Uncle Bulgaria Posted December 12, 2007 Share #1 Posted December 12, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm sure that some of you will have picked up on this already, but the Panasonic Japanese websire has listed that the release date for the 14 - 150mm lens had been slipped fron 21st November 2007 to 22nd December 2007. I have spent some time trying to get clarification of this date from the UK importers, who were upto now unable to give any estimate of its arrival. I have good contacts with our local Leica Stockists and got an email today which included a response from their sales team, saying that it the lateset information was that we would "see the lens in January 2008". They were not able to confirm the uk price, but our stockest have told me they have already placed an order for "a few" of them!! I don't know if anyone in other markets (such as the US) have had similar information. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 12, 2007 Posted December 12, 2007 Hi Uncle Bulgaria, Take a look here Panasonic Leica 14 - 150 4/3rds. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Riley Posted December 13, 2007 Share #2 Posted December 13, 2007 yeah it seems like their lenses have a little slippage on release and in supply For what ever reason, the release date was pushed back one month to December 21st. should be a 45/2 from them soon too Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Bulgaria Posted December 14, 2007 Author Share #3 Posted December 14, 2007 Yes I asked about the "road map lenses" & all I was told was was that "more lenses are planned to follow"! From another source I was told that there was a lot of "friction" between Leica & Panasonic over the badging/marketing of the 4/3rds lenses as Leica was now seeking "more control". Apparently Leica wanted to be able to offer them boxed & badged as Leica and were unhappy that they were only going to be available with a panasonic box/badge. If this is the case I don't know what that might mean for the "road map" or future release dates! However you would have thought that these to companies would have sorted this out beforehand! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riley Posted December 14, 2007 Share #4 Posted December 14, 2007 Yes I asked about the "road map lenses" & all I was told was was that "more lenses are planned to follow"! From another source I was told that there was a lot of "friction" between Leica & Panasonic over the badging/marketing of the 4/3rds lenses as Leica was now seeking "more control". Apparently Leica wanted to be able to offer them boxed & badged as Leica and were unhappy that they were only going to be available with a panasonic box/badge. If this is the case I don't know what that might mean for the "road map" or future release dates! However you would have thought that these to companies would have sorted this out beforehand! sorta dispels the myth continually from one particular user here that Leica will get out of 4/3rds too Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsolomon Posted December 15, 2007 Share #5 Posted December 15, 2007 if the lens is dur to hit the stores next week wouldn;t leica feel comfortable about making the announcement now ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Bulgaria Posted December 15, 2007 Author Share #6 Posted December 15, 2007 if the lens is dur to hit the stores next week wouldn;t leica feel comfortable about making the announcement now ? I guess the issue is that these are badged, boxed, marketed and sold as "Panasonic Lumix" products, so it's not likely that "Leica" will say anything! Not much was said about the 25mm f1.4 coming out in the UK. I think this has been the problem in their relationship! I'm sure that for Leica to remain commited to the 4/3rds format they would want to more "prime" lenses developed before the 14 - 150, however as Panasonic is in control of this agreement I guess they have to develop & release what they have previously jointly agreed to. I think this might explain why the 25mm 1.4 was released first, to show commitment to very high quality prime optics. Even if the Leica did pull out of 4/3rds, we would at least have access to superb "R" Glass!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Bulgaria Posted January 24, 2008 Author Share #7 Posted January 24, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi everyone. I don't know if this helps at all, but I called into our local Leica Stockists today and found out that the 14 - 150 is now listed on the Panasonic UK Trade website and has a "suggested retail price (SRP)" of about £900. This wasn't on the system last month & although there is no date listed for when it will be available, I guess things are slowly moving in the right direction! I just wonder if it might not be until after PMA?? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spylaw4 Posted January 24, 2008 Share #8 Posted January 24, 2008 It's listed on that auction site from a Japanese dealer at £690. But that makes it £810 with VAT - add postage and is it worth the effort? If one has the standard kit lens why not go for the Oly 50-200 which is well thought of? My 25/1.4 came from a Leica dealer but was Lumix boxed. Of course Leica could always trump the opposition by producing their own 4/3 lens(es), even if they re-badged the E-3 or a Panasonic equiv. - but then there's this mysterious camera 'X' referred to by Mr Kauffman here. We live in interesting times! