New Summilux 35mm ASPH.

[Marty]

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In that case one could start wondering if a new SX 35 ASPH would be the only announcement at Photokina

[yanidel]

Either the new 35mm Lux Asph is ready to be sold or it is not. No company will delay a new product introduction several months just because of a trade show, it makes no business sense. Especially in the times of internet, when a buzz can go around the planet in a few hours, much more efficient than any trade fair announcement.

[lars_bergquist]

Either the new 35mm Lux Asph is ready to be sold or it is not. No company will delay a new product introduction several months just because of a trade show, it makes no business sense. Especially in the times of internet, when a buzz can go around the planet in a few hours, much more efficient than any trade fair announcement.

 

Who says that the lens is ready? The development process of a complex item like this one is very much a planned one, with a target date. The Leica optical development office is not, I hope, an asylum for straw-in-the-hair mad scientists, running about and spontaneously inventing things. I can very well imagine that the target date for the lens is photokina 2010.

 

The old man from the Age of Walter Mandler

[luigi bertolotti]

Who says that the lens is ready? The development process of a complex item like this one is very much a planned one, with a target date. The Leica optical development office is not, I hope, an asylum for straw-in-the-hair mad scientists, running about and spontaneously inventing things. I can very well imagine that the target date for the lens is photokina 2010.

 

The old man from the Age of Walter Mandler

 

Someone that USED it... but I agree that having something new, working fine, does not mean always that the manufacturer is ready/willing to make it an orderable item: expecially in a small company like Leica, this is a process that can take several months.

[UliWer]

Someone that USED it... but I agree that having something new, working fine, does not mean always that the manufacturer is ready/willing to make it an orderable item: expecially in a small company like Leica, this is a process that can take several months.

 

We should exspect some months between the official announcement of a new lens and it being delivered to the customers. A new 35mm-Summilux would not be such a big novelty to wait for an announcement until Photokina. There are too many indications already around: the current version can't be ordered from factory any longer, shops are making their lists, people in different countries have seen a new one, photos have leaked...LFI announces to present the winners of their 35mm-competition in their next issue...

[horosu]

My dealer, who gave me May as the release date, is a very important one with significant insider information. I tend to trust his word.

[UliWer]

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When I asked a dealer, who might be called an important one, he just told me that there is no official statement by Leica, that there will be a new lens.

 

We shall know, when we see it in the shops.

[andybarton]

My dealer, who gave me May as the release date, is a very important one with significant insider information.

 

In that case he shouldn't be talking to you about it

[jaapv]

Either the new 35mm Lux Asph is ready to be sold or it is not. No company will delay a new product introduction several months just because of a trade show, it makes no business sense. Especially in the times of internet, when a buzz can go around the planet in a few hours, much more efficient than any trade fair announcement.

Depends... If you have a backordered situation on a number of your lenses, as Leica appears to be having now, it makes sense to delay another lens that might throw extra strain on the system. Don't forget they have to get the S2 lenses out of the door as well.

[andybarton]

They also make their lenses in batches. I suspect that there are a lot of 50 luxes on tables in various states of assembly at the moment. I hope so, anyway.

[ho_co]

... it makes sense to delay another lens that might throw extra strain on the system. ...

And gives current owners a chance to sell theirs.

[UliWer]

...If you have a backordered situation on a number of your lenses, as Leica appears to be having now, it makes sense to delay another lens that might throw extra strain on the system....

 

I don't see much strain if one lens is replaced by another. A new 35mm Summilux does not lead to overcrowding the catalogue - though I admit that it is already overcrowded. Another reason why I don't believe in any 28mm Summilux.

[yanidel]

Who says that the lens is ready? The development process of a complex item like this one is very much a planned one, with a target date. The Leica optical development office is not, I hope, an asylum for straw-in-the-hair mad scientists, running about and spontaneously inventing things. I can very well imagine that the target date for the lens is photokina 2010.

 

The old man from the Age of Walter Mandler

Well, if you believe companies financial targets are based on trade fair dates ... good for you. Maybe in the past when magazines had monthly issues and trade fairs were longly expected. But now with the internet, as soon as you can improve your cash flow and finally get some return for heavy R&D investment, you launch. Trade fair or not.

[ho_co]

yani--you don't believe that, do you?

 

Does Apple introduce new models at any time other than at shows?

 

Do car manufacturers turn out new models from time to time, rather than introducing them at major international car shows?

 

Do weapons manufacturers make quiet announcements of new planes and guns instead of introducing them at armaments shows?

 

Je crois que non!

[yanidel]

yani--you don't believe that, do you?

 

Does Apple introduce new models at any time other than at shows?

 

Do car manufacturers turn out new models from time to time, rather than introducing them at major international car shows?

 

Do weapons manufacturers make quiet announcements of new planes and guns instead of introducing them at armaments shows?

 

Je crois que non!

A new product introduction goes through various stages from concept to launch. The marketing and communications part comes at the end of the process. Once the operations confirms the production start date, then marketing starts planning the introduction. Once a production date is set (usually very late in the process as delays happen often), marketing looks at the best way to launch the product. Looking in priority for shows or events that fall around it. So obviously, if the 35mm Lux Asph is ready to be sold in August, they probably do the announcement in Photokina. Yet, if the lens happens to be ready as of March, Leica marketing will plan something sooner or believe me, the CFO will be all over their a...

 

By the way, Apple did not launch the Ipad at a show.

Nor did Leica launch the M9 at a show. 09/09 was probably the best "available date" around the date of production.

[ho_co]

...By the way, Apple did not launch the Ipad at a show....

Oops, caught me napping there.

 

Nor did Leica launch the M9 at a show. 09/09 was probably the best "available date" around the date of production.

I think 09/09/09 was a pretty good choice for a camera that a few years back "couldn't be built." The video even implied that the Leica stayed on the ninth floor of the hotel.

 

 

I agree that a lot of things come before the introduction.

 

photokina (apparently always lowercase, BTW--see usage examples at The Fair - Dates and opening times - photokina) has traditionally been the major show for the German photo industry, and I wouldn't be surprised if that was the originally targeted date.

 

I may be wrong, of course; we'll soon know. As far as I'm aware, we have both a possible leak and a sighting. That may mean it's close. Or not.

 

But it's always fun to speculate.

[Steve Ash]

I think this will be a really interesting lens which a lot of people grab without a second thought. With the kind of backlog of orders which it seems Leica is facing now I do not see a good reason to place this product now or in the next months.

 

Regards

Steve

[Jerry_R]

No news?

[andybarton]

Were you expecting some?

 

Don't hold your breath.

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[jplomley]

My "gut" feeling is that Leica have fallen victim to their own success. If they could ramp up manufacturing while maintaining quality control, than they would recognize a continuous stream of cash flow which would allow them to develop and introduce new products in a timely fashion. I believe the demand for Leica products is very high, but Leica simply do not have the labor force numbers to deliver.