Rick Posted February 1, 2011 Share #1 Posted February 1, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I was looking at lenses on B&H tonight and these were the only lenses listed as in stock and there is no M9 in stock either. This is the list I made. These would be your only choices. Actually, you could make a pretty good kit from that list. And, have enough money left over for a whole bunch of nice vacations. 18 Elmar 24 Elmar 28 Elmarit 35 Summarit 50 Summarit 75 Summarit 90 Summarit Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 1, 2011 Posted February 1, 2011 Hi Rick, Take a look here Only 7 lenses in stock. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
spylaw4 Posted February 1, 2011 Share #2 Posted February 1, 2011 Looks familiar, even if a bit over-sparse! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecaton Posted February 1, 2011 Share #3 Posted February 1, 2011 I was looking at lenses on B&H tonight and these were the only lenses listed as in stock and there is no M9 in stock either. This is the list I made. These would be your only choices. Actually, you could make a pretty good kit from that list. And, have enough money left over for a whole bunch of nice vacations. 18 Elmar 24 Elmar 28 Elmarit 35 Summarit 50 Summarit 75 Summarit 90 Summarit I'd opt for used Summicron's (28, 50, 90) instead. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdtaylor Posted February 1, 2011 Share #4 Posted February 1, 2011 I'd opt for used Summicron's (28, 50, 90) instead. I'm with you. And Nikon and Canon folks feel they have long waits and inventory problems (actually, they do, just not so widespread. Go try and find a Nikon 600 VR). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckw Posted February 1, 2011 Share #5 Posted February 1, 2011 I think that someone switching over to Leica from a typical DSLR would be extremely happy with the image quality available with a kit of Summarits. I have used all of the Summarits, with the exception of the Summarit 50, and found them to outstanding lenses. That said, I wish that Leica could make available a wider selection of lenses on a regular basis. Maybe Leica should do more frequent production runs of some of the most popular lenses. On the positive side, it probably helps keep the prices of used lenses up! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted February 1, 2011 Share #6 Posted February 1, 2011 I think that someone switching over to Leica from a typical DSLR would be extremely happy with the image quality available with a kit of Summarits. I have used all of the Summarits, with the exception of the Summarit 50, and found them to outstanding lenses. That said, I wish that Leica could make available a wider selection of lenses on a regular basis. Maybe Leica should do more frequent production runs of some of the most popular lenses. On the positive side, it probably helps keep the prices of used lenses up! Hi Chuck The arits are excellent lenses their performance will be better then the more expensive Leica ones in real world situations were e.g. f/5.6 and smaller when veiling flare dominates. The shortage and the yen hardening has increased even the 2nd CV LTM lens prices. The shortage is not normal. Last photo shop I was in had new 28 Elmarit 35 Summarit 50 Summarit MP and M9 Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdtaylor Posted February 1, 2011 Share #7 Posted February 1, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Last time I was in my local Leica dealer last month they had no lenses, and only a X1. Guess that is why most of my business has been over the internet. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesk8752 Posted February 1, 2011 Share #8 Posted February 1, 2011 Last time I was in my local Leica dealer last month they had no lenses, and only a X1. Guess that is why most of my business has been over the internet. At least you have a local leica dealer. There are none in southeast Michigan/Detroit; my closest ones are in Grand Rapids (SW Michigan) and in Clevelend, Ohio. Thank goodness for Tony Rose and PopFlash! Regards, Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacarape Posted February 2, 2011 Share #9 Posted February 2, 2011 My 28/2.8 ASPH was (sold for hard times) a better lens then my 35/1.4 Ver.1 Pre Rattle version ASPH. Noel's post is also what I've experienced on prints. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwelland Posted February 6, 2011 Share #10 Posted February 6, 2011 I just picked up my old M9 again and spent the last week trying to find ANY summicron/Summilux lenses, either new or reasonably priced or available used and came up with ... Nothing. I figure that all of these m4/3rds/NEX users are helping clear the shelves of available inventory for use with adapters, in addition of course to M9 folks of course. Bummer - I have cash to spend and no lenses available to buy. Zeiss just did really well this week to tide me over until I can get a new 35 'lux. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AGeoJO Posted February 6, 2011 Share #11 Posted February 6, 2011 Virtually the same picture is at typical Leica dealers right now. Only Summarit-M and slower ultra wide angle lenses are readily available. Check this thread out: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/customer-forum/160441-why-certain-lenses-not-selling-well.html. You have to pay a hefty premium above and beyond the MSRP to be able to buy more "exotic" lenses from on-line oversea stores. A friend of mine asked me to sell his Nocti version IV two weeks ago. Upon placing the FS thread, I literally got a bunch inquiries expressing interest and ended up with 3 solid offers. The lens was sold to the first person that made the commitment within an hour at the asking price, which I thought was a fair price. Even after marked "sold", I received inquiries of possible additional Leica lenses I may have for sale. Talking about hot commodities...LOL. