No short and long S2 lenses yet – future plans and workarounds?

[karman]

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I wonder why there do not seem to be any plans for very short or long focal length S2 lenses. Is this because of technical reasons or is Leica first trying to establish a market position, recoup development costs, and will expand their lens line-up at a later stage?

 

For someone interested in short/long lenses considering to invest in the S2, what are his options in case such lenses do not appear after all? Hope for an adaptor and use 3rd party lenses if available/possible at all? An extender would seem a simple way for Leica to address the current lack of longer lenses, but so far I have not seen any extender announced either.

 

Appreciate any views on this topic.

[dpattinson]

I'd say they are trying to fill in the lenses typically used most by medium-format photographers, and then if that's a raging success they may make some more extreme lenses.

 

There is already a Hasselblad V-lens adapter being field tested, so you'd have a 40mm and whatever the longest V lens is in that case.

 

I wonder why there do not seem to be any plans for very short or long focal length S2 lenses. Is this because of technical reasons or is Leica first trying to establish a market position, recoup development costs, and will expand their lens line-up at a later stage?

 

For someone interested in short/long lenses considering to invest in the S2, what are his options in case such lenses do not appear after all? Hope for an adaptor and use 3rd party lenses if available/possible at all? An extender would seem a simple way for Leica to address the current lack of longer lenses, but so far I have not seen any extender announced either.

 

Appreciate any views on this topic.

[georg]

The S2 was presented with several prototypes/ ideas for lenses:

David Farkas Photography Blog: Leica VIP Launch Event for S2

 

Some of them should be introduced within the next year. There are not many alternatives on the WA-department (other than just buy an used SWC...) but the Superachromat-tele-lenses from Zeiss should be an ideal fit for the S2 (despite MF).

[dfarkas]

The S2 was presented with several prototypes/ ideas for lenses:

David Farkas Photography Blog: Leica VIP Launch Event for S2

 

Some of them should be introduced within the next year. There are not many alternatives on the WA-department (other than just buy an used SWC...) but the Superachromat-tele-lenses from Zeiss should be an ideal fit for the S2 (despite MF).

 

Currently Leica is shipping (or starting to ship, at least) the 35, 70 and 180mm lenses.

 

We do have the V to S2 adapter and are testing it, especially with lenses like the 350 SA. So far everything looks pretty good and this gives some options while Leica expands their S lens lineup.

 

I'm sure we will see some announcements or roadmap of some sort from Leica at this year's Photokina show. Already, they have said that the next lenses to be introduced will be a 24mm f/3.5 and a 30-90mm f/3.5 zoom. After that, a fast 100 portrait lens, a wide T/S lens and a 350mm f/3.5 APO.

 

David

[adan]

Funny - I never thought there was a doubt about Leica's plans for long and wide lenses for the S2. They showed 9 lenses (all of them "prototypes" at the time) in Sept. 2008, ranging from 24mm (20mm-equiv) to 350 (280mm equiv). That seemed like a "plan" to me.

 

When Hassy introduced the new H system, they also had 4 lenses to start with - 35, 80, 150 and a zoom: Hasselblad H1

 

When Nikon introduced their first SLR, they included 4 lenses to start (35 f/2.8, 50 f/2, 105 f/2.5, 135 f/3.5). It took them most of a decade to add the 20s and 24s and 300s.

 

I am intrigued by Dave's mention of a "fast 100mm portrait lens" - the original plan was for a 100 f/3.5, which is slow compared to the 70mm and 120mm, and thus (I figured) to be a cheap(er) alternative.

[dfarkas]

Funny - I never thought there was a doubt about Leica's plans for long and wide lenses for the S2. They showed 9 lenses (all of them "prototypes" at the time) in Sept. 2008, ranging from 24mm (20mm-equiv) to 350 (280mm equiv). That seemed like a "plan" to me.

 

When Hassy introduced the new H system, they also had 4 lenses to start with - 35, 80, 150 and a zoom: Hasselblad H1

 

When Nikon introduced their first SLR, they included 4 lenses to start (35 f/2.8, 50 f/2, 105 f/2.5, 135 f/3.5). It took them most of a decade to add the 20s and 24s and 300s.

 

I am intrigued by Dave's mention of a "fast 100mm portrait lens" - the original plan was for a 100 f/3.5, which is slow compared to the 70mm and 120mm, and thus (I figured) to be a cheap(er) alternative.

 

Andy, I believe that the 100 f/3.5 was a typo, either on my part as a reporter or on the lens prototype itself. I got the impression during my visit at Leica last summer that the design team is aiming for an f/2 100mm lens.

 

David

[adan]

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Thanks for the clarification, David. I note the July LFI has an article on the 120 Macro, with sample shots, and mentioning June delivery.

[eronald]

I am intrigued by Dave's mention of a "fast 100mm portrait lens" - the original plan was for a 100 f/3.5, which is slow compared to the 70mm and 120mm, and thus (I figured) to be a cheap(er) alternative.

