Where O’ Where is the 35 APO?

[KenTanaka]

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I see young YouTubers slinging them on demo M11s with gay abandon. I see them referenced casually. But I’ve yet to see one in the flesh, despite having one back-ordered since I was 10.. (OK, exaggeration there.  I was 15.)

How and when did you get your 35mm APO- Summicron-M?  (Don’t confess to any illegal act here.)

[adan]

Peter Karbe (in a July 2021 interview) said the 35 APO is just really time-consuming to manufacture to the specs required for its performance - 10 elements, 4 ASPH surfaces, special glass types that need "special handling," floating-element unit, new push-rod focus cam, in a very tight space. Plus the current usual suspects: Covid-staffing and supply-chain problems.

It's altogether possible that Leica built 100-200, and is now taking a break to reconsider whether the mechanical design/construction needs to be tweaked a bit.

It's happened before: original 90 APO-Summicron (some filters hit the front element), 50 APO-Summicron (flare problems), even the 21 Super-Elmar (binding focus rings).

Also depends on where you pre-ordered. Bigger stores likely have the longest pre-order lists - but are not going to get more lenses than any other dealer who placed an order (Leica is democratic that way).

Exactly how many have you seen on YouTube, or referenced otherwise? And how many of those were review-loaners (same sample lens passed around to several different reviewers), or possessed by beta-testers?

[KenTanaka]

Thanks Andrew.  Yes, my back-order is at a "big" dealer...and I realize that their allocation would be no bigger than a tiny Leica shop.

The 35 APOs I've seen on YouTube were, indeed, certainly loaners for M10/M11 reviews.

After 20 years of buying Leica products I think I'm just getting a bit chapped at their pre-announcements months (or years) ahead of any reasonable availability.  I certainly do not -NEED- this lens, or any Leica product, for that matter. And I'm about to just fuggettaboutit.  But this is probably the most vaporous Leica product I can personally recall.  So I am naturally curious about how some folks managed to find one.

Thanks, again.

[ymc226]

I was not really interested in the lens when it first became available but around December last year I put myself on the lists at the Washington DC and Boston Leica Boutiques knowing they get more inventory. Not expecting any call for at least months if not a year, I was pleasantly surprised to get a call around 3 weeks later from the DC store. 

[Jeff S]

I’m not interested in the 35 APO, but in the past  when I have had interest in a high demand/low availability Leica product (even when there are forum complaints regarding long wait lists), I’ve quickly (same or next day) found the item by calling small dealers across the country. The side benefit is establishing a relationship with those stores for any future needs.  
 

Another source is US Leica Store online, as every so often an item just shows up in inventory (“Add to cart”).  But that requires some patient monitoring. I wouldn’t waste time checking “Add to wish list).

Jeff

[KenTanaka]

Jeff S:  "Another source is US Leica Store online, as every so often an item just shows up in inventory (“Add to cart”). "

Indeed!  I placed myself on the waitlist for an M11 at a favorite "small dealer" just about 10 days ago, who suggested just that.  It never would've occurred to me.  But just a couple of days later I couldn't believe it when I managed to get an M11 from Leica's own online store.  I wouldn't believe it until it actually arrived in my hands last Friday.

So miracles do happen, Jeff.  But I'm thinkin' a 35 APO might be more in the lottery ticket win class.  But I'm not heart-broken.  Just bewildered.

[Photojournoguy]

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I found my 35 APO within two days of looking for it in December, with zero prior Leica purchases or relationships. I fully expected to wait up to what I imagined to realistically be about six months. I reached out to every dealer in the country and sourced one at a mom and pop shop - I simply happened to inquire a few days after their lined up buyer had just backed out (after having received the lens a week or so earlier).

All those who responded were nice and trying to be helpful, but answers varied with big Leica boutiques saying it’ll be a long time (year or even years in the case of Miami) and mom and pop shops saying they expect one in a few months (anywhere from 2-6 months they had guessed at the time as it was already ordered well before then) and I’m first on their list. Some told me they’ve never seen it/received a single copy and in so many (nice) words that I’m on a fool’s errand. Some tried to sell me an actually available in the flesh lens.

I now have a relationship with whom I sourced it (and my M10M at same time), who I’ll happily go to for all future needs, but if starting from scratch I’d recommend being ‘first’ on the list for mom and pop shops in flyover country (as well as those a bit removed distance wise from the biggest cities). Also out of state saves big taxes, especially in my case when coupled with a body. I didn’t even reach out to dealers in my state for that reason alone.

Edited February 22, 2022 by Photojournoguy

[Jeff S]

8 hours ago, KenTanaka said:

Jeff S:  "Another source is US Leica Store online, as every so often an item just shows up in inventory (“Add to cart”). "

Indeed!  I placed myself on the waitlist for an M11 at a favorite "small dealer" just about 10 days ago, who suggested just that.  It never would've occurred to me.  But just a couple of days later I couldn't believe it when I managed to get an M11 from Leica's own online store.  I wouldn't believe it until it actually arrived in my hands last Friday.

