steppenw0lf Posted September 27, 2017 Share #261 Posted September 27, 2017 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) It would be nice to see something a bit braver from Leica for the SL. Sure, when this latest crop is available, there will be three zooms covering 16-280, and four primes 35-50-75-90, but it's all very ... mid-range. Don't get me wrong, Leica needs to cover this lot, but it would be great to have something just that little bit different - if the wide zoom had been 14-24, rather than 16-35, a nice compact telephoto like a 180/2.8, an 85 macro ... I have no doubt that these new lenses will be fabulous, but Leica is famous for the quality of its lenses, and also, to be honest, making brave lenses like the Noctilux or the 280/4 R. It would be great if they produced something to lust after. Maybe the new Summicrons will do the job - while the 50 Summilux-SL seems to produce amazing images, they have been overshadowed somewhat by comments about the AF speed. Zeiss seemed to capture people's imagination with the Otus line of lenses. For a company that has an enviable reputation for the quality of its lenses and its innovation, Leica needs to do a bit more, I think, than just produce Summicrons in standard focal lengths ... Tastes are different. The Otus are not attractive to many - terribly big and heavy. Mainly for the MTF fetishist. Other Zeiss lenses are more attractive (macro 100, 1.8/135, 2.8/21). I am still waiting to see an extraordinary (reference) 2.0/28 from anyone. The R 4/280 is equal to the Otus - wonderful MTF curves. But nothing special besides. I would rather be excited about a 1.7x extender for the SL 90-280. By the way, if a lens cannot be used because of AF speed, then the photographer is simply spoilt. Edited September 27, 2017 by steppenw0lf Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 27, 2017 Posted September 27, 2017 Hi steppenw0lf, Take a look here New Leica SL Lenses & Roadmap!. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
steppenw0lf Posted September 27, 2017 Share #262 Posted September 27, 2017 (edited) It is probably far away from Leica - but what about pubic funding ? I would like to participate in funding an exotic lens that would take very long to arrive "naturally": Perhaps a 2.0 135mm or 1.8 135 mm ? (Or 2.0/28 or 2.0/24 - some lenses that are badly missing from the R collection). Edited September 27, 2017 by steppenw0lf Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donzo98 Posted October 11, 2017 Share #263 Posted October 11, 2017 Tomorrow Stephen Skopp will be at the Leica Store in NYC for a Q&A... You guys know what’s it’s all about??? I assume it’s a new lens... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
relms Posted October 12, 2017 Share #264 Posted October 12, 2017 I will take a 400 f/2.8 and a couple of extenders, say, 1.4 and 2.0. Oh, wait! I'm in the wrong store. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
frame-it Posted October 13, 2017 Share #265 Posted October 13, 2017 hilarious..[Park cameras site] "..is no longer available" Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/264699-new-leica-sl-lenses-roadmap/?do=findComment&comment=3374936'>More sharing options...
mumu Posted October 13, 2017 Share #266 Posted October 13, 2017 Tomorrow Stephen Skopp will be at the Leica Store in NYC for a Q&A... You guys know what’s it’s all about??? I assume it’s a new lens... any news from this meeting? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest VVJ Posted October 13, 2017 Share #267 Posted October 13, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) I wonder how much longer the Leica website is going to keep on saying that the SL-75mm is "coming soon"... 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest VVJ Posted October 17, 2017 Share #268 Posted October 17, 2017 Let's also hope that the new lenses (75mm and 90mm) will cheaper than the new Leica Thambar-M 90mm. Not sure whether I see a justification for the $6,495 price tag... https://leicastoremiami.com/products/leica-thambar-m-90mm-f-2-2?variant=43790447824 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
geetee1972 Posted October 17, 2017 Share #269 Posted October 17, 2017 Not sure whether I see a justification for the $6,495 price tag... Especially when you consider that simply sliding the clarity slider on LR or Capture One is a whole lot cheaper! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest VVJ Posted October 18, 2017 Share #270 Posted October 18, 2017 Especially when you consider that simply sliding the clarity slider on LR or Capture One is a whole lot cheaper! Not the same according to Leica Store Miami...: http://www.reddotforum.com/content/2017/10/leica-announces-thambar-m-90mm-f2-2-legend-returns/ When the Thambar was originally released in 1935, Leica lenses were already renowned for their exceptionally sharp rendition. So it was all the more surprising when Leitz introduced a soft focus lens which – despite being named after the Greek term ‘thambo’, meaning ‘blurred’ – gave rise to images whose romantic aesthetics are not only unmatched by any other lens to this day, but also impossible to replicate in digital post-processing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LD_50 Posted October 18, 2017 Share #271 Posted October 18, 2017 Marketing language is just that. The question regarding post processing vs optical effects will only become more difficult to answer. In the case of the Thambar it may be “impossible” to replicate perfectly but if it’s not possible to reliably distinguish the end result from this lens or a PP’d photo from another, few will see the point of such a lens. Leica surely realizes this hence the huge price tag and likely very limited production. