Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/01/28
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Walter Mandler, DSc, "Leica Lenses and Early Computers", VIEWFINDER 22:1 (1989), p. 10: "A formidable task was already waiting for the new computing power: to re-design the Summicron 50mm f/2 for better performance at close-up distances. The result of these calculations was the second version of the Summicron 2/50, available both as rigid mount and dual range lens. (The second version has a longer distance from first surface to film.) Other concurrent and subsequent designs done on the Z5 computer were the Elmar 2.8/50 and Summilux 1.4/50." It would seem that an admission from Dr Mandler, a designer whose achievements include the 2/90 Summicron and 1.4/35, would know what actually occurred. Now, this does NOT explain why Leica never admitted the redesign. Marc msmall@roanoke.infi.net FAX: +540/343-7315 Cha robh bas fir gun ghras fir!