[Leica] New 75 Summilux

[LEICAMAN56 <LEICAMAN56@aol.com>]

Leica has released the following information on the revised 75/1.4 Summilux:

Catalog # remains the same - 11815.  The new lens is made in Germany.  The
weight has been reduced by 40g, from 600g to 560g.  The Minimum Advertised
Price has been reduced from $2895 to $2495.  Deliveries will supposedly begin
in March 1998.

Leica has addressed two issues with the new lens; weight and price.  Both have
been reduced.  Physically, the size of the lens remains the same.  My guess is
that the wieght reduction has come about through using different glass from
the previous version.  The previous version used what Leica called "Noctilux"
glass.  Since Leica sold off the former Leitz research lab which produced the
Noctilux glass, perhaps this is why the 75 has been revised.  Or it could be
the elimination of high lead content glass previously used.  This was one of
the reasons that the 21/2.8 was redesigned.

Years ago, Leitz Canada designed a prototype 75/2.4 APO lens.  It was smaller
and lighter than the 75/1.4.  Wouldn't this be a great travel lens!
Unfortunatley, this lens never made it into production.

Bill Rosauer