Which M lens would you like to see made close focusing next?

[snz]

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A 28mm APO-Summicron with close focus please. 

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The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[Jeff S]

37 minutes ago, pgk said:

I have never understood the desire to add features to a mature camera system. I shoot quite a lot of macro and close focus images and do not and would not use an M camera to do so. There are quite simply better and considerably cheaper solutions available for this sort of photography. Complicating a lens by making it focus closer than many of the cameras it is potentially to be used on is needless IMO.

I don’t like it, but I think I understand it.  It’s about marketing/pricing, system interchangeability, and of course the bottom line. I surely wouldn’t want to be in a severely declining industry, so I hope Leica’s strategy and choices will prove beneficial for long term survivability. I don’t have to like all the decisions and products, as long as there are enough choices to satisfy my needs and tastes. Quality control and service need to also improve, however, to sustain my interest. New designs and features add to this challenge.

Jeff

Edited August 26, 2023 by Jeff S

[pgk]

20 minutes ago, Jeff S said:

I don’t like it, but I think I understand it.

I neither like nor understand it. In messing with a mature system the risk is that you undermine its fundamental design concept. Close focus/macro has always been a compromise with an M camera and has always relied on fudges to implement. The compromises have not survived. In my opinion the M has strengths and weaknesses. Playing to its strengths makes sense but playing to its weaknesses by using newer technology (live view) does not because it involves compromises. Survival of the M needs to rely on its strengths.

[Guest]

5 hours ago, Al Brown said:

The Q Summilux works differently and even needs computational CPU processing to extend its fisheye edges in-camera. Tons of threads on the subject in the forum.

Since the close focus 'feature' is similar to a helicoid tube, I was referring to the design considerations who to solve for a 'macro' mode for a 28mm iens. I agree that nobody is asking for Leica to replicate the known trade-offs of the Q lens (distortion, 1.7 vs. 1.4, ...).

[V23]

20 hours ago, wolan said:

Leica is slowly adding close-focusing capabilities to its lens line-up.

I hope the next one after the 35mm Summicron and the 50mm Summilux will be the 75mm Summicron, I'd not hesitate upgrading mine. I'd also welcome a 28mm f2 CF, as it has a nice bokeh.

What do you think?

N.

APO Summicron 1:2/75mmASPH. Is my most loved lens, recently I wanted get bit closer then 70 cm to photograph some flowers. K&F Concept 10mm extension ring did just that. So, no need for me. On that note my APO-LANTHAR 35mm F2 focuses to 50 cm, but thus far I have not found any use for that close focusing distant, I’ll keep trying. SL2-s user.

Edited August 27, 2023 by V23
no in this sentence inserted 'So, no need for me.'

[FrozenInTime]

3 hours ago, V23 said:

APO Summicron 1:2/75mmASPH. Is my most loved lens, recently I wanted get bit closer then 70 cm to photograph some flowers. K&F Concept 10mm extension ring did just that. So, no need for me. On that note my APO-LANTHAR 35mm F2 focuses to 50 cm, but thus far I have not found any use for that close focusing distant, I’ll keep trying. SL2-s user.

The 75mm Summicron really does need a longer focus throw just for it's current range, so it would be good to see a redesigned helicoid that fixes that, and then if you turn it much, much further could get you down to 50cm; however it would be larger and heavier, so that might kill the market.

For a next lens, how about a modernised rethink of the dual-range 50mm Summicron, with the option of goggles to maintain rangefinder focus to 50cm ... or less?

[Fedro]

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90 apo for me, its a great lens but its been out for 25 years and could do with an upgrade and perhaps a chance to also reduce MFD to 90 or 80 cm

I would never use it wide open at MFD though ..

[f8low]

Maybe that's not in the intended spirit of the thread but a 0.7m distance for the 50mm Noctilux would be quite a thing.

[Alberti]

On 8/30/2023 at 5:17 PM, f8low said:

Maybe that's not in the intended spirit of the thread but a 0.7m distance for the 50mm Noctilux would be quite a thing.

That is, for instance for a f1.2 50mm