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sillbeers15 Posted October 18, 2017 Share #272 Posted October 18, 2017 Lecia SL: The Mystery of the Lost Lenses? http://scenictraverse.com/blog/2017/10/17/leica-sl-the-mystery-of-the-lost-lenses 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest VVJ Posted October 18, 2017 Share #273 Posted October 18, 2017 Lecia SL: The Mystery of the Lost Lenses? http://scenictraverse.com/blog/2017/10/17/leica-sl-the-mystery-of-the-lost-lenses I understand his frustration and given the lack of communication from Leica I also understand the questions he asks and the conclusions he draws (even if they might not be justified). I really hope Leica ups their game quickly. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sillbeers15 Posted October 19, 2017 Share #274 Posted October 19, 2017 I understand his frustration and given the lack of communication from Leica I also understand the questions he asks and the conclusions he draws (even if they might not be justified). I really hope Leica ups their game quickly. I'm only a hobbyist and am happy with the 24-280mm range covered by both zooms. As I mainly use the convenience factor of the AF & zoom on the SL system and happily rely on my M10 with M primes for times I have no need for AF and can take the time to change lenses. However I do agree if Leica wants to keep the company financially afloat with a future, it cannot ignore the SL system with full range of AF lenses. In the 24mths milestone, there should be like 4-6 AF lenses and a wireless triggering system to support off camera flash already available. I see the Leica S dead, not that it is any thing less in product quality but the lack of development and support on the system drives it to its grave. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted October 19, 2017 Share #275 Posted October 19, 2017 The glass half full viewpoint could be that the SL lens delays might help avoid anything similar to the S lens AF motor debacle. On the other hand, communications regarding both situations have been dreadful. Jeff 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waterden Posted October 19, 2017 Share #276 Posted October 19, 2017 (edited) Good point about the Thambar in that article. Ludicrous waste of resources when the SL system is yet to reach optimal strength. The Zeiss C-Sonnar 50/1.5 will be easier to use and will produce similar results yet costs about a sixth the price of this throw-back. Some serious shortage of strategic thinking here. Personally, I'm happy using the SL with R lenses but clearly, as an AF system, it needs more than one prime and two zooms, however good they might be. When you see this sort of product progression one does wonder whether there is management tension at Leica. If it is to survive, the company has to have a mainstream mirrorless competitor apart from the rangefinder because the latter really is technology well past its sell-by date. Edited October 19, 2017 by Waterden 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lx1713 Posted October 19, 2017 Share #277 Posted October 19, 2017 I'm personally not at all interested in a Thambar but if these lenses are fetching a good price and attracting a following, any sensible company with the suitable business model would not leave money on the table. After all the Thambar does have the full backing of Leica in terms of service and warranties. There must be a slice of the market who wouldn't risk a 2nd hand lens but is willing to pay for a Neo classic version. I hope I got that term right Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LD_50 Posted October 19, 2017 Share #278 Posted October 19, 2017 All this stuff about Leica surviving is based upon what exactly? Does anyone have a comparison of their financials against the other camera companies? What makes anyone think that Leica had a choice between introducing the the Thambar and building out the SL lens lineup? If they wanted to do both they would do so. If they thought an SL lens would produce better financial results than a Thambar so they could “survive” don’t you think they would have gone that route instead? I understand wanting more lenses in the lineup. I want more choices myself. Your wants don’t need to be justified by rampant speculation about the company suriving. In regard to the article, she clearly could have predicted Leica would be slower to release lenses than Fuji and others. History shows this to be true and nothing has changed with the recent systems (Fuji X vs Leica TL demonstrated what to expect very clearly). She also is shooting wildlife with a 400mm Canon f2.8 and 2x extender and a lot of landscapes. Wildlife is not what the SL system is for and the early roadmap she posted made this evident. Wide angles also are not available in native L mount with only the 16-35 on the roadmap (and it’s not been delayed much). Given she’s shooting adapted Canon, she could be shooting adapted wide R mount but doesn’t mention the possibility. She sounds like she is directly in the target market for Nikon or Canon. There’s nothing wrong with that. They make fine cameras and lenses with unmatched lens choices and professional support. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lx1713 Posted October 19, 2017 Share #279 Posted October 19, 2017 (edited) 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. Edited October 19, 2017 by lx1713 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lx1713 Posted October 19, 2017 Share #280 Posted October 19, 2017 I do sympathise with Kristen's unhappiness with reliability issues. Don't like it when my equipment failed but I would compare equipment on a different basis from hers. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now