jhluxton Posted February 6, 2017 Share #541 Posted February 6, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) Anybody else notice that Leica Stores are not as friendly as the camera shops of old? Demanding yep, ungrateful I don't think so.... loyalty works both ways, its all about service. I've been to 2 US Leica shops that sent me to mail order because of poor treatment. ...Should I name names? Perhaps US LeicaStores are a bit different but I must say I had a positive experience during the autumn at LeicaStore Manchester, UK. Upto last October it had been many years since I had entered a camera shop. All my digital Leicas apart from the Fuji clone Digilux were bought mail order. However, when I decided to make the leap to the M system I thought I had better go along in person before spending such a substantial sum. So I headed off the 30 or so miles down the M62 to Leica Store Manchester and found the chaps there very obliging. When I returned a couple of weeks later looking for a body protector and on the spare of the moment asked about a tele lens they told me they could sell me their demo Summarit 75mm f2.4 for £100 off RRP. You couldn't tell it had been used came boxed. Whilst I was there they cleaned the sensor on the M262 which I had bought a couple of weeks earlier and which had acquired some dust on its first trip out. I will certainly return to this outlet or order by mail from them very happy with their service. Perhaps In the next few months when I have saved up a bit more I might be looking for one of these Summaron 28mm lenses. Just like period aesthetics of its appearance! John 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 6, 2017 Posted February 6, 2017 Hi jhluxton, Take a look here Leica Summaron-28 -image thread. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
IkarusJohn Posted February 7, 2017 Share #542 Posted February 7, 2017 (edited) I have visited the Leica Stores in Mayfair, San Francisco, the Ginza and Washington DC; on each occasion, I had a Leica camera slung over my shoulder and they let me try any lens I wanted to. Each one, happy to chat, friendly and helpful. As for a new lens, I hope it has been well handled in Wetzlar before it was packed to ensure that it was properly adjusted and checked; I can't think what damage it will have suffered once it gets to the shop - contact with air? greasy fingers? wear and tear from light going through the lens? mounting wear? Doesn't bother me in the slightest - they're made to be used, and any flush of pride being the first to handle your lens (you aren't) is transitory. Unless, of course, you never intend to break the little round, clear sticky seal and actually open the box ... Edited February 7, 2017 by IkarusJohn 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeicaPassion Posted February 7, 2017 Share #543 Posted February 7, 2017 Years ago, I saw a customer bang a brand new Leica lens onto a glass display case at a dealer. The salesman cringed and then put the lens back into its box. I left and never did business with that shop again. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianman Posted February 7, 2017 Share #544 Posted February 7, 2017 (edited) This has nothing whatsoever to do with little seals or pride, whether is a lens, car or banana. If I have paid for it (yes in full), the shop does not have the right to use the object without consent. The least they should do is ask the owner. Showing is one thing. Letting anybody with a camera slung over their shoulder to stick it on their camera, take it outside, etc. is quite different. What if I go to fetch the lens I have paid for and the shop people say "oh yeah, it's here, but please wait, there's a queue of people wanting to test it first". Yes of course lenses are meant to be used... all my lenses (which btw are all secondhand) are used by me and people who I choose to lend them to. Edited February 7, 2017 by ianman Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
epand56 Posted February 7, 2017 Share #545 Posted February 7, 2017 (edited) I would be pissed as hell if the lens that I have already paid for in full was given out to others to test without my consent. Well, untill you do not pay for it in full, you can not consider the lens yours. I think that if a lens is tried under the control of the dealer, nothing s wrong with it. I always try pants on before buying them and that's not a big deal. People also try cars before buyng them and when you buy a car is not unlikely that someone tried it before. And a car is sometimes even more expensive than a Leica lens. I do not personally mind it, as long as the lens or car or pants are perfectly ok. Edited February 7, 2017 by epand56 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianman Posted February 7, 2017 Share #546 Posted February 7, 2017 I do apologise to all for going so far off topic but sometimes, it really gets to me when it's obvious that people are not reading what is posted. ok, first... just in case it still isn't quite clear enough... I would be pissed as hell if the lens that I have already paid for in full was given out to others to test without my consent. Second: Presumably the trousers you try on have not already been bought (or purchased - see other thread for details), or do you ask the person wearing them to take them off ? Third: It seems that making a list of things that can or cannot be tested prior to purchase (or buying - see above), somehow help to enforce an argument. Fine, I'll play. List of things I would rather not have been tested by anybody prior to my using them: - Toothbrush - Underwear - Condoms - Ear plugs - etc. Lastly (and please do try to understand): If I go into a camera shop to buy a lens, I don't give a flying fu hoot if it's been tested by others. BUT I would feel very uncomfortable if the salesperson handed me a lens to test knowing it belongs to somebody else. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pop Posted February 7, 2017 Share #547 Posted February 7, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) .... it really gets to me when it's obvious that people are not reading what is posted..... Yes, but you seemed to be the first who mentioned in this thread having paid the article being tried by others, or I failed to spot any other members mentioning that fact. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianman Posted February 7, 2017 Share #548 Posted February 7, 2017 I give up 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
