Re: [Leica] 35-70 f/2.8 R Zoom - Why is it so difficult to get ?

[Arne Helme <Arne.Helme@stelvio.nl>]

While visiting Fotokina this year I asked the Leica R product manager
about the availability of the 35-70 f/2.8 R Zoom lens.  He said that
due to the extreme tolerances of tuning the optical setup of this lens
and the focusing mechanism it uses, the production numbers have been
much lower than anticipated.  At the moment they are manufacturing 15
lenses per month, and do not expect an increase in volumes!  If you
want one, the advice he offered was to line up in the waiting queue.
I am very tempted to do just that.

He also said that they will never make the mistake again of announcing
a lens before before they are certain about the production volumes
that can be achieved...

- -- Arne

In message <200011052203.OAA17631@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>, 
Pascal <cyberdog@attglobal.net> writes:
>
>
>>I was wondering if anyone knows the reason for such a low production
>>quantity for the above lens. I was told it is just 17 units per year. Is it
>>a low demand for this lens (I doubt it) or is it the lack of resources at
>>Solms (which I also doubt it).
>
>Let me try to shed some light.
>
>The Vario was announced at Photokina 1998, but in the following year 
>several difficulties arose.
>
>First, the focal range mechanism had to be changed to allow for a 
>smoother macro position (yes, you can get a decent macro-like setting by 
>pushing a special button). This took additional development time.
>
>Second, the design specifications were so severe and the tolerances so 
>narrow, that production had difficulty in living up to the theoretical 
>design specifications. It could be done, but at a high cost which proved 
>to be a problem for the anticipated selling price point (in other words: 
>the price margin proved to be too narrow).
>
>There are customer waiting queues (unfulfilled orders) for more than one 
>year, so there certainly is no lack of interest in this lens !
>The first production run was 200 pieces only and you are right to say 
>that the production output per month was quite limited due to a high 
>rejection rate. Further production will be evaluated. I would expect this 
>lens to be discontinued.
>
>There are even rumors that Leica was actually making a loss on every lens 
>it was selling. Don't know if that is true, however, but the fact remains 
>that this lens looks more like a(n excellent) showcase of the technical 
>abilities of the Leica lens designers than a practical money maker !
>
> So, if you can find one new or second-hand, do not let it go !
>