What’s next for Leica? 2024

[muskyvibes]

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I had a question. 2024 may be a big year for me in terms of buying my second Leica lens. I take these purchases seriously because this is an enormous investment I am making with my Leica camera and lenses. I was able to buy my M10R new and the 50 Summicron new. 

I am looking to a 35mm (that has little to no distortion. My only gripe with the Nokton).

I’ve heard that Leica is considering bringing back more lens designs from the pre-ASPH era. Any ideas what these might be?

For a while I was really considering the 28 Summaron as a second lens, but I’ve changed to 35mm. Hoping Leica will bring something like the 35 Summaron f3.5 back to life with clicky aperture ring with better coatings for flare and a bit sharper. But that’s just hopes. 

Any ideas what will be coming down the pike? I’m thinking it’ll be a new 35 Summicron, but maybe something more interesting is in the works. 

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[spydrxx]

My crystal ball says "Wait and see".

[rtai]

More lens updates with .4m minimum focusing distance. 

[Printmaker]

I shot with the 35/2.8 Summaron back in the late 1960s. It was a lovely lens. Sharp in the center at 2.8, contrasty at f4, and rendered the out of focus areas smoothly. Not sure if there would be much demand though. Leica would probably reissue the type 4 Summicron first. It was more of a classic.
The front coating was soft and I doubt if you can find a good used copy.

[RexGig0]

A non-ASPH Summicron-M 35mm would be interesting; perhaps a refresh of the Version IV. The non-APO, non-ASPH Summicron-M 50mm Version IV/V, 1979 optical formula still has a loyal following, and remains in production, so, yes, why not a non-ASPH 35mm, too? In early 2023, I was thinking about trying to acquire a pre-owned Version IV Summicron-M 35mm, but my hesitation to buy sight unseen*, and the high asking prices, were an impediment.

Personally, however, I already bought a retro 35mm M lens, a few months ago. The 2022 Re-Edition Steel Rim Classic Summilux-M 35mm is non-ASPH, and has relatively low distortion. It costs less than either version of the Summilux-M 35mm ASPH FLE lens, and may remain the only Leica M lens that I ever buy new, rather than pre-owned.

Before I bought this Re-Edition, I had test-shot a comparison, at a local Leica dealer, using a VERY clean, pre-owned, pre-Aspherical Summilux-M 35mm Version II, and their demonstrator Summilux-M FLE Version I. As a “control,” I shot my familiar Zeiss Distagon 35mm f/1.4 ZM. Well, the result was that the FLE trounced the pre-Aspherical Version II, both in the optical aspect, and ergonomically. My familiar Zeiss handily bested both of them, except for being a rather large lens. (I have large hands, so, a large lens, within reason, is not a problem, but sometimes, I would rather sling the camera/lens under a jacket or vest, or may want to use a rather small belt pouch or pocket.)

*In the past several years, I acquired several pre-owned Leica M lenses, through on-line sellers, with positive results, but I was developing a feeling that my good fortune might not continue.

Edited December 17, 2023 by RexGig0

[doc steel]

I hope Leica can bring some calm and composure to the M sector again, because lately they have been trying almost frantically to constantly bring out something new.
What will most likely come is a successor to the S-line.
Production of the S (..S2, S3) has already been stopped.
The first mirrorless medium format camera can be expected here.
If Leica doesn't screw up again, something with 100MP should come onto the market in order to be able to stand up to Hasselblad and Fuji, who have already shown the direction in which developments are going.
You can be excited.

[SiggiGun]

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 Concernant M Lenses, it is difficult to know but 2024 means 70 years of Leica M.  I guess a new app-summicron 90mm is an option. If not, as mentioned above, a new near focus Summicron and why not a 50. 
 

what is sure, we will see new SL, SL3

[Guest]

I'm always hoping for optics we don't get from other manufacturers. There is room on my shelf for a 28mm APO Summicron, and a 35mm Noctilux right next to it ...

What will happen instead: There is a 70% probability that the 50mm APO is next in line for the <70cm close focusing update.

[muskyvibes]

2 hours ago, RexGig0 said:

I was thinking about trying to acquire a pre-owned Version IV Summicron-M 35mm, but my hesitation to buy sight unseen*, and the high asking prices, were an impediment.

There have been a few for sale locally that were almost new condition. But the asking price was so much I didn’t do it. 

 

2 hours ago, RexGig0 said:

The 2022 Re-Edition Steel Rim Classic Summilux-M 35mm is non-ASPH, and has relatively low distortion.

I’ve thought about that too. I wasn’t sure about the amount of distortion though. Is it less than the Nokton II?

1 hour ago, SiggiGun said:

2024 means 70 years of Leica M.