anickpick Posted February 7, 2017 Share #549 Posted February 7, 2017 What I like about the Summaron, it is so small that you might find it (along with a toothbrush and condoms) in the trousers' pockets you just bought and that obviously have been tried on by a photographer/cheater before. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Mandeville Posted February 7, 2017 Share #550 Posted February 7, 2017 I don't really understand the interest in this lens. I mean, I get that it is small and lightweight for street shooting and I get that it has a vintage look and feel on the camera. But I just don't see any advantage in actual use over, say, my 28mm Elmarit. Am I missing something? Does the optical formula give a unique vintage look to the photos that you just can't get with a more modern lens? Or is it just the retro look and small size of the lens that has garnered interest? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IkarusJohn Posted February 7, 2017 Share #551 Posted February 7, 2017 (edited) I give up Why? You've made your point, haven't you? Others have a different view. Do you expect them all to bow to the quality of the explanation of your position and change their minds? I'm not being facetious, just wondering why all the heat. Has someone opened a boxed up lens you've paid for? Here, I'm quite sure, no shop would open any piece of camera equipment someone had already paid for. Would I mind? Not in the least, as it makes no difference to my enjoyment, and it is nice to know sometimes that someone has checked that everything is there. My ex-wife runs a paragliding business, and two of the manufacturers she represents are insistent that we open every new glider and test inflated it and if possible flew it - we then packed it back as new. I don't get the passion on this, but you're right - if you ordered a new lens and you didn't want anyone else to touch it, you're entitled to that. I don't see it as a damage issue, as the lens is handled with care at Leica, packaged well, marked as fragile on the box and handled with respect at the shop. Notwithstanding that, it can get dropped at Leica, crushed in transport and mishandled at the other end, whether the box is opened or not. We do rather assume (not unreasonably) that such items will be treated with respect. If the dealer had used my Noctilux as an ashtray before delivering it to me, I'd be pissed off; but we're not talking about that, are we? Cheers John Edited February 7, 2017 by IkarusJohn Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
4X5B&W Posted February 8, 2017 Share #552 Posted February 8, 2017 I don't really understand the interest in this lens. I mean, I get that it is small and lightweight for street shooting and I get that it has a vintage look and feel on the camera. But I just don't see any advantage in actual use over, say, my 28mm Elmarit. Am I missing something? Does the optical formula give a unique vintage look to the photos that you just can't get with a more modern lens? Or is it just the retro look and small size of the lens that has garnered interest? There is great interest in this lens, I will try to explain why. Is It the type/style of lens all photographers would desire?......probably not! It is a special order lens, so anyone buying a new Leica 28 M lens will probably go to one of the standard production units. The 28 Elmarit ASPH, the 28 Summicon II, or the 28 Summilux. All are excellent modern production lenses. The 28 Summaron is a unique special order lens that only has appeal for some photographers. Does it give a unique vintage look........ABSOLUTELY!! That you can't get with modern lenses......THERE ARE 5 VERSIONS OF THE 28 ELMARIT FOR INSTANCE, ALL HAVE DIFFERENT PERFORMANCES AND "LOOKS" The retro look and size has certainly garnered attention, not so much for the style..........but for the compact size when used with a M body, and the unique "character" of the images it produces. Again this is a truly a unique and specialized design, that will have appeal to only a very small group of photographers.....but they will love it IMHO. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted February 8, 2017 Share #553 Posted February 8, 2017 I don't want to put the cat amongst the pigeons but I think it is a lens better suited to film (something I will also say about the original 28 Summicron). :-) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exodies Posted February 8, 2017 Share #554 Posted February 8, 2017 Do you mean we should use a film filter in post processing pictures taken on our Ms? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted February 8, 2017 Share #555 Posted February 8, 2017 (edited) Do whatever you like. Edited February 8, 2017 by wattsy 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronazle Posted February 8, 2017 Share #556 Posted February 8, 2017 Yesterday, instead of a 35mm Cron on my carry camera I put a 50mm on it and the Summarron in my (buttoned) shirt pocket. Its small size allowed me two lenses with the obvious greater optical flexibility than I usually have with one. Regards, Ron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Mandeville Posted February 8, 2017 Share #557 Posted February 8, 2017 Yesterday, instead of a 35mm Cron on my carry camera I put a 50mm on it and the Summarron in my (buttoned) shirt pocket. Its small size allowed me two lenses with the obvious greater optical flexibility than I usually have with one. Regards, Ron But where do you put the 50 when you have the Summaron attached to the camera? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
4X5B&W Posted February 8, 2017 Share #558 Posted February 8, 2017 (edited) I don't want to put the cat amongst the pigeons but I think it is a lens better suited to film (something I will also say about the original 28 Summicron). :-) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk The look will certainly be "FILM LIKE" and frankly, the reason for I placed my order the day it was announced. Mine will be almost permanently attached to my Monochrom MM1, and used in conjunction with my 1956 Rigid 50 Summicron - that again provides wonderful rendering of tones, and OOF detail, while what most people may find surprising (as with the 28 Summaron), exception detail with a MM1. A match made in heaven for my objectives for B&W photography - with my now modern 2 lens "CLASSIC KIT" - can't wait. Edited February 8, 2017 by 4X5B&W Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmradman Posted February 8, 2017 Share #559 Posted February 8, 2017 The look will certainly be "FILM LIKE" and frankly, the reason for placing my order. Mine will be almost permanently attached to my Monochron MM1, and used in conjunction with my 1956 Rigid 50 Summicron. A match made in heaven for my objectives for B&W photography with my now modern, CLASSIC KIT - Can't wait! Do you intend to use any contrast filters with Summaron, if you do do you have conemporary solution to share? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
4X5B&W Posted February 8, 2017 Share #560 Posted February 8, 2017 Do you intend to use any contrast filters with Summaron, if you do do you have conemporary solution to share? Not at this point, but there are many discussion on the net about suitable filters for Monochrom cameras - not to mention software programs for similar results. A lot of trial and error for the best results.......as in printing! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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