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SL Lens Tally: What More do we Need?


jplomley

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I'm curious what other SL users are interested in seeing Leica deliver as the lens arsenal is being slowly rolled out? Myself, I see the 16-35, 70 APO and 90-280 being a brilliant 3 lens kit for my applications. The only lens missing would be a 100 mm Macro that allows 1:1 magnification.

 

What SL lenses would other users like to see Leica deliver?

Edited by jplomley
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I am certain Leica will continue to introduce more SL lenses so as to sustain the business. What it cannot afford is to introduce lenses that would not attract buyers.

Strategically Leica has done the correct thing to introduce zooms at appropriate focal length as it knows many SL users will use M lenses on SL body. I see more prime lenses rolling out now that the SL platform is slowing being. Accepted by users and there begin to establish a demand for more SL lenses. Leica must keep the momentum going on SL to continue selling lenses and body plus accessories such as the wireless triggering off camera flash system it is introducing soon. I see clearly that Leica is differentiating the M & SL system and continues to connect them with interchanagability of M lenses on SL body but not the other way around. Leica is also focusing on bringing more faster prime lenses to the M range, so I do not see that happening soon to SL range of lenses. 16-35, 70 & 90-280 is also my choice of lens kit for my SL with M21lux & M50noc to supliment occasionally while I still keep my M10 with prime lenses on the other hand.

Good move on building up the SL and sustain the M range Leica!

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I'm curious what other SL users are interested in seeing Leica deliver as the lens arsenal is being slowly rolled out? Myself, I see the 16-35, 70 APO and 90-280 being a brilliant 3 lens kit for my applications. The only lens missing would be a 100 mm Macro that allows 1:1 magnification.

 

What SL lenses would other users like to see Leica deliver?

 

 

nittypick: I see the term "arsenal" used in this manner all the time. I find that it bugs me—the connotation connects cameras to weapons, which is not an association I like my photographic equipment to have. "Lens portfolio" or "lens line" is much more what a manufacturer is trying to produce rather than an arsenal. Forgive my nomenclatural digression, please... :D

 

Lessee, we have now the standard basis for a lens portfolio for the SL:

 

16-35mm

24-90mm

35mm

50mm

75mm

90mm

90-280mm

 

What I'd want in addition to these lens options, in order of priority, are: 

 

100 to 120mm f/2.8 Macro

50 to 60mm Macro

1.4x and/or 2x teleconverter

160mm f/2

300mm f/4 tele

 

(Although the priority between the three middle ones in that list are pretty much equal...)

 

A short tele-macro lens is perhaps my most used lens, when I can get one, aside from a fast normal lens. In fact, I could probably get away with a fast 50mm and a short tele-macro lens for 90% or more of my photography. 

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nittypick: I see the term "arsenal" used in this manner all the time. I find that it bugs me—the connotation connects cameras to weapons, which is not an association I like my photographic equipment to have. "Lens portfolio" or "lens line" is much more what a manufacturer is trying to produce rather than an arsenal. Forgive my nomenclatural digression, please... :D

 

 

I presume you also refuse to say that you have a "shoot" planned?

 

How do you feel about the revered Mr. Puts' term "scuderia" for Leica products as a set?

Edited by scott kirkpatrick
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The 100-120 macro exists.  It's the S 120/2.5.  Not particularly fast in AF, but stunningly sharp.  Only goes to near 2:1 however.  Since the S line is not very active, these are available lightly used at reasonable discounts.

Edited by scott kirkpatrick
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12-24 f4.

90mm 1:1 macro

1.4x and 2x. (2x only if the SL can AF at f8)

400mm f4

17mm TS

24mm TS

35mmTS

50mmTS Macro.

 

 

Honestly though I don't *need* any of them. There are available work arounds for all but the long end. The CL does a great macro with the same resolution. It'll give you 400mm equiv with the 90-280. A 400 is super specialised. The TS lenses would stop people buying the Canon ones.

 

The thing is..... All of the above are playing catch up. No one is going to get into the SL from Canon because of the above, regardless if the Leica lenses are better (they are). What I think Leica should do is make a couple of uber desirable lenses that you can't get in Canon and Nikon. Basically I think they need to make an AF 50 and 75mm Noctilux for the SL. Yes, you can use the M versions. But AF is attractive to most. AF speed with such a lens wouldn't matter so much. You can put the M versions on a Sony.

 

And seriously, who wouldn't be just a little bit tempted to find the $10K you'd need for a SL50mm 0.95?

 

Gordon

 

p.s. And really I think they need to get a second body to market, first. They need an *R* version of the SL.

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The 100-120 macro exists.  It's the S 120/2.5.  Not particularly fast in AF, but stunningly sharp.  Only goes to near 2:1 however.  Since the S line is not very active, these are available lightly used at reasonable discounts.

 

You get more magnification than that on the SL due to the smaller sensor. It's approximately 1:1.75.

 

Gordon

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I presume you also refuse to say that you have a "shoot" planned?

 

How do you feel about the revered Mr. Puts' term "scuderia" for Leica products as a set?

 

 

I don't use that term very much either, yes. 

 

Scuderia means "stable", which is connecting "a place which house horses" with camera equipment. Seems kinda silly, but horses are at least rather nice creatures to be associated with. :)

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You get more magnification than that on the SL due to the smaller sensor. It's approximately 1:1.75.

 

Gordon

 

Sorry Gordon, but that doesn't make any sense. Magnification is independent of format size, unless you are trying to equivalence subject area captured rather than actual magnification.

 

For example, a scene captured at 1:2 magnification is a scene that is 48x72mm in size with my 35mm format camera and 26x34.6mm in size with my FourThirds format camera ... both scenes are still 1:2 magnification, one simply covers more area than the other due to the larger format.

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Hearing Scuderia first thing that springs to mind is Ferrari, perhaps that is what Puts was alluding to, Thoroughbred Stable.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scuderia
 

Scuderia means "stable" in the Italian language. It has entered English usage mainly through professional auto racing, in which many Italian teams incorporate the term in their names.

 

 

I don't use that term very much either, yes. 
 
Scuderia means "stable", which is connecting "a place which house horses" with camera equipment. Seems kinda silly, but horses are at least rather nice creatures to be associated with. :)

Edited by mmradman
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The 100-120 macro exists.  It's the S 120/2.5.  Not particularly fast in AF, but stunningly sharp.  Only goes to near 2:1 however.  Since the S line is not very active, these are available lightly used at reasonable discounts.

 

Well, it doesn't exist except in the same sense that I can adapt my Macro-Elmarit-R 60mm f/2.8 and Macro-Elmar-R 100mm f/4 to the SL, and at substantially less cost. 

 

The Leica APO-Macro-Summarit-S 120mm f/2.5 costs about $6795.00 new, around $4000 or so used at the bottom end, and around $5000 or so in excellent shape. That's a pretty expensive lens to me, regardless how 'reasonable' the discount might be. Remember that in addition to buying the S120/2.5, I'd also have to pay an additional $1200 or so for an adapter just for that one lens... 

 

My Macro-Elmar-R f/4 in bellows mount with the Focusing Bellows-R, in mint condition, cost me on the order of $325 and performs beautifully; it also focuses from infinity to 1:1 magnification. The R Adapter L, which I use for a half dozen lenses, cost me $765. 

Edited by ramarren
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Hearing Scuderia first thing that springs to mind is Ferrari, perhaps that is what Puts was alluding to, Thoroughbred Stable.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scuderia

 

 

 

I heard it first in connection with Scuderia Ferrari, then a racing team, etc. So yes: A "thoroughbred stable" usually of racing machines, crew, and drivers is a more typical English language connotation. 

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