Visoflex query

[pgk]

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Out of pure curiosity can someone state when Leica stopped making Visoflexes? I'm just intrigued!

[jaapv]

1984.

[pgk]

Thanks. I figured that it must be a fair time ago!

[jaapv]

Actualy, I think that is amazingly late, considering Leica had been building SLRs for two decades by then.

[Michael Hiles]

1984.

 

A sad day - these devices are un-pretty, but they work extremely well. Now that they have discontinued the R line, Leica should resurrect the Visoflex idea and make their lens heads removable. For close-ups and long lenses, the system seems old fashioned, but it works.

 

Probably not profitable.

[jc_braconi]

these devices are un-pretty, the system seems old fashioned,

 

I disagree

[tobey bilek]

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I bought my Leica reps sample Viso 3 in the 1985 time frame. Also got a black 65 same time. Today you never see a rep.

 

I am debating a M9 + viso since the R10 will not be. That or I just keep using my Nikons digi slr.

[luigi bertolotti]

A sad day - these devices are un-pretty, but they work extremely well. Now that they have discontinued the R line, Leica should resurrect the Visoflex idea and make their lens heads removable. For close-ups and long lenses, the system seems old fashioned, but it works.

 

Probably not profitable.

 

Apart that defining Visoflex un-pretty is a blasphemy, hereby... , I agree that revitalizing the Viso would be probably unprofitable... not for the item in itself : the V III was such a good design that could be taken on like is, no development costs and maybe with some saving on materials (and weight)... the problem would be that they ought to design and build some new lenses for it...at least a macro and a pair of teles... and how many people would BUY such items ? One can find a Telyt 200 around 400 Euros... 280 around 500 ... Leicashop has a fine couple 400+560 at 780 Euros... seriously speaking, should Leica develop some new tele, probably they would sell more if they are provided with adapters for Ni-Ca DSLRs...

[Michael Hiles]

Apart that defining Visoflex un-pretty is a blasphemy, hereby... , I agree that revitalizing the Viso would be probably unprofitable... not for the item in itself : the V III was such a good design that could be taken on like is, no development costs and maybe with some saving on materials (and weight)... the problem would be that they ought to design and build some new lenses for it...at least a macro and a pair of teles... and how many people would BUY such items ? One can find a Telyt 200 around 400 Euros... 280 around 500 ... Leicashop has a fine couple 400+560 at 780 Euros... seriously speaking, should Leica develop some new tele, probably they would sell more if they are provided with adapters for Ni-Ca DSLRs...

 

Loads of good ideas above.

 

The business case is not obvious, but it is not obvious for other items in the catalogue. I wonder how profitable the 90mm macro lens is. And the very long modular lenses (I suppose now discontinued), I believe they sold much less the 1000 units. And table tripods and ball heads - I think they are wonderful, but how many get sold...

 

However I suspect there is a niche market, and the Nikon/Canon adapters is a great idea - there are probably a reasonable number of people who wold welcome new and outstanding Leica glass that would fit onto their DSLRs.

[luigi bertolotti]

Loads of good ideas above.

 

The business case is not obvious, but it is not obvious for other items in the catalogue. I wonder how profitable the 90mm macro lens is. And the very long modular lenses (I suppose now discontinued), I believe they sold much less the 1000 units. And table tripods and ball heads - I think they are wonderful, but how many get sold...

 

However I suspect there is a niche market, and the Nikon/Canon adapters is a great idea - there are probably a reasonable number of people who wold welcome new and outstanding Leica glass that would fit onto their DSLRs.

 

Right consideration... but the Macro 90 is DONE... even if it sells slowly, the perennial compatibility of M system (we''l see with M10... ) makes it possible they simply continue to keep it on the pricelist, building some batch of 20-50 items time to time... after all there is a long history of Leitz lenses reamined unchanged for decades, always appreciated: they are accustomed to return on investiment measured well above the std. 3-4 years...

[sulskyr]

Fortunately, Visoflexes are often available second-hand at not terrible (for Leica equipment) prices. I use mine frequently, both for close-up work with the Bellows II (either with the 65 mm or, through somewhat convoluted plumbing, with microscope objectives) or for 200-280-400 mm telephoto work.

[gyoung]

Fortunately, Visoflexes are often available second-hand at not terrible (for Leica equipment) prices. I use mine frequently, both for close-up work with the Bellows II (either with the 65 mm or, through somewhat convoluted plumbing, with microscope objectives) or for 200-280-400 mm telephoto work.

 

I bought a Visoflex II recently, and its good fun to use with the M3, and a 200 Telyt followed not long after. I have also just bought a Fotodiox Viso to Nikon F mount adaptor, and so I can use the 90,135 and 200 on the FM2 etc, very easy, and you get pre-set diaphragm with the 200, unlike the R + Leitax conversions.