Funleader ships Contax G35 Black Edition

A camera lens rehousing story sounds niche — but this one lands if you care about old optics and modern bodies. Funleader has started shipping a Black Edition of its Contax G35 Leica M Conversion Helicoid V2, a kit that lets owners move the original Contax G 35mm f/2 optical block into a Leica M-compatible housing without permanently altering the lens. That matters because the Contax G 35 is one of those lenses people still chase, but the original autofocus G bodies are a dead-end for a lot of current shooters. The update is simple on paper — lighter housing, black finish, matching cap — but it fixes the exact part that makes conversions either lovable or annoying in daily use. ### What is this thing, exactly? This is not a new optical design. It is a conversion kit for the Contax G 35mm f/2 Planar T* — usually just called the G35. You take the original optical block from the Contax lens and install it into Funleader’s Leica M helicoid assembly. The point is to keep the Zeiss rendering people want while making the lens usable on Leica M cameras with proper rangefinder coupling. ### Why do people care about the G35? Because the Contax G system still has a real reputation. It was one of the few autofocus rangefinder-style systems of the 1990s, and the Zeiss lenses from that lineup never really lost their appeal. The 35mm f/2 sits in the sweet spot — wide enough for street and documentary work, normal enough for everyday shooting. The conversion methods often meant irreversible surgery. ### What changed in the Black Edition? The big hardware change is the housing. Funleader moved this version to an upgraded aluminum-alloy body and added a matching aluminum lens cap. The black finish is also part of the pitch — less flashy, more integrated with black Leica M bodies. Basically, the company is treating this less like a workshop oddity and more like a finished product you would actually leave on your camera every day. ### Is this different from V2.0? Yes — but not in the optics. V2.0 already brought the mechanical redesign. That earlier update focused on smoother focus damping, better assembly precision, and a more controlled feel across the focus throw. The Black Edition sits on top of that V2.0 platform. So the real sequence is: first the mechanics got better, now the package gets lighter and cleaner. ### Why does the non-destructive part matter? Because collectors and serious users hate one-way modifications. A permanent conversion can hurt resale value, originality, and service options. Funleader’s whole angle since the first G35 conversion has been reversibility — keep the original optical unit intact, rather than a hack. ### What does it cost? Funleader’s product page currently lists the kit at $990, with a crossed-out regular price of $1,099. That lines up with the earlier V2.0 pricing and suggests the Black Edition is being used partly as a refresh and partly as a sales push. Which is a strong reason to buy one. This is for Leica M shooters who want classic Zeiss rendering without using adapters that compromise handling, and for Contax G fans who want to rescue their favorite glass from an aging system. This is not just an update, but a meaningful one. Funleader is not changing what made the G35 interesting — the optics stay the same. It is changing the part users touch every day: weight, finish, focus feel, and how naturally the converted lens fits into the Leica M world.