Puts' Lens Compendium

[BrianNakata]

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I've only been interested in Leica M for about a year now so please forgive my ignorance on what may be common knowledge, but according to Puts' webpage, a new version of the long out-of-print Leica Lens Compendium is nearly ready.

 

I left him a message on his website a couple of weeks ago asking about this but have not received a response.

 

Does anyone know if this is just a stale webpage or if this is going to happen?

 

I hardly want to spend $2K USD on a used copy according to what I can find on Amazon!

 

Thanks.

 

Brian

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[jaapv]

THAT much ??? I have a copy signed by the author. I'll trade it for a new Noctilux!

[adan]

That's for a "new" one, jaap - used ones are $2,200. I guess it's the usual "Leica + rarity" equation.

 

=8^o

[jaapv]

Well, mine is B- condition, so I can sell it as " mint" on Amazon or e-bay

[hoppyman]

Brian that note about a new version (possibly printable on demand) has been on Erwin's site for a long time.

Personally I hope that it is updated with another publisher. I would happily pay for a new version. I find the current one very useful and interesting.

[rosuna]

Personally I hope that it is updated with another publisher. I would happily pay for a new version. I find the current one very useful and interesting.

 

Agree. I would pay for it too...

[BrianNakata]

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hoppyman,

 

OK, that's the kind of info I was looking for - didn't know if Puts' webpage was stale or not, guess it is.

 

I'll keep trying to contact him for info.

 

Thanks everyone!

 

Brian

[Chuck Albertson]

Wow! I'd better move my copy away from the water heater.

[Guest joewehry]

I don't have his Lens Compendium for reference to content, but you can download Puts' Leica M Lenses - Their Souls and Secrets (2002) from Leica's website, which gives a great history and comparison of lens to that date.

[Michiel Fokkema]

I'll sell mine for that amount. I know it by heart. I'll copy it first, I'm interested in the text only anyhow.

He used to have the pdf of the compendium on his website. Seems to be gone now.

 

Funny, on Amazon the used ones are more expensive then the new one.

 

Cheers,

 

Michiel Fokkema

[AGeoJO]

Holy smoke! I thought my eyes were deceiving me.... around $2K for a book? I bought mine brand new 5 years ago for a paltry sum of around $40.00.... if memory serves. I better put that book in the safe then .

[Ivar B]

For a long time, there was a free downloadable version from his web. I have it, and if someone needs it I cannot see that there is any problem in attaching it to an e-mail.

[LeicaRumors]

For a long time, there was a free downloadable version from his web. I have it, and if someone needs it I cannot see that there is any problem in attaching it to an e-mail.

 

Here is the link for the free download of "Leica M Lenses - Their Souls and Secrets":

 

http://en.leica-camera.com/assets/file/download.php?filename=file_1754.pdf

[hoppyman]

As Ivar has said, there was a free downloadable version of Erwin's book (minus the illustrations from memory) available from his site. There were a couple of lens updates too.

Now what some folks would like is a new printed edition with all of the newer lenses included too. I would certainly pay for it, providing it was published and sold under conditions approved by the author.

The Leica Pocket Book also includes the lens listings, text, illustrations and the MTF diagrams by Erwin also.

[Ivar B]

I would also welcome a new edition and would of course pay for it.

[hoppyman]

That is my understanding as well. I will happily pay for any new book from Erwin that he endorses.

[enboe]

Yes, I have a copy. I think I paid $40 new back in the day.

 

Anyone who is interested in trading even up for a clean, used MP, M8, M8.2, 18/3.8, 24/3.8, M7/0.58/chrome, or M7/0.85 chrome, just PM me. (just kidding, there's no way the book is worth that!)

 

To the original poster - if you are in the Los Angeles area and wish to borrow the book for a couple of weeks, send me a private message.

 

I'l still shaking my head.

 

Eric

[leicashot]

I'd buy one, but without google translation, I can't understand half of what Puts is talking about

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[mmradman]

Amended 2011 second edition is ready for ordering/shipment - sold.

 

Leica Compendium

The new print run is already sold out. So many persons pre-ordered the book that my stock is sold out. Again! I cannot take more pre-orders!

There may be books available at:

Riceball Photography Bookstore Singapore

Lindemanns Buchhandlung

LFI-Online shop.

www.Camerabooks.com

www.leica-store.hk

 

 

For those not familiar with E Puts google Tao of Leica, you will find his webpage and all information about the boook is there.

[UliWer]

I think you got the wrong thread: the so called "Leica Compendium" is not the older "Leica Lens Compendium".

 

Parts of the "Lens Compendium" have been cut and pasted into the "new" book, like other parts from the "Leica Pocket Book". Though by this selective copying quite a lot has been lost in many cases, in other cases there are identical texts from these original sources in the "new" book on different topics where they become meaningless. (I am eager to know, whether those nuisances were avoided in the second edition, if not I'd recommend to look carefully before believing that the "new" Compendium is a must have).