New edition of the Leica Summilux-M 1.4/35mm ASPH.

[evikne]

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29 minutes ago, yanidel said:

I own the pre-FLE ASPH, and really the only feature that is I find useful in this new version is the integrated hood. Had I unlimited money, yes I would upgrade, but I don't, so I'll stick to my beat-up, but still wonderful, pre FLE. (Focus shift is a non issue for me).

My impression is that the vast majority here on the forum prefer the rendering of the pre FLE over the FLE. So feel no rush to upgrade your lens. 😊

[Jeff S]

18 minutes ago, evikne said:

My impression is that the vast majority here on the forum prefer the rendering of the pre FLE over the FLE. So feel no rush to upgrade your lens. 😊

Last sentence post #54. 
 

Jeff

[Pixeleater]

On 9/14/2022 at 11:08 AM, evikne said:

I don't!

Same

[phototrope]

On 9/14/2022 at 10:50 AM, evikne said:

A little disappointing that there were no optical changes, but what was there to improve? Better close focusing, more aperture blades and built-in hood are certainly welcome improvements as well.

Probably a good thing there were no optical changes. Any optical changes would no doubt involve greater sharpness, and probably contrast, and this would no doubt be met with the inevitable cries of "too clinical"

The improvements as they are, namely  closer focus, integrated hood, improved bokeh when closed down (due to more blades), and optimisation for M11 sensor thickness are just perfect.

 

[phototrope]

1 hour ago, yanidel said:

For those of us that mainly shoot street, 0.4m close focus has zero importance. Unless maybe to take a picture of our coffee cup while taking a break.  And the new aperture blades are really linked to the close focus distance, so no use either.

I own the pre-FLE ASPH, and really the only feature that is I find useful in this new version is the integrated hood. Had I unlimited money, yes I would upgrade, but I don't, so I'll stick to my beat-up, but still wonderful, pre FLE. (Focus shift is a non issue for me).

 

 

 

 

 

 

improved close focus on a 35mm is handy for headshots though, even on the street.

[graphlex]

4 minutes ago, phototrope said:

optimisation for M11 sensor thickness …just perfect.

How is it improved in this regard over the FLE?

[Jeremy Bunting]

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I was able to secure the new 35 Summilux from a UK Leica store, which will supposedly ship tomorrow. I should have it next week. I'm an American, so my all-in total after shipping was $4800 USD thanks to the strong dollar at the moment.

I sold my outgoing generation FLE for $3200 to my local shop...I'm obviously taking a loss on this, but when I think of it as a $1600 upgrade for close focus capabilities and alleged optimization for the M11 (which I have), it doesn't seem so bad in Leica terms.

[V23]

On 9/14/2022 at 8:12 PM, rramesh said:

With another close focus M lens, we are not too far from the day when Leica will announce a M with a built-in EVF.

This was my first thought when I read about close focusing M lenses, I will purchase a M body with EVF when Leica announces it.  Meantime SL2-s with M lenses (as well as L zooms) works for me just fine.

[rtai]

13 minutes ago, Jeremy Bunting said:

I was able to secure the new 35 Summilux from a UK Leica store, which will supposedly ship tomorrow. I should have it next week. I'm an American, so my all-in total after shipping was $4800 USD thanks to the strong dollar at the moment.

I sold my outgoing generation FLE for $3200 to my local shop...I'm obviously taking a loss on this, but when I think of it as a $1600 upgrade for close focus capabilities and alleged optimization for the M11 (which I have), it doesn't seem so bad in Leica terms.

No VAT and strong dollar! Do you know if you will be hit with customs charges? I understand FedEx and UPS will collect the tax. Don’t know about DHL and others.

[Jeremy Bunting]

6 minutes ago, rtai said:

No VAT and strong dollar! Do you know if you will be hit with customs charges? I understand FedEx and UPS will collect the tax. Don’t know about DHL and others.

I've never been hit by customs before and I do a fair number of shoe and clothing purchases from UK stores (who all seem to ship DHL). I hadn't even considered it as a possibility but I'll update this thread either way.

[Jeff S]

23 minutes ago, Jeremy Bunting said:

I was able to secure the new 35 Summilux from a UK Leica store, which will supposedly ship tomorrow. I should have it next week. I'm an American, so my all-in total after shipping was $4800 USD thanks to the strong dollar at the moment.

I sold my outgoing generation FLE for $3200 to my local shop...I'm obviously taking a loss on this, but when I think of it as a $1600 upgrade for close focus capabilities and alleged optimization for the M11 (which I have), it doesn't seem so bad in Leica terms.

A good purchase price, if no significant custom charges.  But seemingly not a very good sale price on the FLE, if it was in excellent condition, which Leica Miami has recently listed for around $5300 (at least before the new FLE was just announced).  Even with dealer commissions, a net closer to $4k would be fair (Miami returns 80% in trade; others can be found for at least 75%). 
 

Jeff

[phototrope]

51 minutes ago, graphlex said:

How is it improved in this regard over the FLE?

The Leica Store Manchester website says it is "Optimized for M11 cover glass thickness". 

