The Thypoch Simera 75mm f/1.4 mini review – A new portraiture classic?

Thypoch seems absolutely set on making quite a dent in the Leica M mount lens segment. Just like with the other lenses of the Simera series, the 28mm f/1.4, 35mm f/1.4 and 50mm f/1.4 – The new 75mm f/1.4 is a piece of photographic equipment that both feels and shoots almost like a lens directly from the lensdesign halls of Leica or Zeiss. This 75mm is even the best of the series by far if you ask me, and that’s actually no small feat.

Some lenses just feel right. They strike a balance between optical performance and character, blending modern precision with an old-world soul. The Thypoch Simera 75mm f/1.4 is one such lens—a fast portrait lens for the M-mount world that doesn’t just chase technical perfection but embraces the art of image-making. It’s a lens that feels like it belongs in the rangefinder lineage while offering a fresh perspective for those who want something fast, compact, and undeniably beautiful.

Build and Feel

Compared to the smaller siblings the 28, 35 and 50mm this 75mm is of course substantially larger and heavier. It goes without saying that something as exotic as a 75mm f/1.4 full frame lens comes with quite the heft. This is due to physics. That can’t be changed. However this is quite a bit smaller than some of its competitors, the Voigtländer Nokton 75mm f/1.5 and the Leica 75mm f/1.4 Summilux. I have been fortunate enough to have used the legendary Leica lens designed by Mandler for a couple of months, so I actually have a lot of hands on experience with Bothe that and now the Thypoch. And much to my surprise, they are VERY similar in both build, feel and optical qualities.

The Simera is all metal, it comes with a rounded metal lens hood, and it features the by now well known Thypoch distance markings. These distance markings are captivating to say the least. As you move through the focus range a series of “empty dots” will fill with red markings outlining your depth of field at a given focus distance. It’s clever and it’s very unique.  
And just like with the rest of the series there’s even a switch that lets you declick the aperture if you so wish. I love this feature about the Simera series.  Speaking of aperture. It features a whopping 16 aperture blades, which makes bokeh look stellar even when stopping down!!

It’s quite heavy at about 370 grams, but again, for what it does – this is actually quite a small lens. It’s a lens that feels made for an M-body. Well-balanced, easy to focus, and just the right size.

The manual focus ring is an experience in itself—silky smooth, with just the right amount of resistance, making it a joy for those who prefer to work with precision. You get a slight stop at the 0.9 close focusing mark, only to let you know that you can focus even closer to around 0.6m. This is just like what Leica has done with the newer 35 and 50mm summilux and summicron lenses. It’s something that won’t work with rangefinder only cameras, but if your Leica has an external EVF, or if you like me use it on a Fujifilm GFX or some other mirrorless system – you can REALLY close focus this bad boy.

On my Leica M9 I definitely do get some finder blockage. Especially with the hood mounted.

I pasted all the specifications from Thypoch below – Then you can wobble in all those glorious numbers if you so wish.

Performance and usage

Let’s get it out of the way right now – This lens is a bokeh BEAST!
Wide open at f/1.4, it offers some of the smoothest bokeh I’ve seen in a long time. This lens was designed to be shot wide open, and it shows. At f/1.4, the center is sharp, but with just a hint of classic glow – giving skin tones a soft, organic look without veering into haziness. It’s not the ultra-clinical rendering of an APO lens, but that’s exactly why it’s interesting. There’s character in the way it draws light, a sense of depth that makes images feel alive.

Stopping down to f/2 improves contrast and eliminates the slight spherical aberrations, making it a razor-sharp performer. By f/2.8, it’s tack-sharp across the frame with excellent micro-contrast, making it a strong choice for more than just portraiture. Subject separation is crazy with this lens against creamy, soft backgrounds, creating that painterly feel.

The center sharpness is as I said very impressive at f/1.4.  More than enough to bring good details, but it avoids the ultra-crisp, razor-edged look common in other modern lenses. Colors are rendered rich and natural, with a slight warmth that flatters skin tones, while the contrast has a pleasing balance that remains true even under high-key lighting as well as night scenes. In those instances it covers beautifully.

Against the Leica Summilux 75mm f/1.4, the Simera is significantly smaller, lighter, and sharper wide open. But it doesn’t have that dreamy, almost mythical glow of Mandler’s design. The Leica lens is all about character, while the Thypoch strikes a balance between character and modern sharpness.

Final Thoughts and samples

The Thypoch Simera 75mm f/1.4 is a lens that rewards those of us who love working with fast telephoto primes. It offers a modern take on the classic portrait lens – sharp but soulful, precise but expressive. For those who want an alternative to the expensive Leica options without sacrificing optical quality, the Simera is a no-brainer. It’s compact, beautifully built, and renders in a way that feels timeless.

If you love fast glass with character, this one deserves a place in your bag.

All samples have been shot on the Fujifilm GFX50R or the Leica M9 with the Thypoch Simera 75mm f/1.4. They are RAF files that I have processed to my liking in Lightroom.

The Thypoch Simera 75mm f/1.4 will be available in Black and Silver. Pricing is suggested at 799 euros + VAT.