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

[otto.f]

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1 hour ago, Ouroboros said:

flare

 

2 hours ago, chasdfg said:

flare

Jono states he sees no more chance of flare than with the v1, fwiw, but he had a sunny time with it in Greece. 

Edited September 17, 2022 by otto.f

[lecycliste]

Couple thoughts - the built-in hood on my 50/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH tends to slip back down from the so-called locked position - it can be too easily twisted to the unlocked position, and slips down. It’s also a bit on the thin side - slightly deformed now, but the lens is quite usable. So I’m not sure I like built-in holds. I’m just as likely to buy a circular screw-in hood instead, because it won’t move, and for protection. 

I just purchased a gently used 35/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH FLE (2010) 5 days ago. As I’m one to take the heretical view “Bokeh-schmokeh”, the two additional aperture blades don’t do much for me - I like the background smear with the 2010 35/1.4 just fine. I am a little torqued about the 12” closer focusing though (down to 15”) - closeups I like to do a lot - but I also own a Voigtlander 35/2 APO-Lanthar VM I can focus down to 19”. Since I usually stop down up close anyway, the larger max aperture of the 2010 35/1.4 Summilux makes little difference. The thing I do notice about my copy of the 2010 35/1.4 is the fancy rectangular hood tends to loosen and partially vignette pictures. I have to watch it like a hawk to use it, so I tend not to. 

And just one more thing - how is it Leica has priced the new 35/1.4 at $5395 (black finish), while the older 2010 lens is $5995 (black finish)? The optical design is unchanged, but the mount and iris diaphragm are more complex with longer rotation and more blades respectively. 

Edited September 17, 2022 by lecycliste

[Jeff S]

26 minutes ago, lecycliste said:

And just one more thing - how is it Leica has priced the new 35/1.4 at $5395 (black finish), while the older 2010 lens is $5995 (black finish)? The optical design is unchanged, but the mount and iris diaphragm are more complex with longer rotation and more blades respectively. 

Could reflect the strong US dollar, and possibly a re-adjustment for the 10% or so increase that had been added to offset US tariffs on German lenses (25%, but Leica spread it across products), which seems to have abated.  I suspect, too, that this leaves room to differentiate any future lens(es) with newer optical formulas and much higher prices (as the 35 APO).  But, as usual, only Leica knows these things, and don’t generally explain.

Jeff

[archive_all]

I think that's correct with pricing as @Jeff S mentions. It sounds like some countries did see a price increase but maybe only the US saw a price decrease?

[Franka373]

The slide out hood the 28 Summicron Safari locks into place as the new 35 is said to have.  I works well.  I much prefer the hood on my safari rather than the typical hood since I don't use hoods often, I do not have to take the hood off and put it back on and I like its lower profile. Too bad it doesn't come in black but the safari green is really not displeasing.  Camera west in the US still had the 28 safari in stock the last time I checked.  

[Photoworks]

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[lecycliste]

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The other problem is availability. I had a 35/2 APO-Summicron-M ASPH on order at B&H for about 5 months before I came to my senses, canceled it, and took immediate delivery of a Voigtlander 35/2 APO-Lanthar VM instead. I decided I wasn’t willing to pay $7000 additional for smaller size and 20cm closer focusing. 

 

The new 35/1.4 Summilux is listed as preorder - coming soon (yeah right), and who knows when it will actually ship. I’d rather not miss pictures waiting for it - I’ll keep and use my 35/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH FLE (2010) instead. 
 

Edited September 17, 2022 by lecycliste

[mboerma]

Can anyone explain what the difference in minimal focus distance between the APO and the new FLE implies? 30cm for the APO and 40cm for the FLE II. Is this a big difference?

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Huss]

2 hours ago, mboerma said:

Can anyone explain what the difference in minimal focus distance between the APO and the new FLE implies? 30cm for the APO and 40cm for the FLE II. Is this a big difference?

I did the math.  It is 10cm difference.

[phototrope]

Should I post pictures taken with the 35mm FLE v2 in this thread or start a new thread for pictures only?

[archive_all]

14 minutes ago, phototrope said:

Should I post pictures taken with the 35mm FLE v2 in this thread or start a new thread for pictures only?

I think an official thread would be great. Can't wait to see some more images, I have the lens on preorder but I'm waffling between keeping the FLE or moving to the new version.

