Next Retro Lens?

[a.noctilux]

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Or why not Elmax 50mm ?

 

Or Hektor 5cm f:2.5 !

 

Summar 5cm yes with round aperture in place of old hexagone that I've never used to with my original Summar 5cm.

(I use also Summar 42mm with round aperture for repro just hours ago, that would be nice for general pictures)

[oldwino]

Updated Summicron 50 collapsible with modern coatings and able to collapse on the digital Ms.

[Dougg]

The Hektor 73mm seems an attractive and likely choice, doesn't it... Optically it's a fast variant on the classic Heliar formula, just the single negative center element replaced with a negative cemented pair. So, a sort of 6-element Heliar relative. And just FWIW, the current 1.8/75mm Voigtlander Heliar in M mount fits this same description, essentially a modern-day Hektor.

[james.liam]

So, it seems that the consensus has settled upon the 73 Hektor and some version of a collapsible 50. 

[mmradman]

I suppose retro lenses like 28mm f5.6 could be selling well and cost of development is minimal so copy any old lens and sell it in new shiny package at premium price must be profitable business. So we may be seeing one old lens revamp every couple of years now, we got 28 and 90mm, what is left are 35, 50 & 75 (73)mm FL.

 

Now, how about some compact full frame prime lenses for SL?

[jcraf]

I agree... let's not forget that it MUST be a COSTLY item... which makes uneven, imho, the revamping of lenses like Elmar 5 or Summaron 2,8... for which is hard to justify an high cost

That being said, my money’s on the Noctilux 50 f1.2. And a re-creation will very possibly be cheaper than buying an original right now.

Edited December 23, 2017 by jcraf

[Paul J]

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It would be nice to see either of these:

 

35mm Summaron

50mm Summitar

73mm Hektor

85mm Summarex

Edited December 23, 2017 by Paul J

[TomB_tx]

Good points made here about the need to justify development and production costs vs. the total income from sales of a model, tipping the decisions towards high priced but low sales choices. Cosina has made a few retro or "classic" designs, including the 50 3.5 Heliar (collapsible and rigid) that are high-performing entries, priced reasonably. So I doubt if Leica would try a 50 3.5 Elmar. The more recent 50 2.8 Elmar-M would be nice. Since Leica discourages collapsing lenses on Digital, that makes these designs unlikely.

I'd like to see more of the very compact models, like the 35 Summilux original, which also has "character" images. However, with the M10's high-ISO capabilities the fast lenses aren't as necessary now. I've taken to using my 35 & 50 f2.5 Summarit lenses a lot more on my M10 as they are now nice for available light work, and I can catch focus better than on my M9 due to the better VF on the M10.

[james.liam]

Since Leica discourages collapsing lenses on Digital, that makes these designs unlikely.

 

 

IIRC, only earlier version collapsible are discouraged. Not so the 50 Elmar M or the more recent 90/4. 

[luigi bertolotti]

That being said, my money’s on the Noctilux 50 f1.2. And a re-creation will very possibly be cheaper than buying an original right now.

Another no irrealistic  hipotesis...

[a.noctilux]

Modernised Noctilux 1.2/50 must be easy now that aspherical lenses are the norm.

Easy/cheaper to produce 1.2/50 Noctilux and not too expensive (for Leica) must be a succes.

 

But I fear that this one may loose the myth of the original Noctilux 1.2.

 

If available new, in near futur, I would/could not resist .

 

This page of the old brochure is fascinating

 

"built-in optical lens hood"

 

 

From Marco Cavina page:

http://www.marcocavina.com/articoli_fotografici/Leica_Noctilux_M__50_1,2/00_pag.htm

[mustafasoleiman]

How about smaller 35 and 50 summicrons like the v.4 of both... small and less than 200g.

Even though I have the latest summiluxes, I keep going back to my v.4s as they are so much lighter and smaller, and quality wise are great, but they are now 30 plus years old so it would be nice to replace them.

The summarits are not a replacement as they are not as fast, and f2 is what i consider the minimum necessary for low light hand held work.

 

Alex

[epand56]

A new and still tiny 28/6.3 Hektor would be very interesting too ...

 

They have already issues the new Summaron 28/5.6 (outstanding lens). I doubt they would issue another 28.

[Susie]

Given the - approximateness - of the Leica framelines anyway, a 73mm using the 75 lines and an 85 using either the 75 or 90 lines (depending on assumed subject distance) would be "close enough." You want better framing, time for the EVF.

 

The - issue - with these "what next" threads is always - are we saying what we want, or guessing what Leica will actually do? (The two are not always the same). In which case, I want the 90TE, but I buy the idea that something more exotic and "worthy" of an exotic price is more likely. My guess is, the 73mm is older, and looks more retro externally, and possibly in its imaging, than the Summarex. which was more "modern" in design and performance.

 

This is very true; it will be what Leica want to sell, not what forum members would necessarily like.  As Luigi said, it will have to be expensive!  The 7.3cm has now been covered with the new 75mm Noctilux, hence the 85 Summarex, probably with a price around £12k?  If they build them like the old ones, just wait to hear the groans as new owners try to pick the thing up!

 

Best wishes to all for Christmas and the new year,

 

Susie