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The new Summarits - LFI 07/2007

carstenw

By carstenw
in Leica M8 / Leica M8.2

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carstenw

carstenw

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The new LFI is out with a mini-review of the new Summarits. The lenses look very clean, and the three (50, 75, 90) sample photos look very nice, with good bokeh. More careful examination and comparison to existing lenses has to be deferred until more general availability, however. The contrast looks high, but it is not possible to tell if it is higher or lower than other lenses in the existing line-up from these images. I expect that they tread a fine line down the middle, avoiding the high-contrast look of the 28/2.8A and 35/2A, while not being as low-contrast as the 75 Lux or Noctilux.

 

Leica claims that the optical performance was not compromised in any way, except that to keep the prices down, f/2.5 was the target, and there are no aspherical elements. This much we all knew. However, the article also seems to imply that more exotic glass types may have been used, although of course nothing to insanely expensive as the infamous element of the Noctilux or the 28/35/50 Tri-Elmar. Interesting.

 

Also interesting is that Leica's decade-long search for mechanical perfection has been given a new direction for these lenses: shared components. The inside construction must necessarily be different to accomodate the different optical designs, but the outsides are interesting. The 35 and 50 seem to share the base ring, the focus ring and the aperture ring, as do the 75 and 90, respectively. Only the front ring of the construction is visually different between the 35 and 50, or 75 and 90. Thus the era of individual designs for every lens comes to an end, and logically so. It might be interesting to measure how many seconds are wasted by M photographers reaching for a 35 or 50, or a 75 or 90, and confusing them with each other, but this is not really relevant :)

 

Comments?

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Guest guy_mancuso

Guest guy_mancuso

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Well one way to save money is shared parts and actually is a good idea if they can do it among a set of lenses. This may also save them time on the assembly line also, hard to say but there new design overall for this set of Summarits was to save money for them and us end users. I would imagine though leica will certainly put out top quality glass. Honestly after visiting the factory you walk out saying that is a optical company and they really are. That really is what there known for and really hard to beat as we all know. I really think these lenses will fit into the market very well indeed. For myself i am already covered in these focal lengths but i am sure they will sell and sell very well indeed. It certainly is a way to get into Leica on a limited budget. I'm not surprised by what LFI says on the quality been expecting to hear that. i would like to try them myself at some point.

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cme4brain

cme4brain

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I ordered my 25P based on that review. Same thing with the 40mm Nokton. Sean is da bomb.

 

Yes, I concur. I am an amateur photographer who anted up for an M8. I could not have afforded (translation: get the wife to allow) the extensive lens collection I own (and therefore use on my M8) were it not for my Voigtlander lenses. I had owned a few CV lenses for my M6 and Voigtlander bodies, and was very happy with them. Sean's objective, real world reviews of those lenses (prior to my M8 purchase) and his evaluation of the M8 (warts and all at the time of sale) are what made me take the plunge and by the M8 in the first place. I know that the digital workplace allows hyper-crtical evaluation of any lens the M8 mounts, and I did not want to have poor images from a $5000 hobby. I would hold off on purchasing Voigt lenses until I read his review of that lens. I have been pleased with his lens assessments, and in my opinion, my copies of the Voigt 21mm and 25mmP lenses fair better than his test copies. His subscription price is the best deal in the internet photographic world. I will purchase Leica glass in the future (perhaps the Summarits) or Zeiss glass, but only after he tests the lens. Thanks, Sean!

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sean_reid

sean_reid

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Gosh, this is a nice way to start the morning. Thanks folks and I am working with Leica USA to get test copies of the Summarits ASAP. Leica USA has some copies but they're being used to shoot examples for the PhotoEast show. Soon...

 

BTW, Terry Banet's copy of the 21/4.0 Skopar (LTM) did well in the corners and the two articles have been updated accordingly. I should have two more copies of the 25P to test next week.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

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Dolce

Dolce

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I wish Leica lent the Summarits out to non reviewers who really don't have an obliguation to say something nice about the company.

 

Like for instance me... ;)

 

My girlfriend is probably gonna get that job at the magazine. So she could write the review, and I could go out and have all the fun taking pictures.

