NEW Nocti within a year?

[marknorton]

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I have the opportunity to buy a second hand Noctilux now and I don't know what to do.

 

Just suppose Leica did come out with a new 50/1 or a 35/1 and it was priced around the €3000 mark to reflect improved production methods, less exotic glasses and the rest, it seems pretty certain the existing lens value would drop like a stone.

 

Leaving aside the problems I have with my lens, it makes no sense to me to buy one at the new list price; secondhand, maybe.

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[hankg]

Until there is a full frame digital M I don't see a new 50 Noctilux and a 35 Noctilux would be a Godzilla sized and priced lens so that's not likely either. Now if the M9 is to be 24x36 introducing it with a new Noctilux would make quite a splash. Probably have to wait a bit for that though. If they found a way to get the price down to $3000 that would really create some buzz.

[rosuna]

The problem is how to get f/1.0 without the copious use of exotic glasses. The ASPH element would be very big too. The Summilux 50mm ASPH has a very complex mechanical design, and a new Noctilux could save a bit avoiding floating elements. But the price would be high. I agree the Noctilux at the actual price list isn't a rational purchase.

[hankg]

The problem is how to get f/1.0 without the copious use of exotic glasses. The ASPH element would be very big too. The Summilux 50mm ASPH has a very complex mechanical design, and a new Noctilux could save a bit avoiding floating elements. But the price would be high. I agree the Noctilux at the actual price list isn't a rational purchase.

 

Now that Leica is committed to more affordable lenses it won't hurt to have one over the top optical marvel at a stratospheric price incorporating the latest in glass and optical technology. Sort of like auto companies sponsoring racing for both marketing and as a technology test bed. Plus Leica does have a small group of money no object buyers that would at least cover most of the development cost for a small batch of the ultimate exotic lens.

 

What the lens should be all depends on whether the successor to the M8 has a crop sensor or not.

[budrichard]

Leica is trying to stay viable by introducing products they can make money on by attracting new photographers and not spend capital for products with a limited sales potential.

The new Summarits are designed for the M8 and designed to sell to amatures.

The next M will have an IR filter built in as reported but it is ridiculous to think it will be anything other than a slightly modified M8. There simply is no payback in developing a new M digital so soon and also annoying all the technofiles that purchased the seriously flawed M8.

The M9 with FF will be a number of years down the road if at all. Any new lens will be developed for the M8. Canon and Nikon have shown that one can develop and sell two lines of cameras, one for professionals and one for amatures. I am sure Leica has noticed this and will take the same strategy but in Leicas case, the number of professionals that use M equipment is very small and not worth additional investment.

I look to the new R to be a complete departure with auto focusing lenses and maybe FF sensor, maybe. Leica could use a professional market and this is where there is not a lot of competition and professionals can pay the price for large format digital.

Only time will tell but my wallet is closed to any new M or R camera after the M8 until the viability is proved out. If I had spent $5KUSD on an M8, I would be seriously annoyed.-Dick

[hankg]

If I had spent $5KUSD on an M8, I would be seriouly annoyed.-Dick

 

Photographers shell out 5-8K for Canon 1 series digicams or 15-30K for MF digital backs knowing that in 2 years there will be an upgraded model. If the camera does what you expected it to do when you bought it there is nothing to get annoyed about, you don't need to upgrade with every product cycle.

 

The M8's viability as far as Leica is concerned is proven beyond a doubt. It has exceeded expectations in terms of sales and it's positive impact on the company and brought back many ex-Leica users (like myself).

 

I would have thought a full frame M9 was highly unlikely until I read an interview with Mr. Lee hinting that that was what was in the works. Since Leica has announced they won't produce crop sensor lenses a 24x36 M9 would be welcome making the fast wide range accessible to digital users.

[rsh]

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Whether or not a new Noctilux is introduced matters not to me. I like the current lens and it offers a nice alternative to the 50 Summilux Asph when I want it.

[ddp]

But the price would be high. I agree the Noctilux at the actual price list isn't a rational purchase.

 

I'd go one step further and say that the Noctilux isn't a rational purchase in most cases...and I own one!

[Alberti]

Another issue is that the M-bayonet does maybe not allow a 50 mm real F 0,95.

So do some have a thought about a 40 mm F1 Nocti? Who welcomes such a lens (even without a frameline).

[hankg]

Another issue is that the M-bayonet does maybe not allow a 50 mm real F 0,95.

So do some have a thought about a 40 mm F1 Nocti? Who welcomes such a lens (even without a frameline).

 

 

The M8 frame lines would probably be more accurate for a 40 at infinity then they are for a 50. A 40 would be equivalent to a 53.2 mm f/1 on the M8 sounds good.

[tobey bilek]

I made the prediction a year back citing no Leica Glass Lab any more and the difficulty of making noct glass with its ten year cooling cycle to avoid cracking. Hold a piece in your hand, close your eyes, and you could be convinced you are holding a chunk of lead.

 

Nobody is going to make that for Leica.

[leitz_not_leica]

Glass fabrication with Lead and Arsenic content glass is banned in Germany, hence the rework done on the Hassy 905. Although, Leica outsources glass to many fabricators, Hoya (Japan) among them.