New Leica SL Lenses & Roadmap!

[thighslapper]

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I wonder if the Thambar is a way of keeping the machinists employed while they figure out the SL designs. The Thambar is already a proven legend   No need to worry about design, AF, bokeh, etc. Probably an easy decision to make. All the hard work has already been done. Particularly finding the right market.

 

It not so much the designs ..... they have working prototypes of all the proposed Sl lenses which are known to give the required optical results. 

 

The issues are invariably production ones and quality control. Leica have a record of making complex lenses to stringent tolerances and a number in the past have been a nightmare to translate from prototype to mass production. 

 

They will appear when Leica are confident they are no going to return like homing pigeons due to production defects.   

 

The Thambar is a low volume novelty lens ...... easy to make and assemble and provides a 'new release' to fill the hiatus before the next product. 

Edited October 19, 2017 by thighslapper

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[LocalHero1953]

It not so much the designs ..... they have working prototypes of all the proposed Sl lenses which are known to give the required optical results. 

 

The issues are invariably production ones and quality control. Leica have a record of making complex lenses to stringent tolerances and a number in the past have been a nightmare to translate from prototype to mass production. 

 

They will appear when Leica are confident they are no going to return like homing pigeons due to production defects.   

 

The Thambar is a low volume novelty lens ...... easy to make and assemble and provides a 'new release' to fill the hiatus before the next product. 

Good point. If the Thambar has optical QC problems, how could they tell??

[wlaidlaw]

Good point. If the Thambar has optical QC problems, how could they tell??

 

   

[sillbeers15]

I see an update of the new SL lenses on the Leica website as individual products which was only shown as a product roadmap previously below:

https://us.leica-camera.com/Photography/Leica-SL/SL-Lenses/Prime-Lenses

 

The updated release date of the 4 lenses are now:

1 75 Corn - Coming soon;

2 90 Corn - Coming soon;

3 35 Corn - Spring 2018;

4 16-35 VE - April 2018.

 

I believe Leica should be preparing production schedule for the 75 & 90 after finalizing std operating procedures on manufacturing and bill of materials after successful pilot runs as to publically state a 'Coming soon' status on the lens availability.

[helged]

It not so much the designs ..... they have working prototypes of all the proposed Sl lenses which are known to give the required optical results.

 

The issues are invariably production ones and quality control. Leica have a record of making complex lenses to stringent tolerances and a number in the past have been a nightmare to translate from prototype to mass production.

 

They will appear when Leica are confident they are no going to return like homing pigeons due to production defects.

 

The Thambar is a low volume novelty lens ...... easy to make and assemble and provides a 'new release' to fill the hiatus before the next product.

And certainly, the cost of adjusting/fixing lenses (and bodies) post release must be substantial for Leica, despite the high cost upfront. And as many of us have experienced, there have been several product issues from the recent years (S-lens AF, 50-APO-M central flaring, loose lugs on M240, sensor corrosion on the M9-sensors, etc). So it is better for all that the product being released work as announced/anticipated. But it is also a problem with roadmaps not being held, particularly without info about delays. But now we know - hopefully - that the announced lenses are around the corner.

 

If so, the follow-up question is: -When will we know what hides behind the gray bars on the lens roadmark? Macro? TS? Tele? Extender(s)?

 

And when can we expect the next iteration of the already excellent SL?

Edited October 20, 2017 by helged

[lx1713]

Good point. If the Thambar has optical QC problems, how could they tell??

 

I think the standard "shoot a brick wall" does the trick.    I don't have easy access to brick walls so I leave that to others who are better equipped. 

[hofo100]

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On Instagram Steffen Skopp (product manager SL) has posted a picture (Shanghai Skyline) taken with "Super Vario Elmar SL 16-35" prototype. At least they appear to be working on the new lenses...

[Guest VVJ]

On Instagram Steffen Skopp (product manager SL) has posted a picture (Shanghai Skyline) taken with "Super Vario Elmar SL 16-35" prototype. At least they appear to be working on the new lenses...

 

He has been posting pictures of prototype lenses or pictures taken with prototype lenses since April... I am not holding my breath...

[darylgo]

It's rather difficult to judge optical quality from Instagram but this nighttime shot looks very demanding of both sensor and lens, the result looks promising. Leica produced an excellent 11-23 for the T, I'm reluctant to sell my copy, small and sharp, it works well on the SL despite 10mp.

[wlaidlaw]

I don't know if folks have seen the lens plan announced by Hasselblad yesterday for the X1D. This impressive lens plan of nine lenses by the end of 2018, if adhered to, rather puts Leica's glacially slow progress with SL lenses in the shade. So far, two years after the release of the SL, we only have two additional lenses (the 90-280 and the 50mm prime). Further lenses have been announced but are not available as yet and projected release has been put back. I am unimpressed I will not have the wide zoom for my winter trip to the Caribbean early next year. I am not going to buy third party lenses with "iffy" adapters, which sometimes work and sometimes don't and the WATE is too narrow range. 

