Artralab

Artralab (Art Random Adventure) is one of the newest and most visually distinct players in the third-party M-mount ecosystem. Founded in Hong Kong in 2018, the brand differentiates itself from mainland Chinese competitors (like 7Artisans or TTArtisan) by prioritizing industrial design and specific historical tributes that no one else is attempting.

For the Leica user, Artralab is best known for two daring projects: creating native M-mount tributes to vintage Nikon lenses (the Nonikkor series) and producing a nearly identical aesthetic clone of the legendary Leica 35mm Steel Rim. Their lenses are unapologetically "fashion-first," often featuring heavy brass construction, exotic finish options (like white or raw brass), and packaging that feels more like a luxury watch than a camera lens.

History

Artralab is a boutique design house rather than a mass-production factory.

The "Art Random Adventure" (2018 to Present)

Founded by a group of photographers and designers in Hong Kong, Artralab began with a focus on accessories before moving into optics. Their philosophy blends a "cyberpunk" modern aesthetic with deep nostalgia for the 1960s and 80s.

• The Nikon Tribute: Their breakout moment was the release of the Nonikkor-MC series. Recognizing that many rangefinder users also love the look of vintage Nikon AI-S SLR lenses, they engineered a native M-mount lens that mimics the scalloped metal focus rings and colorful depth-of-field scales of 1980s Nikkors.
• The Expansion: Recently, they have expanded into extremely compact pancake lenses and direct homages to Leica's "holy grail" optics, offering visual replicas of lenses that typically cost $10,000+ for a fraction of the price [[1]].

Product Lines (M-Mount Native)

Artralab lenses are categorized by their aesthetic tribute rather than just focal length.

The "Nonikkor" Series (Nikon Tribute)

• Nonikkor-MC 35mm f/1.4: A visual love letter to the Nikon Nikkor 35mm f/1.4 AI-S.
  • Design: It features the iconic "waffle pattern" rubber or metal focus ring and the distinct font of vintage Nikon lenses.
  • Optics: It is not a clinical modern lens. It is designed to flare and glow wide open, offering a "dreamy" 1980s look that tightens up significantly when stopped down.
  • Finish: Available in classic black or a stark "Panda" silver/black combo [[2]].

The "Similar" Series (Leica Tribute)

• 35mm f/1.4 "Steel Rim": A direct aesthetic clone of the Leica Summilux 35mm Pre-ASPH "Steel Rim."
  • The Look: It features the iconic silver stainless steel front rim and infinity lock button. From a meter away, it is nearly indistinguishable from the original Leica version.
  • Performance: Like the lens it copies, it is known for heavy spherical aberration ("glow") at f/1.4. It is a "character lens" intended for artistic portraiture, not for shooting brick walls.
  • Focus Shift: Users should be aware that, like many fast vintage tributes, this lens can suffer from focus shift (where the focal point moves as you stop down). It is best used wide open or stopped down to f/5.6 for deep focus [[4]].

The "Lumen" & Pancake Series

• Lunaelumen 50mm f/1.1: A super-fast standard lens.
  • Build: A dense, heavy lens designed for low-light work. It typically features a clickless aperture, making it a hybrid choice for videographers.
• 28mm f/2.8 Pancake: A recently released ultra-thin lens (approx 13mm thick).
  • Innovation: It uses a 9-element design packed into a wafer-thin brass body. It is one of the smallest M-mount lenses currently in production, rivalling the MS-Optics Perar in portability but with a more robust build [[5]].

Technical Specifications

Feature	Specification Details
Native Mount	Leica M-Bayonet
Focus Coupling	Coupled. (Standard rangefinder coupling).
Build Materials	Brass & Aluminum. Known for high density and "jewelry-like" finishes (e.g., raw brass, oxidised black).
Design Language	Distinctly retro. Focus rings often use "scalloped" metal (Nikon style) or infinity locks (Leica style).
Filter Thread	Varies. The 35mm "Steel Rim" often uses non-standard Series VII drop-ins or specific hoods.
Coatings	Multi-Coated (but tuned for flare/character).
6-Bit Coding	No. Generally lacks the pits for user-coding found on TTArtisan lenses.

Why Photographers Choose Artralab

• The "Nikon" Look on M: For photographers who grew up shooting Nikon FM2s but now shoot Leica M, the Nonikkor 35mm is the only way to get that specific tactile nostalgia on a rangefinder body.
• Steel Rim Aesthetics: A real Leica Steel Rim costs over $10,000 (vintage) or $4,000 (reissue). The Artralab version offers the same visual "flex" and a similar glowing optical signature for roughly $500.
• Industrial Design: Artralab takes risks with finishes. Their "oxidised" and "raw brass" lenses appeal to users who customize their cameras and want a lens that acts as a fashion accessory as much as an optical tool.

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Sources

• [1] Phottix (Artralab Brand Story): https://www.phottix.com/about-artralab/
• [2] LensFinder (Nonikkor 35mm Profile): https://lensfinder.org/lenses/sony-e/artra-lab-nonikkor-mc-35mm-f14-1980s
• [3] 35mmc (Artizlab/Artralab 35mm Review): https://www.35mmc.com/05/01/2026/artizlab-classic-35mm-f-1-4-v2-ish-review/
• [4] DRobertsPhoto (Steel Rim Review): https://drobertsphoto.com/artralabsimilarsteelrim35mmf14
• [5] Leica Rumors (28mm Pancake Announcement): https://leicarumors.com/2025/12/16/new-artralab-28mm-f-2-8-lens-for-leica-m-mount.aspx/