Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/05/08
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]2001-05-08-15:46:14 Herbert & Lee Kanner: > I bought a 35 mm Summicron labeled "Canada." It was about half the > price of current models. In general, the lenses made in Canada, > e.g., 90 mm Summicron, appear to be somewhat cheaper than others. > Are these lenses inferior, and, if so, in what respects? Ah, so many questions which have come up before. I'll take a turn wading in before some other immoderate replies come... Canadian lenses are excellent, and in no way inferior to lenses made in Germany. What you've likely bought, though is the pre-ASPH[eric] 35mm Summicron, that is the model before the current one. It's a lovely lens, lighter and more compact than the current ASPH, and renders out-of-focus regions with a pleasing coherence; but it isn't quite so crispy-sparkly-sharp as the newest lens, especially at or near the widest apertures. The difference in lens models would explain the price difference. The 90mm Summicrons for which you saw a price difference may be the older versus the current 90mmAPO-ASPH wonder lens. > The other question: I have a rectangular hood that clips onto the > lens. That is, there are two buttons that, when depressed, cause > some pawls to withdraw. These pawls snap into recesses in the lens > mount. The question is: is a hood cap available for this hood? Sort of. They fixed this silliness for the next model (the 35mm Summicron ASPH), providing a slightly reshaped hood and a rubber shade which snaps over the mounted hood. You may buy the new hood and shade separately, and they fit the older 35mm Summicron.