[Studienkamera]

3 hours ago, mboerma said:

Can anyone explain what the difference in minimal focus distance between the APO and the new FLE implies? 30cm for the APO and 40cm for the FLE II. Is this a big difference?

The smallest object field you can cover with the APO at close focus distance is 135 x 203mm (1:5.6). The FLE v2 "only" allows you to cover 213 x 319mm (1:8.9). Thus, you can achieve significantly higher magnifications with the APO. All this info is taken from Leica's lens data sheets.

[jakontil]

8 hours ago, archive_all said:

I think that's correct with pricing as @Jeff S mentions. It sounds like some countries did see a price increase but maybe only the US saw a price decrease?

Yeah in south east asia, the newer FLE actually more expensive than the original FLE

[mikeamosau]

On 9/16/2022 at 9:06 AM, bdolzani said:

I wonder if it's more Where else is there to go?? M rangefinder apparatus has been perfect for many moons already (pun intended)! 

Yes, I agree. Does seem that way. 

[mikeamosau]

On 9/16/2022 at 10:18 AM, Stuart Richardson said:

I think the point is that you can use it like a normal rangefinder in all situations longer than 70cm, and if you would like to use closer than that, you can use the live view (which nearly all the digital M's since the 240 have) of an EVF. In the old days there was a large selection of accessories to enable the M to be used as a main camera. Things like the original visoflex, bellows, copy stand adapters etc. Live view and the EVF have made some of those avenues viable again, so I think Leica is working to make the system more versatile, as there are not so many other ways they can keep improving the system.

The only question I would have would be if there is some sort of stop or bump between .7m and closer, so you can tell when the RF decouples. But my guess is no, and it is not that important...the Zeiss ZM lenses focused to .5m, and it was not really an issue. 

As for the lens overall, it seems like a worthwhile upgrade, but perhaps not for the owners of the FLE or ASPH. Personally, I upgraded to the FLE from the ASPH not long after it came out, and to be honest, I prefer the ergonomics of the original...I loved that weird square hood...so flat that you could easily stand the camera on it. Only the focus shift was a bit annoying. I think the new hood looks like an ergonomic improvement, but I would be a little concerned if the aperture ring is now a little close to the focus...at least for use with gloves...

My understanding was there is a small bump or resistance when focusing below the 0.7m on the new lens which is a nice idea. 

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Hallo,

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[mboerma]

2 hours ago, Huss said:

I did the math.  It is 10cm difference.

Very helpful. Not everyone is as eloquent as you. For some English is not their native language. I would like to hope people understood my question and not act with the stupidic cultural superiority. It is often incredible how native English speakers disrespect people who try to speaker another language. 
 

Plus all the other idiots laughing with the original guy. Wow. 

Edited September 18, 2022 by mboerma

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[phototrope]

2 hours ago, archive_all said:

I think an official thread would be great. Can't wait to see some more images, I have the lens on preorder but I'm waffling between keeping the FLE or moving to the new version.

Image thread created here:

 

[Huss]

30 minutes ago, mboerma said:

Very helpful. Not everyone is as eloquent as you. For some English is not their native language. I would like to hope people understood my question and not act with the stupidic cultural superiority. It is often incredible how native English speakers disrespect people who try to speaker another language. 
 

Plus all the other idiots laughing with the original guy. Wow. 

Was my math wrong?

[hdmesa]

2 hours ago, mboerma said:

Very helpful. Not everyone is as eloquent as you. For some English is not their native language. I would like to hope people understood my question and not act with the stupidic cultural superiority. It is often incredible how native English speakers disrespect people who try to speaker another language. 
 

Plus all the other idiots laughing with the original guy. Wow. 

I think the only language barrier is your misperception about the joke being mean-spirited. People with English as their native language make these silly joke with ourselves all the time. In other words, culturally in most English-speaking places, it’s considered light-hearted to joke about taking someone literally or even intentionally misunderstanding them simply to make the joke. There is no malice toward non-native speakers since we joke this way with everyone.

[Huss]

5 hours ago, Huss said:

I did the math.  It is 10cm difference.

And an appropriate response could be any of the following:

Did you need help with that or did you figure it out all by yourself?

Thank you Captain Obvious

Hey everybody, we have a live one here!

And the always popular:
That’s what she said.