*4* New Summarits

[Guest guy_mancuso]

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@ Guy--

Has Christian sent you prices?

 

Or have I overlooked them?

 

Curious also about the 4 hoods and their costs.

 

 

No he has not gotten back to me yet , maybe fielding the press on these lenses. When i talked of a line like this , i said around the 28 2.8 range. Let's see if US prices hold up to that.

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[paul_t]

I think that Leicas move is a good one. It will give us even more lenses to choose from and that is always good. The pricing of the new "regular" Leica lenses was going skyhigh, not only because of Leica, but because the dropping $. Even the new Summarit series lenses are going to be pricey in comparison with CV and Zeiss.

...

Joop, just a thought, did you ask Tom A's permission before you lifted his post from rff?

[Joop van Heijgen]

Joop, just a thought, did you ask Tom A's permission before you lifted his post from rff?

 

Tom has said about this:

 

"Joop, the reason I added the courtesy clause is not for me, but for other "posters"

[sean_reid]

Here's the formal press release:

 

 

LEICA ANNOUNCES NEW LENS CLASS FOR M-SYSTEM CAMERAS

 

 

Leica Summarit-M® to be released November 2007

 

August 3, 2007 (Allendale, NJ) -- Leica Camera Incorporated will introduce a new collection of lenses for analog and digital Leica rangefinder cameras: the Leica Summarit-M® class.

 

The new lenses offer world class Leica optical and mechanical excellence while being positioned at a new price level that broaden its availability to new customer segments. The maximum aperture of f 2.5 and combined with concentration on the classic and proven spherical lens design, have led to the production of a new series of lenses that now brings famous Leica quality and a superb price/performance ratio to a broader market.

 

The four lenses LEICA SUMMARIT-M 35mm f2.5, LEICA SUMMARIT-M 50mm f2.5, LEICA SUMMARIT-M 75mm f2.5 and LEICA SUMMARIT-M 90mm f2.5 cover the most popular focal lengths in the Leica M system. All Summarit-M lenses were designed and are manufactured in Germany and will bear the “Made in Germany” quality stamp.

 

The launch of the Leica Summarit-M collection of lenses marks the return of important Leica heritage elements. All letter and number engravings are made with the traditional “Leitz-Norm“ font as originally used by Leitz Wetzlar during the 1960s, and the red button on the lens mount is consistent with the original color used on Leitz lenses produced since the introduction of the M mount through the 1960s. Each Leica Summarit-M lens is supplied with a metal lens front cap, a lens hood cap and a velours pouch for storage. High-quality all-metal lens hoods are available as accessories.

 

Customers can purchase the lenses individually or in sets consisting of two, three or four lenses. Deliveries of Leica Summarit-M lenses are scheduled to begin at the end of November 2007.

 

The launch of the new Leica Summarit-M lenses is the start of a campaign in which Leica Camera AG is putting a greater focus on its core competencies in optics manufacturing. Leica’s high-performance optics, made by hand at Leica’s main factory in Solms, Germany, are the fruit of many years of experience in optics, precision mechanics, unique technologies, high-quality materials and the commitment to craftsmanship of the staff.

 

It is the lenses on which the legend of the Leica brand was founded: finely crafted masterpieces – compact and practical precision optics for analog and digital photography. This superior optical performance makes it easy to capture fascinating moments in the best possible quality. Pictures taken with Leica lenses not only demonstrate technical imaging quality (color fidelity, definition, contrast and resolution) but also structure, richness and natural expression. The variety of Leica products and their areas of application are matched by the variety of measures taken to achieve brilliant, high-contrast images with exact true-to-nature color rendering. High-refraction optical glass types featuring particularly good homogeneity and purity, special glass with partial anomalous dispersion such as fluorophosphate and heavy barium flint glass, aspherical elements, apochromatic optics and modern multicoatings, ensure magnificent imaging quality.

 

“Leica users are the most demanding customers in the world of photography,” said Steven K. Lee, CEO of Leica Camera AG. “To satisfy their high expectations of quality, we put a tremendous amount of time and effort into manufacturing Leica lenses. This starts with a bold idea and continues with an ambitious optical design, a selection of the best materials on the market and sophisticated production processes. Meticulous quality assurance with 100% checks is, of course, an integral part of the process. The aim of all these efforts is to create high-class photographic and phototechnical images. Corner-to-corner definition and brilliance over the entire visual field, maximum imaging performance already at full aperture and superior stray light reduction – this is what photographers like about their Leica lenses, plus a unique mechanical excellence that is immediately felt when turning the focus ring or adjusting the aperture. This gives Leica photographers decades of pleasure – and enviable photographic results.”