 

Anyway, I'm gonna go... I just stopped by partly because I'm bored waiting for the taxi to pick up the phone (bad weather, lines busy).. And partly because I wanted to know if anyone has the slightest idea how much these suckers are gonna cost?

 

at 75 and 90, 2.5 will do... I probably wouldn't buy the 35 and 50 as those lengths I'd shoot low light in.. Crop factor taken into consideration btw..

 

Ok, I'm gonna go wait by the side of the road :(

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marknorton

marknorton

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Comments and observations from the article and the interview with Kornelius Mueller.

 

- Seems clear the Summarits are Leica's new non-ASPH line and that the 90/2.8 and 50/2.8 are for the chop, "will, sooner or later, be rendered obsolete" which I take to mean no more will be made. If you want that cute little 50/2.8 collapsible Elmar, now is the time to buy. That leaves just the 50/1, 50/2 and the 90/4 which is probably safe as the macro solution. Those 50s are two of Leica's iconic lenses but how safe are they?

 

- Mueller admitted that Leica under-estimated the effort putting the WATE into series production, hence the price increase. Similarly, the M8 price increase is justified on the basis of the ongoing product development to keep it at the "dizzy heights of the performance ladder". If I was given to cynicism (perish the thought!), I might argue about that.

 

- Hints of more wide-angle solutions in the future, though my money is on something like an 18mm Elmar, not the 24mm Summicron or 28mm Summilux I would buy in a heart-beat in spite of a futher suggestion of more ASPH lenses in the future. There's the repeating message that with variable ISO in the M8, who needs faster lenses?

 

- LFI are saying that the introduction of the Summarits is accompanied by price increases for the "super-speed" designs. Do they mean just the Noctilux or are the Summiluxes (all 2 of them) and Summicrons affected too?

 

- Pictures of the front of the lenses differ, but some show the front of the lenses having threads inside (for filters) and outside (for lens hoods) with the 35 having the same rubber o-ring used in the WATE to tighten the thread as you attach the hood.

 

Still, it seems clear that the Summarits are going to be Good News for Leica and Leica owners. Whether they will leave the ASPH lenses as an increasingly rarified and inaccessible species (on both cost and availability grounds) remains to be seen.

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Guest guy_mancuso

Guest guy_mancuso

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Thanks Mark that all seemed pretty good but I agree they still need to make the fast glass I don't care because of higher ISO's that may not need them, there are other reasons we all know for the fast glass. I hope they continue to offer both to differnt users needs. We only really need a few lenses for the fast side , too me a 21 and 24 F1.4 or f2 lenses and maybe a replacemnt for the 75 lux and keep the Nocti in production. Really not much else except a extreme wide like a 15 and 18mm but they really don't have to be fast ones either although 2.8 would be great it would also be very expensive. But i know i would be all over them

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Jamie Roberts

Jamie Roberts

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Gosh, this is a nice way to start the morning. Thanks folks and I am working with Leica USA to get test copies of the Summarits ASAP. Leica USA has some copies but they're being used to shoot examples for the PhotoEast show. Soon...

 

{snipped}

 

Sean

 

Hey--I'll give credit where credit is due--Sean's reviews have saved me some serious cash, inasmuch as I'm not quite the same collector of lenses as Guy (not quite ;))

 

I still bought at least three CVs based on Sean's reviews, and I really like them. His reviews and analysis are always well-informed, photographically pertinent (which is very important), and certainly more thorough than any others I've seen!

 

And I'm waiting to see how the Summarits fare as well, so I hope you some to play with soon Sean!

 

@ Guy--I don't care who makes it, but the first 21 or 24 f1,8-ish is going to be the bomb for me (if it ever comes--that would be a nice peice of glass!)

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Guest guy_mancuso

Guest guy_mancuso

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I agree Jamie . Leica needs to still do both and certainly hope they hear what we are asking for. i know for a fact there are many of us just waiting for speed lenses in the wide area, so whoever gets there first will be a big hit. No question i think the Summarits are a excellent idea for them but let's not stop there either

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