So miracles do happen, Jeff.  But I'm thinkin' a 35 APO might be more in the lottery ticket win class.  But I'm not heart-broken.  Just bewildered.

No surprise… lately… much to the dismay of independent and small Leica dealers. The recent practice seems to prioritize Leica owned stores and their own online store.  Nevertheless, if and when the smaller (outside  of the  major city) dealers receive stock, they often have little or no wait list.  I found an M10 in one day, at the same time folks here were complaining about 6 month waits at the usual suspect large dealers.  Just requires a bunch of calls.

Jeff

Edited February 22, 2022 by Jeff S

[MarkP]

September last year I contacted an independent dealer in Melbourne (I'm in Sydney) about selling some unused gear and mentioned that that I was considering using the funds for a 35 APO-Summicron some time in the future.  He said an un allocated one was coming in the next day.  Lucky me!

Edited February 22, 2022 by MarkP

[IllumiGraphic]

I have a 35 M APO on order in with an American dealer and I was told "could be up to a year or more" until I can get one.  They are getting very intermittent shipments of 1 or 2 that come in from time to time.  

[jrp]

Presumably they make them in batches and don't make too many at a time to avoid downward pressure on the price.

[52K]

My Leica dealer managed to secure 4 x M11’s for day 1 of the launch and even managed to get me a replacement Visoflex 2 in a few weeks after the first one failed, but has only ever had 1 x 35APO M lens which a friend of mine bought. They’ve never had another in stock since and have had them on back order since launch. I’ve actually never seen another one other than my friend’s lens in the flesh and I’ve been to the Mayfair Lecia store in London and also to Leica Wetzlar in Germany,  they didn’t have any either.

I’ve borrowed my friend’s lens and it is fabulous but in all honesty I think I’ll stick with my 35lux FLE which is also fabulous. My preferred focal length is 50mm and if they brought out a close focus 50 APO I think I would get more excited.  

[Jeff S]

18 minutes ago, 52K said:

My preferred focal length is 50mm and if they brought out a close focus 50 APO I think I would get more excited.  

Karbe has said that more close focus lenses are planned. Given the delays on the 35 APO, however, I wouldn’t hold my breath.  Pricing would be interesting, though, as the current 50 APO is already $800 US more than the 35 APO. A close focus Summilux, however, would be a good reason to significantly bump the price above the current model, provided it was feasible to build in a compact enough package with all the required elements and focus assembly.

Jeff

Edited February 27, 2022 by Jeff S

[calijax]

I told my dealer in advance of the release that I'd likely buy the upcoming (rumored) 35mm lens. My emails show that was February. The lens was officially announced on Mar 4th at which time my dealer confirmed the indication. I received a lens in their first batch (I think they received 2) in mid-Sep 2021 and have been enjoying the lens ever since! 

They also got a black M11 to me on Feb 9th 2022. I indicated interest to them about a year in advance. 

PS: I also remember them receiving a demo copy in-store several months prior that was horribly mis-calibrated

Edited March 1, 2022 by calijax

[T25UFO]

On 2/27/2022 at 8:41 PM, 52K said:

My Leica dealer managed to secure 4 x M11’s for day 1 of the launch and even managed to get me a replacement Visoflex 2 in a few weeks after the first one failed, but has only ever had 1 x 35APO M lens which a friend of mine bought. They’ve never had another in stock since and have had them on back order since launch. I’ve actually never seen another one other than my friend’s lens in the flesh and I’ve been to the Mayfair Lecia store in London and also to Leica Wetzlar in Germany,  they didn’t have any either.

I’ve borrowed my friend’s lens and it is fabulous but in all honesty I think I’ll stick with my 35lux FLE which is also fabulous. My preferred focal length is 50mm and if they brought out a close focus 50 APO I think I would get more excited.  

I bought mine from the Leica Online Store Mayfair after registering for email notifications when it came into stock.  I still missed it 3 or 4 times as I just wasn't quick enough to respond.  Eventually had some help from a very nice assistant who sent me a text message early one morning to say that two had just come into stock.  I logged on almost immediately and one had already gone.  I purchased the other!

It really is a wonderful lens and have hardly used my 50mm APO since.  One of the YouTube bloggers, I think it was mathphotographer, said it was the only lens you'll ever need, and I would agree with that . . . well, maybe combine it with the 75mm Noctilux but then I'd probably have to file for bankruptcy the following week!

[M Journey]

I think they’re all over at the m11 images thread.  Seems like every other photo was with the Leica m 35 apo.  Maybe there was a m11/35apo kit for sale that we weren’t aware of….

It is a special lens though, and well worth the time and effort to track one down and money to purchase.  Absolutely a grail m lens for the modern era.