Review: Thypoch Simera 28mm f/1.4 ASPH lens
Thypoch, a newcomer in the lens-making business, has garnered attention with their recent retro-esque releases.
One of its latest is the Simera 28mm f/1.4 ASPH, a manual focus lens for Leica, Nikon Z, and other compatible mounts. For this review, I was loaned the Simera in Nikon Z mount and Leica M mount form.
You may be wondering why the name ‘Thypoch’, which was derived from "Thy" (you) and "epoch" (era) to emphasise a focus on personal creativity, with "Simera" being a transliteration of the Greek word for "today."
The Tech
The Thypoch Simera 28mm f/1.4 ASPH uses an 11-element structure arranged in seven groups, and features an aperture range from f/1.4 to f/16. It’s also a compact lens at just 55mm long despite its fast aperture.
It’s available in black and silver, and like Thypoch’s other manual focus lenses, is constructed from high-quality materials yet only weighs 330g. It’s also designed to fit a variety of camera systems with appropriate adapters.
In my case, I used a K&F Concept adapter to test the Leica M version with other cameras I own.
Finally, it's worth noting that as the Thypoch simera is a manual focus only lens, it only relays limited information to your camera.
That means there's no recording of your aperture in exif data (or focal length for that matter), although you will see the shutter speed and ISO.
Build Quality
The build quality of the Simera 28mm f/1.4 is impressive. The lens I reviewed felt solid in hand, with no issues of self-unscrewing levers or disengaging aperture clicks which other reviewers noted in the pre-production models.
Ergonomically the lens is well-balanced on both the Nikon Zf and Leica M4. The mechanical construction is refined, providing smooth operation of the focus and aperture rings.
Nothing feels out of place, and everything feels well made. I’ll even go as far as saying it feels as good as my Voigtlander lenses, which are beautifully crafted.
In Use
Using the Thypoch Simera 28mm f/1.4 on an EVF camera like the Nikon Zf with an adapter was relatively seamless. The lens integrates well, and worked with the camera’s subject detection with real-time eye tracking and focus confirmation.
The lens handles well, with a smooth focus ring that provides precise control, something essential for a manual focus lens. The aperture ring clicks decisively, and despite its manual focus nature, the lens feels modern and intuitive to operate.
Image Quality
The optical performance of the Thypoch Simera 28mm f/1.4 is good. I found the lens to be generally sharp in the centre at all apertures, with improving edge-to-edge sharpness from f/4 onwards.
Bokeh was appealing and well-controlled, creating a pleasing 3D effect that enhances subject isolation and depth. Contrast is strong and chromatic aberrations were minimal.
Overall, the Thypoch Simera 28mm f/1.4 exhibits strong optical performance. I also tested the Simera 35mm and found the 28mm matched and sometimes exceeded its 35mm sibling.
Its ability to produce high-quality, sharp images even at wide apertures makes it a valuable tool for photographers seeking a fast, wide-angle lens.
The wrap-up
The Thypoch Simera 28mm f/1.4 ASPH stands out as a well-crafted, high-performing lens in the fast wide-angle category. Better yet, at an RRP of $699 USD ($1,056 AUD), it won’t break the bank either.
The lens’ combination of sharp optics, solid build quality, and smooth handling makes it a compelling option for photographers who want a sharp lens and aren’t bothered by having autofocus. We recommend it.
The results
Handling ★ ★ ★ ★
Very good. It's solid and has a nice amount of resistance when focusing.
Features ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Excellent. It’s simple and works as intended, no complaints.
Focusing ★ ★ ★ ★
Great. It’s manual focus only and works well, but I’d probably prefer a focus tab over the infinity lock that came with my copy.
Image Quality ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Excellent, delivering lovely rendering, and smooth bokeh with plenty of sharpness without being overly clinical like other lenses on the market.
Value For Money ★ ★ ★ ★
For those looking for an alternative to the more established brands, the Simera 28mm f/1.4 offers a competitive option that doesn't greatly compromise performance. For Leica users especially, this is a welcome addition to the M-mount.
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