 

Summarit-M lenses will be on sale at authorized Leica retailers from November 2007.

 

Sean's Note: The "35/2.0" text (shown in the first picture below) is a typo in the press release text.

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[marknorton]

Don't forget the euro prices published include German VAT, and a straight conversion at the current exchange rate would have the 50mm at $1158 and the others at $1448, both plus US sales tax where it applies. Much will depend on what exchange rate Leica want to use.

 

For the UK, the 50mm should be £666 (spooky number!) and the others should be £833. However, given Leica UK's greed, my bet is £695 and £895. It wouldn't surprise me if someone there came up with the brainwave to charge different prices for the other three, "just to be different".

 

Based on those prices and comparing with Zeiss, the Zeiss 35/2 is 35% less than the Leica 35/2.5, the Zeiss 50/2 is 36% less than the Leica 50/2.5. Aside from any considerations of image quality, whether it is then worth paying the 50% Leica premium will depend on what value users place on such intangibles as "Leica" and "Made in Germany" plus the fact the lens is coded and will not have bayonet/frame selector issues.

 

OTOH, the Zeiss 85/2 is 87% MORE than a coded, frame accurate (sort of) Leica 90/2.5. The Zeiss is one of only two of their M-fit lenses made in Germany so when competing on a level manufacturing-cost-base playing field, Leica are doing well.

[andybarton]

Good move, though, if the R10 is the bust-out product we expect: Remind us M owners now that we aren't forgotten; ...

 

LOL! Never been an R user, then?

 

 

The pricing of the new "regular" Leica lenses was going skyhigh, not only because of Leica, but because the dropping $.

 

Someone is forgetting that the world doesn't necessarily revolve around the United States. There are plenty of other currencies out there that are enjoying relatively strong rates against the $ - which makes a change.

[wlaidlaw]

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I would not be surprised if a large factor in using all spherical elements, other than the obvious one of cost, is the larger tolerances in assembly. We have seen how there appear to be zero duff Zeiss lenses coming out of Nagano and I am sure Leica will have noted this, given that Zeiss opted for all spherical designs. This is in comparison to the horror stories of the 35 Summilux and Summicron plus Noctilux. Their warranty costs on these lenses must have put a big dent in any profits they made from them. Zeiss explained in their lens newsletter how their designs were easier to assemble and that minor errors were easier to correct.

 

Wilson

[russell]

Yep. I'm with wlaidlaw. I'm thinking they restrict the close focus, image only covers the "small" sensor (not the full 35mm), and with the small f stops there's more room for backfocus and focus shift issues to show up. That way they dont have to listen to our complaints. Saves money and keeps customers happy. Plus it should eat into the CV sales a bit. I might get the 90mm if it's proven to perform more like the 1980s cron than the new one...

[andybarton]

Nowhere does it say that these lenses are for digital cameras only. That would be an extremely retrograde move, for reasons already highlighted here.

[guywalder]

LOL!

Someone is forgetting that the world doesn't necessarily revolve around the United States.

 

Andy,

while I very much share the sentiment, Leica's last financial statement (german version only!?) explicitly stated that the north american market was their fastest growing and single largest market.

 

On a lighter note I see the press release specifically says that the lenses are for 'analogue and digital'

Guy

[andybarton]

The weak dollar isn't much of a problem then

[sean_reid]

Based on those prices and comparing with Zeiss, the Zeiss 35/2 is 35% less than the Leica 35/2.5, the Zeiss 50/2 is 36% less than the Leica 50/2.5. Aside from any considerations of image quality, whether it is then worth paying the 50% Leica premium will depend on what value users place on such intangibles as "Leica" and "Made in Germany" plus the fact the lens is coded and will not have bayonet/frame selector issues.

 

Interesting price comparisons. Note that there are no bayonet/frame selector issues with the Zeiss 35 and 50. These new lenses will certainly intensify competition among Leica, CV and Zeiss. Other lenses to think about in your comparison.

 

35/2.5 Skopar + LT-M8 adapter = 210 + 140 = $350 USD

35/1.7 Ultron + LT-M8 adapter = 410 + 140 = $550 USD

50/1.5 Nokton + LT-M8 adapter = 340 + 140 = $480 USD

50/2.5 Skopar + LT-M8 adapter = 290 + 140 = $430 USD

75/2.5 Heliar + CV Adapter = 329 + 55 = $384 USD

90/3.5 Lanthar + CV Adapter = 315 + 55 = $370 USD

 

How will they all compare? I'll be testing to find out but the Summarits are definitely good news and the competition among these three companies will be great for us.