 

Wilson

[siddhaarta]

I don't know if folks have seen the lens plan announced by Hasselblad yesterday for the X1D. This impressive lens plan of nine lenses by the end of 2018, if adhered to, rather puts Leica's glacially slow progress with SL lenses in the shade. So far, two years after the release of the SL, we only have two additional lenses (the 90-280 and the 50mm prime). Further lenses have been announced but are not available as yet and projected release has been put back. I am unimpressed I will not have the wide zoom for my winter trip to the Caribbean early next year. I am not going to buy third party lenses with "iffy" adapters, which sometimes work and sometimes don't and the WATE is too narrow range. 

 

Wilson

 

 

As a Hasselblad and Leica costumer, I do not see any difference between Hasselblad and Leica here, really. All marketing tricks. Hasselblad has announced a 4th lens (120 macro) for their X1D system in February, which is not available until now, first announced for June, then September, then October ...

 

Three further lenses have been promised for February 2018, now they say first semester 2018.

 

Behind all this is the fear to loose more costumers to Fuji which is keeping its promises and lens roadmap. 

[LocalHero1953]

I don't know if folks have seen the lens plan announced by Hasselblad yesterday for the X1D. This impressive lens plan of nine lenses by the end of 2018, if adhered to, rather puts Leica's glacially slow progress with SL lenses in the shade. So far, two years after the release of the SL, we only have two additional lenses (the 90-280 and the 50mm prime). Further lenses have been announced but are not available as yet and projected release has been put back. I am unimpressed I will not have the wide zoom for my winter trip to the Caribbean early next year. I am not going to buy third party lenses with "iffy" adapters, which sometimes work and sometimes don't and the WATE is too narrow range. 

 

Wilson

Without disagreeing with you, Wilson, but playing devli's advocate, I'd point out that Leica had a full suite from 24 to 280 within a few months of launch. The Hasselblad lenses are all primes except for the narrow 35-70. I'd guess that the SL plus two zooms is smaller, and certainly more convenient than the X1D and nine lenses. 

 

I suspect one reason for the different approaches is that the SL has it's core target as photography for events and similar, where zooms are convenient and changing lenses is not. I see the X1D as good for landscape, and other 'considered' photography, but not for fast changing situations and quick reactions (I don't have it, so I could be wrong). Given that Leica has been introducing more products across its lines than Hasselblad since the SL (TL2, M10, Clooney), it probably helped Leica to get two lenses out early that would keep many people happy for a good long while, leaving Leica to focus on other systems.

 

None of which is any consolation if you actually want a specific lens for the SL, of course.

Edited November 4, 2017 by LocalHero1953

[LD_50]

If Leica would fill out the roadmap for another 1-2 years with 3-4 more lenses and a teleconverter I think it would reduce the concern many have with the system.

 

That’s all Hasselblad has done yesterday, announce lenses with no real details (see “high aperture” on the 80 mm) and no specific release dates.

[wlaidlaw]

If Leica would fill out the roadmap for another 1-2 years with 3-4 more lenses and a teleconverter I think it would reduce the concern many have with the system.

 

That’s all Hasselblad has done yesterday, announce lenses with no real details (see “high aperture” on the 80 mm) and no specific release dates.

 

No specific dates but they have stated all will be available by year end 2018. Now whether slippage occurs, who knows. 

[geetee1972]

 

I am unimpressed I will not have the wide zoom for my winter trip to the Caribbean early next year.

 

There are literally hundreds of lenses you could buy including a dozen or so made by Leica.

[Guest VVJ]

There are literally hundreds of lenses you could buy including a dozen or so made by Leica.

 

That's not really the point though...

 

The point is that Leica should start delivering what they promised their customer base.

 

And if they can't they should at least communicate about it and come up with a new plan, ie. a revised roadmap.  

Edited November 5, 2017 by JorisV

[Jeff S]

Don't hold your breath. Leica significantly delayed the delivery of S lenses, then stopped introducing new lenses altogether, and still hasn't communicated a thing years later.

 

And they still have not revealed what caused, or how they resolved, problems affecting S lens AF mechanisms.

 

Communications....not Leica's strong suit.

 

I'm just pleased that SL lenses appear to be without significant problems.

 

Jeff

Edited November 5, 2017 by Jeff S

[LD_50]

I thought Leica released a statement in April 2017 regarding AF motor issues with the S lenses.

 

“In some cases, a defect may appear in the autofocus drive unit of Leica S-Lenses...”

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Look here: Leica L-Mount

[scott kirkpatrick]

If Leica would fill out the roadmap for another 1-2 years with 3-4 more lenses and a teleconverter I think it would reduce the concern many have with the system.

 

That’s all Hasselblad has done yesterday, announce lenses with no real details (see “high aperture” on the 80 mm) and no specific release dates.

Somewhere I saw a Leica chart with three future lenses indicated for a year after the Summiluxes-SL and the 16-35SL appear.  Of course, there were no specifics on the characteristics of the three, so we can each fill that in with our personal wishlists.  Isn't that enough?

[wlaidlaw]

There are literally hundreds of lenses you could buy including a dozen or so made by Leica.

 

No there literally aren't. There is only a single wide angle zoom which will be fully functional with AF on the SL and that is the 16-35 Vario Elmar. It has had its release delayed twice from early autumn this year to year end and then to spring next year.