marknorton Posted February 5, 2007 Share #1 Posted February 5, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) There is presumably at least some R&D budget set aside for further M lens developments. So where do you think it should be spent? - Prime Ultra-Wides (<21mm)? - Faster Wides (24/2, 28/1.4)? - TETE (Tele-Tri-Elmar, say 50-75-90)? - M8-only lenses for use with a 1.33 crop factor - A lower cost range of lenses made in Japan? - Revised versions of older existing lenses, 35/1.4, 50/1, 75/1.4? So where, IYHO, are the holes in the current lens range? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 5, 2007 Posted February 5, 2007 Hi marknorton, Take a look here Where Next for Leica M Lenses?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
wattsy Posted February 5, 2007 Share #2 Posted February 5, 2007 There seems to be a market for a faster wide - 24/2 or 28/1.4 - but my own view is that the lens range is pretty comprehensive as it is. I might be interested in something like a 16/F4 prime for occasional use but Leica will see the WA-TE as covering this end of things. I'd rather they concentrated R&D on improving the camera body. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwilliamsphotography Posted February 5, 2007 Share #3 Posted February 5, 2007 Perhaps a range of smaller lenses like the new 28mm would make entry into the M world more financially viable to more prospects... or provide a smaller options for the traveler. 21/3.5, 35/2.8, 50/2.8 rigid, 90/2.8 ASPH Actually, I'd buy a 90/2.8 ASPH right NOW !!! ... if they had one and it was the same size or smaller than the current 90/2.8 ... especially if it was offered in chrome. Another possibility would be a retro collection like the beautiful LHSA 50/1.4 ASPH. I'd love a dual range with aspheric optics, or a 90 "fat" ... (sigh, dream on ) One other thing I'd like ... take the existing flip Polarizer and replace the pola with IR cut, and provide rings for all filter sizes. One filter for all lenses that could be flipped out of the way when you don't want IR cut ... like when shooting B&W. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted February 5, 2007 Share #4 Posted February 5, 2007 Fast wide primes. An f2 24mm at least - though I suspect such a lens would be big, heavy and expensive. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted February 5, 2007 Author Share #5 Posted February 5, 2007 Agree about the body development but I don't think the people who might design the next Summilux are the same ones who can move the body forwards. The danger of thinking your lens range is complete is that you wake up one day to find the competition snapping at your heels and, guess what, all your top optics engineers jumped ship because you didn't have enough interesting work for them to do. Designing some 4/3 lenses and yet more formulations for Panny P&S cameras might light the fire of some of them, but not all. My own vote would be for a faster wide-angle. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
j. borger Posted February 5, 2007 Share #6 Posted February 5, 2007 Perhaps a bit naive ... but i see no holes .... I can't think of another lens i would like to have ....... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riley Posted February 5, 2007 Share #7 Posted February 5, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) i think utterly-ultra-wide (UUW ?) (you heard it here first!) would have to be an objective given the crop factor. The crap factor here is that a large optic would mask the rangefinder view so it has to be tight, and maybe a bit slow Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted February 5, 2007 Share #8 Posted February 5, 2007 15mm 2.8 and a 15mm F4 give us a choice , Okay asking a lot 18mm 2.8 24mm F2 28mm 1.4 60mm 2.8 1.2 macro . Just something that can focus really close without extra adapters take any focal length over 60mm Okay 12mm F4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdai Posted February 5, 2007 Share #9 Posted February 5, 2007 I'd like to buy a 28/1.4 if there's one now ... and that's it. Among the other suggestions which I'm not really interested ... I think Leica has to beat the CV and there should be a 15/4 or 12/4 in the lineup. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Branch Posted February 5, 2007 Share #10 Posted February 5, 2007 Mark, 18mm f/2.8 Elmarit-MD ASPH. If it is only suitable for 18 x 27 mm sensors then that is fine by me. The key thing is very low distortion and, dare I say, internal IR filtration. Personally I don't accept that B&W pictures are “better” without IR filtration. With my lenses the IR part of the image, to which the M8 is especially sensitive, is out of focus and I don’t want it recorded. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wparsonsgisnet Posted February 5, 2007 Share #11 Posted February 5, 2007 #2. Faster Wides #1. Ultra Wides in that order, please. When will they be ready? