Leica announces three limited edition M lenses. What would be your choice?!

[henning]

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I would like the AA 50,  a couple of years after the first owner had worn some black and a lot of price off the lens, leaving it optically and functionally perfect but looking rather sad, worn and especially, cheap. Until then, my Summilux ASPH will just have to do.

[mujk]

In mechanical manufacturing the product is either within accepted tolerances or not. If it's not, it may be possible to get it within tolerances by adjusting it. Otherwise it's scrapped or, maybe in Leicas case, the most expensive parts that are not faulty will be reused. I seriously doubt Leica uses tighter tolerances for special editions. It would cost too much.

[farnz]

I would previously have said "No" to any special edition lens until I tried my 50/1.4 'Retro' Summilux asph black chrome and was unable to resist trading my 'standard' 50/1.4 Summilux asph for it.  The reason is that I'd had the standard Summilux for 10 years from new, it's focus action had always been grippy, jerky, and a little heavy, and I was told by many that it would 'wear itself in' yet it never did over the ten years.  

The black chrome was/is buttery smooth to focus, doesn't have the ineffectual slide out hood, has a lovely, scalloped focus ring and seems a little smaller so the decision was easy.

The purpose of this post is to explain that in some circumstances the special edition lenses are more than simply cosmetically different.

None of the three SE lenses offered appeal to me particularly but if Leica was to bring out a satin silver 50/1 Noctilux v4 then my bank manager would need to be very worried.

Pete.

 

PS, as for Mr Huff's opinions, I lost all belief in those after he'd contradicted himself for the umpteenth time and declared more than 20 lenses as "his favourite all time lens".

Edited February 17, 2019 by farnz

[evikne]

@farnz I have a love/hate relation to the 50mm Summilux ASPH, which I have purchased and sold three times partially because of the reasons you describe. Maybe the Black Chrome edition is the solution … 🤔

[ELAN]

I agree with Pete 100%.  I also have both the standard 50/1.4 silver and the retro limited black chrome. The focusing action on my standard chrome has always been sticky and jerky (and frustrating). Leica (Wetzlar) advised not to service the lens if it's otherwise perfect, which mine is, but I'm told DAG fixes these jerky 50/1.4 chrome lenses by stripping the old lubricant and applying new lubricants.  The focusing action of my BC is silky smooth and the knurled ring is a such a pleasure to work with.  I find the IQ to be same from both lenses.

As for the 50 APO, I have the LHSA edition and much prefer its knurled focus ring and extra heft over the standard version.  The hood, well, that's another matter.  I left mine in the box and applied a UV filter instead.

[Einst_Stein]

8 hours ago, farnz said:

I would previously have said "No" to any special edition lens until I tried my 50/1.4 'Retro' Summilux asph black chrome and was unable to resist trading my 'standard' 50/1.4 Summilux asph for it.  The reason is that I'd had the standard Summilux for 10 years from new, it's focus action had always been grippy, jerky, and a little heavy, and I was told by many that it would 'wear itself in' yet it never did over the ten years.  

The black chrome was/is buttery smooth to focus, doesn't have the ineffectual slide out hood, has a lovely, scalloped focus ring and seems a little smaller so the decision was easy.

The purpose of this post is to explain that in some circumstances the special edition lenses are more than simply cosmetically different.

None of the three SE lenses offered appeal to me particularly but if Leica was to bring out a satin silver 50/1 Noctilux v4 then my bank manager would need to be very worried.

Pete.

 

PS, as for Mr Huff's opinions, I lost all belief in those after he'd contradicted himself for the umpteenth time and declared more than 20 lenses as "his favourite all time lens".

Are you comparing an 10 years old lens to a fresh new? what a conclusion!  If you are so sure, you should use your own words, don't quote someone else. 

The easier way is to read Leica's own statement. 

[pico]

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In my modest opinion, being one who grew up with 'old' Leica lenses enlarged on Leitz enlargers, the new lenses are beyond my horizon of interest. A lot changes between the original film exposure and enlarging that digital-only users cannot be expected to appreciate. It is all good.

 

[farnz]

8 minutes ago, Einst_Stein said:

Are you comparing an 10 years old lens to a fresh new? what a conclusion!  If you are so sure, you should use your own words, don't quote someone else. 

The easier way is to read Leica's own statement. 

I have no idea what you mean.  

