Classic Lenses: What's your next guess or request?

[phojomatic]

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I was thinking today after the release of the 50mm Summilux 2025...where does Leica go next? Are there any other lenses from the archives that realistically could be redesigned and produced in the classic line?

I'd love to see a 35mm Summicron v4, but don't see that happening because of the 35mm Steel Rim.

I'd also love to see a 90mm tele-elmarit (thin) but doubt that too, even though the 90mm Thamber is a very different design.

The 50mm Rigid seems like a no-brainer, but Light Lens Lab may have cornered that market.

Thoughts?

I'm thinking M lenses here, but fwiw, I do think the 100mm macro R would be awesome in a SL mount.

 

[costa43]

75mm Summilux could be interesting.

[FrozenInTime]

The Stemar would be a fun choice 

 

[raizans]

50mm Collapsible Summicron

35mm Summicron V2 (the one with the aperture stick, as long as they’re not only doing extra expensive lenses)

28mm Elmarit V3

21mm f/3.4 Super-Angulon

Edited February 20 by raizans

[Danner]

Remake the 35mm Summicron version IV in some nice finishes.  That would sell.

[shirubadanieru]

Easy! Summicron 35mm 8 elements & 50mm rigid. An Elmar 50mm f3.5 or 35mm f3.5 remake could be interesting too. 

That being said, LLL has reproduced the 8e and rigid with more fidelity than what I think Leica would given their approach to reissues since the steel rim.

[rogxwhit]

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Let's leave the classics as they were & how we still appreciate them.  Nothing needs a revamp,  Nothing needs 're-dressing' - we love them as they were & still are (if lucky).

Anything that smacks of commerce smacks of Trump, or worse.  Let's leave that be. 

We don't have to be stuck in the old times, we take them forward into the new times within ourselves. 

 

[adan]

I think Leica will first look at "Which of our old designs are people already paying insane prices for, used?"

The 90 TE doesn't qualify - I just acquired a very nice one (v2) for $US 421. With that kind of "self-competition," people will laugh if they try to sell a re-issue for $3195 (price of the f/5.6 Summaron) or $4195 (90 Macro-Elmar-M f/4.0).

Unless, of course, they add a baffle to get rid of the occasional "inner barrel flare" - the main flaw in the TEv2. Plus the 6-bit code. And "90 ~f/2.8" is a hole in the Leica lineup, since the Summarits disappeared.

Add a "new warranty" and I might pay $US1995 for a TE like that.

But I think Leica is just no longer interested in messing with lenses that can't gross at least $2900. "Not our market" and not worth their while (again, see the fate of the Summarits).

.............

The 75 Summilux makes a bit of sense - a really unique look at f/1.4, very different than the APO-ASPH f/2 or f/1.25. Which Dr. Mandler of ELCAN (Leitz Canada) considered his "masterpiece" (historic significance). With the used prices sometimes pushing or exceeding $4500, and the f/1.25 selling for five figures, a $6000 "new" one won't be all that crazy 🤪 .

And it was derived from the "original classic" 50 Summilux design, so not all that long a walk from the "new classic" 50 Summilux, now that they're already halfway there.

[LocalHero1953]

If Leica is aiming for a 'classic' lens to match the 'clinical' in each focal length, they now have 35 and 50 mainstream classics. At 28mm they have the Summaron, but at f/5.6 might be seen as a bit limiting. At 90 they have the Thambar but that is a bit too left field / magic mushroom for most people. The Summilux 75 has relatively recently gone out of current production. They could revive it, but might also look at the Hektor 7.3cm, which could be described as a Summilux with Thambar tendencies. Voigtlander made (makes?) a Heliar 75mm Classic which I've heard has the same optical formula with modern coatings, but Leica might want to do their own heritage-max version.

[adan]

34 minutes ago, LocalHero1953 said:

They could revive it, but might also look at the Hektor 7.3cm, which could be described as a Summilux with Thambar tendencies. Voigtlander made (makes?) a Heliar 75mm Classic which I've heard has the same optical formula with modern coatings

Yep! From CV and Leica sources. Classic "Hektor" 2/2/2 triple-doublet design.

