jaapv Posted June 4, 2012 Share #81 Â Posted June 4, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) It is absolutely correct that it predates the Summarit lenses, Ian, it is not made on the Summarit production line either. That came later. However, the philosophy behind the lens is clearly the same. High quality for the price, not too fast , affordable (by Leica standards) , mainstream focal length, compact dimensions. Whether it is "a part of the Summarit range" in the technical sense is in the end not very important. It fits in seamlessly and thus makes the introduction of a Summarit 28 (which sparked this discussion) superfluous. About the cheaper feel of the Summarits I beg to differ. Personally I find the image rendering a bit flat. Exactly the same reason I sold the Elmarit 28 asph for. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 4, 2012 Posted June 4, 2012 Hi jaapv, Take a look here Photokina predictions. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Peter H Posted June 4, 2012 Share #82 Â Posted June 4, 2012 Jaap, Leica list M-Lenses and Summarit lenses as two distinct product groups in their catalogues, which suggests to me that there are other differences aside from their optical specifications. No such differentiation exists between Summicrons and Summiluxes for example. Â They describe Summarits as a "new family" of lenses with which they "hope to open up the challenging world of rangefinder photography to a wider target audience." Â Again, this suggests other differences than their simply being a group of f2.5 spherical designs that are otherwise the same as all other M lenses, although I could be wrong here. Â Not that there's anything in the least bit wrong with this. Less expensive M photography is a good thing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rramesh Posted June 4, 2012 Share #83 Â Posted June 4, 2012 Wasn't the Summarit line a legacy of the previous management at Leica. If so, would it still be part of the future M product strategy for Leica under the new management? For the M, I see them moving more and more towards expensive camera and lens design and execution. (M9, M9-P, M9 MM, 50AA, Noctilux 0.95, designer editions etc.) With each iteration, prices moving up and not down. The Summarit may be retained for a lower range, but not for the M, I think. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted June 4, 2012 Share #84 Â Posted June 4, 2012 About the cheaper feel of the Summarits I beg to differ. Â I own two of the Summarits (35 and 50) so I'm not 'snobbish' about them in the slightest but I'm surprised you think that they don't have a different, slightly looser (arguably cheaper) feel about them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted June 4, 2012 Share #85 Â Posted June 4, 2012 Wasn't the Summarit line a legacy of the previous management at Leica. If so, would it still be part of the future M product strategy for Leica under the new management? For the M, I see them moving more and more towards expensive camera and lens design and execution. (M9, M9-P, M9 MM, 50AA, Noctilux 0.95, designer editions etc.) With each iteration, prices moving up and not down. The Summarit may be retained for a lower range, but not for the M, I think. Leica will still need to amortize the special production line they set up for these lenses. Yes - it was a pet project of Mr. Lee. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
algrove Posted June 4, 2012 Share #86 Â Posted June 4, 2012 Leica will still need to amortize the special production line they set up for these lenses. Yes - it was a pet project of Mr. Lee. Â So where is Mr. Lee today since I do not recall ever hearing his name before? What was his background to get a whole new line of lenses started? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted June 4, 2012 Share #87 Â Posted June 4, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) Well, do a small search of the forums.... Mr. Lee was the first CEO under Dr. Kaufmann in 2006. He left under a bit of a cloud and in a welter of lawsuits in 2008. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