 

I'll again state that I do not see reduced frame coverage lenses as being the direction that Leica is going in for the two reasons I mentioned either above or in another thread:

 

1. Leica wants photographers to be able to share kit between the M8 and the M7, etc. - one camera bag with two types of bodies that can use shared lenses, goggles, etc.

 

2. We should not rule out the possibility of a FF digital M camera in the future

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[hankg]

If these Summarits have not just the old school Leitz typeface but also the old school Leica signature with a bit better corner to corner and wide open sharpness and they are not hobbled on the M8 by the excessive contrast of the Zeiss lenses and some of the ASPH lenses. Then they would be a very interesting alternative. It would be very nice to have the choice between the modern 50/1.4 and 75/2/0 ASPH way of drawing and a more old school way of drawing with another more compact sort of retro line of Leica lenses.

 

That would bring more value then just a lower price point. I can't wait to see Sean's tests.

[hankg]

 

1. Leica wants photographers to be able to share kit between the M8 and the M7, etc. - one camera bag with two types of bodies that can use shared lenses, goggles, etc.

 

2. We should not rule out the possibility of a FF digital M camera in the future

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

 

1. A lot of M8 photographers don't have film M's and if the M8 is really successful that will probably constitute a majority of M8 owners at some point. These users don't want to sacrifice needed features for the sake of 100% compatibility of every single lens with a system they don't use. In any case your 50 on film is not a 50 on the M8 so it's not a one to one interchangeability so having one digital wide is not such a logistical big deal.

 

2. If there is a realistic possibility of a full frame M9 in 3 years then maybe it doesn't make sense to make one or two digital-crop lenses. But I doubt we will see full frame in the near future and when it does happen I would be surprised if cropped sensor didn't continue to be offered in a lower cost M making digital lenses viable for quite a long time.

 

A lot of film users who don't use the M8 seem incensed at the idea of a digital lens but Leica produces a lot of lenses that I am not interested in using because they don't suite me for one reason or another. That does not mean I think they should stopping making ultrawides because I don't use them. I understand that Leica has a range of clients with different needs and should provide a range of products to meet those needs.

[jackal]

a sad day for leica,

its like porsche making a supermini hatchback for 6 grand

 

we want more and more expensive lenses

more exotica thats totally unobtainable unless you are hugely successful and wealthy

 

 

a 21mm F/0.8 would have done just fine thank you very much

 

we dont need all these new slow cheap lenses, we already have CV and zeiss for that

[Guest stnami]

its like porsche making a supermini hatchback for 6 grand

.... I am happy to take the hatch as long as porsche rips its stupid badge off the bonnet and supplies retreads:p..................a bull bar to bounce those pesky jackals that haunt the streets would be a nice touch:rolleyes:

[R2-D2]

CV, I agree, but compared to Zeiss prices:

ZM 2/35 850 euro vs. Summarit 2.5/35 1250 euro

ZM 2/50 650 euro vs. Summarit 2.5/50 1000 euro

The Summarits still cost 400 (350) Euro more. Plus, the Zeiss' are f/2.0 - one should compare them to the Summicrons as they're at least up to the Leica standards...

 

ZM 2/85 2200euro vs Summarit 2.5/70 or 90 1250 euro

What does the APO-Summicron 90mm ASPH. cost?

[guywalder]

a sad day for leica,

its like porsche making a supermini hatchback for 6 grand

 

we want more and more expensive lenses

more exotica thats totally unobtainable unless you are hugely successful and wealthy

 

 

a 21mm F/0.8 would have done just fine thank you very much

 

we dont need all these new slow cheap lenses, we already have CV and zeiss for that

 

no, not really, its more like Porsche introducing the Boxster as a more affordable entry level model, or the Cayman as a more affordable version of the 911. Its been a very successful strategy for them and has certainly not diluted the brand.

Sad would be a 300€ lens made of plastic and assembled in China, err a bit like the rebadged Panasonics....

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[treeplanter]

This is in comparison to the horror stories of the 35 Summilux and Summicron plus Noctilux.

 

What horror stories?

 

Jim Bielecki

[stunsworth]

1. A lot of M8 photographers don't have film M's and if the M8 is really successful that will probably constitute a majority of M8 owners at some point.

 

 

Assuming you meant a majority of M owners - M8 owners already constitute a majority of M8 owners <grin> - if I remember correctly something like 200,000 M3/M2s were sold. Still a way to go.