[Leica] 21mm f1.4 Summilux - the next "must have?"

[mark at whitedogs.co.uk (Mark Pope)]

Thanks for reminding me about the 24 - I had forgotten that there was an 
Elmar.  I have the 18mm, which works very well on the M8, though I have 
heard of problems with red edges with this lens on the 9 (possibly 
fixable with a firmware update?).

So the faster designs outsell the slower ones?  Presumably that means 
that they are also more profitable (if one assumes that they all have 
the same %age profit margin).


Mark Pope,
Swindon, Wilts
UK

Homepage               http://www.monomagic.co.uk
Blog                   http://www.monomagic.co.uk/blog
Picture a week (2010)  http://www.monomagic.co.uk/index.php?gallery=paw/2010
Picture a week (2009)  http://www.monomagic.co.uk/index.php?gallery=paw/2009
                (2008) 
http://www.monomagic.co.uk/index.php?gallery=paw/2008


Geoff Hopkinson wrote:
> Remember that Leica has exactly that in the 24 focal length right now.
> Elmar, Elmarit and Summilux. I have the Elmar and it is superb. There is 
> the
> 18 too of course. I wouldn't be surprised if they add an Elmar 21 as well. 
> I
> think that is more likely than a Summarit 21. The ASPH. technology and some
> very rigorous design philosophy helps keep the form factors small and
> performance high in their other wides. The prices are significantly lower
> than their faster versions.
> 
> Pretty sure that any Elmar 21 won't sell for $379 though!
> 
> Cheers
> Geoff
> http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman
> 
> 
> On 4 July 2010 04:07, Mark Rabiner <mark at rabinergroup.com> wrote:
> 
>>> Rabs wrote:
>>> "I'd like to see Leica make a compact ultra sharp slow 21 like the
>>> Voigtl?nder Color-Skopar 21mm f/4.0 which sells for $ 379.00 With a 39mm
>>> filter size. Not 82mm."
>>>
>>> I agree and I would definitely be interested in a lens like this, as and
>>> when I can afford a full-frame digital M.  The 21/24 f1.4 are optical
>>> tours de force, but for me, a little over the top.  A 21 and/or 24mm f4
>>> 'Summarit' type lens would nice additions to the 'budget' lens range.
>>>
>>> I suspect however that Leica will probably concentrate on high-speed
>>> optics, with the next logical lens being a 28mm Summilux.  But who
>>> knows, maybe Leica will expand the Summarit range over time.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Mark Pope,
>>> Swindon, Wilts
>>> UK
>>>
>>> Homepage               http://www.monomagic.co.uk
>>> Blog                   http://www.monomagic.co.uk/blog
>>> Picture a week (2010)
>> http://www.monomagic.co.uk/index.php?gallery=paw/2010
>>> Picture a week (2009)
>> http://www.monomagic.co.uk/index.php?gallery=paw/2009
>>>                 (2008)
>>> http://www.monomagic.co.uk/index.php?gallery=paw/2008
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> What had worked for Leica in the past is what can work for it in the
>> future.
>> In the past they gave in an option in every major focal length as to a
>> slow,
>> medium and fast speed.
>> An expensive bulky fast one with flair issues.
>> A compact cheap sharp slow one. With speed issues.
>> And a one in the middle.
>> I think it makes a good business model to emulate that catalog again.
>>
>> Just like buying a diet coke when you go to the movies.
>>
>> A 1.4 is very nice to have on your Nikon F becaue the dark groundglass got
>> brighter and popped into focus much faster. You could see what you were
>> shooting. You just don't need that with a rangefinder camera. If your
>> stopping down to f5.6 all the time the lens may as well be a 5.6.
>> Everything is just as bright and faces just as fast with a 5.6 lens as an
>> 1.4 lens. This is a huge advantage with Leica M.
>>
>> "Speed" is an over hyped option.
>> What's also nice is getting stuff in focus other than a thin edge and
>> having
>> no flair issues. And working with a low key unassuming lens.
>>
>>
>> [Rabs]
>> Mark William Rabiner
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Leica Users Group.
>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>>
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information