Thypoch Simera 35mm f/1.4 II (Focus Tab)

Thypoch Simera 35mm f/1.4 II (Focus Tab)

The defining change in the Simera 35mm f/1.4 II is mechanical rather than optical. Thypoch replaced the spring-loaded infinity lock of the first Simera 35mm with a crescent-shaped focus tab, a direct answer to user complaints that the original design engaged automatically at infinity and could not be toggled freely [1][2]. The optical formula carried over unchanged, so the second version is best understood as the same fast 35mm lens fitted with a more conventional, single-finger focusing interface [3][4].

In its Leica M form the lens uses a nine-element optical design built around a floating-element group, an arrangement Thypoch promotes as helping the lens hold its correction from infinity to its close-focus limit. The aperture is built on a 14-blade diaphragm aimed at rounded out-of-focus highlights, and the barrel carries a vintage-styled depth-of-field scale with a red infinity index. A distinctive feature retained from the original is the click and de-click aperture system, marked with "Sun" and "Moon" symbols, which lets the user switch between detented stops for stills and a smooth ring for video. Thypoch also kept a tactile resistance point near 0.7 m in the focus throw, intended to help photographers feel a reference distance when moving between rangefinder and electronic-finder focusing. The Simera line is offered across several mounts, including Leica M, Nikon Z, Fujifilm X and Canon RF, but only the M version is built for rangefinder coupling.

Beyond the focus tab and pricing, the Type II lenses are described as essentially identical to the originals, sharing the same optics and overall layout. Thypoch explicitly advises against converting an existing infinity-lock (Type I) lens into a focus-tab version, noting that the work requires disassembling and realigning several internal parts and risks degrading both optical performance and mechanical reliability. Buyers wanting the tab are therefore directed to purchase the Type II outright rather than seeking a retrofit.

Optical qualities

Rendering Independent long-term review data specific to the focus-tab variant is limited, since it shares its optics with the earlier Simera 35mm f/1.4. Based on the design and manufacturer information, the combination of a fast f/1.4 aperture and a 14-blade diaphragm is intended to give rounded, smooth out-of-focus rendering and defined sunstars when stopped down. The floating-element construction is presented as a means of maintaining consistent definition across the focusing range rather than as a claim of any particular sharpness figure. Stronger statements about contrast, flare, distortion or digital behavior are not well supported by sources tied specifically to this version, so they are omitted here.

History

Development and Launch The Simera 28mm and 35mm f/1.4 lenses were Thypoch's debut products, first launched in 2023 and noted for pairing retro styling with modern optical construction. The first 35mm used an infinity-lock mechanism that drew criticism: reviewers, including PetaPixel's Chris Niccolls, praised the build and look but found the automatic lock at infinity a persistent irritation because it could not be toggled on or off at will. In April 2025 Thypoch responded by introducing Type II focus-tab versions of both the 28mm and 35mm, which substitute a crescent-shaped tab for the infinity lock while leaving the optics unchanged.

Production Evolution The principal difference between the first Simera 35mm f/1.4 and the Simera 35mm f/1.4 II is the focusing mechanism, along with a revised price. Because the two versions share the same optical design, the change is primarily one of handling, with the tab enabling smooth single-finger focusing in place of the earlier locking ring.

Collector Notes The clearest identification point is the focus mechanism itself: the second version carries a crescent-shaped focus tab, while the original has the infinity-lock collar. The presence of the tab, rather than any optical marking, distinguishes a Type II from a Type I. Because Thypoch does not support converting one to the other, a tab on the barrel should be treated as an original factory feature rather than evidence of an aftermarket modification, and any lens claimed to have been converted should be approached with caution given the maker's warning about internal realignment risks.