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"New" 35 Lux?


novice9

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Is there any concrete basis for the rumors that Leica will release a new 35 lux next year -- or ever, for that matter?

 

If so, how would we expect this lense to exceed the performance of the existing 35 lux? I own one and the level of focus shift on my m9 is only detectable at minimum focus distance at 100% crop, and barely noticeable at that. In other words, for me its a non-issue.

 

So focus shift aside, would a 35 lux with floating elements in any way deliver superior/inferior performance to the existing product?

 

 

thx.

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I can't comment on the validity of the rumors, but I would guess that optically a 35/1.4 with a floating element/element group would be very sharp and would not have focus shift, but it would also be more expensive as it would be more complicated to manufacture.

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I can't comment on the validity of the rumors, but I would guess that optically a 35/1.4 with a floating element/element group would be very sharp and would not have focus shift, but it would also be more expensive as it would be more complicated to manufacture.

Although I'd agree with you it'll be more expensive, I'm not certain if "more complicated to manufacture" would be the reason ;-).

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The age of the design does mean that it must be approaching the end of its production run. The focus shift is a publicity issue, if nothing else. So I do expect a new 35mm Summilux at the next Photokina at least, though I think that the optical gnomes of Solms must also be considering a 28mm Summilux -- that's a glaring hole in the line-up (maybe a mixed metaphor, but so what?)

 

But I will not dump mine.

 

The old man from the Brass Age

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If we get a new one, it may very well be larger, heavier and it will likely have floating elements which MAY mean the focusing action won't be as smooth.

 

Also it may have the new style metal screw-in hoods. The hood on my 24/1.4 was always getting knocked out of position, though at least it never fell off. Possibly it will use series filters.

 

I'm keeping my current model, which in practice works wonderfully.

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It must be one of the oldest designs in their catalogue. But any update is likely to come with a premium price tag. But the M lens range is still wonderful. The best range of primes from any manufacturer by such a large margin. I am currently running a Canon/Leica split system and I so wish that Canon had some more small, light, high-quality primes in the middle range (24-85mm).

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The age of the design does mean that it must be approaching the end of its production run. The focus shift is a publicity issue, if nothing else. So I do expect a new 35mm Summilux at the next Photokina at least, though I think that the optical gnomes of Solms must also be considering a 28mm Summilux -- that's a glaring hole in the line-up (maybe a mixed metaphor, but so what?)

 

But I will not dump mine.

 

The old man from the Brass Age

 

I'm not sure if I agree with you about there being a glaring hole or indeed...a need for a 28 Summilux. There exists, as you know, a Summicron and an Elmarit, at a focal length of 28 there simply isn't a need for anything faster. The most recent 24 and 21 Summilux' are great but not superior to their Elmarits counterpart (I have all the aforementioned) other than for bragging rights and one could even argue that for what one gives up in size/weight, the extra two stops aren't worth it.

 

Now an updated 35 Summilux which is an EVERYDAY standard lens that one can practically do everything with due to it's incredibly low distortion and without focus shift...now we're talking ;)

 

~allabouttheglass

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There exists, as you know, a Summicron and an Elmarit, at a focal length of 28 there simply isn't a need for anything faster.

 

And yet, I would buy a 28 summilux. Just goes to show how much you know about other people's needs.

 

The most recent 24 and 21 Summilux' are great but not superior to their Elmarits counterpart (I have all the aforementioned) other than for bragging rights and one could even argue that for what one gives up in size/weight, the extra two stops aren't worth it.

 

But how well does the elmarit perform at f2 compared to the summiluxes? Is it really as good as you're making it sound? Oh... wait...

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Also it may have the new style metal screw-in hoods. The hood on my 24/1.4 was always getting knocked out of position, though at least it never fell off. Possibly it will use series filters.

 

Noah, where did you get that lens? It must be passing rare, if it does not have the screw-in hood.

 

The old man from the Age of the 3.5cm Elmar

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I'm not sure if I agree with you about there being a glaring hole or indeed...a need for a 28 Summilux [ ... ]

~allabouttheglass

 

There is precious little need for Summiluxes today. I bought my 35 ASPH when we went from Kodachrome 64 to Ektar 100 when we needed something faster ... and I bought my 50mm Summilux ASPH not for its speed, but for its remarkable resistance to flare and reflections (a weak point of the Summicron).

 

Want, however, is different from need. Wants, not needs, keep Leica afloat. If other peoples wants do help me out with my needs, it's all right with me.

 

The old man from the Age of the Light-sensitive Hairshirt

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Does the 35mm Summilux Aspherical has focus shift problems? (I refer to the first version, 1989-1994).

 

An owner of an "Aspherical" told me it's focus shift free (M8 + film user) but didn't give me a visual proof... here in the forum I remember to have seen some pics of the item, but no pics taken with it with the specific purpose of adressing the focus shift behavior... I would be curios...;)... Aspherical tends to become "covered" by a halo of legend...

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If the new one will come without a focusing tab I will be thrilled!

 

My only Leica lens with a tab is the 35/2 ASPH and I always look for it. It just doesn't feel right, especially when you have to change apertures and then go back to focus the picture.

 

The others (50/1.4 ASPH, 50/2.8, 75/2) do not have the tab and they feel more natural to me.

 

Horea

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If we get a new one, it may very well be larger, heavier and it will likely have floating elements which MAY mean the focusing action won't be as smooth.

 

Also it may have the new style metal screw-in hoods. The hood on my 24/1.4 was always getting knocked out of position, though at least it never fell off. Possibly it will use series filters.

 

I'm keeping my current model, which in practice works wonderfully.

 

My 50 ASPH Lux had desperately stiff focussing even after a year of use. I tried another chrome one and it was just as stiff. It was not an aid to accurate focussing. That was one of the reasons I let it go. I hope that this would be one of the things Leica would look at very carefully in the development of a Mk2 ASPH Lux, with internal focussing. My guess is that we won't see either a new 35 Lux or a 28 Lux before Photokina 2010. There are all the announced S2 lenses yet to get into production, to occupy lens people at Solms.

 

Wilson

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