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwelland Posted February 6, 2011 Share #12 Posted February 6, 2011 All I could find were new Sumarits too. Here's how it worked for me - I wanted to find a new black 35 or 50 'cron for my M9 as I have a trip this week and a camera with no lenses. The dealer cupboard was bare and I didn't want anything slower (Sunnarit) but I would have stepped up for a single 50 or 35 Summilux if one was available new or used anywhere (fat chance of course!!). I've owned enough new and used Leica glass to know that I want a warranty! Instead I took the option of picking up a travel combo of the excellent ZM glass that I've owned in the past - for less than the cost of either a 50 or 35 'cron. That was new glass so Zeiss and their dealer reaped the benefit of that business and for the time being Leica saw nothing. I know about the batch lens construction but I find it hard to understand why Leica wouldn't want to maintain sufficient production of the mainstay Summicrons that for many people are the first, and maybe only, premium Leica glass. I totally understand the Summilux and Noctilux limited production runs but it seems to me that its bad production planning to have essentially no supply of new mainstream 35 or 50mm glass readily available in the dealer channel. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted February 6, 2011 Share #13 Posted February 6, 2011 All I could find were new Sumarits too. Here's how it worked for me - I wanted to find a new black 35 or 50 'cron for my M9 as I have a trip this week and a camera with no lenses. Interesting. I should think that a person familiar with the Leica market would plan ahead. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwelland Posted February 6, 2011 Share #14 Posted February 6, 2011 Interesting. I should think that a person familiar with the Leica market would plan ahead. Nope - picked up my old M9 just last week that I'd sold before and wanted a lens right now. I'm unashamedly part of the "right now" generation ... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roguewave Posted February 6, 2011 Share #15 Posted February 6, 2011 Rick, B&H is a very poor source for Leica gear. They never have much stock. If you are really interested in purchasing something. try my dealer Ken Hansen. He is the oldest Us dealer & always has access to gear. His own current stock is many fold & far more diverse than B&W. B&W is one of the worst Leica dealers in NYC. Here's his contact info: khpny19@aol.com 212-879-3263 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AGeoJO Posted February 6, 2011 Share #16 Posted February 6, 2011 Except for selected esoteric Leica lenses, the lack of Leica mystique and the only so-so resale value, the ZM line of Zeiss lenses are optically great. The ones I own, 18mm f/4.0 Distagon, 35mm f/2.8 Biogon and 85mm f/2.0 Sonnar are superb and give the Leica counterparts a run for their money. I love that small but superb performer of the 35mm Distagon (coded as 35mm Summarit). The resolution of that lens is great, no distortion and practically no CA and flare resistant plus it is "dirt cheap" in Leica term, even significanlty less expensive than the Summarit. Don't get me wrong, I love my ASPH Summiluxes, Summicrons and of course, the Noctilux but I use those Zeiss lenses on a regular basis without hesitation. One caveat, the 85mm Sonnar, a great portrait lens, is closer in the price range of the 90mm Summicron AA since it is made in Germany rather than in Japan like the others. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpalme Posted February 6, 2011 Share #17 Posted February 6, 2011 Time to get some of that Leica stock. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrozenInTime Posted February 7, 2011 Share #18 Posted February 7, 2011 Just be glad the M9 was priced so high If it was half the price the lens demand would be x4 Anyway I've no sympathy ... having been accumulating Leica, Voigtländer and Zeiss lenses since the M6 was introduced. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwelland Posted February 7, 2011 Share #19 Posted February 7, 2011 The lesson for existing Leica users is to never, ever, ever sell your lenses ... I hated doing it when I did and the oft repeated lesson yet again repeats itself. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted February 7, 2011 Author Share #20 Posted February 7, 2011 Rick, B&H is a very poor source for Leica gear. They never have much stock. If you are really interested in purchasing something. try my dealer Ken Hansen. He is the oldest Us dealer & always has access to gear. His own current stock is many fold & far more diverse than B&W. B&W is one of the worst Leica dealers in NYC. Here's his contact info: xxxxxxxxxx.xxx 212-879-3263 Hi Ben. Thanks for the recommendation. But, my point was just that there are very few lenses available at this time at most dealers. In my city, there are only 2 lenses at one dealer and the other has 3. None are the more popular lenses like the lux's. I just found it interesting that a couple of years ago when I looked at B&H's site they had about every current Leica lens. Now they have almost nothing. Demand is high right now for various reasons. I'm glad for Leica and I'm glad I have collected the lenses I wanted and have not sold anything except my 75 cron (great, great lens). I sold it because I had a chance to get a really nice 75 lux a couple of years ago. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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