Shortage of 55-135 L Lens

[Malcolmp]

As a proud new owner of the CL with a 18mm lens and shortly to acquire a 23mm, I am disappointed that acquiring a 55-135 is so difficult.

There  is definitely  a shortage of supply in the market place and it seems Leica can’t satisfy demand.

My current camera is a Sony 7R mk2 with a range of Zeiss primes but for travel they are heavy. The CL is a delight and most of the time with the 18mm

can fit in the pocket. My plan is to fit the 55-135 into the other pocket if I can find one to buy. 

Hopefully the competition from Sigma will wake Leica up into realising they have a great product.

 

[wda]

This is well-discussed in other threads. Some keen members have found lenses, new or used, by dint of persistent searching on web-sites. Sigma might help when they start producing compatible lenses. But the subject lens is highly popular, for good reasons. Keep up your searching and you will find one.

[Bill W]

You gotta call around and ask to be notified when one is available. Not know where you are located, they seem to be more available in Europe than the US. I got mine from ebay simply by checking every day or I believe you can do a search, save it and be notified when anything new shows up. FWIW

[Sreed]

Leica Manchester has one. https://www.leicastoremanchester.com/leica-apo-vario-elmar-t-55-135mm-f-35-45-asph.html

Please buy it!  It is a siren calling me. 

Shad

[sshire]

🤸‍♂️Just brought one home. Ken Hansen has been looking for me to no avail.I believed that I'd called every Leica dealer in the US. This morning I saw that New York Photo and Video (only a 12 mile drive from my house) was a Leica dealer. I called and, amazingly, they had one. It's been in stock for months. Just lucky. 

[wda]

On 2/3/2019 at 12:43 PM, Sreed said:

Leica Manchester has one. https://www.leicastoremanchester.com/leica-apo-vario-elmar-t-55-135mm-f-35-45-asph.html

Please buy it!  It is a siren calling me. 

Shad

Someone has bought the lens.

[Malcolmp]

Thanks for all the helpful comments.

I acquired the lens this morning from the Manchester Leica Store.

Hopefully will arrive tomorrow and I can get out and try it.

 

[Petercoll]

2 hours ago, Malcolmp said:

Thanks for all the helpful comments.

I acquired the lens this morning from the Manchester Leica Store.

Hopefully will arrive tomorrow and I can get out and try it.

 

I bought 23mm, 18-56mm and 35mm TL all second hand from them, plus lately a Leica TL2 (second hand). Every item comes and I unpackage as if they are genuinely new items, plus they give you their provenance. 

 

 

[Jake]

On 2/3/2019 at 3:00 PM, sshire said:

🤸‍♂️Just brought one home. Ken Hansen has been looking for me to no avail.I believed that I'd called every Leica dealer in the US. This morning I saw that New York Photo and Video (only a 12 mile drive from my house) was a Leica dealer. I called and, amazingly, they had one. It's been in stock for months. Just lucky. 

Yup. I just called and they sold the only one they had. Guy at the store said "Good Luck."  I wish I would have checked this thread when you posted the above. 

It's going to be a long slog trying to find that lens. 

[Astropap]

Just bought one, along with the 11-23mm zoom, from Glazers' Camera in Seattle.  I asked if they had any more.  They don't have any new but they do have a demo of each.   He wasn't sure if the store will sell them but it doesn't hurt to contact them if you're looking.

 

Amy

[stevegaskin]

Having phoned six UK retailers all giving me the same - “on back-order, but no delivery date available” response, I was about to give up. I then phoned my last hope - Wilkinson’s Cameras in Chesterfield and to my surprise they had one in stock - being delivered on Thursday 😀.  Thank you Wilkinson. 

[wda]

That is rather interesting because if the store is part of a group of that name, based in the NW  of UK, I thought they had relinquished the Leica dealership. Good to hear your news.

[brightscene]

If anyone in the UK would like a bargain 55-135 for £899 right now with a 12 month warranty from Wex.

Here you go

https://www.wexphotovideo.com/leica-t-55-135mm-f3-5-5-6-asph-apo-vario-elmar-lens-used-1691598/

There is also a 18-56 for £774

https://www.wexphotovideo.com/leica-t-18-56mm-f3-5-5-6-asph-vario-elmar-lens-used-1691596/

Please tell us in this thread if you find these a good home as it stops me purchasing them. I had them both added to my cart but I like my 23mm for portability 

Good luck both are amazing lenses!

Regards

Craig

Edited Wednesday at 06:24 PM by brightscene

[jaapv]

Well, they seem to have a good Trustpilot score...

[brightscene]

Wex are a pretty good and they are offering a full 12 month warranty on used items here - someone will get a bargain!

[Boojay]

Wex Photographic are very good to deal with, for buying anyway, new or used.