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Another discontinued lens: Elmarit-M 28mm f/2.8 ASPH (!!)


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On Friday I wrote the person at Leica that sent me the email about the MATE being discontinued and that my order for one will not be fullfilled. I expressed my frustration and how disappointed I was and noted that the new 28/2.8 ASPH was missing from the list, wondering if this was on purpose or mistake. This morning I received an answer that made me blink and I had to read it again to make sure I was reading it correctly:

 

Dear Mr Bretteville,

I understand your disappointment. I ask for your understanding that we are still doing our best to satisfy the wishes of our costumers.

Concerning the Elmarit-M 28mmf/2.8 ASPH I can inform you that the lens is no longer produced. I am sorry for that. Could you inform me your new decision, please? Thank you very much!

Kind regards

This must surly be the shortest lived lens in Leica history making the 1st generation 50 'Lux's two year run seem like a very long one.

 

So with my first and second choices gone from the list I get at really warm and fuzzy feeling when I read that "...we are still doing our best to satisfy the wishes of our costumers...". Grrrrr!

-Carl

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This makes no sense at all. That lens is back-ordered all over the world and M8 owners are screaming for it. Surely the Leica guy got the ASPH confused with the older non-ASPH version?

 

The non ASPH version hasn't been produced in a while, I think. It surely would be hard for a Leica employee to make that mistake.

 

Maybe it was the cost of production to the sale price that killed it.

I know myself that I can do one $2000 job for $1500 and brake even but I couldn't do 10 of those jobs and still eat.

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I'm gob-smacked by this news, may well be a short term decision with lens production at max capacity at the moment. Focus may be directed towards lenses with better returns and perhaps when things get back on an even keel it will be re-introduced. Who knows :). Very strange!

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Guest guy_mancuso

My list says the Elamrit-M 28mm 2.8 is 1056 US. I doubt very highly that it is not part of the list, they must be thinking of the older version. I can check though

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This is unfathomable. Unless there is some problem with a glass type, like the problem which put the TE out of commission, I cannot imagine why they would do this. Is it too high contrast for Leica's M lens lineup philosophy? Too expensive to make compared to the low cost? Was it maybe too good, and was savaging the sales of the 28 Cron? I hope there was a misunderstanding.

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My list says the Elamrit-M 28mm 2.8 is 1056 US.

 

So did mine. But its is gone from the revised list received on Friday night and from the second revision I received around Lunch today. This was after I prompted them and got the answer quoted above.

 

- C

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Guest guy_mancuso

That was fast , just was confirmed that the New 28mm Elmarit is NOT discontinued. Maybe someone got confused not sure but here is my return e-mail

 

Hi Guy,

 

That is not true…. Can you send me the link?

 

---

Best regards

Christian Erhardt

 

Leica Camera Inc. / Director of Marketing Photographic Division

1 Pearl Court, Unit A / Allendale, NJ 07401 / USA

 

Thanks Christian for the confirmation on this.

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