Availability of Silver 35mm Summilux FLE...

[Three Legged Cat]

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Hi All,

 

Back in mid-December my dealer told me he had the new 35mm Summilux FLE in Silver on back-order since October, and that he thought it would be 'due in soon'. I decided to just pay for it on the spot, hoping that it might arrive in early January and that I might also avoid any possible new year price rise by doing so.

 

The lens hasn't materialised yet, so I was just wondering if anyone had received theirs recently - or had maybe spotted one out in the wild?

 

Thanks & Regards.

 

(P.S. I know I need to be patient, but I just can't wait to get my hands on my new lens!)

[John Z. Goriup]

Got a call & picked mine up today at Camera West, at the Walnut Creek, CA store. So far as I know, it's the first example of a silver anodized 35mm Summilux FLE in the western US.

 

It has already joined the very special "inside circle" of M lenses which I own, but will never, ever sell,….. for two very good reasons:

 

!. because they're so bloody good and their performance and IQ are the best in their max. aperture and focal length class, and…………

 

2. because Leica M lenses in chrome look sensational on a chrome M.

 

This acquisition represents a major check-mark on my Leica M 'bucket list'. A trip to Napa wine country for sure this coming weekend. In the meantime, a shot of the MPwith its new optic, and the first image I took with this combination, a Rosemary bush in full bloom in my garden - at f1.4.

 

JZG

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Edited February 12, 2015 by John Z. Goriup

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[dugby]

Congrats JZG, looks fabulous.

 

Could you please explain the benefits of that 1.25x magnifier, with regards to the 35mm frame lines , and any improvements to the focusing images - overlay.

[Three Legged Cat]

Got a call & picked mine up today at Camera West, at the Walnut Creek, CA store. So far as I know, it's the first example of a silver anodized 35mm Summilux FLE in the western US.

 

It has already joined the very special "inside circle" of M lenses which I own, but will never, ever sell,….. for two very good reasons:

 

!. because they're so bloody good and their performance and IQ are the best in their max. aperture and focal length class, and…………

 

2. because Leica M lenses in chrome look sensational on a chrome M.

 

This acquisition represents a major check-mark on my Leica M 'bucket list'. A trip to Napa wine country for sure this coming weekend. In the meantime, a shot of the MPwith its new optic, and the first image I took with this combination, a Rosemary bush in full bloom in my garden - at f1.4.

 

JZG

 

Thanks for the info John - it's good to know they are finally reaching dealers.

 

I have a chrome m240 and this will be my first 'matching' lens - your pictures have me salivating! I can't wait for that call from my dealer now...

 

Have a great trip to Napa, and I'll look out for your photos.

 

Regards

[John Z. Goriup]

Congrats JZG, looks fabulous.

 

Could you please explain the benefits of that 1.25x magnifier, with regards to the 35mm frame lines , and any improvements to the focusing images - overlay.

 

Because I'm old (76), I wear bi-focals to correct mild astigmatism & near-sightedness, but cannot stand and will not wear spectacles when operating a camera, whether it's a rangefinder or a DSLR, therefore the 1.25 magnifier coupled with the +3 diopter which is permanently mounted on the magnifier allows me to compose and focus with complete accuracy and great reliability. The magnifier / diopter comination have become part of the camera and I never remove them anymore. The magnifier has become completely "transparent" to me and I don't realize it is even in place when using a 50mm or longer lens.

 

Admittedly, with 35 mm lenses the extreme corners of the frame lines are obscured, i.e. not readily visible, without moving the pupils, but I can clearly see about three-quarters of the straight portion of the horizontal & vertical 35 millimeter frame lines without moving head or eyes and thus extrapolate where the corners are and what will be included in the composition and what will not. Composing thus really becomes second nature very quickly, and given the resolution of the M series sensor and the latest series of floating element Summilux lenses, if some minor does become necessary to correct errors in composing, no one will ever know, because there simply is no detectable loss of image quality.

 

For me, at this time, this represents the ideal solution - and I don't have to activate 'Live View' or worse, reach for that horrible EVF to enjoy using my favorite focal length. Another consideration / factor, at a reasonable US $125.00 or thereabouts for the x1.25 magnifier it's not a great financial loss if you put one one your M and find it simply doesn't work for you. For a while i used to take it off and on & leave it dangling on its chain while shooting, but over time it's become a permanent and indispensable resident.

 

Regards,

 

JZG

Edited February 12, 2015 by John Z. Goriup

[gberger]

I used a 1.25 magnifier and a +1 diopter corrective lens the same way. It really helped with my M7.

[Bill W]

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Congrats on the lens. Just curious about the tape, is it for protection or grip?