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The C/V Heliar Classic was introduced - and dropped - quite a long while ago (available 2010-2018). As heavy as the APO-Summicron, and with limited performance and close-focus (0.9m) - or even "look" at f/1.8 except in the center. Never confuse "character" with "just plain blurry!" - massive curvature of field.

Oh, and its real focal length/magnification was a tad wider than the Leica 75s, so indeed about 73mm. Not a problem at all, though.

I used a pre-owned Heliar Classic for about a year c. 2018, and moved back to Leica's "normal" offerings - until the gloriously-light C/V Nokton f/1.5 in 2020 (Summilux speed, APO-Summicron performance at > 1.5m, gets "Summilux-dreamy" 1m > 0.7m, Summarit weight at 340g).

Edited February 20 by adan

[LocalHero1953]

I had the Hektor 7.3cm for a few years, but sold it for the new Thambar, which I regretted - not the Thambar, which was fun, but I didn't have Milan Swolf's opportunities to exploit it in situations where it performed well. I wish I'd kept the Hektor longer. I liked some of the dreamy (aka blurry, flaring) flower pictures and summer landscapes, and I'd have liked to try it for portraits. It was in excellent condition: clean glass and (almost) evenly smooth focus. The swirly bokeh, though, had a distinctly queasy feeling.

Edited February 20 by LocalHero1953

[farnz]

A revamp of the 85/1.5 Summarex with current glass and coatings would be interesting.

Pete.

[LocalHero1953]

1 minute ago, farnz said:

A revamp of the 85/1.5 Summarex with current glass and coatings would be interesting.

Pete.

Perhaps made in aluminium?

[archive_all]

I think the 35mm Summicron V1 or V4 would be obvious choices. I would like to see either but maybe add in some budget friendly 2.8 classics as well.

[tappan]

I am not too excited by closer focus, but I would excitedly purchase a closer focus revamp on the 24mm Summilux or even the 24mm Elmarit.
Mark in Boston

[Yoyoid]

Reissues are fun, and I do hope they keep doing them, but with the existing reissues and used lenses already available it seems to me that what the M platform is most missing now is new, modern designs that keep up with the high resolution sensors Leica is offering. Personally, a completely new 75/2 APO OR 90/2 APO design would be the most welcome. Technology has come a long way in the decades since these lenses were introduced. I don't always want a character lens or vintage look. 

[UliWer]

After all, they are celebrating 100 years. The 1:3.5/50mm Anastigmat has been on some people’s wishlist since it was used as a fixed lens with the remake of ther „Null-Serie“ in 2000. 

Though it doesn’t appeal to the „Bokeh“-fetishism Leica prefers to serve and they are upholding the myth that collapsible lenses are dangerous for digital cameras.  

[Jon Warwick]

6 hours ago, Yoyoid said:

Reissues are fun, and I do hope they keep doing them, but with the existing reissues and used lenses already available it seems to me that what the M platform is most missing now is new, modern designs that keep up with the high resolution sensors Leica is offering. Personally, a completely new 75/2 APO OR 90/2 APO design would be the most welcome. Technology has come a long way in the decades since these lenses were introduced. I don't always want a character lens or vintage look. 

I agree, and aside from the lenses you mention, I’d also really like to see a refresh of the M 50 APO Summicron to a close focus version and with even better performance than the original that emerged around a decade back. I think the M 35 APO showed just what is possible. 

[KarimelKrunch]

Updating the oldest APO lenses makes sense.

Regarding the classic lenses, I would love to see the 75mm Summilux as the next lens. It is THE Mandler classic and the 75mm focal length (and 21mm) is still missing from the series.

Edited February 21 by KarimelKrunch

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[oldwino]

5 hours ago, UliWer said:

After all, they are celebrating 100 years. The 1:3.5/50mm Anastigmat has been on some people’s wishlist since it was used as a fixed lens with the remake of ther „Null-Serie“ in 2000. 

Though it doesn’t appeal to the „Bokeh“-fetishism Leica prefers to serve and they are upholding the myth that collapsible lenses are dangerous for digital cameras.  

This would be great! It's such a good lens, such a unique rendering, so compact.