algrove Posted June 4, 2012 Share #88 Â Posted June 4, 2012 Over to the prediction by someone about a new 35 APO. If the wait is nearly forever to get the current FLE, why offer a whole new lens right now? Â Perhaps they have it ready, but production is too backed up in my opinion. I surmise the new 50 APO will hold back production of those "hard to get" lenses enough. When I want one 1.4 lens to take with me I almost always choose the 35/1.4, even though I have plenty of 35/2.0 to choose from on the shelf albeit they are not APO, but Mandler whose designs I admire and use very often. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter H Posted June 4, 2012 Share #89  Posted June 4, 2012 Over to the prediction by someone about a new 35 APO. If the wait is nearly forever to get the current FLE, why offer a whole new lens right now? ...........................  I'm not suggesting this is the reason, but it might be a logical answer to your question:  Supply of the current 35 is short because they've stopped making them, in readiness for the new model.  Who knows? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted June 4, 2012 Share #90 Â Posted June 4, 2012 I would imagine most of the supply issues will greatly reduce once the new factories are open. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adli Posted June 4, 2012 Share #91 Â Posted June 4, 2012 I would love a new 75mm Summilux. What are the probabilities of this? Â I am very happy with the old one Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosuna Posted June 4, 2012 Share #92 Â Posted June 4, 2012 The 35mm and 75mm Summarit lenses are really good. Superb image quality. Â But... Â The presentation of the lenses is not the same of the "regular" Leica M lenses (the bag, the hood)... and the build quality of the lenses seems lower. Well, the 75mm is very good, solid feel, but the aperture ring of the 35mm is too lousy for my taste and too narrow. Â I don't know the 50mm and 90mm Summarits. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosuna Posted June 4, 2012 Share #93 Â Posted June 4, 2012 Well, do a small search of the forums.... Mr. Lee was the first CEO under Dr. Kaufmann in 2006. He left under a bit of a cloud and in a welter of lawsuits in 2008. Â The relationship with Panasonic suffered due to Lee... if I got it right... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
algrove Posted June 4, 2012 Share #94 Â Posted June 4, 2012 Many here keep talking about supply getting better once the new plant opens up. If the supply opens up too fast that could mean problems since to be an excellent lens assembler one could assume it is not learned in a matter of weeks and not months, but in years. Â Maybe the Summarit line is used for newer lens assemblers who will then get promoted to other lines once the new plant opens. Then there is the issue of glass. That supply issue is not solved overnight. Â Will they discontinue some models in order to hasten the supply of high demand items? Â I just hope they do not fall into a deep pit by growing soooo fast that quality suffers or the brand gets watered down. It often happens that when a company sees such good revenues from Plan A, they decide to double Plan A (or grow way beyond Plan A) and in the end loose their loyal customer base due to a drop in quality or customers not feeling cozy with the products any longer. You get what I mean. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted June 4, 2012 Share #95 Â Posted June 4, 2012 I would love a new 75mm Summilux. What are the probabilities of this? Â Peter Karbe does not like the 75mm Summilux, and I do not know why. An ASPH 75mm Summilux would be a tragedy, the spoiling of a fine lens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
maddog88 Posted June 5, 2012 Share #96 Â Posted June 5, 2012 An M9M with an AI that emulates the brain of Cartier-Bresson for all the doochebags that think they will take better pictures if they have the latest equipment. All you'll need is to add the legwork, meaning you'll have to walk on your own. The Leica will even release its shutter by itself! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnum Image Posted June 5, 2012 Share #97 Â Posted June 5, 2012 Am I going into Fight Club sleep deprivation mode or was there not a whole back and forth between LCT and JAAPV about the Elmar-M? It was there, I wrote my reply and now it's gone? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted June 5, 2012 Share #98 Â Posted June 5, 2012 It was moved into its own thread for being OT. Â Btw, LCT and I don't fight, we discuss.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnum Image Posted June 5, 2012 Share #99 Â Posted June 5, 2012 I moved it over. Oh and that reference wasn't to you it was about my insomnia and the fact I'm prone to seeing things. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted June 5, 2012 Share #100 Â Posted June 5, 2012 Peter Karbe does not like the 75mm Summilux, and I do not know why. An ASPH 75mm Summilux would be a tragedy, the spoiling of a fine lens. Â I would welcome it. I would probably not sell my existing 75 Lux. But I'm thinking of buying the 75 APO Cron as I tried it out and was blown away by it's sharpness and contrast. They are tools in the tool box. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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