Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/08/21
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]All, So, I have been in Tokyo for the past week, and I finally had some time for myself last night. The screw mount Leica lenses (50/2, 50/1.4, 35/2) are real. They are about 20% more expensive than the M-mount version, and are available from Lemon soon. Cosina/Voigtlander Ultron 35/1.7 is widely available at $500 or so. The mechanical quality appears to be far better than than of 15mm and 25mm. The rangefinder coupling appears to be accurate and everything works very smoothly. I also had a chance to fondle a Hexanon 60/1.2 It is a hefty lens and its unevenly spaced aperture ring a la earlier Leitz lenses is rather peculiar. Only 800 were produced but several are supposedly available at several stores around Tokyo, with the typical going price of 170,000 yen, or $1500, or about $1000 less than Noctilux, and comparable to the price of a Summilux 50mm. Erwin's report indicates that it is a commendable design, and the owner told me that the learning curve is less steep. I have finally emptied my Japanese bank account, and have some yen lying around. I don't know what I will take home.