[Leica] Summarit press release

[hoppyman at bigpond.net.au (G Hopkinson)]

Gene, no complaints here regarding pricing vs build quality. As important 
for Leica lens enthusiasts is the addition of these tiny
new lenses for more choices for an extremely compact outfit. I applaud the 
addition of the new lenses to the range. I hope they sell
a bazillion of them. I bet that they will make superb photographs.
Everything I have read on the Elmarit M 2.8 28 asph suggests that it is an 
excellent lens. The optical difficulties of producing
great performance a stop or more faster than that, especially in a very 
compact lens, are well known. More exotic glass and cutting
edge formulations cost more too.

More lenses at more price-points means, we hope more buyers and a healthier 
Leica company. 

Cheers
Hoppy
-----Original Message-----
Subject: RE: [Leica] Summarit press release

I see no reason a lower price on the new lenses would lead to lower quality. 
 The new 28/2.8 asph is half the price of the lens it
replaced and the build level and optical quality is very much the top 
quality of the rest of their lenses.  I love mine and I see no
lowering of quality and build level at all.  I expect the new lenses will be 
just as good as we have come to expect of Leica quality
optics.

I find it interesting that everyone complains about the price of Leica's 
lenses and keeps demanding lower pricing, and when they do,
everyone starts whining about lower quality and Leica not keeping to their 
old ways.  Even before anyone has even had one in their
hands.  It seems to me that they are doing just what everyone has asked them 
to do.  So now its our turn to step up to the
counter...  Maybe I can get my wife to get me the new 90 as a retirement 
gift come January.  ;-)

Gene

-------------- Original message from "G Hopkinson" 
<hoppyman@bigpond.net.au>: -------------- 


> Len the Leica site contains DNGs as well as JPG samples for down load. 
> That's the full 10MP bad boys. Just on first looks here the samples look 
> very 
> smooth. 
> I just think that the series is a very welcome development for rangefinder 
> folks. I think that they (the new Summarits) are intended 
> to demonstrate that Leica is still a premium manual focus prime lens maker 
> and 
> appeal to people for the reason that Leica lenses 
> appeal to people. I think that it is a smart move by the new CEO. 
> Remembering 
> that this is their niche of the market. 
> I guess we shall see what their build quality and performance is like once 
> they 
> start to become available (from November)? It would 
> not be reasonable to expect the same performance nor build quality as the 
> very 
> much more expensive current asph brothers. The new 
> little Elmarit 28 seems to have been well received at its price-point. I 
> hope 
> these do well too. 
> 
> Hoppy 
> 
> -----Original Message----- 
> 
> .... You don't cut your prices in half 
> without giving up something. What are they giving up? 
> 
> Len 
> 
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