Leica M 50mm range

[colint544]

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It could never be said that Leica don't cater handsomely for the 50mm focal length for their M cameras. They even have two variants of the Noctilux now. 

I was one of those, back in 2015, who rushed to get the 50mm Summilux ASPH in black chrome. The lens had just been announced and Leica told us that there would be only 500 produced. I was over the moon when I snagged one from Red Dot Cameras. It matched my M Monochrom perfectly.

I was also one of those who was mildly disappointed to eventually discover that the lens wasn't all that limited, and that it was just a regular production item. Not to mention the great hood/filter debacle.

Noticed today that Red Dot Cameras are no longer listing the black chrome variant of the 50mm Summilux ASPH. I wonder if this might be the beginning of running down stocks in advance of the anticipated update on the 2004 design..

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[Ouroboros]

1 hour ago, colint544 said:

 

I was also one of those who was mildly disappointed to eventually discover that the lens wasn't all that limited, and that it was just a regular production item. Not to mention the great hood/filter debacle.

I came very close to buying that lens but I’m a film photographer and the  hood/filter issue was a deal-breaker for me. Idiotic design oversight by Leica.  If it is to be replaced with a revised version, I hope they think it through properly this time.

I’m aware of the Overgaard hood, but I’m a bit particular about where I spend my money.  If Leica come back with a new filter-friendly design I would buy it. 
 

[Jeff S]

2 hours ago, colint544 said:

I was also one of those who was mildly disappointed to eventually discover that the lens wasn't all that limited, and that it was just a regular production item. Not to mention the great hood/filter debacle.

 

LHSA special editions remain limited, unlike various so-called limited Leica lens introductions, so this is a safer future bet if that’s a goal, assuming one can get any LHSA model in the first place due to demand.

Apparently Leica has provided a free, substitute, hood to some customers of the problematic 50 BC hood...

Jeff

[colint544]

1 hour ago, Ouroboros said:

I came very close to buying that lens but I’m a film photographer and the  hood/filter issue was a deal-breaker for me. Idiotic design oversight by Leica.  If it is to be replaced with a revised version, I hope they think it through properly this time.

I’m aware of the Overgaard hood, but I’m a bit particular about where I spend my money.  If Leica come back with a new filter-friendly design I would buy it. 
 

I ordered mine the day, or day after, it was announced. The hood/filter problem wasn't known about until some time later. It's not a big deal to me - I'm not a big user of filters - and it is a smashing lens. Let's hope though, that they don't make such a bone-headed design choice in the future.

[colint544]

1 hour ago, Jeff S said:

LHSA special editions remain limited, unlike various so-called limited Leica lens introductions, so this is a safer future bet if that’s a goal, assuming one can get any LHSA model in the first place due to demand.

Apparently Leica has provided a free, substitute, hood to some customers of the problematic 50 BC hood...

Jeff

Cheers, Jeff. It was a nice idea to have a lens that there were only 500 copies of, but I think I'd have gone for it even if I'd known it was just a normal production model. An upside, I suppose, is that if I were ever to damage, say, the front element, it should be easier to get a replacement, than if it were a very rare lens.

Edited April 14, 2021 by colint544

[Jeff S]

1 hour ago, colint544 said:

Cheers, Jeff. It was a nice idea to have a lens that there were only 500 copies of, but I think I'd have gone for it even if I'd known it was just a normal production model. An upside, I suppose, is that if I were ever to damage, say, the front element, it should be easier to get a replacement, than if it were a very rare lens.

Hey Colin. In this case, my understanding is that the optics of all the 50 Summilux ASPH versions are the same, even the more rare LHSA; but the focus ring, outside workings and finishes, etc differ.  But I get your point.  The BC models are surely lower production than the standard model, so you can still claim some distinction. This isn’t the first time Leica has expanded initially limited editions based on demand; business is business after all. 
 

Jeff

[colint544]

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5 minutes ago, Jeff S said:

Hey Colin. In this case, my understanding is that the optics of all the 50 Summilux ASPH versions are the same, even the more rare LHSA; but the focus ring, outside workings and finishes, etc differ.  But I get your point.  The BC models are surely lower production than the standard model, so you can still claim some distinction. This isn’t the first time Leica has expanded initially limited editions based on demand; business is business after all. 
 

Jeff

I think you're right there, Jeff. The coating is definitely different on the glass of the black chrome version - it's a blue/purple colour, whilst on the standard version, it's very green. Older pre-aspherical designs seem to be yellow/orange. No idea what it all means.

But thinking it can't be long now before we see the rumoured replacement for the current 50 Summilux ASPH.

[Fedro]

17 minutes ago, colint544 said:

I think you're right there, Jeff. The coating is definitely different on the glass of the black chrome version - it's a blue/purple colour, whilst on the standard version, it's very green. Older pre-aspherical designs seem to be yellow/orange. No idea what it all means.

But thinking it can't be long now before we see the rumoured replacement for the current 50 Summilux ASPH.

I agree that a new version is coming probably soon

Edited April 14, 2021 by Fedro

[evikne]

5 hours ago, colint544 said:

Noticed today that Red Dot Cameras are no longer listing the black chrome variant of the 50mm Summilux ASPH. I wonder if this might be the beginning of running down stocks in advance of the anticipated update on the 2004 design..

A new 50mm standard lens is always interesting, so it will be exciting to see what they come up with. I just hope they manage to keep the size down though.

[Fedro]

6 minutes ago, evikne said:

A new 50mm standard lens is always interesting, so it will be exciting to see what they come up with. I just hope they manage to keep the size down though.

and price

[farnz]

6 hours ago, Jeff S said:

Hey Colin. In this case, my understanding is that the optics of all the 50 Summilux ASPH versions are the same, even the more rare LHSA; but the focus ring, outside workings and finishes, etc differ.

It has a 43 mm filter thread compared with the 'standard' 50/1.4 Summilux asph's 46 mm, which produces a (pleasant to my taste) subtle vignette that's similar to the 50/1 Noctilux's.

Pete.

[darylgo]

With the 35 apo close focusing feature, I am hoping the new 50mm will be the same.  If Leica makes this lens no larger than the current summilux with better imaging and close focus I am guessing a price similar to the 35 apo.  Can't wait.  

[colint544]

12 hours ago, darylgo said:

With the 35 apo close focusing feature, I am hoping the new 50mm will be the same.  If Leica makes this lens no larger than the current summilux with better imaging and close focus I am guessing a price similar to the 35 apo.  Can't wait.  

The Leica Rumors site has been forecasting this new 50 Summilux for quite a long time - since well before the close-focussing 35 Summicron APO appeared - and I'm pretty sure he was saying from the get go, that the new 50 would focus closer than 0.7 of a metre.