch lenses do not come with electronic contacts to pass EXIF data to the camera. I am sure this would add to the cost of the lens, but as a premium purchase the omission of such a quality-of-life feature is a rather glaring one. You can however name the lens under “Adapter Settings” so you will be able to identify images taken with this lens via EXIF, if not aperture used. You will of course have to enable “Shoot Without Lens” in camera also.

Now that I have adequately described these lenses externally I do want to talk about them optically before going into the real heart of my project, making nostalgic imagery. These lenses are not your run of the mill optics, careful design has gone into them and they offer premium benefits such as aspherical elements (that you see in our very own red badge zooms) and floating lens elements that allow for that 0.45m close focus. Whilst not groundbreaking in Fuji world, it is in Leica and comes at a 10X premium to these lenses. These are certainly positives when deciding to go for a native X-Mount Thypoch over adapting any M lens. Having adapted my fair share in the early days of mirrorless I can say it’s a princess and the pea thing. Small from the outside but enough over time to cause irritation though not quite sleepless nights. Thypoch has brought a lens to the market that whilst not having the bells and whistles of modern lenses, mitigate many drawbacks of older vintage and rangefinder ones without losing what makes them so special. People often talk about the “Leica Look’ that is defined by a soft booming halation, a low contrast image that retains sharpness, producing characterised smooth tonality. Not many 3rd parties can claim similar results, with both Zeiss and Voigtlander having their own distinct looks. Thypoch can, these lenses exhibit very pleasing and similar characteristics to your “Leica Look” and the only other manufacturer that I have used that can claim the same is early Canon - LTM, FL and some early FD. Which is no surprise considering back then they were heavily inspired by Leitz designs.

With this series what I want to introduce to the Fujifilm community is an idea that goes in and out of fashion. One that recently seems to have both been forgotten about by the masses yet hung on tighter than ever by those who practise it. It’s the idea that an image is more than just the clinical rendering that OEM manufacturers chase so fervently, that 40mp optimised is at best, marketing and nothing more. There is an ineffable quality to the best images, a portrayal of emotion, of nostalgia. The photos that remain in the zeitgeist, be it Mohammad Ali, Tank Man, Afghan Girl. Marilyn’s Dress, Einstein’s Tongue, they are far from what would be considered “perfect”. An odd and contradicting statement to talk about in the same breath as a premium lens, yet that’s what we are ultimately buying into. There was something special about optics of yesteryear, and whilst advancements and usability has gone through the roof with the advent of digital (and more importantly mirrorless live view) many of us feel that the magic is fading away. CCD sensors retained that lively punch of slide, but most manufacturers are opting for sterile “blank canvas” Bayer sensors and Fujifilm seemingly stands alone with their X-Trans technology. From my outside perspective, Fujifilm is a company at odds with itself. A company that produces the most gorgeous retro tactile bodies in the X-T5 and X-Pro3 (X100VI even) but in the same breath have almost forgotten classic optics, the days of the 35mm 1.4, 16mm 1.4 and 56mm 1.2 are long behind us with “updated” ver.2’s all we have to look forward to. SOOC JPEG, Film Sims and Recipes have become cache, yet are far from adequate for my taste (and anything larger than 1080x1080 squares on a 5” screen).

I’ve not been fair to the Simera 35mm on this one. The Thai festivals I chose to photograph it were indeed a gift, a special and rare occurrence. However, the price for that gift was a torture test. With hardly any light, taming ISO values went straight out the window in favour of motion stopping shutter speeds, this lens had it tough and that F1.4 aperture was put to work. I think the images speak for themselves. I was needlessly afraid when checking my back screen that I would come away with nothing but the way this lens renders images even in the worst of conditions, is superb. This is a unique aspect, that a lens with vintage leanings can be relied on so thoroughly, throw it all at the Simera and it takes it in stride.

The question begged most of all is who is this lens for? I think two people will benefit from the Simera 35mm F1.4. The first would be someone looking to treat themselves, buy something “nice” for your Fujifilm ecosystem. The Simera is a beautiful object to own with the performance to back it up. My black versions match my black Fujifilm’s very well with similar design elements such as the white and red markings and make them feel like a cohesive part of the Fujifilm user experience. The second would be someone wanting a specialty lens, something to keep in the camera bag and take out when they need some creative options or are feeling a little uninspired. The 35mm Simera has minimal drawbacks so makes a perfect pick providing you are a fan of the field of view. It becomes slightly harder to recommend this as a lens that would replace a Fujinon with. Fujifilm is a vastly different space to play than Leica, despite abundant similarities and whilst technically impressive for an M-Mount lens, it is going to be a novelty for most Fujifilm shooters. I can’t in good conscience say otherwise, no matter how much it suits my own style of shooting and preferences in image rendering.

Thank you to Thypoch for providing the lens for this project, and if anyone is interested in learning more about the specifications or wanting to purchase your own copy then you can head over to their website - thypoch.com