Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/07/12

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Subject: [Leica] new M lens?
From: bdcolen at earthlink.net (B. D. Colen)
Date: Mon Jul 12 06:29:50 2004

I, for one, hope that this rumor is not true. Why? Because I think that
if true, it really is the final nail in Leica's coffin. The last thing
the photographic world needs at this point is more M lenses. With the
introduction of the new ASPH 50 Summilux, Leica has now overhauled the
entire line from 21 to 135, with the exception of the 75, which is one
of the best lenses they've ever produced, and which is clearly up to
their highest modern standards. The number of people looking to buy new
Leica film equipment gets smaller every day, and will soon be down to
the comparatively small number of "if they build it, I will buy it"
people on this list, a few collector/acquirer's out there, and about six
pros. Yes, they might be able to sell enough units of a new digital wide
angle to make it's production worthwhile. But beyond that new
rangefinder lenses sound like real losers.

IF Leica is going to survive longish term, I believe that what they need
to do is come out with a digital M body of some sort priced within about
$500 of whatever Epson produces. If they do that, they may be able to
capitalize on the value of the Leica name, and the huge pool of used M,
LTM, and Cosina lenses out there. 

But new 75 2.8s and digital backs for the R line, which has never sold
well (glorious as the cameras may be :-) are simply not going to keep
them afloat - even as a loss leader for Hermes.

B. D.

-----Original Message-----
From: lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org
[mailto:lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of
Mark Rabiner
Sent: Monday, July 12, 2004 8:10 AM
To: Leica Users Group
Subject: Re: [Leica] new M lens?


On 7/12/04 2:20 AM, "Dan C" <bladman99@yahoo.ca> typed:

> Rumour has it that there will be a new 75 M lens soon.  Perhaps an
f2.8
> version?   In any case, slower then the Summilux.
> 
> -dan c.


Is there a rumor than this rumor might actually be true? Wherefrom?

Mark Rabiner
Photography
Portland Oregon
http://rabinergroup.com/



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Replies: Reply from red735i at earthlink.net (Frank Filippone) ([Leica] new M lens?)
Reply from ljkapner at cox.net (Leonard J Kapner) ([Leica] new M lens?)
Reply from director at ubi.edu (Lucien) ([Leica] New Leica digital rangefinder system ? , was: new M lens?)
Reply from mark at rabinergroup.com (Mark Rabiner) ([Leica] new M lens?)
In reply to: Message from mark at rabinergroup.com (Mark Rabiner) ([Leica] new M lens?)