Yes I'm comparing a 10 year old lens that I had owned from new for 10 years with a recently released lens but I have 60 year old lenses whose focus action is buttery smooth and always has been so I see little excuse for the focus action on a 'standard' 50/1.4 Summilux to be jerky and remain so for 10 years.

As for using someone else's words ... I didn't quote anyone else and my words were drawn from my own personal experience.

Pete.

Edited February 17, 2019 by farnz

[pedaes]

In defence of the standard humble 50mm Summilux-ASPH, I had a black and now have a silver, and both were /are buttery smooth in focus. Perhaps I have been lucky, as I do know others who have complained of stiff focusing. 

Edited February 17, 2019 by pedaes

[Einst_Stein]

3 minutes ago, farnz said:

I have no idea what you mean.  

Yes I'm comparing a 10 year old lens that I had owned from new for 10 years with a recently released lens but I have 60 year old lenses whose focus action is buttery smooth and always has been so I see little excuse for the focus action on a 'standard' 50/1.4 Summilux to be jerky and remain so for 10 years.

As for using someone else's words ... I didn't quote anyone else and my words were drawn from my own personal experience.

Pete.

Aren't you comparing a 10 years old lens with a new one? whether you had the old one since new is irrelevant.

[farnz]

8 minutes ago, Einst_Stein said:

Aren't you comparing a 10 years old lens with a new one? whether you had the old one since new is irrelevant.

Well its focus action was sticky and jerky from the day I bought it 10 years ago so comparing its focus with a lens that's new today (too) is certainly relevant because I'm comparing the two at the start of their life, ie at the same point.  I'm only discussing the unit I had and I'm not suggesting that all 50/1.4 Summilux's were like mine.

You've haven't explained why you accused me of quoting someone else and not using my own words.

Pete.

Edited February 17, 2019 by farnz

[lct]

Some stock Summilux 50/1.4 asph copies such as mine have butter smooth focus action but it took two shippings to Wetzlar and several months wait to get mine fixed to be honest.  

[IkarusJohn]

I bought mine (silver chrome) from Ken Hansen in 2010.

There was definitely a resistance as the floating lens element kicked in, and it was more than a little stiff when new.  After a bit of use, it is buttery smooth.  I know others had problems, but I wouldn't classify all the lenses as problematic.

[evikne]

Regardless of how smooth the focus action is, I've discovered that I prefer lenses without a focus tab. I feel I have much more control when I can grab around the lens from both sides. And when you focus this way, it looks cooler too! 😁

Edited February 17, 2019 by evikne

[IkarusJohn]

Really?  That's interesting.  I have three M lenses without focus tabs - 21 Summilux, 50 Noctilux and 75 Summilux and I notice they're not there.

[ianman]

Same here, I much prefer having the focus tab. Not sure about being cool though, but then I'm not bothered.

[evikne]

Only one of my four current lenses have focus tab, and that's the 35mm Summicron pre-ASPH v4 (the others are 50 Summilux, 75 Summilux and 50 Noctilux f/1). But I think the Summicron is the most difficult lens to focus precisely.

[Einst_Stein]

3 hours ago, farnz said:

Well its focus action was sticky and jerky from the day I bought it 10 years ago so comparing its focus with a lens that's new today (too) is certainly relevant because I'm comparing the two at the start of their life, ie at the same point.  I'm only discussing the unit I had and I'm not suggesting that all 50/1.4 Summilux's were like mine.

You've haven't explained why you accused me of quoting someone else and not using my own words.

Pete.

Now I am not sure we are talking about the same thing. 

I am talking about the special edition (black chrome, the old fashioned mechanics with the modern optics) vs. the regular edition (same new optic design, "modern" mechanics) of the same new modern lens. I am questioning the claim that there is mortal observable quality difference that the special edition has better quality control , or binning. 

 

 

 

      

[farnz]

4 minutes ago, Einst_Stein said:

Now I am not sure we are talking about the same thing. 

I am talking about the special edition (black chrome, the old fashioned mechanics with the modern optics) vs. the regular edition (same new optic design, "modern" mechanics) of the same new modern lens. I am questioning the claim that there is mortal observable quality difference that the special edition has better quality control , or binning. 

 

 

 

      

Please go back and read what I've written: I made no such claim.  

Since you're misinterpreting what I've written, I've answered all your points, and your constant retorts are negatively driving this thread off course I intend to stop responding for the good of all.

Pete.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[pico]

You all can dislike a focusing tab until you focus with gloves or with old-age hand disabilities. Until the later just ignore it.