[John Z. Goriup]

Bill,

 

Strictly for protection. Unlike some black camera aficionados who consider brassing desirable patina and are proud to prove to the world how long they've owned and used their Leicas, I prefer the pristine 'just-out-of-the-box' look, but the leather strap has a tendency to polish the edge of the top cover, hence the tape - I find the standard black nylon strap included with the cameras even more "abusive" to the surface finish.

 

I'll be very interested to see how the new, optional anodized silver surface treatment on the 35 Summilux FLE and the current Noctilux fares in the long term. I've always preferred chrome lenses on chrome M bodies, and applaud Leica for offering these two important optics in an anodized finish which very effectively & accurately replicates the traditional finish of chrome lenses, which of course are constructed of brass almost entirely, which would have made these two lenses much too heavy and expensive. If the new anodized silver finish stands up well to extended use, perhaps we can look forward to Leica offering the silver anodized finish on additional lenses currently offered in black only.

 

JZG

[Bill W]

I have been tempted by the chrome 35 but so far you are the only one I have heard that actually got one. I am betting that if one came in there are several others that reached US dealers.

[semi-ambivalent]

If the new anodized silver finish stands up well to extended use, perhaps we can look forward to Leica offering the silver anodized finish on additional lenses currently offered in black only.

 

I suspect how salable it is, and not how durable, will factor in more to Leica's decision. (Not that that isn't a valid consideration.)

 

s-a

[Torgian]

Actually saw a couple of those here in Japan today while browsing the camera stores.

[Three Legged Cat]

At last! My silver 35mm Summilux FLE turned up yesterday, by chance just whilst I was visiting my dealer - and what a lovely thing it is too... I look forward to putting it through it's paces this weekend.

 

Anyhow, just one small problem: I was expecting to find a screw-thread cover included - the part which screws onto the lens when the hood isn't attached to cover the thread, as seen in most of the pictures of this lens. I've asked my dealer whether this should be included or not (it's their first one in, so they weren't absolutely certain), and whilst I wait while they check with Leica, I thought I'd ask if anyone had one included with their purchase of this lens? I think the lens looks a bit 'unfinished' when the hood is off and the threads are exposed, so I really hope that Leica aren't making this an 'optional extra' given the cost of the lens.

 

Regards.

[Bill W]

There is one for sale at Popflash and they picture it with the screw head cover. My black 35 FLE came with one.

[Erik Gunst Lund]

...

 

Anyhow, just one small problem: I was expecting to find a screw-thread cover included - the part which screws onto the lens when the hood isn't attached to cover the thread, as seen in most of the pictures of this lens. I've asked my dealer whether this should be included or not (it's their first one in, so they weren't absolutely certain), ---

 

Regards.

 

It should be located in the leather lens pouch, have a look under the insert in the bottom

[ronnjay]

Because I'm old (76), I wear bi-focals to correct mild astigmatism & near-sightedness, but cannot stand and will not wear spectacles when operating a camera, whether it's a rangefinder or a DSLR, therefore the 1.25 magnifier coupled with the +3 diopter which is permanently mounted on the magnifier allows me to compose and focus with complete accuracy and great reliability. The magnifier / diopter comination have become part of the camera and I never remove them anymore. The magnifier has become completely "transparent" to me and I don't realize it is even in place when using a 50mm or longer lens.

 

Regards,

 

JZG

 

John,

I need the same optical help with the viewfinder as you found. In what order did you mount the diopter correction lens and the 1.25 magnifier? Have you tried the reverse order? From your first photo it appears the +3 lens may be screwed into the 1.25 magnifier which in turn is screwed into the camera eyepiece.

Thanks, Ron

[Guest]

...mild astigmatism...

I also have mild astigmatism, but that made it difficult for me to focus M-lenses accurately with the narrow depth-of-field of wide aperture M-lenses, despite my generally good distance vision: I don't wear eyeglasses except for reading. The solution was the the Walter eyepiece, which uses the prescription from your ophthalmologist for a rotating lens that does away with the need for either a magnifier or a diopter, which for me did not work as well. You can see what I mean in the short video in the forgoing link. Before I got the Walter eyepiece I found that I simply avoided to shoot at wide apertures. (I have no connection to the maker of this eyepiece).

[Three Legged Cat]

It should be located in the leather lens pouch, have a look under the insert in the bottom

 

Erik,

 

Thank you so much! I would never have looked there in a hundred years - but there it is...

 

Kind Regards.

[dlubis]

Just bought my silver 35 Summilux FLE last night, don't have to pre-order in Singapore, so many on stock. Will try it this weekend.

[cookedart]

I think Ken Hansen has this lens now. Managed to order one from him yesterday!

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[KM-25]

How much that sucker weigh? The black one is 320gr,