 

I think a lot of people asked for a portrait lens. I did

 

Edmund

[Likaleica]

I'm planning to wait until Photokina for announcements, and if no long lens is forthcoming soon I plan to use a long Zeiss lens. I have the adapter and have been using it with the 100 f3.5 CFi Planar with satisfactory results.

[Wiggi]

When you need a lens, Leica does not offer, simply use an adapter like Kurt Kamka does.

 

But there are also focal length where is no plan from Leica to offer for the S2. Eg. 35mm equiv to 35mm film. Here you can use the 40mm Zeiss for Hasselblad

[zeitz]

No one probably cares, but I don't like revisionist history. Source: Peterson, Nikon System Handbook, 4th edition.

 

Lenses usable from Nikon rangefinder system could be used in 1959:

135 4.0 short mount

180 2.5

250 4.0

350 4.5

500 5.0

1000 6.3

 

New lenses released in 1959 and 1960 with Nikon F:

21 4.0

28 3.5

35 2.8

50 2.0

58 1.4

105 2.5

105 4.0

135 3.5

85-250 4.0-4.5

 

20 3.5 came in 1969

24 2.8 came in 1967

300 4.5 came in 1964

 

Conclusion: Nikon was able to get lenses out very quickly. A lot more than 4 lenses. However, this is not a good comparison to the S2 situation.

[Likaleica]

However, this is not a good comparison to the S2 situation.

 

Agreed, not comparable at all. Mass production in large facility vs. hand made in small shop. Also, different consumer targets, I would suspect.

[adan]

Zeitz, can you explain a little better what is revisionist about my previous post?

 

Nikon F camera introduced March 1959 - Philadelphia Photo Show

When available for purchase in June 1959, there were 4 F-system lenses introduced "with" it (i.e. immediately available for purchase at the same time). 35 f/2.8, 50 f/2, 105 f/2.5, 135 f/3.5

 

At later times (not "with"), the following were introduced:

 

85-250 zoom - Nov. 1959 (8 months later)

21 f/4 rangefinder lens in F mount - December 1959 (9 months later)

58mm f/1.4 - March 1960 (12 months later)

28 f/3.5 - March 1960 (12 months later)

50 f/1.4 - March 1962 (36 months later)

105 f/4 - design drawing first seen "late 1959" - actual lens in S-mount, spring 1960 (12 months)

 

And of course a whole slew of lenses throughout the next decade (although it took the whole decade to get around to a 20mm that actually used the Nikon F's viewfinder and auto-aperture mechanism - i.e a true SLR lens).

 

This is according to NIKON'S own history site......

 

Nikon | Imaging Products | NIKKOR - The Thousand and One Nights, Tale 21 : Nikkor-T 10.5cm f/4

 

It was possible to adapt "S"-system lenses to use on the F - but they were not F lenses, and lacked auto aperture and the metering prongs that were a key part of the F system.

[anabasis]

Looks like the portrait/macro lens was the first out of the blocks.

 

JCA

[rosuna]

New grip, new bag, new firmware, new lens:

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-blog/2010/09/leica-apo-macro-summarit-s-f25-120-mm/

 

No leaf shutter lenses yet.

[dfarkas]

New grip, new bag, new firmware, new lens:

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-blog/2010/09/leica-apo-macro-summarit-s-f25-120-mm/

 

No leaf shutter lenses yet.

 

I used a preproduction 120 macro a few weeks ago and it was stunning. As soon as I can get my hands on an official sample I'll get a write-up online about it. I already have the new firmware which adds support for the 120 macro and I am taking an S2 with me to Germany. Hopefully, someone will let me take one for spin.....

 

There are supposed to be working samples of the CS lenses at the show. Can't wait to try for myself.

 

I already got a shipping notice from Leica on the pro chargers.... I should have them in store on Tuesday. Of course, I'll be at Photokina so either way I can get hands-on.

 

Just a couple more days now.

 

David

[mhoersch]

New grip, new bag, new firmware, new lens:

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-blog/2010/09/leica-apo-macro-summarit-s-f25-120-mm/

 

No leaf shutter lenses yet.

 

And no wide angles. In short: after two years, everything's available now that no one has been waiting for. Well, isn't that something?

[tobey bilek]

I hope they do not make a pro wait a decade for more lenses. They won`t.

 

They also need a 40/50 mm lens. 35 to 70 is too big a jump.

[rosuna]

Leica says they are considering the possibility of a tilt and shift. I think a T&S lens is a must in any professional system.

 

I would suggest Leica to develop a set of T&S system sharing the same T&S mechanism, and interchangeable lenses on it. That way the total cost of owning 2 or more T&S would be much lower for the user.

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[g_keith]

I hope they do not make a pro wait a decade for more lenses. They won`t.

 

They also need a 40/50 mm lens. 35 to 70 is too big a jump.

 

Could not agree more with you, we badly need a 50mm! But if the rumor mill is to be believed the emphasis appears to be on going even wider. They could maybe give some priority to the 30 to 90 zoom, which could be a stop gap fix, it would also allow maybe a few more people to buy into the system.

 

Regards

 

kg