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21mm f/2.8 ASPH Elmarit-M - out


John.of.Gaunt

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Hello,

 

my dealer told me today, that Leica took the

21mm f/2.8 ASPH Elmarit-M

 

out of the catalog. I cannot find any hint on the web-Side. Are there any new plans? Does anymody know something? As far as I new, the lens is arrount 13 years old, which is not OLD in Leica dimensions.

 

regards J

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Sounds a bit strange... 21 is not an odd focal and the 2,8 isn't cheap but a lot less costly than the 1,4; to have 3 24 can be too much... but 2 21 is reasonable; anyway, still quoted on Leica' site... maybe your dealer means that Leica told them that presently they do not accept orders for it, which could happen given their thin production capacity; let's see if prices of used items go upwards... :o

(I have one, but far from the idea of selling....)

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John I have not heard of any other references to this either. I suppose that it is possible. If it is true it could mean that the only 21 available would be the Summilux or there is an Elmar 21 to be announced.

On possible reason for discontinuing the Elmarit might be a shortage of a particular glass type. That is only speculation though. The only two reasons that I can recall for lenses being discontinued (not just batch production delayed) have been that type of glass shortage or a new model. If the Elmarit 21 is gone that leaves only the 28 as the only surviving Elmarit. But that one is a much newer design and at a different price point more like the Summarits.

 

 

The Elmarit M 24 ASPH has been confirmed as discontinued (although it is still on their website) but there we have the Elmar M 24 ASPH as well as the Summilux M 24 ASPH as options.

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Very interesting. Needs confirmation. Thanks for the post.

 

When we heard that the 24/2.8 was discontinued, we had confirmation from a couple other sources within a couple days, so your report will likely make you Johnny-on-the-spot with this one, John! :)

 

Did your dealer say how he received the new price list and what its date is?

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Oops. Looks like confirmation from B&H (21 elmarit).

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B&H has goofed before, but frankly I've been expecting the 21 Elmarit to follow the 24 Elmarit out the door. They share a fair number of parts (lens shades, but also some barrel components), and once the 24 was discontinued, that put all the burden of supporting the fabrication costs onto the 21.

 

I would not be surprised to see a 21 Elmar f/3.8 appear soon. But perhaps the 18 f/3.8 (and the 18/21 settings of the WATE) fill that niche.

 

I love the 21 focal length, and the f/2.8 aperture (given the cost of f/2 or f/1.4). First M lens I bought (at least in this go-round, where I actually stuck with the system) was my 21 pre-ASPH. 10 years ago next month.

 

But from a business perspective, Leica probably sells one 21 for every five 28s or 35s. And there were the red-edge headaches with those old(ish) pre-digital superwide designs. And so on.....

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When I heard the 24 Elmarit was going, I figured I needed one.

 

Now they seem to be pulling the same thing with the 21. I've still got the 21 pre-aspheric and I think it'll serve. :rolleyes:

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B&H has goofed before, but frankly I've been expecting the 21 Elmarit to follow the 24 Elmarit out the door. They share a fair number of parts (lens shades, but also some barrel components), and once the 24 was discontinued, that put all the burden of supporting the fabrication costs onto the 21.

 

I would not be surprised to see a 21 Elmar f/3.8 appear soon. But perhaps the 18 f/3.8 (and the 18/21 settings of the WATE) fill that niche.

 

I love the 21 focal length, and the f/2.8 aperture (given the cost of f/2 or f/1.4). First M lens I bought (at least in this go-round, where I actually stuck with the system) was my 21 pre-ASPH. 10 years ago next month.

 

But from a business perspective, Leica probably sells one 21 for every five 28s or 35s. And there were the red-edge headaches with those old(ish) pre-digital superwide designs. And so on.....

 

Yes... but figure should apply to WATE too... and probably in a thinner proportion... but the WATE is indeed much "newer"; anyway, I think your speculation about a possible Elmar 21 3,8 has a sense, expecially if they succeed in making it rather compact.

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