My understandiing is that "cover glass" is the glass that covers the sensor. I have no idea, to be honest, but I'll take the optimization whatever it is.

https://www.leicastoremanchester.com/35-mm-summilux-m-mk2-asph.html

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[Jeremy Bunting]

5 minutes ago, Jeff S said:

A good purchase price, if no significant custom charges.  But seemingly not a very good sale price on the FLE, if it was in excellent condition, which Leica Miami has recently listed for around $5300 (at least before the new FLE was just announced).  Even with dealer commissions, a net closer to $4k would be fair (Miami returns 80% in trade; others can be found for at least 75%). 
 

Jeff

I think you touched on the issue, though--the new FLE 2 lists new for $5400. Sure, they're hard to find, but I found one--it's not impossible. I don't know who in their right mind would pay $5300 for a used FLE 1 right now. Even if you were in desperate need of a 35mm lens surely you'd be better off picking up cheaper non-Leica glass while you wait for the FLE 2's to become more accessible.

But yeah, I was really hoping to get $3600 to $3800. It was in ~8.5/10 condition with the original box etc etc. I was quoted even lower by KEH ($3100) and MPB ($2850)...

[Jeff S]

2 minutes ago, Jeremy Bunting said:

I think you touched on the issue, though--the new FLE 2 lists new for $5400. Sure, they're hard to find, but I found one--it's not impossible. I don't know who in their right mind would pay $5300 for a used FLE 1 right now. Even if you were in desperate need of a 35mm lens surely you'd be better off picking up cheaper non-Leica glass while you wait for the FLE 2's to become more accessible.

But yeah, I was really hoping to get $3600 to $3800. It was in ~8.5/10 condition with the original box etc etc. I was quoted even lower by KEH ($3100) and MPB ($2850)...

I assumed you sold yours before yesterday or today, the first time the new price was revealed.  If not, you missed out.

Jeff

[phototrope]

5 minutes ago, Jeremy Bunting said:

I think you touched on the issue, though--the new FLE 2 lists new for $5400. Sure, they're hard to find, but I found one--it's not impossible.

The  35mm FLE V2 will be nowhere near as hard to find as the APO 35mm cron. Mainly because there have been no changes to the optical formula. All the tolerances have already been worked out while producing the FLE V1, and it's pretty much business as usual.

The problem with the APO lens, according to my Leica dealer, is that the tolerances are so high that Quality Control has to recycle a huge number of lenses that come of the assembly line, and it takes a long time to optimize this process.

Edited September 15, 2022 by phototrope

[Jeremy Bunting]

Just now, Jeff S said:

I assumed you sold yours before yesterday or today, the first time the new price was revealed.  If not, you missed out.

Jeff

Unfortunately not. I sold the FLE 1 today. I only heard that a new Summilux 35 was going to be released yesterday, and I couldn't say whether I'd purchase it or hold onto the FLE 1 before I knew the price. If it was going to be another $8-10k lens I planned to sit it out. My timing was very bad, but I'm not sure how I could have played it smarter given that I expected the FLE 2 to be much more expensive that it is.

[Jeremy Bunting]

4 minutes ago, phototrope said:

The  35mm FLE V2 will be nowhere near as hard to find as the APO 35mm cron.

Precisely why it felt like it was now or never on selling the FLE 1.

I sold my Q2 last week, coincidentally, because I haven't touched it since I got my M11, and I'm expecting the Q3 to be released in the next six months or so which will cause secondhand prices on the Q2 to plummet. I didn't have that level of foresight on the lens.

[Jeff S]

Just now, Jeremy Bunting said:

Unfortunately not. I sold the FLE 1 today. I only heard that a new Summilux 35 was going to be released yesterday, and I couldn't say whether I'd purchase it or hold onto the FLE 1 before I knew the price. If it was going to be another $8-10k lens I planned to sit it out. My timing was very bad, but I'm not sure how I could have played it smarter given that I expected the FLE 2 to be much more expensive that it is.

Well, even if the FLE v.1 were now selling at a dealer like Miami for only $4600, the net would still be close to $3700 (although Miami might have refused yours based on condition, or offered less and sent it to DAG or Leica for CLA). But if one is in a rush, then the best deals are harder to find.  Sometimes users prefer original versions. In any event, I would never sell to the last two dealers you cited.

All that matters, though, is that you’re satisfied, and seems you are.  Hope you enjoy the new one.

Jeff

[Jeremy Bunting]

4 minutes ago, Jeff S said:

Well, even if the FLE v.1 were now selling at a dealer like Miami for only $4600, the net would still be close to $3700 (although Miami might have refused yours based on condition, or offered less and sent it to DAG or Leica for CLA). But if one is in a rush, then the best deals are harder to find.  Sometimes users prefer original versions. In any event, I would never sell to the last two dealers you cited.

All that matters, though, is that you’re satisfied, and seems you are.  Hope you enjoy the new one.

Jeff

I should be able to let you know whether I'm satisfied in about a week.

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Hallo,

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[V23]

3 hours ago, maxpower said:

Weird question but I actually never looked into this and realised I don't actually know this for sure, it's not really specific to this topic but since we're talking about it a little bit I started wondering: the minimum focusing distance is measured from the sensor right? or is it from the front glass of the lens?

It is measured from the sensor, both of my cameras SL2-s and X-T4 have a mark on the body indicated position where sensor is situated within the camera body.