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitchell Posted February 5, 2007 Share #12 Posted February 5, 2007 I think the idea of lenses specific to the M8 is intriguing. They could be smaller, lighter, and intrude less on the viewfinder. These seem like significant advantages. But, more interesting, I bet there would be significant optical advantages as well. I'm just not qualified to have any idea what they are. !:^) They could also have built in IR filtering and cyan correction. In order to make it worthwhile, Leica would have to committ to the M8 format. Maybe they're already committed to a FF M9. Best, Mitchell Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitchell Posted February 5, 2007 Share #13 Posted February 5, 2007 Guy, I'd like a Macro too. But, wouldn't we need some sort of special viewfinder focus solution like the 90? Best, Mitchell Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roubaix Posted February 5, 2007 Share #14 Posted February 5, 2007 18 Prime Peter Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaCh Posted February 5, 2007 Share #15 Posted February 5, 2007 Judging by recent forum posts most of us already have a CV 15 so a wide prim is an obvious must. The rest of the range is about right for film and digital IMHO. Let’s remember some of the reasons why we buy a Leica M. Compact; so I don’t need larger apertures, but the lens’s must work well at full aperture. Optical quality; so no cheaper lens option. Let Japan carry on putting their own badge on them. A rangefinder is never going to be very practical up close, the 90mm at 1:3 is about as good as it gets. Could Leica ever justify the expense of digital only lenses? It would be a big commitment. So add a 15mm and let the rest just carry on evolving. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodyspedden Posted February 5, 2007 Share #16 Posted February 5, 2007 Perhaps a range of smaller lenses like the new 28mm would make entry into the M world more financially viable to more prospects... or provide a smaller options for the traveler. 21/3.5, 35/2.8, 50/2.8 rigid, 90/2.8 ASPH Actually, I'd buy a 90/2.8 ASPH right NOW !!! ... if they had one and it was the same size or smaller than the current 90/2.8 ... especially if it was offered in chrome. Another possibility would be a retro collection like the beautiful LHSA 50/1.4 ASPH. I'd love a dual range with aspheric optics, or a 90 "fat" ... (sigh, dream on ) One other thing I'd like ... take the existing flip Polarizer and replace the pola with IR cut, and provide rings for all filter sizes. One filter for all lenses that could be flipped out of the way when you don't want IR cut ... like when shooting B&W. Marc Such a product already exists! wwwphotoequip.com[/url] and find the product called Filter View. It is a series of step up rings which then terminate in a 77mm filter holder. The 77mm holder has slots to see the polarizing effects without having to flip anything out of the way. As a side note, I have been using this setup with a 77mm IR Cut filter while I await the proper size filters for my lenses. Works great WoodySpedden Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carstenw Posted February 5, 2007 Share #17 Posted February 5, 2007 24/2 Asph, 15/4 Asph. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted February 5, 2007 Share #18 Posted February 5, 2007 There is presumably at least some R&D budget set aside for further M lens developments. So where do you think it should be spent? - Prime Ultra-Wides (<21mm)? - Faster Wides (24/2, 28/1.4)? - TETE (Tele-Tri-Elmar, say 50-75-90)? - M8-only lenses for use with a 1.33 crop factor - A lower cost range of lenses made in Japan? - Revised versions of older existing lenses, 35/1.4, 50/1, 75/1.4? So where, IYHO, are the holes in the current lens range? - Ultra wides: welcome by many a 15/16 or even a 12 - Faster wides ? Not so sure they are a market priority - "Tri" lenses : think the first Tri Elmar has gained a certain reputation: if also the new 16-21 will sell good numbers, the "tri trend" has reason to go on, of course in the Tele area - "M8 only" ? A serious marketing problem: some Leica fans probably hate the idea there are fine lenses that do not fit their beloved M"2to7" bodies. But IF (good for Leica Co.) M8 acquires NEW sets of customers... I think that new, very nice and tiny lenses can be tailored to the 1,33 crop factor - Lower cost Japan ? Why? All of us know we can buy with satisfaction Cos/Voigt gear, so as Hexar and maybe others to come : do not think Leica can take some advantage putting itself directly in this area: the only reason can be if they experience that the premium price they apply on Panasonic gear is really a significant earning for the Company, and not just a way to fill their product line. - Usual tech refinements on existing products has to go on, but if M8 takes on, I thik is better to invest in new products (see wides "tri" and so...) than investing in say a new design or glass formulas for the Lux 75... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grober Posted February 5, 2007 Share #19 Posted February 5, 2007 If I were the Leica M-lens engineering czar and, given a sufficient budget, I'd build a 24mm Summicron (2.0) for sure. Plus, it's about time to re-spin the 50mm Summicron and apply the same computer design concepts used in the 75mm 'Cron project. Why not make it a collapsible (again) to boot? A new polarizer with IR-cut included would be nice although I haven't a clue how they'd build such a formulation. But all these personal desires are only lazy smoke rings in the air if Leica doesn't capture net-new users and establish a broader base for the M family. -g Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
macusque Posted February 5, 2007 Share #20 Posted February 5, 2007 28/1.4 Asph, 18/2.8 Asph, 14/4 Asph also Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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