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New 50mm Summicron Price Tag


wilfredo

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This is largely a "bragging rights" lens, and I doubt if they expect to sell large numbers. Remember, it doesn't replace the non-asph Summicron 50, which is still a relative bargain at about $2300, and still out-performs most 50mm lenses. Back during the late 1950s Leitz also produced 5 different 50mm M-mount lenses at the same time, just as they do now, but then it was f3.5 to f1.4, and now f2.5 to f0.95; and both lineups included two f2.0 lenses.

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Simply the best 50 mm lens ever built. Worth the money if your photography is worth the lens.

 

I'm wondering if that shouldn't instead be the most highly corrected lens ever built or something to that effect. If you add the price to the equation there are other lenses which are "better".

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Not sure what a bragging rights lens is but I doubt those that own one bought it to have bragging rights. Leica can sell everyone it produces. They have certainly produced and sold a lot more of the 0.95 Noctilux and it is 50% more expensive. Yes the little lens is just a Summicron but....:cool:

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As Puts says here, size matters, as the Zeiss comparison illustrates. The feat is made apparent in this earlier review, which explains the elements (so to speak) that needed to be incorporated into the small package. [The part regarding veiling glare seems to conflict with recent reports here and by Leica, but Puts minimizes concerns in this last post.]

 

Jeff

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Dear OP,

When first announced, people panned the price and suggested it will be a niche lens moving very low unit counts. However from what I've heard, and the waiting lists confirm this, this lens has been very popular. Perhaps what people didn't realise is there are a lot of Leica users out there that must have the best and for whom the price is not really a consideration.

The performance/size ratio won't be beaten by anyone for a long long time...

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I would love to see some photos done with this lens. Any takers?

 

Leica is a small company that has figured out how to stay in business by not producing lots of volume items, everything is on a waiting list these days. IMHO, this is one sure way to make profits regardless of inflated prices, you keep supply low while increasing demand. It's akin to renting an apt. in NYC!

 

Granted the product is excellent for the most part, not always, but you are obligated to pay the inflated price. When I purchased the 50mm Summilux ASPH it was praised as arguably the best Leica lens ever made. I guess that title now belongs to the new 50mm Summicron ASPH. Hallelujah Baby!

 

Pictures, anyone?

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This will make you feel better about a purchase. I love the soft tone German language description and the old note books with mellow music in the background. Canon would have employed fast Heavy Metal Rock music, which I hate! Gotta love Leica, they have a great formula. Don't get me wrong, I too am a victim of paying inflated Leica prices, I am just as guilty as the next guy.

 

leica.overgaard.dk - Thorsten Overgaard's Leica Pages - Leica 50mm APO-Summicron-M ASPH f/2.0 samples and article

 

I found some pictures online:

 

http://tulipfrenzy.com/tag/50mm-apo-summicron-asph/

 

I think I will hold on to the 50mm Summilux ASPH... ;-)

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Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS
Neil, about the best body/lens combo available from Leica, but it also works very well on the M.
Algrove

So I guess thats the way to go;

Keep the Noctilux on the M 240

Get an APO with the MM

Job done:D

 

By the way my magnifier is on the way

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I got the lens a few weeks ago after being on a waiting list for about a year.

 

I was a bit split on it in part because I already have a large collection of 50s (my favorite focal length). I was, however, in awe of the technical accomplishment and just thought the whole thing was amazing as a marvel these days, that they essentially blank checked engineering to build the best they could.

 

The lens is outstanding. Sharpness is one thing, but the separation between the foreground and the background is stunning.

 

-jbl

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This will make you feel better about a purchase...

 

Nothing new to anyone following the forum; there are thousands of posts already on the lens, including pics and lots more. These are readily available by a simple search.

 

You asked a simple question about price justification, and the first link I provided by Puts gives a simple answer, which relates to not just quality, but small size.

 

Jeff

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This will make you feel better about a purchase. I love the soft tone German language description and the old note books with mellow music in the background. Canon would have employed fast Heavy Metal Rock music, which I hate! Gotta love Leica, they have a great formula. Don't get me wrong, I too am a victim of paying inflated Leica prices, I am just as guilty as the next guy.

 

leica.overgaard.dk - Thorsten Overgaard's Leica Pages - Leica 50mm APO-Summicron-M ASPH f/2.0 samples and article

 

I found some pictures online:

 

50mm APO-Summicron-ASPH | Tulip Frenzy

 

I think I will hold on to the 50mm Summilux ASPH... ;-)

 

Wilfredo - thanks for the link and for driving so much traffic to my site (Tulip Frenzy).

 

I've used the 50 APO-Summicron-Asph since the winter. I use it in tandem with my Noctilux and the Summilux. Each lens has a different personality.

 

I think the APO is incredible on the Monochrom (see: Leave Me Alone | Tulip Frenzy) or specifically here: (Trayvon And The 50th Anniversary of The March On Washington | Tulip Frenzy)

 

But to me, where it really shines is in the balance of the color rendering when used with an M (or M9, or whatever.)

 

If you look at the pictures on this post (Street Photography And The Teton County Fair, Part 1 | Tulip Frenzy), you will see a number of images taken with the Noctilux, and a number with the APO. The Noctis are, of course, special in the way they render the bokeh. But I think the color rendering with the APO is to be compared only with the 75mm APO-Summicron-Asph.

 

Now, I also love my Summilux. In some ways, it is a wonderful combination of the Noctilux and the Summicron, so if you own one, know that you have a fantastic, special lens. But for landscapes, for color rendering, for balance, for incredible detail when used with the M or the Monochrom -- I believe Jaap is right: the APO is the finest 50mm lens I've ever used.

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