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptomsu Posted January 24, 2008 Share #9 Posted January 24, 2008 Big issue with Leica FT is the lenses. I was very disappointed not to be able to order my 1,4/25 at my Leica store, but had to go to a diffeent store, who couldd get it from Panasonic. And I am not so confident that this will change. So this is bad for the Leica D System 1,5 years after it's introduction. Because it shows that Leica is just doing some development here together with Pana, but in the end of the day they do not have the power to bring their own FT products. And actually it would not make sense to have both - the new R System as well as the FT system developed and run by Leica. So I see a pretty dark D system future - and this does not require second sight skills. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spylaw4 Posted January 24, 2008 Share #10 Posted January 24, 2008 Big issue with Leica FT is the lenses. I was very disappointed not to be able to order my 1,4/25 at my Leica store, but had to go to a diffeent store, who couldd get it from Panasonic. And I am not so confident that this will change. So this is bad for the Leica D System 1,5 years after it's introduction. Because it shows that Leica is just doing some development here together with Pana, but in the end of the day they do not have the power to bring their own FT products. And actually it would not make sense to have both - the new R System as well as the FT system developed and run by Leica. So I see a pretty dark D system future - and this does not require second sight skills. Same lens, different store - shame about that. Actually it does make sense to have both, Not all of us are likely to be able to afford an R10 which will probably be >M8 prices. So an SLR at a lower price makes perfect sense in the marketplace, and if it can use R lenses, so much the better. Leica IMO could perfectly well develop and produce their own 4/3 camera. However with the company's problems over the last few years, co-operation and thus gaining knowledge of the standard also makes sense. Let's wait and see what happens shall we? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsolomon Posted January 24, 2008 Share #11 Posted January 24, 2008 why not go for the Oly 50-200 which is well thought of? do you have any experience with this lens ? if so can you share ? thanks Rich Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
biglouis Posted January 24, 2008 Share #12 Posted January 24, 2008 Of course Leica could always trump the opposition by producing their own 4/3 lens It amazes me that with the core competency that Leica has they don't produce lenses for Nikon and Canon. I mean, if Zeiss can, why not Leica? LouisB Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spylaw4 Posted January 25, 2008 Share #13 Posted January 25, 2008 do you have any experience with this lens ? if so can you share ? thanks Rich Personally - I don't but reading a number of 4/3 oriented sites seems to indicate general approval of the IQ. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
imnotaniceboy Posted March 10, 2008 Share #14 Posted March 10, 2008 is this lens in store now? date of shipping? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
crisdom Posted April 15, 2008 Share #15 Posted April 15, 2008 I've searched on-line, and have only been able to find this lens through Panasonic at $1299. Has anyone heard of a better deal elsewhere? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodbokeh Posted April 16, 2008 Share #16 Posted April 16, 2008 That sounds like a good price. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdlaing Posted April 16, 2008 Share #17 Posted April 16, 2008 I've searched on-line, and have only been able to find this lens through Panasonic at $1299. Has anyone heard of a better deal elsewhere? Yes. It is available from japan for 1199.00 from a reputable seller. I just am not sure about duty or import fees to other countries. I'll post the addy later when I find it. Panasonic LEICA D VARIO ELMAR 14-150mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH - eBay (item 180233403416 end time Apr-19-08 14:06:23 PDT) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJLogan Posted May 16, 2008 Share #18 Posted May 16, 2008 I broke down and ordered it from Panasonic Direct, as B&H shows no signs of stocking it. It arrived two days later--the warehouse is only a few miles away. The lens will get a workout next month on a hectic trip involving Paris, Barcelona, Provence, Amsterdam and London. I'm going to leave the 14-50 kit lens at home and just take the new zoom and the 25mm prime, as my travel bag only holds two lenses. My first impression: It's really long and kind of goofy-looking when fully extended, but it the zoom is smooth and the lens seems sharp through the zoom range and the stops. Autofocus is about the same as the kit lens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spylaw4 Posted May 16, 2008 Share #19 Posted May 16, 2008 Remember to check the Panasonic site for updates - both camera and 25mm. Depends on what camera you are using tho'. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdlaing Posted May 16, 2008 Share #20 Posted May 16, 2008 I broke down and ordered it from Panasonic Direct, as B&H shows no signs of stocking it. It arrived two days later--the warehouse is only a few miles away. The lens will get a workout next month on a hectic trip involving Paris, Barcelona, Provence, Amsterdam and London. I'm going to leave the 14-50 kit lens at home and just take the new zoom and the 25mm prime, as my travel bag only holds two lenses. My first impression: It's really long and kind of goofy-looking when fully extended, but it the zoom is smooth and the lens seems sharp through the zoom range and the stops. Autofocus is about the same as the kit lens. I patiently await your report..........I'd like to have this lens for several reasons. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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