This is the reason I was asking these questions. They’re saying that because of the 70 years anniversary and the success of the reissue of the steel rim and the 28 Summaron that they may have some interesting stuff coming for next year. 

 

50 minutes ago, mzbe said:

<70cm close focusing update.

This is why I think I’m either going to buy a reissue of a classic or just go for the current version of the 35 cron. I hate this close focus thing. 

They can’t let the Chinese be the only ones to reissue Leica classics. 
 

The sad thing is these classics came in silver and not black paint. They were rare if they came in black at all. If they reissued the 8E at around the same price as the steel rim reissue and it came out in brass and glossy black paint I would be all over that. 

light lens lab did it, but I would rather get the real thing. 

Edited December 17, 2023 by muskyvibes

[doc steel]

vor 3 Stunden schrieb SiggiGun:

 Concernant M Lenses, it is difficult to know but 2024 means 70 years of Leica M.  I guess a new app-summicron 90mm is an option. If not, as mentioned above, a new near focus Summicron and why not a 50. 
 

what is sure, we will see new SL, SL3

Wishes are the father of your toughts.

@ the others
I'm amazed at how talkative your crystal balls are!

[FrozenInTime]

I would like see an additional, clearly positioned below flagship, digital M model.

A M11-SE that used a 24 Mpixel sensor and integrated EVF in place of the optical rangefinder would test the water, without overly alarming traditionalists, for a mid-priced, low light, close-focusing M.

[Guest]

21 minutes ago, FrozenInTime said:

I would like see an additional, clearly positioned below flagship, digital M model.

A M11-SE that used a 24 Mpixel sensor and integrated EVF in place of the optical rangefinder would test the water, without overly alarming traditionalists, for a mid-priced, low light, close-focusing M.

… and it should have IBIS, and it is called SL2-S?

[FrozenInTime]

6 minutes ago, mzbe said:

… and it should have IBIS, and it is called SL2-S?

 Been there, owned one: IQ great, but too large and heavy a system to replace M in amateur use, so traded out of SL.

[pgk]

EVF-M with new line of AF-M lenses. No, just kidding😆.

I'd like to see a digital M (similar to an M4) with ~24MPixel sensor, and stripped back to the absolute basics. Manual only, RAW only, and with as few adjustments as were needed on a film M (that would be ISO) plus only those essential to the operation of a digital camera. I doubt Leica will have the courage to produce such a camera, let alone at an entry level (for M) price, but suspect it might be a winner myself.

[FrozenInTime]

For lenses, a 21mm Summicron would be a good addition as right now, I suspect Voigtlander has taken a massive bite out of Leica's wide M lens sales.

Also, a compact 50mm f/2 or f/2.4 to replace the lost Summarit and Elmar-M, with close focus.

[yanidel]

What is missing in Leica's line up is a tiny pancake style 35mm F2.8 asph lens.  Not a reissue series, but a new lens with a modern look. 

[raizans]

I’d love a reissue of the 50mm collapsible Summicron, the lens that started it all.

[rtai]

While I have mixed feelings about an all EVF M body I can see potential future lens development where optical viewfinder blockage will no longer be a design constraint. Will we see f1.2 and faster M lenses in 35mm and wider?

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Hallo,

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[SiggiGun]

Yes, yes! My first M!!!

[pippy]

17 hours ago, muskyvibes said:

...I am looking to a 35mm that has little to no distortion (my only gripe with the Nokton). I’ve heard that Leica is considering bringing back more lens designs from the pre-ASPH era. Any ideas what these might be?......Hoping Leica will bring something like the 35 Summaron f3.5 back to life with clicky aperture ring with better coatings for flare and a bit sharper...

I'd seriously suggest that you try to find one of the 35mm f2 Light Lens Lab '8-Element' reverse-engineered recreations of Leitz' original (1958 ' 74) 35mm Summicron lenses.

It's small; beautifully engineered; near distortion-free and renders in a way which is as near-as-possible to the Leitz lens as one could hope. Not only that but beacuse the LLL lenses are brand new there are no possible issues with Haze or Fungus which might be present in the 'real thing'.

FWIW I do have an 'un-goggled' 1954 35mm f3.5 Summaron in M mount which I've owned it since 1980. It is a lovely lens which can produce lovely images. These lenses do also have a clicked aperture-ring. I've never experienced any issues with flare but that could be down to my shooting-preferences and always using a hood. The front element is quite deeply recessed.

Personally out of these two I would always choose the LLL but the f3.5 Summaron has yet to attain the desirability of its f2.8 sibling and, as such, can be found for a decent price. If you decide to go down the Summaron route just make sure you get a clean example...

Philip.