Things to come

[01af]

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I was on a Leica factory tour in Solms the day before yesterday ... and in one of the showcases there were, among current S lenses, a few prototypes of future Leica S lenses displayed (albeit some as non-working dummies only).

 

They included:

 

• Elmarit-S 24 mm 1:2.8 Asph
  
• Elmar-S Tilt/Shift 30 mm 1:3.5 Asph
  
• Vario-Elmar-S 30-90 mm 1:3.5 Asph
  
• Summarit-S 100 mm 1:2.5
  
• Apo-Elmar-S 350 mm 1:3.5
  

The filter size of the 350 mm lens is 105 mm. No information as to when these lenses will become available.

[dfarkas]

I was on a Leica factory tour in Solms the day before yesterday ... and in one of the showcases there were, among current S lenses, a few prototypes of future Leica S lenses displayed (albeit some as non-working dummies only).

 

They included:

 

• Elmarit-S 24 mm 1:2.8 Asph
  
• Elmar-S Tilt/Shift 30 mm 1:3.5 Asph
  
• Vario-Elmar-S 30-90 mm 1:3.5 Asph
  
• Summarit-S 100 mm 1:2.5
  
• Apo-Elmar-S 350 mm 1:3.5
  

The filter size of the 350 mm lens is 105 mm. No information as to when these lenses will become available.

 

These were the mock-ups shown at the Leica S2 launch event at Photokina 2008.

 

Since then, the lineup has changed a bit. The current 30mm Elmarit-S wasn't shown. The upcoming 24mm will be f/3.5, not f/2.8. The 30-90mm zoom will have a variable aperture of f/3.5-5.6 not a fixed aperture.

 

David

[mtomalty]

Yet they neglect a fixed 45,55 and something like 135 or 150mm unless they assume

users will adapters to fill the gap with choices from Mamiya,Pentax or Hasselblad

 

Mark

[dfarkas]

Yet they neglect a fixed 45,55 and something like 135 or 150mm unless they assume

users will adapters to fill the gap with choices from Mamiya,Pentax or Hasselblad

 

Mark

 

Mark,

 

While not in the original lineup shown at the launch, Leica is well aware of the gap between the 35 and 70. In my most recent interview with the S2 product managers, here is what Stephan Schulz said when asked about a 50mm lens:

Where’s the 50mm?

 

So, will Leica release a 50mm lens - something equivalent to the 35mm standard moderate wide angle on the S2? The answer was a very direct, “No, definitely not!” Not exactly the typical measured response I’ve gotten accustomed to from Stephan. Then, with a smile he continued, “That is true : no 50mm…. but maybe a 45mm.” Still grinning, “This would be much closer to a 35mm equivalent.” Basically, Leica knows that there is a huge demand for this focal length. They’ve gotten a lot of inquiries and “are studying the possibility of adding such a lens.”

[mtomalty]

Thanks David

 

Something in that focal range would make a lot of sense.

 

Mark

[albertknappmd]

David-

I am a bit disappointed that the 30mm-90mm zoomlens will be produced with a variable aperture as opposed to a fixed aperture.

How will this affect overall image quality and how much heavier would a fixed lens have been (I assume that weight and cost of production were the salient and decisive factors here).

Thanks,

Albert :)

[dfarkas]

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David-

I am a bit disappointed that the 30mm-90mm zoomlens will be produced with a variable aperture as opposed to a fixed aperture.

How will this affect overall image quality and how much heavier would a fixed lens have been (I assume that weight and cost of production were the salient and decisive factors here).

Thanks,

Albert :)

 

Albert,

 

The decision to go with a variable aperture very much had to do with keeping the size and weight manageable. I don't know how large the lens would have been with a constant f/3.5 aperture, but Leica says that the variable aperture version will be roughly the same size and weight as the 35mm f/2.5.

 

For me, the real value of a zoom on the S2 is for landscape photography. I am usually shooting everything at f/11-13 anyway, so I don't need a fast lens. The benefit will be in ease of changing the composition and keeping dust and moisture out of the camera by not having to change lenses as often. Also, I would only have to take the 30-90 with a 120 or 180 for most outings, which cuts down on the number of lenses I need to carry in the bag.

 

As far as optical quality goes... Every single S lens has proven to be best in class. I can't imagine the 30-90 being any short of extraordinary.

 

David

[albertknappmd]

Thank you, David... An eye opener as usual. Looking forward to this zoom.

Albert

[Eastgreenlander]

While in Solms dis you get any update on the status of the CS lenses?

[lars_bergquist]

Thanks David

 

Something in that focal range would make a lot of sense.

 

Mark

 

What makes the S2 a beast to carry is not the camera body itself (well ...) but the huge lenses. A 45mm 1:3.5 would make the camera more 'street-worthy'.

 

LB (a M9 user)